Wolf seeks to gets ahead of attacks, Neilson likely to avoid a primary in HD-174 and Casey votes against Obama’s DOJ nomination. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.
Frontrunner Status Catches Up With Wolf: After dominating the airwaves for weeks, the attacks begin against Wolf.
PA-12: McClelland Racks Up Beaver County Endorsements: Local Beaver County officials backed McClelland’s candidacy for the Democratic nomination.
PA-13: Arkoosh Announces Long List of Local Endorsements: The Democratic congressional candidate unveiled a long list of Montco officials who are supporting her campaign.
IBEW Local 375 Endorses Smith for Lt Gov: The oldest, and one of the largest, unions in the Lehigh Valley endorsed the Bradford County Commissioner.
Casey Helps Sink Adegbile Nomination: The no votes of Bob Casey and several other Democrats brought defeat and embarrassment to the nominee and even their party.
Leach Supporter Accused Of Domestic Violence: Rep. Alan Grayson has been issued a temporary injunction after allegedly injuring his wife.
SD-28: Special Election Battle Brews On Airwaves: Both Rep. Ron Miller and Scott Wagner are now running ads in South Central PA.
HD-174: Neilson Likely To Skip Primary With Sabatina: Sources say that Rep. Neilson will be the Democratic nominee for the vacant Philadelphia City Council seat, avoiding a primary between House incumbents.
Legislative Elections Update:
SD-28: The Keystone Progress Political Action Committee (KP PAC) announced its endorsement of Linda Small for State Senate in the 28th District Special Election. This is only the second endorsement ever made by KP PAC. She was also endorsed by VoteVets.org PAC and Admiral Joe Sestak.
HD-12: State Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) announced his candidacy for a new term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to represent the 12th Legislative District in southern Butler County. According to his campaign, Metcalfe filed more than five times the required number of Republican signatures on nomination petitions in Harrisburg on March 5, 2014. He faces Mars school board member Gordon Marburger in the Republican primary.
HD-24: CORRECTION: Yesterday we reported that Homewood native William Anderson, member of the Young Democrats of Pennsylvania and the Young Democrats of America, was challenging Representative Ed Gainey in the Democratic primary. Anderson is not a member of the Young Democrats or Pennsylvania or America, and is too old for either organization.
HD-36: State Representative Harry Readshaw, running for re-election for the 36th Legislative District, was the first in the race to turn in his petitions. The petitions, which include nearly 600 signatures of registered Democrats. He’s running against fellow Democratic Representative Erin Molchany in the primary.
HD-74: Adrian Shanker, former president of Equality Pennsylvania, endorsed Downingtown Mayor Josh Maxwell to represent the 74th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Maxwell faces Caln Township Commissioner Josh Young in the Democratic primary.
HD-84: State Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming) is running for his fifth term in the 84th House District.
HD-105: Democrat Kelly Jean McEntee has declared a rematch bid against Rep. Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin). She is an advocate for mental health services as well as for LGBT rights; she married her wife in Washington, D.C. in 2013. She has been an outspoken supporter of John Hanger’s campaign for Governor. McEntee lost in the deep red district 65% to 35% in 2012.
HD-182: Philadelphia City Councilman At-Large Jim Kenney on Wednesday announced his support of State Representative Brian Sims’ re-election bid. Sims may face his 2012 opponent, Babette Josephs in the Democratic primary.
HD-202: The Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council have endorsed State Representative Mark Cohen (D-Philadelphia) for reelection. The building and construction trades are made up of thousands of employees from 15 different international unions. Cohen has a primary challenge this year from Jared Solomon.
Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Veterans marker now available on driver’s licenses
State House Sound Bites: Liquor privatization: it’s alive
StateImpactPA: Gas industry groups seek to intervene in Act 13 case
StateImpactPA: DEP proposes $2.3 million fine for 2008 gasoline spill from Sunoco pipeline
Philadelphia
CapitolInq: Senate defeats Obama nominee tied to Mumia case
PhillyClout: DC 47 votes overwhelmingly to ratify contract
The Inquirer: As plans for Revolutionary War Museum advance, Rendell calls for more millions
Plan Philly: Council to vote on extending Comcast’s underground concourse
Plan Philly: Planning Commission accepts six-year fiscal plan, sends it on to Mayor Nutter
Philadelphia Daily News: Pa. has progressives? And 7 lt. gov. candidates?
WHYY Newsworks: Debating recreational pot from personal and community perspectives
WHYY Newsworks: Liquor privatization plan still alive in Pa.
City Paper: Should Philly’s public gas company be in private hands?
SEPA
Delco Daily Times: Slots revenue continues to tank in Pa.; Harrah’s off 11.5 percent
Montgomery Media: Community gathers for gun violence prevention panel
Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh mayor, UPMC head discuss ‘major issues’
Post-Gazette: Amendments introduced for Pittsburgh’s land bank bill
Post-Gazette: Chatham president says going coed is vital for university’s finances
Post-Gazette: Gov. Corbett, DPW move to mitigate food stamp cuts
Tribune-Review: Pittsburgh City Council gives early OK to publicizing wealth of government data
Tribune-Review: Point Park advises employees of breach of personal data
UrbanMediaToday: Mayor William Peduto Applauds Council Move On Open Data Bill
Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Blair reassessment gets green light
Altoona Mirror: Clarion still going with vets project
Beaver County Times: Environmental group gives Rothfus, Murphy failing grades
Beaver County Times: Judge unseals court transcripts after Times’ appeal
Observer-Reporter: County negotiating Mingo Park gas leases
Observer-Reporter: Alpha Natural Resources reaches settlement over tainted water
NEPA
Times Leader: Kingston looks to toughen landlord ordinance
Times Leader: Exeter to form panel to explore improvements
Times Leader: CLARCOR plant in Pittston Twp. closing
Times-Tribune: Investigation into Scranton superintendent closed, some directors say
Times-Tribune: Scranton Redevelopment Authority questions mayor’s appointment
South Central
AP: Pa. liquor board OKs tavern gambling license in Adams County
Patriot News: Wolf stands by support of controversial figures
Patriot News: Meet the owners of Pennsylvania’s first small games of chance license
Patriot News: Harrisburg councilwoman: Tying $180K CREDC ‘gift’ to control over economic development hire ‘leaves a bad taste’
Carlisle Sentinel: Carlisle mayor: No legal action to be taken against Buzz Express
York Daily Record: Rally against union dues legislation held in York this afternoon
York Dispatch: Republicans duke it out in attack ads in 28th Senate race
Lehigh Valley
Express Times: Odds slim for legal gambling at Lehigh Valley bars in coming months
Express Times: Warren Haven union blasts county over nursing home recommendations
Morning Call: City Center gets green light for another $50 million for two more downtown Allentown buildings
Morning Call: Senate rejects nominee who defended cop killer
Morning Call: Judges: Jails not required to hold suspected illegal immigrants
Reading Eagle: Berks educators express optimism about changes to the SAT
Reading Eagle: Natural gas facility in South Heidelberg takes its first step
North by Northwest
Erie Times-News Campaign ‘14 Blog: McCord’s minimum wage increase plan
Centre Daily Times: Centre County commissioners aim to speed connection project linking Courthouse Annex, Temple Court
Onward State: Penn State is a Top Producer of Members of Congress
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Williamsport works to lower its deficit
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Lieutenant governor candidate pushes for pause in drilling
Opinion
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. Supreme Court Justice sues Inquirer, others
Burlington County Times: Great bill; more transparency
Pottstown Mercury: SEN. PAT TOOMEY: Obama Justice nominee unfit to serve
Post-Gazette: Common ground: The Penguins’ plan would serve the community
Patriot-News: With revenues down, can lawmakers afford to gamble on small games of chance?
Tribune-Review: More reefer sanity
York Daily Record: Our take: North York severance deals too generous
Blogs
Citizens’ Call: Some Hard Figures on the Cheltenham District’s Cedarbrook Relocation Project
Keystone Politics: Beaver County Elected Officials Back McClelland in PA-12
Keystone Politics: #PAGov: Private Sector Job Growth Has Slowed Under Tom Corbett
Keystone Politics: #HD182: Want 9 Times Fewer Constituent Services? Reelect Babette Josephs
Keystone Progress: Keystone Progress PAC makes Rep. Erin Molchany its first ever endorsement
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: The Apathy of NorCo Exec John Brown
One Response
Dear Mayor Pedutto: I am so glad you had such a good meeting with Tom Corbett’s latest political marriage partner, World Class Jeff Romoff. Was Scotty Baker at the meeting? Well let me tell you what you and Jeff don’t have in common: Mayor Pedutto you love Pittsburgh; Romoff would like to be anywhere else but the Steel City. Did you discuss the UPMC exercising real goverance over World Class Jeff Romoff? Did you discuss a CLAWBACK of Doug Romoff’s fees? Jeff Romoff thinks has has bought the Governor’s Office through the Bakers. I hope Mayor that UPMC has not bought you. If you keep hanging around World Class Jeff Romoff, you approval numbers will plummet like Tom Corbett’s. http://trib.me/1caLsqw
Mayor Bill Peduto said he found common ground with UPMC’s CEO during a meeting Wednesday to discuss differences that he says the two sides must …