It’s polling-palooza here in PA: Quinnipiac and Franklin & Marshall released their PA-Gov polls showing that Wolf leads, backing up the Harper Polling results we showed you yesterday. Arkoosh gets some national exposure and McClelland is endorsed by the IBEW. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.
Quinnipiac Poll: Wolf Opens Widest Lead Over Corbett: Tom Wolf surges among Democrats while Governor Tom Corbett’s approval rating remains upside down.
F&M Poll: Wolf 36%, Schwartz 9%: A Franklin and Marshall poll of Democratic primary voters shows that Wolf leads the pack with numbers driven by his television ad campaign.
Harper Poll: Wolf at 40%, Schwartz at 14%: In the last Harper Poll, Wolf earned 5% in the Democratic primary. After his unopposed TV blitz, this month he leads the pack with 40%.
PA-12: McClelland Endorsed By IBEW 29: McClelland picked up her second IBEW endorsement in her campaign for the Democratic nomination in PA-12.
PA-8: Strouse Earns Laborers’ Union Endorsement: Laborers’ Union Local 57 announced today they will be supporting Democratic candidate Kevin Strouse in the race for PA’s 8th district.
PA-13: Arkoosh Picks Up Endorsements and Exposure: Val Arkoosh continues to receive the support of the medical field, while also picking up a State Rep.’s endorsement and a Huff Post bio.
Gerlach Introduced and Will Testify For Take Care Clause Act: The bill he introduced aims to equal the balance of power between Congress and the President.
Reader Poll: Trivedi Edges Out Parrish in PA-6: A slight majority of readers believe that Manan Trivedi will prevail in the Democratic primary in PA-6.
Politically Uncorrected: Game Changer or Game Over?: Is Wagner a game changer or is his game merely over?
Reader Poll: Incumbent vs Incumbent in HD-36: We ask our readers which State Representative will prevail in the battle for the 36th House District.
Legislative Elections Update:
SD-24: State Senator Bob Mensch (R-Montgomery) formally announced today that he will seek re-election representing the 24th Senate District, which includes portions of Montgomery, Bucks, and Berks Counties.
HD-19: State Rep. Jake Wheatley (D-Allegheny) will kick off his re-election bid today at 6pm at the United Steelworkers Building. He is seeking his 6th term representing part of Pittsburgh. “We have seen significant progress throughout the district, but as we all know much more work needs to be done,” Wheatley said. “It has been an honor to serve my community and I am proud to be a voice for the people of the district.”
HD-182: Progressive Majority, a group dedicated to electing “progressive champions,” endorsed Rep. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia) for reelection to his seat. The group supported him in 2012 when he ousted Babette Josephs in the Democratic primary. He will face her again in the primary this year.
HD-202: Meanwhile, the Philly Daily News reported that Sims took a shot at his colleague Rep. Mark Cohen (D-Phila) on Facebook. In a comment supporting his opponent, Jared Solomon: “Virtually every single person in the Capitol has a story about Mark being lost in a bathroom or arguing with the plants or with the pictures on the wall,” Sims wrote. “Much more importantly, he’s simply not showing up to the one committee he serves on and chairs, across from [state Rep.] Daryl Metcalfe!”
Statewide
U.S. News and World Report: America’s Most Vulnerable Governor: Unapologetic and Undeterred
PA Independent: Governor ties proposed PA education funding to targeted grants
PA Independent: DPW secretary confident feds will approve Healthy PA Medicaid reform
State House Sound Bites: Administration urges caution on film tax credit expansion
StateImpactPA: Environmental groups rally against plan to expand drilling in state forests
Capitolwire: State-relateds’ presidents decidedly cool to idea of more organized higher ed system in PA
Capitolwire: No guarantee of $75 million from gas leasing proposal, DCNR chief says
Philadelphia
KYW Newsradio: PennDOT Begins Hauling 20,000 Tons of Extra Salt To Get Pa. Through Snowy Winter
Philly.com: Will the Keystone State Become a Stoned State?
Inquirer: City reaches settlement with white-collar unions
Inquirer: Area’s GOP congressmen score low in a way that could help
PhillyClout: Sims questions Cohen’s “faculties to do this job” in state House
Commonwealth Confidential: Facebook fracas: House Rep. accuses colleague of “arguing with the plants”
Commonwealth Confidential: Under fire from Dems, Corbett officials defend gas leasing plan
SEPA
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks Democrats will not endorse congressional candidate
Bucks County Courier Times: Municipalities to benefit from $345 million in fuels tax
Burlington County Times: Outsourcing trash collection continues to pit some against Moorestown
Delco Daily Times: Grants take aim at violence in schools
Pottstown Mercury: D.A. investigating Douglas (Mont.) township supervisor
Pottstown Mercury: Sen. Bob Mensch to seek re-election to Pa.’s 24th Dist.
Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh councilman suggests annual conference focused on needy neighborhoods
Tribune Review: Judge sentences Harper to 18 months in prison on corruption charges
Tribune Review: Speakers assail state’s school funding formula
Post-Gazette: Corbett aide who helped craft Medicaid overhaul leaving
Post-Gazette: Corbett: Pa. saved $300M preventing welfare fraud
Post-Gazette: Democrat Wolf jumps to the front of the pack for Pa. gubernatorial nomination
Post-Gazette: Highmark to insure same-sex couples in Pennsylvania
Post-Gazette: Ride-share firms gain more traction with support from PUC
KDKA: Pittsburgh In Running To Possibly Host 2016 DNC
Southwest
Beaver County Times: Auditor general begins series of meetings on charter schools
Altoona Mirror: Commission debates reducing number of council members
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat:Gov candidate may have work to do with labor unions
NEPA
The Times Leader: Meuser touts Pa. budget plan
Citizens Voice: Meuser: Jobs in state’s private sector on the rise
Citizens Voice: County council nixes plan for controversial executive session
Standard Speaker: Senators raise NEPA economic issues at budget hearing
South Central
Patriot-News: Always a battleground, Senate Dems eye the Philly ‘burbs in 2014
Patriot-News: Wolf leaps to the front of Dem primary pack in new poll
Patriot-News: Gov. Corbett sells the small stuff before business groups Tuesday
Patriot-News: Pennsylvania Senator’s query about a higher education “coordinating council” draws cold shoulder from university presidents
Carlisle Sentinel: Harrisburg mayor launches fight on blight
Carlisle Sentinel: Military, local posts face threat of cuts
Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Tobyhanna Army Depot cuts amount to one-third of staff
Morning Call: City Council hears testimony in termination hearing for Bethlehem police officer
Morning Call: No surprise: Airport Authority supports FedEx Ground plan
Morning Call: Costco center developer plans to use township land for ‘rain garden’
Express-Times: Jill Cicero will be tapped as the next Northampton County Court administrator
Express-Times: Northampton County executive brings on personnel, public relations consultants
North by Northwest
Sun-Gazette: Senior housing gets $500,000+ in tax credits
Sun-Gazette: Drug worries cited for lack of support for bus route test
Erie Times: Erie County Council hears first reading of Dahlkemper jobs request
Erie Times: HealthSouth Erie announces layoffs
Erie Times: New commercial construction planned for Millcreek Mall area
Opinion
Patriot-News: Pound wise or penny foolish? What do you think of the proposed Army cuts?
Express-Times: EDITORIAL: Paid sick leave is cost-effective for businesses
Inquirer: Inquirer Editorial: Courting development
Delco Daily Times: P$U president’s salary point of concern
Tribune Review: The Harper sentence: Justice is served
Times-Tribune: District drives revenue away from tax base Disconnect link on Abington Heights site
Blogs
Above Average Jane: Sean Sullivan in the 175th
Above Average Jane: Jed Grobstein Leaves Race
Commonwealth Foundation: Myth: PA Spends Less on Education
PA Budget and Policy Center: Morning Must Reads: A Few Inconvenient Shale Truths
2 Political Junkies: State of Disgrace
Lu-Lac Political Letter: Back in the saddle
Media Trackers: Union Supporters Disrupt Americans for Prosperity PA Town Hall Meeting
Keystone Politics: Shocker: Wolf Opens Up Huge Lead in New Harper #PAGov Poll
Keystone Politics: #HD202: Jared Solomon Tweaks Mark Cohen For Abusing Per Diems
One Response
Brian Sims should APOLOGIZE for his comments about Cohen. They are disrespectful and over the top!!!
I CANNOT believe he said that publically because he sounds like a teenage brat mad at his daddy!!!