Valentine’s Day Ups & Downs

Despite the distractions of a blizzard, the Hallmark Holiday and the Netflix drop of Season 2 “House of Cards,” politicos still gave us enough fodder for this week’s Ups & Downs. See who made the list.

Up Arrow Down ArrowBrad Koplinski. The Harrisburg City Councilman revealed bad news for his Lieutenant Governor campaign this week. Koplinski has just $16,000 on hand and loaned himself $15,000. But, he was by far the highest vote getter at Democratic state committee last weekend when they voted for their LG endorsement, in a strong showing of party establishment support for his race.

Up ArrowRob McCord. Pennsylvania’s largest teacher’s union – and one of the state’s most prominent unions overall – threw its support behind the State Treasurer. It has the largest Pa. membership of any labor union to endorse in the primary thus far. Only the statewide AFL-CIO is larger.

Down ArrowKeystone Progress. The liberal advocacy organization sent an offensive and hyperbolic email to supporters this week, claiming that because Governor Corbett refused the federal expansion of Medicaid as part of the Affordable Care Act, he’s killed 4 people that day. Corbett instead opted for a hybrid plan that would subsidize Medicaid-eligible individuals for private insurance plans. Saying that he killed people is grossly inappropriate and baseless.

Up ArrowMarjorie Margolies. The Democrat aiming to regain her seat in Congress from the early 1990s got a boost from a recent breakfast fundraiser headlined by Rep. Steny Hoyer. Her campaign sent out a release after the event showing Margolies pictured with former Governor Ed Rendell and Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro. Neither of the popular Democrats endorsed Margolies officially, but attendance at her fundraiser may be a sign of unofficial support.

Down ArrowHouse Republicans. Speaker of the House Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) announced his retirement early this week and Republicans lost the dealmaker that shepherded the major transportation bill through the House. He will serve out his term as a lame duck Speaker, seriously diminishing the chances that Republicans will achieve liquor privatization or major pension reform legislation.

Up ArrowMichael Smerconish. Former Philadelphia radio talk show host landed a job as a weekly host on CNN’s Saturday morning programming. Most recently, Smerconish was an MSNBC contributor and for the last four years served as guest-host for Hardball with Chris Matthews.  He will continue hosting his radio show The Michael Smerconish Program on SiriusXM Radio and writing a weekly column for the Philadelphia Inquirer. He’s also a UPenn & Lehigh grad.

Down ArrowKatie McGinty. Another setback in campaign finance for the former DEP Secretary. McGinty returned a PAC check for more than $36,000 after learning that the PAC was not licensed to give contributions in Pennsylvania. This is the second time McGinty has returned funds; the other was from James Clifford Forrest III, president Kittanning-based Rosebud Mining Co. who owns the company involved in the West Virginia spill.

Tweet of the week goes the the City of York police, who are using their Twitter account to inform and amuse followers. Well done, York.

8 Responses

  1. Keystone Progress gets called out for saying the Governor is killing people? Come on. The Governor’s refusal to expand Medicaid is killing people according to a recent Health Policy study. Denying 500,000 citizens regular health care has that kind of impact. Further, taking the federal money for covering those citizens would free up $400 million for other PA. budget priorities.
    Why don’t you ask why he refuses to expand Medicaid coverage? His ideology is killing people or at a minimum–letting them die.

  2. Whether liquor privatization gets done this session has little to do with the Speaker of the House at this point. The House passed a real privatization bill last year. The question is what can the Senate, with its ultra-slim majority, actually get done. The safe bet – very little…

  3. Rob McCord all the way! I hope he is the chosen one – look who is Governor now! Of course he didn’t raise taxes – just fees. How dumb does the Governor and Grover Norquist think we are?

  4. Well yeah, Policyguy, ethical behavior factors in – it’s considered a negative in Pennsylvania…

  5. So McGinty gets a down arrow because she ethically returned campaign contibutios. But McCord uses taxpayer funds to get inside the room on gaming decisions, agrees that in so doing he won’t accept contributions from gaming interests, and then says never mind when faced with having to return money he has received from gaming interests and nothing gets said. Does ethical behavior factor into anything?

Email:
  • Will tonight's U.S. Senate debate affect your decision?


    • No. I've already decided on how to cast my vote. (81%)
    • Yes. Anxious to hear from both candidates (19%)

    Total Voters: 27

    Loading ... Loading ...
Continue to Browser

PoliticsPA

To install tap and choose
Add to Home Screen