A national conservative group targets PA State Senators, a PA-9 poll shows Shuster way ahead, and candidates campaign over the shutdown. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.
Don’t forget to check back later for the Ups & Downs.
National Group to Target PA Senate GOP Moderates: Conservative group America’s Future Fund has pledged to fight any state Senators who support transportation funding or the Medicaid expansion. Even if that means taking on moderate Republican Senators.
Harper Poll: Shuster with 52 Point Lead in PA-9: In the three-way GOP primary in PA-9 Rep. Bill Shuster holds a major lead over his opponents. Almost two-thirds of respondents said they’re supporting Shuster, providing the Congressman a defense against those who he think he may be primaried.
Dem Challengers Hit Fitzpatrick on Shutdown: Kevin Strouse held a press conference to call out Rep. Fitzpatrick for the government shutdown. Meanwhile, Shaughnessy Naughton calls on Fitzpatrick to sign a discharge petition to get a clean CR.
Superior Court: Stabile Bankroll 20 Times McVay’s: Republican Vic Stabile has over $145K on hand for the his race for the Superior Court. Democrat Jack McVay, on the other hand, has only $7,000.
SEPA Healthcare Workers Back McCord: Rob McCord’s gubernatorial campaign won the endorsement of District 1199c of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees. It represents the first major endorsement McCord has received from southeast PA.
United Steelworkers Back Critz for LG: Critz’s Lt. Gov campaign won the backing of the United Steelworkers union. Their endorsement is an important show of support for the former Congressman and his campaign.
Statewide
Capitolwire: PA House sends school property tax option bill to the Senate
Capitolwire: ‘Healthy PA’ piece – prescription drug monitoring – hits a bit of a snag
PA Independent: PA House creates new tourism agency, authorizes $15M in tax giveaways
PA Independent: WATCHBLOG: PA Senate will debate property tax elimination options
StateImpactPA: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calls natural gas a “catastrophe”
StateImpactPA: High levels of radiation found in creek near drilling wastewater site in western Pa.
Philadelphia
Inquirer: Federal shutdown beginning to take a toll
Heard in the Hall: Oh Seeks to End Resign-to-Run Rule
Philly Clout: Bill to change “resign to run” law introduced
CapitolInq: Casey witness to Capitol shooting; local staffs reported OK
WHYY Newsworks: Confident same-sex marriage coming to Pa., but unsure when
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. lawmaker targets ‘revenge porn’
WHYY Newsworks: Philly parents file hundreds of school complaints with Pa. education department
City Paper: Teachers told of funding cut for accelerated learning AP/IB programs
PhillyNow: Let Them Eat Each Other: Tea Party group coming to take on moderate Republicans
KYW Newsradio: Phila. Lawmakers Snub Nutter-Corbett Plan For Funding City’s Schools
KYW Newsradio: Councilman Wants To Tweak City’s ‘Resign To Run’ Campaign Rule
SEPA
Delco Daily Times: Gov. Corbett, steelworkers laud new crude-hauling rail line serving Philadelphia refinery
Montgomery Media: Democratic candidates vie for mayor in Ambler race
Montgomery Media: Methacton School Board approves labor contract; member resigns
Daily Local News: Gerlach, Meehan support ‘clean’ spending resolution
Daily Local News: Chestnut Street Bridge on schedule for replacement
Pittsburgh
WTAE: Pittsburgh’s mayor stays low-key during final months in office
Early Returns: Casey witnessed chase, shots
Early Returns: Transportation on the move?
Tribune Review: Local veterans lament canceling trip to visit war memorials in Washington
Tribune Review: Pa. House bills aimed at protecting consumer health care access, lawmakers say
Post-Gazette: School property tax bill wins Pa. House OK
Post-Gazette: Pa. House legislators tackle UPMC-Highmark dispute
Post-Gazette: Ex-Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice Orie Melvin barred from practicing law in federal court
Southwest
Beaver County Times: Study: Fracking may be polluting river with radioactive waste
Beaver County Times: Pennsylvania WIC offices open despite shutdown
Altoona Mirror: Poll: Shuster in control
Johnstown Tribune Democrat: Steelworkers back Critz
NEPA
Times Leader: Bipartisan group, including Barletta, pitches plan to end shutdown
Times Leader: Area doctor and former county Redevelopment Authority head see licenses suspended
Times-Tribune: Pa. lawmakers introduce gay marriage bill
Times-Tribune: Geisinger CMC’s CEO resigns
Times-Tribune: One shutdown, but different version of its meaning
South Central
Patriot News: Harrisburg School District investigating $12M budget overage
Patriot News: Day three is no charm for new health insurance exchange
Patriot News: Harrisburg mayoral hopefuls fielding questions for first general election debate
Patriot News: U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent: Government shutdown won’t end Obamacare
Patriot News: Casey heard ‘popping noise’ from Capitol gunshots
Patriot News: State Sen. Rob Teplitz will hold office hours Monday in West Hanover Township
York Daily Record: Bill would require bridges to be top priority
York Dispatch: York City gears up to sell Pullman Apartments
Lancaster Intelligencer: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. draws crowd to F&M
Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon County peers ahead to Medicare enrollment
Lehigh Valley
Pennsylvania Ave: Shutdown politics in Bucks’ 8th Congressional District
Morning Call: U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent offers shutdown compromise: Fund government but drop medical device tax
Morning Call: Easton superintendent: State releasing incorrect performance data on high school
AP: Pa. lawmakers introduce same-sex marriage bill
Keystone News: University receives grant from PA Liquor Control Board
North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Tucci plans door-to-door push Saturday
Sun-Gazette: Leader of gun owners’ group speaks in city
Express: Disaster declared, but not for all
Express: Union contract talks continue amid 2014 budget meetings
Opinions
Times-Tribune: Bring voter registration to 21st century
Morning Call: In the loop on ‘Breaking Bad’ — and the election
Express Times: Dent one of a few Republicans who stood against shutdown
Blogs
Keystone Politics: Obamacare vs. County Nursing Homes
Keystone Politics: The Shutdown is Killing Wonk Blogging
Keystone Politics: #PA15: Charlie Dent is a MINO
Keystone Politics: List: PA’s Congressmen Refusing Pay During Shutdown, and Net Worth
Keystone Politics: Lehigh Tea Party Commissioner Tom Creighton Compares Same-Sex Partners to Pets
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Stoffa Proposes No-Tax-Hike Budget in Northampton County
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Lehigh Valley Tea Party Supports Government Shutdown
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Will Obamacare Kill Gracedale and Cedarbrook, Part 2
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Are Norco Council Dems Really Running as a Team?
John Hanger’s Facts of The Day: US Fossil Fuel Production On Record Pace, While Total Renewable Energy Production Slightly Below 2011 Record Levels
John Hanger’s Facts of The Day: Ironic Fact: 250 Business Groups Find GOP Bites The Hand That Fed It
Above Average Jane: Patrick Murphy on the Affordable Care Act
LuLac Political Letter: Do they look stupid?
2 Political Junkies: Congressman Mike Doyle Knows His Internet Memes!
Third and State: State General Fund Collections Through First Quarter of 2013-14
Commonwealth Foundation: Getting Rich off the Government Liquor Monopoly
Commonwealth Foundation: Many Pennsylvanians to See Insurance Premiums Skyrocket
Keystone State Education Coalition: Got $50 grand to learn to sweep “the public” out of public education?