Democrats, gun control and same sex marriage do will in the latest Pa. poll. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.
Corbett Pitches Liquor Privatization: Tom Corbett unveiled his plan Wednesday to privatize the state’s liquor stores, one of the most ambitious attempts by a Pa. Governor in decades.
Quinnipiac Poll: Pa. Voters Support Same-Sex Marriage By A Small Margin: In a recent poll conducted by Quinnipiac University, registered Pennsylvania voters were divided when asked if they support same-sex marriage.
Quinnipiac Poll: PA Voters Wary on Corbett’s Transportation Play: A new poll conducted by Quinnipiac shows some unrest for Governor Corbett’s transportation plan.
Quinnipiac Poll: Obama, Democrats on Positive Ground in Pa: President Obama’s approval rating is on positive ground in Pa. and Democratic party favorables are much better than their GOP counterparts.
Local Election Updates
Pittsburgh City Council: Dan Gilman isn’t messing around. The longtime aide to Councilman Bill Peduto is running for his boss’s seat, and has the cash to do it. He’ll show $85,000 on hand by the end of the month, he says. His district 8 opponent Sam Hens-Greco said he had a few thousand, and other opponent Jeanne Clark didn’t organize a committee until 2013 and so doesn’t have to report by the end of January.
Statewide
AP: Governor Corbett promises liquor proceeds to schools
AP: State Senate votes to keep Penn State’s NCAA fines in PA
AP: Poll: More PA Democrats happy with party than Republicans
AP: Poll shows strong PA support for new gun controls
AP: PA Senate OKs task force on mass shootings
Capitolwire: Corbett proposes using liquor privatization money to fund new education block grant
Capitolwire: Corbett education proposal may cause battle with unions on prevailing wage, furloughs
Capitolwire: L&I Secretary Hearthway hopes worst of unemployment call center problems over
Capitolwire: Scarnati has questions about governor’s proposed pension reforms
Capitolwire: Scarnati says House charter reform bill takes too much from charters, cyber-charters
StateImpactPA: Pa. Poll: Concern About Fracking Ranks Low on a Long List of Troubles
PA Independent: Pennsylvania grades high on national transparency report
State House Sound Bites: Issue of arming teachers not high on list among state officials
State House Sound Bites: Gov. Corbett says he’s taking lead on liquor store privatization
State House Sound Bites: Recovery officers optimistic about Harrisburg, York schools’ future
Philadelphia
AP: Aide to jailed Pa. Sen. says she worked for Melvin
Inquirer: Corbett: $1 billion to schools from sale of state stores
Inquirer: Aide to Reynolds Brown and Nutter fired after ethics report
Daily News: Amid ethics charges, Nutter fires ex-Brown aide
Philly.com: Reynolds Brown must step down
Commonwealth Confidential: Poll: PA voters support assault weapons, high cap magazine ban, same-sex marriage
PhillyClout: As Nutter’s ‘final offer’ deadline arrives, admin & D.C. 33 will negotiate
PhillyClout: Wednesday’s DN: Mayor Nutter fires ex-Councilwoman campaign aide
WHYY Newsworks: Task force to study violence in schools OK’d by Pa. lawmakers
SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: West Vincent formalizes opposition to proposed gas pipeline
Phillyburbs.com: Corbett promises liquor proceeds to schools
Phillyburbs.com: Poll: two-thirds of GOP voters happy with party
Phillyburbs.com: PA. Senator skeptical of Corbett pension strategy
Delco Daily Times: Corbett looks to raise $1B for education by selling off state stores
Delco Daily Times: Top GOP lawmakers aren’t buzzed at liquor privatization plans
Pittsburgh
KDKA: New poll shows Corbett’s popularity shrinking
WTAE: Gov. Tom Corbett’s liquor privatization plan includes wine, beer, state stores
WTAE: Pa. Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin’s trial continues in Pittsburgh
WPXI: Corbett promises liquor proceeds to schools
City Paper: No Help Wanted: In filing to labor board, UPMC claims it has no employees
City Paper: Broken Down: Passed in 2010, a city tow-truck licensing ordinance faces a long haul
Early Returns: Q poll finds gun control support in Pa
Early Returns: Liquor plan in neutral
Early Returns: Ferlo blasts Corbett liquor plan
Early Returns: Corbett: Liquor proceeds to schools
Early Returns: Gilman’s healthy warchest
Post-Gazette: Corbett proposes selling liquor stores to raise education funds
Post-Gazette: Testimony: Pa. Senate worker spend half of 2003 working on Judge Orie Melvin’s Campaign
Post-Gazette: Corbett to add $8.5 million to Children’s Health Insurance Program
Post-Gazette: Poll shows Pa. voters want stricter gun-control measures
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania Gov. Corbett’s poll numbers fall again
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania Justice Melvin’s defense grills central witness
Post-Gazette: Corbett getting resistance from Pennsylvania GOP leadership
Tribune-Review: computer glitch halts state’s concealed weapons permit process
Tribune-Review: Corbett lays out plan for liquor privatization
Tribune-Review: Corbett: Shell tax breaks a way to expand manufacturing in state
Southwest
AP: Corbett promises liquor proceeds to Pa. schools
AP: Aide to jailed Pa. Sen. says she worked for Melvin
Beaver County Times: Game commision OKs drilling underneath game lands near school
Beaver County Times: Corbett: Budget proposes funds for state police cadets, training
NEPA
AP: State police suspend use of breathalyzers
Standard Speaker: NEPA reps differ on immigration proposals
Standard Speaker: Health sec. offers assistance to rural clinics
Citizens Voice: Court overturns $7.4M award to two NEPA school districts
Citizens Voice: Luzerne Co. eyes lower tax collector rates
Times-Tribune: Scranton mayor wants to raise successor’s salary
Times-Tribune: D.A. elaborates on officers’ mistakes in shooting
Lehigh Valley
Pennsylvania Ave: QPoll: Pennsylvanians support stricter gun control
Pennsylvania Ave: Jury decides in multimillion-dollar dispute between Pektor and PPL
Morning Call: Corbett offers liquor store privatization plan
Morning Call: Easton attorney will run for Northampton County judge seat
Reading Eagle: Pa. senator skeptical of Corbett pension strategy
Reading Eagle: Reading restaurant owner in U.S. illegally encouraged by immigration reform talk
Reading Eagle: Firearms permit system down for much of day
Reading Eagle: Corbett promises liquor proceeds to schools
WFMZ: Judge: No new trial for Jerry Sandusky
WFMZ: Dean Browning announces candidacy for Lehigh County Executive
Express Times: Pennsylvanians support assault weapons ban, universal background checks, poll finds
South Central
Roxbury News: Legislative leaders detail goals
York Dispatch: County commits $75K for Camp Security effort
Patriot-News: Union remains opposed to unionization efforts
Patriot-News: Lebanon Co. voter chief to become Annville Twp. administrator
Patriot-News: Success of Corbett’s privatization push depends on fault lines in party lines
Patriot-News: L. Dauphin S.D. taxes won’t go up more than 2%
North by Northwest
Erie Times-News Campaign ‘13 Blog: Erie lawyer Walsh kicks off campaign for judge
Centre Daily Times: State Sen. Jake Corman’s bill to keep Penn State’s NCAA fine in Pa. unanimously passes Senate
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Project money in limbo
Williamsport Sun Gazette: $5M Williamsport Home construction bond to be reviewed by commissioners
Opinions
Tribune-Review: The business of drink: Not a state function
Post-Gazette: Fiscal lesson: The state university system has more to learn
Post-Gazette: Youth and guns: Weapons sellers vie for a younger clientele
Post-Gazette: Closing time: The LCB’s CEO should leave at his retirement
Altoona Mirror: ‘Leave no stone unturned’
Altoona Mirror: New debt deadline needed
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Women earn shot at combat
Blogs
Keystone Politics: Alcohol Reform and Wages
Keystone Politics: Pennsylvania’s Tax Code is Hideously Regressive
Keystone Politics: Actually Harrisburg Could Use More “Washington-Style Politics”
Keystone Politics: PA Gun Owners Support Background Checks 95-4
Keystone Politics: Pat Toomey to Hurricane Sandy Victims: Drop Dead
Keystone Politics: PA GOP Hosting “Confederate History Month” Governor for Lincoln Day Dinner
Keystone Politics: A Great Morning for Bruce Castor
Keystone Politics: Where Bob Donchez Comes Up Short as a Political Leader
Jon Geeting: Let’s Play Name a Bob Donchez Initiative
Keystone Liberty: House GOP Proposes Pro-Growth and Zero Cost Right-to-Work Legislation
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Browning to Take on Ott: BiPartisanship Not a Dirty Word