The Democrats for Governor agree (when and where) to disagree in a PA-Gov debate. Schwartz plans an infrastructure bank, McCord wins the endorsements of 20 county chairs. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.
Don’t forget to visit later today for the Ups & Downs.
Gov Candidates Agree to Debate in February: The Democratic candidates for governor have agreed to face off at the PA Progressive Summit at the Harrisburg Hilton in February 2014.
Toomey Downplays Default Dangers: The Senator questioned Treasury Secretary Jack Lew today about what the nation’s priorities would be during a debt default.
20 Democratic County Chairs Back McCord for Guv: State Treasurer Rob McCord has spent years building relationships with local party leaders across Pa. It paid off Thursday.
Hugya to Kick Off PA-12 Bid Today: John Murtha’s former Chief of Staff will begin his bid to unseat Keith Rothfus at the Johnstown War Memorial Friday.
Schwartz Announces Infrastructure Initiative: Congresswoman Schwartz says she wants to create an infrastructure bank as part of her gubernatorial platform. It would be paid for by a new tax on Marcellus shale drilling.
Statewide
AP: GOP moderates in tough spot in swing districts (Fitzpatrick)
State House Sound Bites: The plan is based on a pilot program in Chester County
State House Sound Bites: Judge asks for briefs in assisted suicide case
State House Sound Bites: Block that cliché
PA Independent: Analysis says property tax elimination comes up short
StateImpactPA: DEP publishes climate report a year and a half late, second report still overdue
StateImpactPA: Marcellus spurs wholesale gas price break at regional trading point
StateImpactPA: Despite abundant supply, natural gas slow to catch on as transportation fuel
Capitolwire: Corbett says Roman Catholic upbringing shaped his view on same-sex marriage
Capitolwire: Former Gov. Tom Ridge talks pensions, campaigns, legacy and staff
Philadelphia
AP: Pa. declines feds’ offer to fund park re-openings
KYW: Volunteers Hit The Pavement To Distribute Affordable Care Act Information
KYW: Bucks County Family Hit Hard By Government Shutdown
KYW: CBS News Anchor Scott Pelley Offers Insights on Local and National Issues
Heard in the Hall: Rev. Al Sharpton Comes to Council to See Working Gov’t
Commonwealth Confidential: PA voter ID ad campaign is back, Dems say it’s misleading
PhillyClout: Candidates for District Attorney agree to debate
Inquirer: FBI seeks Fattah records; lawyer calls probe long-running
SEPA
Courier-Times: Speakers want background checks on long gun buys
Courier-Times: Voter ID law opponents blast state’s $1M ad campaign
Montgomery Media: Upper Moreland board presented with five-year budget estimate
Montgomery Media: Perkasie considers offering flat electric rate to small businesses
Montgomery Media: Abington School District sees high scores on School Performance Profile
Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Chancellor of Pa. State System says university cuts are regrettable but necessary
Post-Gazette: Local federal court employees ordered to work without pay
Post-Gazette: Board president steps down at scandal-ridden PA Cyber school
Post-Gazette: Chatham University receives $15 million gift
Tribune-Review: Lifetime savings from corneal transplants: $291,000 per person
Tribune-Review: Gov. Corbett selects final member of Port Authority board
UrbanMediaToday: One in three older adults reports age discrimination
Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Chief: Crime up after loss of cops
Observer-Reporter: Obama’s presidency focus of lecture series
Observer-Reporter: Pa. trooper who guarded former gov settles lawsuit
Observer-Reporter: Shutdown may soon interrupt social services in Pa.
Tribune-Democrat: Hospitals to work together
NEPA
Times Leader: Insurance agent: Obamacare worth the cost
Citizens Voice: Impasse ends rigorous nuke plant oversight
News Item: Shamokin-Coal Twp. Joint Sewer Authority to officials: Customers are poor
News Item: LMSB approves $1,800 in teachers’ overtime pay
Wayne Independent: Commission declines action
South Central
AP: Sides report progress in Pa. transportation talks
AP: Drilling industry wades into Pa. governor’s race
PennLive: Casey ‘encouraged’ by talks to end federal shutdown
PennLive: Tom Ridge archives dedicated at Merycyhurst University
Sentinel: Library system concerned about state funding drop
ABC 27: Mayor has new plan to help Harrisburg grow
WGAL: Funding cuts hit anti-smoking programs
Lancaster Intelligencer: Sen. Toomey, other lawmakers from Pa., debate debt limit, default
Lancaster Intelligencer: F&M president, in national summit, encourages greater options for poorer, but bright, students
Public Opinion: Franklin County commissioners reject tax break to lure Nordstrom
Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Amid complaints, Stoffa having doubts about raising employee health care costs next year
Morning Call: Tom Ridge donates archive to Mercyhurst University
Morning Call: Amendment blocks same-sex benefits in Lehigh County
Morning Call: Lehigh County targets $10 million deficit
Morning Call: Congressman Charlie Dent broke Republican ranks over ‘clean’ bill, but won’t over discharge petition
Reading Eagle: State corrections secretary, speaking in Wyomissing, says better outcomes needed
Reading Eagle: D.C. dysfunction worries we the people
WFMZ: ACLU fights for Ernesto Galarza, Allentown man detained on illegal immigration charges
Express Times: Lehigh Valley Chapter of Organizing for Action rallies in support of Obamacare
North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Poet Richard Blanco to read at Penn State
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Mayor changes rental proposal
Opinions
Citizens Voice: Wasting money remains bipartisan pastime in D.C.
Post-Gazette: Stability for the fed: Yellen at the helm would boost financial confidence
Lebanon Daily News: Washington, D.C.’s shutdown blame game pulls us all in
Public Opinion: Let’s go slow before messing with endangered species
Public Opinion: Republicans deserve gubernatorial choices
Blogs
Commonwealth Foundation: Obamacare Glitches or Meaningful Reform
Keystone Politics: McCord Endorsed by Almost 1/3rd of County Party Chairs
Keystone Politics: PA Republicans attack Allyson Schwartz for something Sarah Palin did
Keystone Politics: Democrats Are Only Out for Headlines, Says Congressman Who’s Only Out for Headlines
Keystone Politics: #GOPShutdown Bites Republicans With Lowest-Ever Gallup Approval Rating
Keystone State Education Coalition: Pennsylvania Education Policy Roundup for October 10, 2013: What crisis?
3 Responses
So why wasn’t Nicky Trombetta dealt with when Corbett was AG? Are Cyber Charter School Corporate Welfare Queens a protected Class of the Corbett/Brabender Administraton. COS Gromis-Baker, please disclose, if Acting Governor Brabender produces or places any ads for Vahan Gureghian, K12 INC. or PA Cyber School? Shadow Education Secretary Charles Zogby, please resign. http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/board-president-steps-down-at-scandal-ridden-pa-cyber-school-707105/
Jeff Romoff of UPMC shares his lobbyist with his regulator: PENNSYLVANIA INKS NEW FEDERAL HELP: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has brought on an outside firm for work on federal health care issues. The Keystone state has hired Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney to work on Affordable Care Act implementation, Medicaid waiver and block grant issues, Medicaid expansion issues and other healthcare related topics. Michael Strazzella and Timothy Costa are listed on the account. Pennsylvania had Birch, Horton, Bittner & Cherot and L.G. Strategies on lobbying contracts in 2013 but terminated both in the second quarter. So let’s connect all the dots: COS Gromis-Baker worked at Buchanan Ingersoll. Her husband Scott worked there and was UPMC’s lobbyist. Now, Scott works for UPMC, as head of governmental relations. One of Buchanan Ingersol’s lead partners is Tom Buchanan, husband of Mary Beth Buchanan. Both Mary Beth Buchanan and Tom Corbett received strategic political advice from John Brabender. Does the Corbett Adminstration and UPMC sharing the same Federal lobbyist mean that UPMC’s interests and the interests of Taxpayers of PA are perfectly alligned?
http://youtu.be/oMVe_HcyP9Y
My favorite’…..wish they would pay for my childrens college….
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/board-president-steps-down-at-scandal-ridden-pa-cyber-school-707105/