Category Archives: Top Stories

PAGOP to County Chairs: Non-Endorsed Candidates Need Not Apply

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By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

Since 2001, candidates endorsed by Democratic state committee have gone on to win the party’s nomination about 48 percent of the time. Endorsed Republicans have won 90 percent. Here’s why.

The PA Republican party issued a memo Monday to county chairmen and women around the state, in which it laid out the protocol in races where state committee has endorsed.

“As our endorsed candidates travel on the campaign trail, they should receive concessions in regards to official party events,” the memo stated. “As members of the PA GOP and leaders of your county party, we request respect for the following longstanding traditions associated with our endorsed candidates.”

Namely, non-endorsed candidates are to have nothing to do with any official party functions. They are not permitted to speak at county functions (dinners, etc), and county party members should only circulate petitions and literature for endorsed candidates.

The full memo is below.

And those are on top of the standard benefits of a state committee endorsement: a significant fundraising boost, the support of PAGOP staff, direct mail paid for by the party, and more. Those are on top of the inherent advantage of establishment support in a party whose voters have historically been comfortable deferring to the establishment.

Since the news came out, conservatives activists have flocked to social media to criticize the party.

“This top-down enforcement of ‘traditions’ that stifle any meaningful debate among candidates is ruthless,” the Bucks County based Kitchen Table Patriots Tea Party wrote of the memo.

They’re paying particular attention to the Senate race, where Chester County entrepreneur Steve Welch won the state committee’s support.

However, almost all of the candidates could be said to have courted the endorsement. Each courted committee members in the lead up to the January 31 vote, and all had held meet-and-greets and state committee events except David Christian and John Kensinger. The rules aren’t exactly new, either  - other than the fact that state committee leadership felt the need to reassert them. (In gentle language. eg. “As a reminder, the PA GOP has not discouraged any candidate from continuing their campaign for any of the statewide offices.”)

However, the response does speak to a strong grassroots movement that has developed in recent years that wants to do away with GOP endorsements. They staged a protest at GOP state committee’s endorsement meeting in January, and they have been working to get on county and state committee.

And clearly, some committee members and chairs agree. After all, they passed the memo out to numerous campaigns and media outlets.

Ironically, those elements in the GOP want to run things more like Pa. Democrats.

Dem state committee endorsements are not binding despite requiring a higher, two-thirds threshold (the PAGOP only requires 50 percent plus 1). Democratic county committees can – and often do – endorse primary opponents of candidates that have been endorsed by the state committee.

And efforts by reformers who want the party to emulate the GOP – by tightening up the bylaws or to committing noteworthy financial resources to back up endorsements – are the subject of intense scrutiny by progressives and activists.

So who’s right? GOP party leaders point to the most important statistic of all: win rate. Since 2001, the GOP has won 54 percent of contested statewide elections.

Here’s the memo:

PAGOP Memo to County Chairs

Smith Puts Another $275K on TV

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By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

Tom Smith is continuing his control of the airwaves. The Senate candidate and former coal company owner from Armstrong County is putting up his existing TV ads with 1,000 gross ratings points each in the Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Altoona-Johnstown, and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre markets. The total tab will come to about $275,000.

“Still the only candidate on the airwaves, Tom Smith’s second network television investment demonstrates that he is the most serious candidate to defeat Senator Casey in November,” said Campaign Manager Jim Conroy in a statement.  ”As polling has demonstrated, voters are highly receptive to Tom’s pro-growth, limited government message.”

At the end for the 4th quarter, Smith had the most cash on hand of any candidate – including Bob Casey himself – with $4.4 million dollars. Over $5 million of the total amount taken in so far came directly from Smith, in the form of loans and in-kind contributions.

Casey has $4.37 million on hand. Steve Welch, an entrepreneur from Chester County who is endorsed by Governor Tom Corbett and Republican state committee, has $1 million on hand. No other candidate reported more than $100,000 on hand at the end of 2011.

Here’s the intro ad, which will air in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre:

And here’s Smith’s 2nd ad, which will air in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, and Altoona-Johnstown:

Inquirer: Mummers Advocate To Run For 7th Congressional Candidate

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Read the story here.

Democrats in the suburbs seem to have found a candidate for the U.S. House who will never have a problem getting Mummers to show up for campaign events.  We hear George Badey III, an attorney and Fralinger String Band member who led SavetheMummers.com when city budget cut-backs threatened the New Year’s Day parade, is circulating nominating petitions to run in the Democratic primary election for the 7th Congressional District in Delaware, Montgomery, Berks and Lancaster counties.

If he wins, that would pit Badey in the general election against U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan, a Republican U.S. House freshman and former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Meehan’s district boundaries have been the topic of Democratic derision since they were redrawn late last year, breaking up what was once a fairly compact district in Delaware and Montgomery counties into an oddly shaped behemoth that stretches north to Berks County and west to Lancaster County.  Democrats accuse the General Assembly Republicans in control of congressional redistricting of drawing the lines to help protect Meehan’s chances at re-election.

SEIU Endorses Critz

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By Tara Jerry, Contributing Writer

In what is starting to become a trend, the Critz campaign announced another labor endorsement today: the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).  Rep. Mark Critz faces fellow incumbent Rep. Jason Altmire in the Democratic primary for the newly drawn 12th Congressional district.

“SEIU is proud to support Mark Critz because he has shown that he is committed to fight to create jobs, oppose unfair trade deals and stands up for workers who want to join a union,” Gabe Morgan, president of the PA State Council of SEIU, said in a statement. “Mark began fighting for workers when he first arrived in Congress when the first bill he co-sponsored was Employee Free Choice Act and he has not wavered in his support for working families since.”

At the endorsement event itself, Morgan said SEIU was prepared to go “all out” for Critz and mobilize its grassroots network.

This was not an unexpected endorsement. SEIU has had issues with Altmire in the past – specifically that he voted against Obama’s health care reform bill.  Nor is it the first time Altmire’s vote against health care reform has caused him trouble with labor. In 2010, the United Steelworkers Union stopped supporting his campaign because of the vote. Critz was not in Congress when the bill passed, although he has said that he also would have voted against it.

“Receiving the endorsement of SEIU is not only a major boost to my campaign. It shows that I have the strongest record in this race when it comes to fighting for working families,” Critz said in a statement. “From the beginning I said that I would oppose unfair trade deals, that I would fight to make it easier for workers to join a union, and stand up to those who want to balance the budget on the backs of working families.”

The SEIU is the second largest public employee union in the United States, and has approximately 80,000 members in Pennsylvania.  It is also the largest union in the country for both health care employees and property services workers (building cleaning and security).

Rep. Critz has also received endorsements from the United Steelworkers, United Mineworkers of America, Laborers District Council of Western Pennsylvania, and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

However, as of the end of 2011, Rep. Altmire leads the fundraising race, with over $365,000 more cash on hand than Critz, according to FEC fundraising reports.  Internal polling from the Altmire campaign shows a 16-point lead over Critz,

As both candidates prepare for this weekend’s endorsement meeting of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, Altmire appears to have the upper hand. He recently won a straw poll of the Young Democrats of Allegheny County by a wide margin, 83-17.

FreedomWorks to Endorse Feinberg

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By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

A national Tea Party group is about to turn up the heat on Rep. Tim Murphy.

Several southwestern Pa. sources indicate that the organization FreedomWorks will endorse Murphy’s primary challenger, Evan Feinberg, on Tuesday.

Brendan Steinhauser, a spokesman for FreedomWorks, did not confirm or deny whether his group planned to support Feinberg. He did confirm Tuesday’s event, and explained that any hypothetical endorsement would come from FreedomWorks’ affiliated political action committee. The organization was formed in 2004 along with Americans for Prosperity – twin offshoots of Citizens for a Sound Economy.

The event will occur at 5:30 Tuesday at the Embassy Suites at the Pittsburgh Airport, and Feinberg’s supporters in southwest Pa. are abuzz.

A FreedomWorks endorsement doesn’t come with a big cash infusion or TV ads (like the Tea Party Express), but it does entail logistical support for grassroots activists. The organization purchases voter data and bankrolls a canvassing operation including dial-from-home phonebanking and literature. Though the PAC cannot coordinate with the campaigns directly, it boasts a 2.4 to 3 percent boost in voter share for endorsed candidates.

Feinberg spent several years in Washington, first as a staffer for the Heritage Foundation. One southwest Pa. Republican dismissed the FreedomWorks endorsement as Feinberg calling in a favor from friends in DC. Another suggested that the organization’s primary connections to southwest Pa. come via a small group of Murphy detractors.

In any case, it’s an important development for Feinberg, who will need to generate national conservative interest if he hopes to present a serious challenge to Murphy. Murphy has $1,040,000 cash on hand to Feinberg’s $40,000.

So far, national conservatives have taken notice of the pa-18 primary. The Club for Growth has spent around $125,000 to air television ads against Murphy, RedState called for him to be primaried, and Senators Tom Coburn and Rand Paul, who previously employed Feinberg as a Hill staffer, have hinted at throwing their support behind him.

Locally, the Tribune-Review editorial page has consistently criticized Murphy in recent months. And a new website, Tim Murphy Must Go launched recently. It appears to be affiliated with the PA Coalition for Responsible Government.

Conservatives’ strongest complaint against Murphy is that he voted with labor unions for the Employee Free Choice Act, nicknamed ‘card check’ by critics. Murphy, along with many Republicans, also supported a number of spending measures over the past decade that are unpopular with limited government advocates.

Murphy counters that his voting record is 100 percent pro-life, 100 percent pro-gun, and that he has intensely opposed ‘Obamacare.’ Not to mention, he took a leading role in investigating an Obama administration-back loan to the now-bankrupt firm Solyndra.

With Murphy’s million dollar edge, unless Feinberg gets some significant help from DC, that is the story that voters in Allegheny, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties will hear.

The Democratic candidate is Washington County Commissioner Larry Maggi.

DeWeese Witness Working for DePasquale, Other Dems

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By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

State Rep. Eugene DePasquale has earned the reputation of a reformer, but Capitolwire’s Pete DeCoursey reports today that some of his consultants have not.

DeWeese was convicted Monday of five of six charges against him in a sweeping corruption case.

After he gave testimony against former House Speaker Bill DeWeese that prosecutors hailed and the defense tried furiously to discredit, Kevin Sidella went back to his WS Group to raise money for Democrats.

 

His clients include one of the party’s rising stars and statewide candidates, state Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York and some of its biggest PACs and campaign organizations.

The WS Group does fundraising, direct mail and polling for clients, as well as campaign strategy in general. Several of its principals and staff, like DePasquale, hail from York, Pa.

Because of personal experiences, DePasquale says he believes in second chances.

DePasquale says it is simple: Sidella and his partner, John Jones, who has a similar issue, are “certainly in the private sector now. I have had them as my consultants for years. My dad spent 8-and-a-half years in federal prison for drug addiction” which drove Alfred DePasquale to sell drugs.

 

“If someone committed a wrong in the past, and I have seen it firsthand with my dad, they deserve a second chance. My dad opened my eyes to something, that after people pay a price to society, they deserve a second chance.”

And it’s not just Sidella.

Sidella’s partner and fellow former House Democratic staffer John Jones, will shortly have a similar witness pedigree. Former state Rep. and state Revenue Secretary Steve Stetler, DePasquale’s predecessor, faces a trial on misusing taxpayer-paid staff for political purposes.

Read the full story here (paywall).

DePasquale lost the headline lottery, because a boatload of Democratic organizations and candidates employ or have employed the WS Group. From the firm’s client list online:

  • Pennsylvania State Education Association
  • Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee
  • Pennsylvania Young Democrats PAC
  • State Senator Mike Stack (Philadelphia)
  • State Representative Ron Buxton (House Leadership – Dauphin Co.)
  • State Representative Eugene DePasquale (York Co.)
  • State Representative Marc Gergely (Allegheny Co.)
  • State Representative Babette Josephs (Philadelphia) – 2010
  • State Representative Jennifer Mann (House Leadership – Allentown)
  • State Representative Joe Markosek (Transportation Chairman – Allegheny Co.)
  • State Representative Mike McGeehan (Philadelphia)
  • State Representative Mike Sturla (House Leadership – Lancaster)
  • State Representative Dan Surra (Elk County) – 2008 cycle
  • Democratic State Senate Campaign Committee – 2008 cycle
  • Judge Jimmy Lynn (Commonwealth Court)
  • Bompiani for State Senate (Westmoreland Co.)
  • 2009 Chester County Democratic Slate
  • Mayor Kim Bracey (York)
  • County Commissioner Doug Hoke (York Co.)
  • County Commissioner George Hartwick (Dauphin County)
  • County Commissioners Pam Snyder & David Coder (Greene County)
  • Moving West York Forward PAC (York Co.)

Breaking: State Rep. DeWeese Found Guilty on Five Counts

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By: Geoffrey Middleberg, Assistant Editor

State Rep. Bill DeWeese from Greene County was found guilty on five of the six counts on which he was charged. Inquirer reporter Amy Worden who is in the courtroom tweeted: “Dauphin Co. jury finds Rep. DeWeese guilty on five counts of theft/criminal conspiracy, not guilty on one count.”

Initially, if state Rep. DeWeese had been found guilty on all counts, he could have faced 40 years in prison but it is unclear how much time he will face for being found guilty on 5 out of 6 counts.

DeWeese, from Greene County was once Speaker of the state House. He has also served as House Majority Leader.

He is most well known for his floor speeches in which he is known to be not only tough but verbose as well.

DeWeese was indicted in December of 2009 by then Attorney General Tom Corbett.

The charges were conflict of interest, theft by unlawful taking or disposition, theft of services, theft by deception, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received and criminal conspiracy to commit conflict of interest and/or theft. These charges are related to the Bonusgate scandal.

Meehan Gives Weekly GOP Address

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By Elyse Clonan, Contributing Writer

In Saturday’s weekly GOP address, Rep. Pat Meehan (R-Delaware) called on the Democratic-controlled Senate and President Obama to cooperate with the Republican House in order to “end the gridlock and get our economy moving.”

“The need for Washington to act on jobs is as urgent as ever..” Meehan said.  “…House Republicans have offered good ideas that will help create jobs, but to execute them, we need leadership from President Obama and his fellow Democrats who control the Senate.”

Meehan discussed the need for congressional bipartisanship to remove government barriers to job creation, support for small businesses and support of American infrastructure.  The key to solving America’s problems, he stressed, is ensuring that available resources are allocated to projects that can directly boost the economy.

He stressed the need for the Senate to consider 30 bipartisan job bills that have passed the House.  One of these bills would extend the payroll tax cut for a year, and another which pledges support to energy and infrastructure plans which are expected to create one million private sector jobs.

“Pennsylvania has more structurally deficient bridges than any other state, and a million people in the commonwealth are out of work,” Meehan said.  “Repairing our roads and bridges isn’t just a safety issue, its an economic one.”

Meehan’s office helpfully emailed a run down of positive reactions to the address. Here they are:

USA TODAY: “REPUBLICANS: PRODUCE ENERGY, CREATE JOBS” … “NOT[ED] SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THEIR PLAN AND SOME OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S GOALS”

Republicans are “noting the similarities between their plan and some of President Obama’s goals. The president also is calling for more energy production — particularly natural gas — as well as infrastructure repairs.

“This is another good idea that will help put Americans back to work, and it, too, is built on common ground,” said Rep. Pat Meehan, R-Pa., in Republicans’ weekly radio address. “The president supports improving infrastructure and recently echoed our party’s call for an ‘all-of-the-above’ energy strategy.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS: MEEHAN SAID GOP “ENERGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE AGENDA WOULD CREATE MORE THAN A MILLION PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS”

Republicans say they want Obama’s help in passing a payroll tax cut extension for a full year and proposals to expand energy production and repair and rebuild roads and bridges.

Rep. Pat Meehan, R-Pa., said in the Republican address that their energy and infrastructure agenda would create more than a million private-sector jobs, “not by wasting your money on pork-barrel projects and so-called ‘stimulus’ spending, but by removing government barriers that are getting in the way of American job growth.”

Meehan said the nation’s unemployment rate had exceeded 8 percent for the past three years, “the longest stretch since the Great Depression.”

WALL STREET JOURNAL: “MEEHAN SAID PEOPLE WANT TO SEE GRIDLOCK END IN WASHINGTON”

Giving the weekly radio address for the Republican Party, Pat Meehan said “The need for Washington to act on jobs is as urgent as ever.”

He said action is needed now because the “unemployment rate has now exceeded 8% for three years running–the longest stretch since the Great Depression.”

Mr. Meehan said people want to see gridlock end in Washington, and called on President Obama to help pressure Senate Democrats to support a series of Republican-led proposals aimed at lifting the economy.

Mr. Meehan said he was heartened to hear President Obama this week “endorse” a series of proposals that would benefit small businesses, “but what would really be helpful is for him to urge the Senate to actually vote on them.”

The president this week reiterated a call for tax benefits to help small businesses and start-ups. Republicans have proposed and supported similar measures.

Mr. Meehan also urged Democrats to support a series of other proposals, including an energy and infrastructure plan that Republicans say would create jobs.

He said action is needed now because the “unemployment rate has now exceeded 8% for three years running–the longest stretch since the Great Depression.”

CNN: “MEEHAN … SPELLED OUT OTHER OPTIONS TO BOOST THE ECONOMY”
In the Republican weekly address, meanwhile, Rep. Pat Meehan of Pennsylvania spelled out other options to boost the economy.

He urged the Senate to pass two House bills-one that would extend the payroll tax cut and another that aims to improve energy and infrastructure. Both proposals have passed the House but would need to clear the Democratic-controlled Senate.

“Our economy faces serious challenges right now – gridlock in Washington doesn’t have to be one of them,” Meehan said. “The House is acting on good ideas, and with help from the president and Democrats in the Senate, we can get things done. The people we represent sent us here to find solutions and move the country forward – not further divide it.”

2/6 Morning Buzz

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Good morning politicos, and welcome to the Buzz! The GOP has its day in federal court today to see if they can get an injunction against the use of the 2001 maps for 2012’s state House and Senate elections.

Supreme Court Redistricting Ruling: Prospective candidates, it’s not over yet. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court rendered its much-anticipated redistricting ruling Friday afternoon but declined to lay out a specific way forward for the 2012 elections.

Meanwhile, Dem leaders say Pa must ese 2001 lines. Can Republicans convince a federal judge to toss out districts from 2001 in favor of a redistricting plan that doesn’t yet exist? Jay Costa and Frank Dermody lay out their arguments against tossing the ‘01 lines.

PoliticsPA DeWeese Poll Results: The jury reconvenes today to deliberate in the case against former House Speaker Bill DeWeese. What do PoliticsPA readers think will happen? Click here to view the results of our online poll!

Marcellus Deal: Just in time for Governor Corbett’s budget speech, Harrisburg Republicans are on the cusp of a deal over an Marcellus shale impact fee: “The fee will rise from $190,000 per well over 15 years if gas prices continue to sink and stay below $2.25 per thousand cubic feet for 15 years, according to a second memo sent to lawmakers. But if those prices triple, the fee would bring in $355,000 over the same 15 years, according to the sliding scale adopted in the proposal.”

Meehan Gives Weekly GOP Address: Rep. Pat Meehan called for bipartisanship in the GOP’s weekly address Saturday. Namely, for Democrats to support bills passed by the Republican House.

Rohrer Wins Valley Forge Straw Poll: Sam Rohrer ran away with a straw poll after the Valley Forge Patriots US Senate forum this weekend. In an earlier event, he also dinged Gov. Corbett for his endorsement of Steve Welch.

Confirmed: Urban for Congress: Stephen A. Urban, a Republican-turned-Democrat, Luzerne County Commissioner-turned-Councilman, confirmed with PoliticsPA Thursday that he is circulating petitions to run for U.S. Congress in Pa-17 in the primary against Rep. Tim Holden.

Earmarks and NDIC: The Earmark Elimination Act of 2011, introduced by Sen. Pat Toomey and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), was voted down 59-40 in the Senate. Among those opposed: Sen. Bob Casey. But both stood up for the NDIC in Johnstown.

Will Jason Altmire Retire? Asks Semi-Coherent NRCC Release: We’re not really sure what to make of this. Is the NRCC rooting for Mark Critz? “Will Jason Altmire follow Shuler’s lead and just retire now rather than face the embarrassment of being unelected in the primary?” The release asks.

2-3 Ups & Downs: We’ll admit right now, we weren’t batting 1,000 on Friday. We teased the Pa. Supreme Court for not having a ruling, and Joe Scarnati for not having a Marcellus deal. Oops!

Legislative Election Updates:

HD-74: Clearfield County Commissioner and 2008 candidate for U.S. Congress Mark McCracken (D) is officially in the race for retiring Rep. Bud George’s seat… if it’s still there.

HD-134: There’s yet another Republican candidate in the ongoing free-for-all for Doug Reichley’s former seat. Wanda Mercado-Arroyo, a member of GOP state committee who runs an exporting business, has thrown her hat in the ring.

HD-202: Anyone who thinks they can flank Rep. Mark Cohen on facebook doesn’t know Mark Cohen. He launched a tactical campaign to have supporters leave a campaign group for his primary opponent, Numa St. Louis, 31, an Olney educator.

National:
AP: Santorum refuses to bow despite another loss
Daily Mail: Rick Santorun doesn’t believe that federal funding should go to Planned Parenthood
Times-Tribune: Barletta gets delay in bigger trucks
Carbondale News: Rep. Marino votes for pay freeze, raises law enforcement concerns
Morning Call: Rep. Dent target of Occupy protest in Utah
Times Leader: Casey to urge alternative-fuel car use
Politico: Republicans join challenge of recess appointments
Politico: Santorum: Bella doing great
Politico: Santorum says presidency is not a CEO job
Pennsylvania Ave: Rick Santorum tebowing
Roll Call: An open process for open measure
Early Returns: Supremes: too many splits
USA Today: Santorum blasts Romney as uni-dimensional
Pro Publica: Senator demands answers from Freddie Mac’s regulator
Pro Publica: With spotlight on Super Pac dollars, nonprofits escape scrutiny
The Caucus: Anger night caucus over a religious declaration
The Caucus: Gingrich looks ahead to “Super Tuesday”
The Caucus: How Nevada Republicans voted
The Caucus: Santorum fails to qualify for Indiana ballot
Morning Call: Doomsday warning from Santorum

Statewide:
Capitol Ideas: Supreme Court mum on fate of primary in redistricting decision
State House Sound Bites: Costa and Pileggi speak on redistricting opinion
State Impact: Casey bill provides tax breaks for natural gas-fueled cars
Capitolwire: House GOP memo details Marcellus deal; both chambers poised to pass it quickly
Capitolwire: Labor coalition report suggests $2.3 billion in revenue and savings
Capitolwire: Supreme Court says split, non-compact districts unconstitutional
Inquirer: Corbett “buckled” to pressure, former aide says
Patriot News: Gov. Corbett’s spending plan might cut funds for higher education
Times Herald: Republican hopefuls to challenge Casey lay out agendas
Centre Daily: GOP Senate candidates create few sparks
AP: GOP lawmakers seek vote on Pa. gas drilling bill
Morning Call: Tom Corbett budget preview: cuts ahead
Morning Call: Payroll tax cut duration set by Senate panel
AP: Lean budget expected from Corbett on Tuesday
Patriot-News: New chairman of PA’s Board of Probation and Parole has reputation of reformer
Patriot-News: Lawmaker questions PSU insurance in Sandusky case
Patriot-News: Lower Swatara Township manager Ron Paul says he was ready to pass baton
Patriot-News: Cabot admits its Dimock water arsenic claim was a mistake
AP: Pennsylvania Supreme Court explains reasoning for rejecting state’s redistricting plan
Patriot-News: Rep. DeWeese’s jury heads home for the weekend without reaching verdict
Patriot-News: Gov. Corbett signs bicycle safe passing measure into law

Philadelphia:
City Paper: Sheriff Jewell Williams faces an office in disarray and angry citizens
Philly.com: Area votes in Congress
Inquirer: At least 24 archdioceses schools appeal closings
Inquirer: Phila. Water Dept. wants 28.5% rate hike
Inquirer: Activists mobilize ahead of Corbett budget address
Inquirer: Philadelphia’s school district will close buildings early to save money
Inquirer: Chaput addresses alleged embezzlement from the archdiocese
Inquirer: On electoral reforms, the silence is deafening
Philadelphia Weekly: Q&A with “first occupy candidate” Nathan Kleinman, who is running for the U.S. House
ABC Philadelphia: O’Donnell PAC, campaign funds down to $36K
ABC Philadelphia: Philadelphia Union hosts job fair
WHYY Newsworks: Rendell, investors eyeing Philadelphia newspapers
Philadelphia Weekly PA manufacturing jobs going up?
Philadelphia Weekly Election 2012: Explaining Rick Santorum’s odd new ‘doomsday’ tone

SEPA:
Intelligencer: Montco signs labor contract with employees’ union
Upper Dublin Patch: “Occupy Candidate” Kleinman challenges Allyson Schwartz
Pottstown Mercury: Catholic school closings: Update on Sacred Heart & St. Eleanor’s
Pottstown Mercury: Pottstown schools: Rupert principal promotes health habits
Phillyburbs.com: Governor still supports Rowan-Rutgers merger
Phillyburbs.com Proposed merger leaves Rutgers professor worried about the future
Delco Daily Times: Delaware County school districts facing familiar money woes, anxiously await Corbett budget
Delco Daily Times: Haverford Township billboard zoning board hearing ends
Delco Daily Times: Delaware County solar panels to be connected to PECO’s grid
Montgomery Media: Cheltenham Township parks department to present program
Bucks Local News: Bucks Commissioners table new justice center change order, approve community development grant

Pittsburgh:
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Mayor makes city board appointments
Tribune Review: Shale impact fee near final deal
Tribune Review: Murphy’s $1.04 million on hand tops House race
Post-Gazette: Corbett to outline budget proposal
Post-Gazette: Be merciful to ex-offender
Post-Gazette: Dems say Corbett ‘heartless’ to working families
Post-Gazette: State Supreme Court releases opinion rejecting reapportionment
Early Returns: Redistricting may delay Pennsylvania primary
KDKA: Occupiers moving out of Mellon Green?

Southwest:
Observer-Reporter: Occupy Pittsburgh has three days to leave camp
Observer-Reporter: Congress wants plan to stop Asian carp
Observer-Reporter: Two Pa. Primaries would face cost, practical hurdles
Observer-Reporter: GOP Senate candidates create sparks in Pa.
Indiana Gazette: DeWeese tiral jury breaks for the weekend
Daily American: Clark eyes political future
Altoona Mirror: Earned income tax can cost cities
Altoona Mirror: Outdoor group urges Corbett to uphold moratorium on state forest gas leases

Lehigh Valley:
Morning Call: GOP lawmakers seek vote on Pa. drilling bill
Morning Call: Politics as usual
Morning Call: Upper Macungie woman’s map made the redistricting difference
Morning Call: Upper Nazareth upset over earned income taxes staying in Allentown to fund hockey arena
Morning Call: Mayors tout jobs growth in Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Pennsylvania Supreme Court explains why it tore up state political map
Morning Call: What can Pat Browne do for you?
Morning Call: Somebody up there likes Sen. Pat Browne and his wife
Reading Eagle: Facebook helps municipalities get the word out
Reading Eagle: Township reorganizations for 2012
Reading Eagle: Spencer campaign took in money to end of year
Reading Eagle: Argail seeks re-election to state senate
Express Times: Lehigh Valley legislators contend region safer a year after Allentown blast

South Central:
Chambersburg Public Opinion: Proposed exit 12 on I-81 could cost $26M
Patriot-News: 2012 is the “Year of the Bible” in Pennsylvania
Patriot-News: 3 Republican legislators face primary challengers
Patriot-News: PA Department of Health expects to confirm if more sickened by raw milk from the Family Cow farm
Patriot-News: Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson signs stray-animal agreement, ending struggle with Humane Society
Patriot-News: Harrisburg receiver David Unkovic to deliver city fiscal recovery plan Monday afternoon
Patriot-News: Cumberland Valley school district parents, students express frustration over consideration to close Monroe Elementary
York Daily Record: City school district to consider “non-renewal” of New Hope charter
York Daily Record: FEMA grant to give four York County fire departments Maryland- compatible radios
Lancaster Era: Eyes on the future: SDL official sees planning as key in turbulent times
Lancaster Era: Gas explosion may be catalyst for safer tomorrow
Lebanon Daily News: Local sites to receive “Greener” grants

NEPA:
Times-Tribune: Development of Former Chamber of Commerce Building To Begin In Scranton

North by Northwest:
Erie Times-News: Erie County to join the long and winding road of the 5th Congressional District
Erie Times-News: Erie County Council considers $1 million credit line for Pleasant Ridge Manor
Erie Times-News: GE’s $72 million investment in Grove City: What does it say about the future?
Erie Times-News: Slot-machine revenue increases at Erie casino in January
Erie Times-News: Dumas expected to challenge in 5th Congressional District race
Erie Times-News: A closer look at US Rep. Glenn Thompson’s new 5th District
Sharon Herald: Board to seek tax hike OK from state
Courier Express: No news on injection well
Centre Daily Times: Schools await Corbett’s proposal
Centre Daily Times: Planning commission discusses residential, commercial collaboration opportunities in 2 shopping centers
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Tax credits move 8 local companies forward
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Old Blossburg hospital in process of being sold
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Water, sewer authority accepts building bids
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Commissioners OK funding proposals for environmental study
Williamsport Sun Gazette: School budget managers await state fiscal news
statecollege.com: PSU study of drilling and well water released

Opinions:
York Dispatch: Editorial: What a mess
Tribune Review: Op-Ed: Politics at the dinner table
Daily Courier: Op-Ed: Fayette County Courthouse staffing meets public needs
Beaver County Times: Opinion: Why vote Republican
Salena Zito, Tribune Review: Romney repeating history?
Brad Bumsted, Tribune Review: Corbett’s Senate calculus
Times-Tribune Editorial: Why Are Lackawanna County Non-Union Employees Reapplying For Jobs?
Times-Tribune Column: Cordaro, Munchak Wasted Golden Oppurtunity
Times-Leader: Welfare Issue Makes A Comeback
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PoliticsPA Poll: Readers Betting on DeWeese Conviction 60-40

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By Keegan Gibson, Managing Editor

The votes are in, and by a margin of 60-40 readers believe former House Speaker Bill DeWeese will be convicted of the charges he faces. The final vote was 337 to 227 – much closer, one reader suggested, than it might have been back in 2007.

Will Bill DeWeese be convicted or acquitted?


  • Convicted (60%)
  • Acquitted (40%)

Total Voters: 564

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The jury reconvenes today to continue its deliberations.

In the mean time, be sure to vote in our newest poll: who will win the GOP primary for U.S. Senate?

Poll 37

Who will win the GOP primary for U.S. Senate?

View Results

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