3/25 Morning Buzz

Murray Caddy Shack groundhogThe groundhog is officially in the doghouse. Good snowy morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.

And here they are in case you missed last week’s Ups & Downs.

PoliticsPA Exclusive: McIlhinney Could Face Primary Over Liquor Privatization: Local official and conservative activist Rob Ciervo says he’ll challenge the state Senator if he doesn’t support efforts to privatize liquor stores.

Democrats Fundraising and Listbuilding the Heck Out of Pileggi Electoral College Plan: Despite a lack of indications that legislation bill is going anywhere, Democrats have embarked on a frenetic push against a proposal to change the way Pennsylvania allocates its electoral college votes.

WaPo Ranks PA Guv Race #6 in the Nation: The Fix over at Washington Post rated Pennsylvania number 6 on its latest list of Governorships most likely to change party control. It’s a promotion from number 8 last time.

House Passes Liquor Bill: Following seven hours of debate on Thursday, the Pennsylvania House approved HB 790 105-90. This is the furthest that any legislation has made it through the Pennsylvania General Assembly since the end of Prohibition eighty years ago.

Reader Poll: Will Liquor Bill Pass The Senate? After much debate, HB 790 passed the Pa. House on Thursday. Will it pass the Senate?

Reader Poll: Castor For Gov: Last week we asked readers who the Republicans should support for governor in 2014, Tom Corbett, Bruce Castor, or someone else. Out of 854 votes, Castor came in first with 44% of the vote. “Someone else” came in ahead of Governor Corbett by a narrow margin of 2%.

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Call center jobs expected to boost other parts of midstate economy
State House Sound Bites: Penn State forum gauges expectations for next president
State House Sound Bites: Midstate family investigates son’s murder conviction
State House Sound Bites:State unemployment rate slightly down last month
State House Sound Bites: Pennsylvanians could soon register to vote online
House Sound Bites: PUC: Beware of scams
State House Sound Bites: Are there enough primary care doctors in PA?
State House Sound Bites: DEP Chief steps down for job as energy industry lawyer
PA Independent: Week in Review: Liquor and legislation in PA statehouse
PA Independent: WATCHBLOG: Cook Report calls PA 2014 election a ‘toss-up’
StateImpactPA: DEP Secretary Krancer is Stepping Down
StateImpactPA: Controversial Head of DEP Leaving Agency to Work on Behalf of Energy Industry
Capitolwire: OFF THE FLOOR: Corbett’s “close your eyes” defense is right, misses point.
Capitolwire: House approves liquor privatization bill in historic vote.
Capitolwire: House liquor vote shows cracks in once-reliable coalition.

Philadelphia
AP: Is Pa. ready for statewide charter authorizer?
AP: Pa. DEP secretary Krancer stepping down
AP: Wanted: Punxsutawney Phil
Inquirer: Thomas Fitzgerald: Crowding the field already
Inquirer: The Pulse: Open primaries would aid the GOP
Inquirer: Ballot spots picked for May 21 primary
Inquirer: Property owned by Philly councilwoman’s husband is more than $4,200 behind in taxes
Inquirer: Federal budget cuts cost 82 jobs at PHA
Inquirer: Pa. court says city can’t cut pay of tax revision board
Inquirer: Pennsylvania House votes to privatize wine and liquor sales
Inquirer: PA Turnpike Commissioner J. William Lincoln resigns
Daily News: Push to abolish Traffic Court worries some big-ticket contract-holders
Daily News: A coffee can and bingo balls to determine ballot positions in Philly elections
Daily News: Should Philly’s scandal-scarred traffic court be abolished or reformed?
Daily News: Council scrutinizes schools’ student-release policies
Heard in the Hall: The judicial sweepstakes
Philly Clout: More AVI outreach sessions scheduled
Philly Clout: Abolish or reform Traffic Court? State House hears both sides
Philly Clout: City creates website to inform public of potential PGW sale
WHYY Newsworks: Brady, Fitzpatrick to join in protest, rally against mail service cuts
WHYY Newsworks: Casey opposes plan to change method of awarding Pa. electoral votes
WHYY Newsworks: Critics say Pa. Senate proposal could hurt Philly’s ability to cash in
phillynow.com: House votes to privatize liquor in Pennsylvania – what could possibly go wrong?
phillynow.com: Gov. Corbett defends ‘ultrasound’ comments: “taking completely out of context”
KYW Newsradio: Postal workers to hold rally in Old City to gain support for continuation of Saturday mail delivery

SEPA
AP: Pa. turnpike official resigns in wake of inquiry
AP: Punxsutawney Phil ‘indicted’ over spring forecast
AP: Pa. liquor bill likely to be pulled over in Senate
AP: Fired Pa. county employees to share $1 million
AP: ‘Embarrassed’ ex-Pittsburgh chief to plead guilty
AP: Corbett to meet with Sebelius Apr. 2 on Medicaid
AP: FAA closing 3 Pa. air traffic control facilities
AP: Ex-Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper indicted
Delco Daily Times: Mayors group, CeaseFirePa push for background checks at rally in West Chester
Delco Daily Times: Delco pols mixed on push to privatize sales of booze
Bucks Local News: U.S. Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick honored with National Association of Manufacturers Award

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: T expansion could take tracks to the North Hills, cost estimate over $1 billion
Tribune Review: Indicted former Pittsburgh police chief has supporters, detractors
Tribune Review: Lapses at Pittsburgh VA stoked spread of Legionella bacteria
Tribune Review: Western Pennsylvania nonprofits slowly increasing pay — and work — for leaders
Tribune Review: Adventurous visitors to Allegheny County’s North Park will soon have opportunity to go ape
Tribune Review: 2 more lawsuits planned against VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System over Legionnaires’ deaths
Post-Gazette: Race is on to ship Pennsylvania natural gas liquids to Gulf sites
Post-Gazette: Conflicts over control of drilling play out around U.S.
Post-Gazette: Forecasters upgrade predictions of snow for Pittsburgh region
Post-Gazette: Plea from former Pittsburgh police chief Nate Harper could quicken his trial
Post-Gazette: Dine / Food trucks on a roll: Fukuda joins today’s South Side round-up
Early Returns: Santorum, Gingrich almost teamed up
Early Returns: Lincoln hits the pike
KDKA: Harper Indicted On Public Corruption, Failure To Pay Taxes
WTAE: New Data: Pennsylvania teen birth rate by county
WTAE: What would President Boehner do?
WTAE: FAA closing 3 Pa. air traffic control facilities
WPXI: Government working to crack down on pre-recorded ‘Robocalls’
WPXI: Is Pa. ready for statewide charter authorizer?

Southwest
AP: $200 million gas-to-liquid plant planned for Pa.
AP: Pa. liquor bill likely to be pulled over in Senate
AP: Pa. turnpike official resigns in wake of inquiry
Altoona Mirror: Transportation bill holds future for construction jobs
Beaver County Times: Casey introduces natural gas powered bill
Tribune Democrat: New challenge for lotto action: Aging chief plans to budget $50M
Observer-Reporter: Motorists expected to bear weight of transportation funding
Observer-Reporter: Area legislators partisan on privatization

NEPA
AP: Is Pa. ready for statewide charter authorizer?
Times Leader: Pa. DEP secretary will leave gov’t post
Times Leader: Cartwright forecasts trouble from forced budget cutbacks
Times Leader: State’s unemployment rate dips
Times Leader: Hazleton council turns down liquor license transfer
Times Tribune: NEPA cities struggle with debt
News Item: What are region’s health care needs?
Standard Speaker: For cities, borrowing to pay bills dangerous
Standard Speaker: Hazleton’s debt 13.9% of budget
Standard Speaker: Local beer distributors say liquor plan could hurt their businesses

Lehigh Valley
Express Times: Easton Ethics Commission holds first meeting years after call for its formation
WFMZ: Hot Button Issue: Area Lawmakers sound off on privatization
WFMZ: Kimberly Velez wants back on Allentown City Council Ballot
Reading Eagle: Some mayors in Berks on a mission
The Morning Call: Petitions submitted to Allentown for energy plant referendum
The Morning Call: Easton breaks ground on new City Hall
Pennsylvania Ave: Dent, Cartwright split votes on Paul Ryan budget

South Central
Carlisle Sentinel: Community colleges asking state to be bold in funding
Carlisle Sentinel: Liquor bill set for big debut
Carlisle Sentinel: Kane seeks more funds, threatens layoffs
Patriot-News: Medal of Honor 150: The National Civil War Museum gathers 6 examples of highest honor
Patriot-News: Understanding the liquor privatization bill: A Q&A
Patriot-News: Group urges network to pull plug on Sandusky interview
Patriot-News: Senate players hold Corbett’s liquor plan in their hands
Patriot-News: Midstate school districts experiment with flipped classroom concept
Patriot-News: Ed Rendell urges Democrats to fight changes in awarding electoral votes
Patriot-News: Steelton-Highspire superintendent hopes to get district off financial watch by end of next school year
Patriot-News: Turnpike CEO talks pay-to-play scandal, reform and billions in debt
Patriot-News: As liquor privatization advances, supermarkets look forward to selling wine
York Daily Record: Central York superintendent contracts approved
York Daily Record: York County lawmaker joins colleague to invite gun makers to PA
York Dispatch: Device-tax repeal gains traction thanks to PA legislators
Intelligencer: Online education gets boost from Rep. Aument
Roxbury News: Harrisburg Authority: A new member?

North by Northwest
AP: Bloomberg, mayor group tout big gun control push
AP: Environmental protection secretary plans departure
AP: Phase-out of Pennsylvania state liquor store passes House
AP: E. Pa. sheriff candidates duking it out over name
AP: Pittsburgh region sees rare population growth
AP: Official at Pa. chamber fired over advocacy
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Feds to reimburse city police for record checks
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Many drillers bless new environmental policing

Opinions
Times Leader: Time to rethink gambling gamble
Times Tribune: Good deal exposes lax state regs Best practices should be standard procedure
Times Tribune: Long road to better health
Citizens Voice: Lawmakers should be looking ahead
Citizens Voice: Pro-voter bills deserve approval
News Item: Paul Ryan’s magical slice-and-dice budget
News Item: Geisinger presence will prove worthy
Wayne Independent: Board needs to tread easy on tax issues
Standard Speaker: GOP legislators move to make it easier to vote
Standard Speaker: Drone laws needed to protect privacy
Pocono Record: Just get a warrant
Erie Times-News: Thumbs up for super’s pay freeze
Centre Daily Times: Our View: Delay pipeline project, consider alternative routes
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Jumping through hoops over Lottery says a lot about Pennsylvania
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Six-figure salary trend for state employees surges
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Drilling boom/environment alliance takes step forward
Patriot-News: Lawmakers shouldn’t lose sight of consumers in liquor debate
Patriot-News: Camp Hill has an opportunity with Schaeffer Elementary School sale
York Dispatch: City residency does matter for a candidate
York Dispatch: Start from scratch with York City HRC
Intelligencer: The price of trust
WHYY Newsworks: Let’s drink to this point: Pa. state stores should be privatized
Pottstown Mercury: Pa. poorer schools suffer lack of fair funding formula
Pottstown Mercury: Pa. Turnpike Commission scandal confirms need to abolish it
DelcoDailyTimes: Legislators must reform parasitic pension
DelcoDailyTimes: Obama rightly links secure Israel to ‘absence of war’
Daily Local News: Closing gun rule loopholes
Daily Local News: Privatization of the state liquor stores: it’s now or never
Daily Local News: Pennsylvania must shift to renewables
Daily Local News: Should be merely a matter of jurisprudence
Inquirer: Fine speech by Obama, but successful?
Inquirer: Tinkering won’t fix GOP
Inquirer: Only way to reduce cost is to reduce the waste in the system
Inquirer: Providing affordable service is best left to the private sector

Blogs
The Lehigh Valley Political Blog: The Truth about the nominating petitions of Kim Velez
Pennsylvania Progressive: Punxsutawny Phil indicted in Ohio
Pennsylvania Progressive: State House votes to privatize liquor
Penn Patriot: What do PA Democrats think of David Cohen of Comcast supporting Governor Corbett’s reelection?
Keystone Politics: S. Kensington developer takes progressive approach to parking
Keystone Politics: PA needs an equitable education funding formula

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  • Will tonight's U.S. Senate debate affect your decision?


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

    Total Voters: 27

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