Wolf presents his severance tax plan, the Quinnipiac poll says Pennsylvanians have forgiven JoePa and Keystone State Mayors advocate for the Affordable Care Act. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!
PA-Gov: Wolf Presents Severance Tax Plan: The Governor unveiled his proposal for a 5% severance tax on natural gas drilling.
Quinnipiac Poll: Pennsylvanians Ready To Forgive Joe Paterno: The new poll shows a majority of Pennsylvanians want Paterno’s statue and record restored.
PA-6: DCCC Targets Congressman Costello with New Website: The DCCC likens freshman Rep. Ryan Costello to ‘90s one hit wonder, Deee-Lite.
Pennsylvania Mayors Encourage Affordable Care Act Enrollment: The mayors of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh joined a White House conference call Wednesday in support of healthcare enrollment.
AG Kane Establishes Office of Military and Veterans Affairs: Kane announces the creation of office designed to aid those who have served.
PA Supreme Court Candidate Responds to Wecht’s Call for Support of 5-Point Plan: Republican candidate Cheryl Allen critiques her fellow PA Superior Court Judge David Wecht’s ethics proposals.
Statewide
PLSReporter: Mixed Reaction Follows Announcement of Gov. Wolf’s Natural Gas Tax Plan
Capitol Wire: Wolf Unveils his Plan for a $1 Billion Natural Gas Severance Tax
Capitol Wire: Child Protection Laws’ Unintended Consequences may just be Growing Pains, Lawmaker says
Capitol Wire: Sen. Corman Calls for Probes into NCAA Officials Involved in Penn State Penalties
PA Independent: Pennsylvania Officials Mull when to Charge More for Public Records
State House Sound Bites: AP: Two Former PA Officials get Pensions, Despite Guilty Pleas
StateImpactPA: Wolf Proposes 5 Percent Tax on Gas Drillers to Pay for Education
Philadelphia
KYW Newsradio: With Money Order and Some Hubbub, Milton Street Pays Late Fee on Campaign Finance Reporting
KYW Newsradio: Gov. Wolf, in Chesco, Promotes Natural Gas Drilling Tax as Benefit for Pennsylvania’s Schools
KYW Newsradio: Sources: Phila. City Council and Mayor May End Future Smoking Ban Exemptions
WHYY Newsworks: Wolf’s gas severance tax proposal may be first step in elaborate political dance
WHYY Newsworks: Lambasting City Council over PGW deal, Wolfe launches new bid for at-large seat
WHYY Newsworks: Knives come out in Philly mayor’s race
WHYY Newsworks: Wolf proposes 5 percent tax on gas drillers to fund education
WHYY Newsworks: How much are Pa. legislators paying for district offices?
Philadelphia Business Journal: IRS seizes millions from law-abiding businesses; 3 live to tell House about it
Philadelphia Business Journal: Philadelphia mayoral campaign sees first punches thrown
Philly.com: City Council, past and present, start throwing money, support at Philadelphia mayoral candidates
Inquirer: National Dems target Chesco Rep. Costello
Inquirer: Matt Wolfe joins widening Republican field for Council-At-Large
Inquirer: Controller says L&I needs inspectors, better data
Inquirer: Wolf unveils proposal for 5-percent natural gas tax
Daily News: Williams: Kenney ‘irresponsible … shameful’ to turn down PSP money
Daily News: Finally! T. Milton Street Sr. files his campaign finance report
SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Newtown Township hires new assistant manager
Bucks County Courier Times: Loughery, Martin launch re-election campaigns
Bucks Local News: Bucks County Commissioners Charley Martin and Rob Loughery announce re-election campaign
Pottstown Mercury: Pottstown budget has no tax hike, carries $2.5 million deficit
Pottstown Mercury: Boyertown School Board adopts preliminary budget with 6% tax hike
Pottstown Mercury: Local lawmakers call for federal action to move Willow Grove airbase plans ahead
Pottstown Mercury: Wolf visits Chester County, explain natural gas severance tax proposals
Pottstown Mercury: Pottstown council still opposed to boarding house variance
Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review: Deputies Serve Officials with Allegheny County Controller’s Audit Subpoenas
Tribune-Review: State Lawmaker Wants Congress, NCAA to Examine Decision on Penn State Sanctions
Tribune-Review: Kane, Other State AGs Criticize Anthem Over Data Breach
Tribune-Review: PennDOT, Pa. Turnpike Ready to Send Help to Snow-Swamped Massachusetts
Tribune-Review: Gov. Wolf Proposes 5 Percent Drilling Tax Plus Fee on Gas to Fund Schools
Post-Gazette: Federal Court Reverses Injunctions by Pittsburgh Judges on Contraception Mandate
Post-Gazette: Congress Clears Keystone XL Pipeline Bill, Setting Up Veto
Post-Gazette: House Approves Raising Age Limit for Pennsylvania Judges to 75
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania House Will Try to Privatize Liquor Once Again
Business Times: IRS Seizes Millions from Law-Abiding Businesses; 3 Live to Tell House About It
Business Times: Natural Gas Industry Isn’t Pumped Up by Wolf’s Severance-Tax Plans
Southwest
Beaver County Times: SchoolWATCH Bill Goes to Senate After Passing in House
Observer-Reporter: Area Officials: Don’t Take Away Act 13 Impact Fee
Observer-Reporter: Human Rights Groups to Launch a Health Survey at SCI-Fayette
Observer-Reporter: County Committee to Consider Brownfield Sites
Altoona Mirror: Tyrone School Board Approves Software Purchases
Altoona Mirror: Blair County Report Shows Local Tax Burden
Altoona Mirror: Councilman Invites Mayor to Debates
Altoona Mirror: County Sets Public Forum
Altoona Mirror: Tyrone Approves Park Avenue Work
Tribune-Democrat: Northern Cambria Beefing Up Police Department with More Officers, K-9s, SUVs
Tribune-Democrat: Johnstown City Council Won’t Waive Fee for Vacant Properties
NEPA
Times-Leader: Plymouth Councilman Reminds Residents to Clear Sidewalks
Times-Leader: New Dress Code and Metal Detectors at W-B Area, Less Time Allowed for Public Comment
Times-Leader: Luzerne County Council Mulling Valley Crest Offer from Commercial Developer
Times-Leader: Former Wilkes-Barre Township Fire Chief in New York Federal Prison
Citizens Voice: Hanover Area Agrees to Pay Teacher $95K
News Item: Mixed Reaction Locally on Governor’s Idea to Boost Minimum Wage
Wayne Independent: New Member, Officers Installed at Meeting
Wayne Independent: Conservation District Receives Recognition
Standard Speaker: County Council Narrowly Retains Financial Manager
South Central
Lebanon Daily News: West Cornwall Residents Under Boil Water Advisory
Lebanon Daily News: Northern Lebanon School Board OKs Preliminary $34.1 Million Budget
Carlisle Sentinel: Machamer Officially Sworn In to Board of Supervisors
York Dispatch: Wolf Presents His Plan to Tax Natural Gas Drilling; York Lawmakers Skeptical
York Dispatch: Obama on War Powers Request: Islamic State is Going to Lose (AP)
York Dispatch: Some of Township’s ‘Not a Gun Free Zone’ Signs Defaced
Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Lehigh DA Jim Martin Sues Over Blogger’s ‘Personal Animus’
Morning Call: ‘Arrest Warrant’ Issued for Punxsutawney Phil (AP)
Morning Call: Gov. Wolf Outlines Promised Tax on Natural Gas
Morning Call: Appeals Court Affirms Decision to Keep Jim Thorpe’s Body in Carbon County
Morning Call: Pa. Town Flooded With Requests From Welcome Signs with Gun Rights Message (AP)
Morning Call: NCAA Should Fire President Over Penn State Sanctions, Senator Corman Says
Express Times: Allentown Businesswoman Announces Run for City Council
Express Times: Easton Parking Authority May Be Tapped for Ticket Appeal Hearings
Express Times: Bethlehem Area School District STEM Curriculum Gets $32,355 Donation
Express Times: Nazareth Schools Promised Not to Disclose Teacher’s Inappropriate Relationship
Express Times: Bethlehem Councilman Michael Recchiuti Running for Re-Election
North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Obama Opens the Door for U.S. Ground Troops in Fight Against the Islamic State
Centre Daily Times: Proposal Would Name Blue Band Building After Bundy
Centre Daily Times: Polls Says Pennsylvanians Want to See Paterno Statue Restored (AP)
Centre Daily Times: Congress Considers Toughening Stance on Immigrants’ Asylum Claims
Centre Daily Times: Congress Clears XL Pipeline Bill, Setting Up Veto
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Commissioner Will Seek First Full Turn
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Mayor: Courts Are Failing Us
Opinion
Inquirer: Mission accomplished
Daily News: Nailed and screwed
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Wolf’s Public Land Drilling Ban Latest Hurdle for Gas Industry
Express Times: Teacher Discipline Hits a Wall in Arbitration
Tribune-Review: Tom Wolf, Revealed: Good Grief
Post-Gazette: Carlisle’s Comeback: Pittsburgh Doesn’t Need a Felon on City Council
Blogs
Citified: The Jim Kenney Q&A
Citified: Who’s Even more Popular than Mayor Nutter?
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Easton Violating State Law in Parking Ticket Enforcement
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Educator Announces Bid for Allentown School Board
Citizens Call: NAACP Celebrates Black History Month with ‘Standing on My Sisters’ Shoulders