12/21 Morning Buzz

PA-state-flag6Kane won’t discipline sister over offensive emails, PA’s unemployment rate drops and Stephens drops out of the Attorney General’s race. Plus, last week’s Ups & Downs! Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!

12/18 Ups & Downs: Email revelations, legislative resignations and competitive elections. See who made this week’s list!

BREAKING: Stephens Drops Out of AG Race: This development leaves State Sen. John Rafferty as the presumptive GOP nominee.

Kane Won’t Punish Sister for Emails: The Attorney General will not take any action against her twin sister.

November Jobs Report: Unemployment Rate Drops to 5%: The PA unemployment rate is equal to the national rate.

PA-9: Shuster Wants Review of Gitmo Policy: Women are currently prohibited from transporting detainees.

Sunday Show Preview: December 20, 2015: We take a look at the Sunday morning political talk shows that will air throughout the state.

Legislative Elections Update

SD-13: Neal Rice’s campaign touted the fact that they’ve won two straw polls that were taken within the district last week. “I am humbled to earn such broad support among our dedicated and talented City and Lancaster Township committee people,” Rice said. “Our back to back wins have created great momentum behind my conservative message. But we are not taking anything or anyone for granted, and I will continue to work hard to earn the trust and confidence of our Republican team.”

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Budget setback leaves lawmakers with no clear next step
State House Sound Bites: Wolf says tax plan can pass House, vote scheduled Saturday
Capitolwire: EITC funding another potential casualty of teetering framework
Capitolwire: Pension bill fails in the House, placing ‘framework’ agreement in limbo
Capitolwire: Wolf administration ‘confident’ it has the votes for new revenues and spending plans, but do they have the votes for pensions?
PLSReporter: VIDEO: Reed: “It would be our intention to work on a stopgap proposal” after pension reform fails on the House floor
PLS Reporter: VIDEO: Adolph: “I don’t think anyone really knows what the tax package is going to be”

Philadelphia
CapitolInq: Meehan, Toomey oppose $1.1 trillion spending bill
WHYY Newsworks: Bill would prevent mortgage foreclosures for Sandy victims
WHYY Newsworks: What’s next for casino referendum, Atlantic City aid package
WHYY Newsworks: Brady stands by Rep. Chaka Fattah in congressional race
WHYY Newsworks: Assembly line: Lawmakers advance four proposed changes to NJ Constitution
Heard in the Hall: Philly ethics board fines City Council members, state senator
Philadelphia Business Journal: Budget deal gives Obama hope for Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement

SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Bensalem school board accepts resignations of two administrators
Bucks County Courier Times: Centennial officials blast ‘utter debacle’ in Harrisburg
Bucks Local News: Pennsylvania House passes Petri bill to protect public safety officers from harm
Bucks Local News: Bucks County Commissioners approve no tax-increase $402 million budget for 2016
Bucks Local News: State Rep. Scott Petri receives endorsement of former governor Mark Schweiker in his bid for Congress

Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Business Times: Budget deal gives Obama hope for Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement
Pittsburgh Business Times: Congress passes spending bill with tax breaks for business
WESA: State Senator Pushes Stricter Handgun Licensing Legislation
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh shines as beacon of opportunity for tech firms
Tribune Review: Laskas, Omalu reveal story behind the new Will Smith film
Tribune Review: United Steelworkers, U.S. Steel reach tentative 3-year labor pact
Post-Gazette: After pension overhaul collapse, Pa. legislators regroup in battle to pass budget

Southwest
Observer-Reporter: Nearly $30 million in Act 13 money unaccounted for
Altoona Mirror: Precinct changes can be debated
Altoona Mirror: Authority restates wish to keep Martin
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Oliveros retiring as Windber Borough manager

NEPA
Citizens’ Voice: Schools rack up high tabs for solicitors
Citizens’ Voice: Outgoing county council members look back on board’s start
Times Leader: Hazleton approves second reading of the budget
Times-Tribune: School legal bills in Lackawanna County top $3.3 million
Times-Tribune: Special education legal fees major hit to local schools
Standard Speaker: HASD attorney bills reach six figures

South Central
Patriot-News: What’s next? Hard to tell as Pennsylvania budget impasse turns to spaghetti
Patriot-News: With budget deadlocked House Repubs try to squeeze Tom Wolf
Patriot-News: Pension reform’s defeat in House draws disappointment from leaders
Patriot-News: Does AG Kathleen Kane have any credibility left to lose? Experts question her trustworthiness
Patriot-News: Pennsylvanians may soon be able to bring in out-of-state alcohol without fear of fines
Carlisle Sentinel: Special Education: Programs work toward increased involvement, team approach
Carlisle Sentinel: Retainment, vocational skills key for workforce development in Midstate
York Dispatch: New challenges lead York College freshman to advocacy
York Dispatch: Fairview Twp. police officer arrested by feds, ordered locked up

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Lehigh Valley Hospital charitable giving questioned
Morning Call: Apartment living all the rage in the Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Why are Valley houses still selling at recession values?
Reading Eagle: Developing a crime-fighting strategy for Reading
Reading Eagle: Candidates needed to fill seat on Reading City Council
Reading Eagle: Separate inauguration ceremonies for Reading mayor, 3 City Council members

North by Northwest
Sun-Gazette: Ex-club official pleads guilty to stealing funds
Sun-Gazette: City to seek Pathway to Health financing
Sun-Gazette: Council passes tax hike
Times-News: Erie group to craft initiative to combat violence, offer aid
Times-News: Chautauqua plans to award contract for amphitheater replacement

Opinion
Patriot-News: To salvage credibility, AG Kane must discipline her sister over controversial emails
Reading Eagle: Two years after big tax hike, dollars are being diverted
Citizens’ Voice: Caucus power thrives in budget impasse
Citizens’ Voice: Leighton and Lawton leave the scene
Times-Tribune: Impasse proves shake-up need
Times-Tribune: Progress in air
Standard Speaker: Let sunshine in
Standard Speaker: Get to bottom of river’s woes
Pocono Record: Gun-permit case should have remained open
Altoona Mirror: Our broken state needs constitutional convention
Altoona Mirror: Regional thinking good idea
Post-Gazette: Unhealthy numbers: Hospitals must do better at reducing infections
Post-Gazette: No-fly, no gun: States should act against terror if Congress won’t
Bucks County Courier Times: Kane’s racism charge deflated
Bucks County Courier Times: Shooting victim: Gun legislation
Delco Daily News: Editorial: Gun regulation needs to happen now
Delco Daily News: Editorial: Passage of Pa. budget would be a great Christmas gift

Blogs
Citified: Is Jim Kenney the Anti-Nutter?
Keystone Crossroads: In Pennsylvania, it’s legal to deny someone housing for being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender
Commonwealth Foundation: Latest Wolf Tax Plan eliminates 6,500 plans
Above Average Jane: Patrick Murphy confirmed as undersecretary of the army

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    • No. I've already decided on how to cast my vote. (81%)
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