A Supreme Court candidate forum is announced, Castor seeks to become the Montco DA again and a new Super PAC lays out their upcoming plans. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!
First PA Supreme Court Candidate Forum Scheduled: Six candidates will meet in Pittsburgh on January 25th.
Castor to Run Again for Montco District Attorney: Former Montgomery County DA Bruce Castor is seeking to return to his old job.
Koch-Backed Super PAC Launches Advocacy Campaign: The American Future Fund announced an effort focused on pension reform, paycheck protection and liquor privatization.
Lawmakers Forego Lame Duck Session: The legislature will not take any action before Governor-Elect Wolf is sworn in on January 20th.
Statewide
Capitolwire: Court OKs use of Lease Fund monies for non-conservation budget lines
PLSReporter: Secret House panel investigation of Philly lawmaker cash payments seems dead
StateImpactPA: Commonwealth Court: Governor not the decider on leasing public land
StateImpactPA: Local resolutions oppose PennEast pipeline, but have no legal teeth
PA Independent: Want to be a state lawmaker? Take a drug test, PA rep says
State House Sound Bites: On gift ban, Corman defers to caucus
Philadelphia
Inquirer: With Boyle Off to Congress, State Job Up for Grabs
Inquirer: Sweet Power: Toomey to Stock Senate Candy Desk
Inquirer: Audit of City Rec Centers Finds Sloppy Finances, Risk of Fraud
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. Legislative Leaders Opt for Longer Holiday
WHYY Newsworks: Philly Mayor: Board Enhancing Building, Demolition Oversight
WHYY Newsworks: As Presidential Hopeful Jeb Bush Cuts Ties to Constitution Center, Search on for New Chairman
WHYY Newsworks: Pa.’s Newest House Members Pledge Focus on Transit
SEPA
Philly.com: Farrell Chosen As Chesco Commissioner’s Chair
Inquirer: Improving Chesco Pipeline Website, And Helping Other Counties Adopt Similar Protocols
Inquirer: Montco D.A. Ferman to Run for County Court Judge
Inquirer: Bruce Castor Seeks Return As Montco DA
Daily Local: Coatesville Democratic Committee to Recommend City Council Candidate
Daily Local: State Rep. Lawrence Thinks Legislators Should Take Drug Test
Daily Local: Jarrett Jackson Sworn in as Coatesville Branch NAACP President
Bucks Courier Times: Lower Makefield Supervisors Interview 11 Candidates for Board Seat
Bucks Local News: Lower Makefield Supervisors Select Kristin Tyler to Lead Board in 2015, Accept Open-Space Land Donation
Bucks Local News: State Rep. Steve Santarsiero: Legislative Session Ahead Will Hinge on Compromise, Reaching Across the Aisle
Daily Times: Ridley School Board Rejects Fact Finder’s Report Regarding Negotiations with Teachers Union
Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: On TV, Peduto Talks of Repairing Relations Between Police, Blacks
Post-Gazette: Obama Trumpets Manufacturing
Post-Gazette: Woodland Hills Plan to Revamp Voting Faces Challenge
Tribune Review: Lamb Says He Will Seek 3rd Term as Controller
Tribune Review: Who Paid? Donors to Peduto’s ‘Undercover Boss’ Stay Anonymous For Now
Tribune Review: Peduto Says ‘Very Dear Friend’ Qualified for Senior Citizens Center Job
Pittsburgh Business Times: Environmental Groups Sue to Force Gas Industry to List Emissions in Public Database
Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Reps. Ward, Irvin take Over
Altoona Mirror: Acting Warden, Acting Captain Hired for Bedford County Jail
Altoona Mirror: Leaders in Favor of Adding Vehicle Fee
Altoona Mirror: Committee Recommends $75K Salary for Mayor
Beaver County Times: Supreme Court Strikes Down Part of Juvenile Sex Offender Registry
Observer-Reporter: Pennsylvania Court Upholds Public Land Gas Drilling Leases
NEPA
Times Leader: City Budget Standoff in Hazelton Continues, Council To Meet Again Friday
Times Leader: Sources: West Pittston Cops Suspended for Leaving Borough on Duty
Times Leader: Geisenger and Commonwealth Health Place Visitation Restrictions on Children
Times Leader: George Brown Announces He Will Run for Mayor of Wilkes-Barre
Times Leader: School Board Seeks Expanded Parking at Mackin
Times-Tribune: Scranton Police Union Overwhelmingly Approves Concessions
Times-Tribune: Taylor Gas Leak Forces Up to 170 From Homes
Times-Tribune: Scranton Orders Pension Administrator to Withhold Retiree Raises
South Central
Carlisle Sentinel: Cumberland County Hires to HR Director
Carlisle Sentinel: Tiny Pa. Borough Reeling After Two Top Officials Die
Patriot News: Dauphin County Commissioners Jeff Haste, Mike Pries Announce Re-election Bids
Patriot News: Pa. to get $11K in Deal Over Zaccos.com Hacking, AG Kane Says
Patriot News: Judge Dismisses Some Claims in ex-Susquehanna Twp. School District Superintendent’s $6 Million Lawsuit
York Daily Record: Property Taxes Biggest Priority for Two New Local Reps Kristin Phillips-Hill and Kate Klunk
York Daily Record: York County Clerk of Courts has Record Year Collecting Costs, Fees
Intelligencer: Report: Pennsylvania Needs to Step-Up Farm Runoff, Stormwater Controls for Bay Cleanup
Intelligencer: Pennsylvania’s Newest House Members Pledge Focus on Transit
Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Berks Chief Deputy District Attorney Running for Judge
Reading Eagle: Ryan Costello Sworn into Congress
Reading Eagle: Barry Jozwiak Sworn into State House of Representatives
Express Times: Phillipsburg School District Considering Appeal of Federal Commission’s Conclusion in Fired Teacher’s Case
Express Times: Wind Gap Pilot Seeks Republican Nomination for Northampton County Council Race
Express Times: Philipsburg Council Starts Year Talking Ingersoll Rand Redevelopment, Vacant Properties
WFMZ: Swearing-In Takes Place in Harrisburg
North by Northwest
Sun Gazette: Montoursville Borough Council Reorganizes
Sun Gazette: Down to Business
Opinion
Patriot News: Editorial: Lawmakers Shouldn’t Wait for Wolf to Take Office to Act on Pensions
Reading Eagle: Editorial: One Gun Regulation That’s Right on Target
Inquirer: Murders Matter
Philly.com: Pa. Can Help Children And Save the Taxpayers Money
Daily News: Our Over-Privileged Pols
Daily Times: Another View: To Succeed, Pa. Politicians Must Focus on What Will Work
Roxborough Review: Make MLK Day A ‘Day On’
Tribune Review: Massacre in France: A Free World at Stake
Post-Gazette: Back to Work: The Legislature and Tom Wolf Have Much Work to Do
Blogs
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Palagonia To Run For Whitehall Mayor
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Expect a New County Tax Soon
PA Budget and Policy Center: Crush unions and you crush the growth in earnings for workers