2/17 Morning Buzz

MountrushmoreSestak is already recruiting volunteers, Rep. Marino gets an opponent and Neuman is running two campaigns at once. Plus, last week’s Ups & Downs. Happy President’s Day, here’s the Buzz.

PA-10: Dem To Challenge Rep. Marino: Rodriguez declares that he is “running to win.”

2016: Sestak Recruiting Volunteers: The Admiral is building his infrastructure 27 months before his election.

Neuman Seeking Lt. Gov. and House Re-election: State Rep. Brandon Neuman will run for both Lt. Gov. his House seat.

ACU Rates PA State Legislators: The American Conservative Union graded each member of the PA House and Senate using conservative scoring measures.

Valentine’s Day Ups & Downs: Despite the distractions of a blizzard, the Hallmark Holiday and the Netflix drop of Season 2 “House of Cards,” politicos still gave us enough fodder for this week’s Ups & Downs. See who made the list.

Legislative Elections Update:

HD-197, HD-180, HD-179, SD-2: Popular, anti-establishment Philadelphia City Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez is backing a set of Hispanic challengers to incumbents in the General Assembly: Quetcy Lozada, who served as her chief of staff is taking on Rep. Angel Cruz (HD-180); and Jason Dawkins, who is going against first-term incumbent State Rep. James Clay (HD-179). In the race to replace Miranda, she’s backing Danilo Burgos, despite the local party promoting another candidate. Maria Sanchez’s husband, Tomas, is attempting to oust State Sen. Christine Tartaglione

HD-36: Today at the City Theatre in Pittsburgh’s Historic South Side, State Representative Erin Molchany will formally announce her reelection bid. She will be joined by local elected democrats: County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Mayor Bill Peduto, City Council President Bruce Kraus, City Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak and others. Thanks to redistricting, Molchany faces colleague, Rep. Harry Readshaw (D-Allegheny) in the Democratic primary.

HD-164: State Representative Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia) endorsed Billy Smith for State Representative in Pennsylvania’s 164th District. Smith is running against incumbent Rep. Margo Davidson (D-Montgomery).

Statewide
PA Independent: Week In Review: PA House speaker to retire, education grants scrutinized
StateImpactPA: Well fire in southwest Pa. may burn through the weekend
StateImpactPA: Corbett calls for investigation into Chesapeake Energy
StateImpactPA: Study finds methane emissions are higher than government estimates

Philadelphia
CapitolInq: Fitzpatrick leads fight to restore military pensions
Inquirer: Big money flowing into Pa. governor’s race
Inquirer: DRPA’s pet excesses come back to bite PATCO riders
Inquirer: Changing Skyline: Stern rebuke: City tells museum architect to try again
Inquirer: The long road to a failed project in Norristown
Inquirer: Getting Center City movie theater a second run wasn’t easy
Daily News: Washington Republicans question new appointment of one of their own
Philly.com: His federal agenda actually is rocket science

SEPA
Courier-Times: Morrisville loses open space cash
Courier-Times: Pileup has turnpike officials looking into ‘every aspect’ of crash
Courier-Times: Technology means no snow days for some businesses
Pottstown Mercury: New report shows Montco lacking in high-quality early education
Pottstown Mercury: ‘Futile’ early budget vote would raise Pottsgrove taxes as much as 3.6%
Pottstown Mercury: Decision on controversial Phoenixville senior housing plan expected in March

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Pa. liquor stores record spike in sales before recent snowstorm
Tribune Review: Former Corbett aide significantly cut email keeping rule
Tribune Review: Western Pa.’s rivers an ‘untapped resource,’ Boston company says
Post-Gazette: Same-sex couples to seek Pennsylvania marriage licenses today
Post-Gazette: Corbett challenges royalties of gas producer Chesapeake Energy
Post-Gazette: Same-sex couples in Pa. find insurance is uneven

Southwest
Beaver County Times: Ambridge principal takes PA Cyber job
Beaver County Times: Blackhawk board voids contract, provokes teachers
Beaver County Times: Kids for Cash: Movie has officials reflecting on juvenile justice system
AP: Pa. prosecutor eyes gas royalty check complaints
Altoona Mirror: Salaries, health care often sticking points in teacher contracts
Johnstown Tribune Democrat: Shuster shapes transportation plan

NEPA
Times Leader: Area lawmakers weigh in on issue
Times Leader: 8-percent county tax hike not changing
Times Tribune: New Scranton council aims to turn page from past
Times Tribune: Gaming Board takes on tavern license duties
Wayne Independent: Shale gas webinar looks at current data
Wayne Independent: P3 project moves forward
Standard Speaker: Mayor to veto budget; talks go nowhere

South Central
Carlisle Sentinel: Township vs. county governance: Officials say cost-efficiency isn’t always best
Carlisle Sentinel: Hampden officials were getting ready to vote on development
Carlisle Sentinel: New body-camera legislation has its ups and downs
AP: Ex-top Pa. prosecutor scaled back email retention
AP: Tom Corbett campaign takes on jobs, taxes in new radio ad
Harrisburg Patriot News: Susquehanna Twp. attorney is first Democrat to challenge U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta in 2014
Harrisburg Patriot News: Pa. makes it easier for private companies to sell flood insurance, but will they come?
Harrisburg Patriot News: State Rep. Brian Sims makes Out magazine’s Top 10 list of most eligible bachelors
Harrisburg Patriot News: Sponsors of medical marijuana bill say science is on their side, despite claims of Pa. Secretary for Drugs and Alcohol
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: 6 prominent women in politics

Lehigh Valley
Express Times: Greenwich Township officials ready to launch new website, consider upgrades to office technology
The Morning Call: Politics as Usual: Lehigh Valley Democrats splitting endorsements

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Dem candidate Wolf to campaign in Erie
Erie Times-News: How Erie’s representatives in Congress voted last week
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Bid for charter school in Nippenose Valley off table
AP: Pa. prosecutor eyes gas royalty check complaints

Opinion
Daily News: DN Editorial: Curse of Kane
Inquirer: Inquirer Editorial: Shifting toward thrift
Post-Gazette: Just the ticket: The Port Authority charts a safe route
Beaver County Times: Judge’s decision to hold closing arguments in secret has chilling effect on openness
Harrisburg Patriot News: Toomey votes against what working families and the poor need: PennLive letters
Harrisburg Patriot News: The real goal of ‘Paycheck Protection?’ Silencing the middle class
Lebanon Daily News: To change Pa.’s property-tax system, everyone’s voice must be heard

Blogs
Above Average Jane: Wadud Ahmad Supports Katie McGinty
Commonwealth Foundation: Liberal Group Screams “Murder” over Medicaid Expansion
Keystone Politics: #HD164 Brian Sims Endorses Billy Smith’s Primary Challenge to Margo Davidson
Keystone Politics: #PAGov: The 10 Best Ideas From Tom Wolf’s ‘Fresh Start’ Policy Agenda
Keystone Politics: Cars Are Dangerous
Keystone Politics: Peduto Rebuffs Yellow Cab Whiners
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: The Rise of the Municipal Snowblower
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Does This Top ’83 Record?
Liberty City Press: Her Mother’s House

3 Responses

  1. Sims has done a real good job. Yeah he may be a raging liberal, but he’s also worked to be bipartisan. I think it’s safe to assume that if this rumor turns out true, it won’t be a close race this time around. Sims by a landslide.

  2. Dear Mr. Fabregas: Let’s assume your premise is correct, that Jeff Romoff and Scotty Baker of UPMC are beggaring Highmark? Is that good for healthcare in the Pittsburgh region? Can you trust WORLD CLASS Jeff Romoff to re-invest back in the State and City that he loves so much, if World Class Jeff Romoff gets the monopoly that he covets so much in Western PA? Cleveland has 2 World Class hospital systems. Why can’t Pittsburgh have 2 systems as well? Of course, I know Scotty Baker promised Mr. Romoff a Governor. Yes Tom Corbett and Romoff deserve each other. Maybe when the voters dispatch Corbett and the UPMC board wakes up and dispatches, World Class Jeff, they can retire together. http://trib.me/1dRPCOl
    Dr. Bill Winkenwerder, CEO of health insurer Highmark Inc., exuded confidence this week when he spoke to reporters about the company’s future. He greeted us

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    • No. I've already decided on how to cast my vote. (81%)
    • Yes. Anxious to hear from both candidates (19%)

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