Naughton enters the PA-8 race, Terry Madonna looks at Gov. Wolf’s budget address and Santarsiero unveils a plethora of endorsements. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!
PA-8: Naughton Jumps Into Congressional Contest: The Congressional hopeful declared her candidacy today and earned the backing of former Gov. Ed Rendell.
Politically Uncorrected: Wolf’s Budget: The Rising Price of A Civilized Society: Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s new budget with its imposing array of new taxes promises to determine exactly how much Pennsylvanians are willing to pay for a civilized society.
PA-8: Santarsiero Unveils Slew of Endorsements: The State Rep. responds to Naughton’s declaration with a show of strength.
Torsella Pledges to Increase Transparency in the Treasury: In the wake of the McCord scandal, State Treasurer hopeful Joe Torsella thinks disclosure reform is necessary.
Statewide
PA Independent: ‘Shell game:’ Is Wolf’s proposed budget $29.9 billion, or is it $33.8 billion?
PA Independent: Charter school advocates howling mad over Wolf’s budget
PA Independent: Governor wants natural gas tax, but it won’t close Pennsylvania budget gap
StateImpactPA: Pipeline opponents target Drexel University
PLSReporter: In Reflection with Sen. Earl Baker (R-Chester)
PLSReporter: WATCH: And the nominees are…PennDOT Sec. Leslie Richards
Philadelphia
Inquirer: Nutter Budget Proposal Gets Mixed Reception
Inquirer: New – and Secretive – Nonprofit Seeks to Influence Council Races
Inquirer: Kenney Brings Enthusiasm to His Mayoral Campaign
Inquirer: Immigrant Advocates Blast Proposed Pa. Benefits Bill
WHYY Newsworks: Philly Fund for Razing, Rehabbing Abandoned Properties Running Out
WHYY Newsworks: Nutter Proposes Extra $105 Million Annually for Philadelphia Schools
WHYY Newsworks: Wolf Budget Proposal Calls for Pa. Higher Ed Increases with Tuition Freeze
WHYY Newsworks: City Elections Are Taking a Snow Day
WHYY Newsworks: Mayor Asks Philly Property Owners to Dig Deeper to Help Schools
SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Deadline Extended for Pottstown Fire Company Merger
Pottstown Mercury: Preliminary OJR School Budget Shows 1.9% Tax Hike
Delco Daily Times: Legislation Would Strengthen Background Checks for Firearms Sales
Bucks Local News: Pa. Senate Prepares to Debates Virtues of House’s Liquor Privatization Bill
Bucks Local News: Bucks County Veterans ID Program Dubbed Huge Success
Bucks Local News: Bucks County Commissioners Turn Their Attention to Renovating the Former Courthouse; Hire Company to Manage Process
Daily Local News: Downingtown Borough Council Permits Field Lights at Bishop Shanahan
Daily Local News: Penn Township Supervisors Seek Salt Storage Building
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Business Times: See How Much More Local Schools Would Get Under Wolf’s Budget Plan
Pittsburgh Business Times: Western Pennsylvania Schools Could To $78M in Additional Funds Under Wolf’s Plan
Pittsburgh Business Times: Wolf Reaffirms Highmark-UPMC Pact
Pittsburgh Business Times: Wolf Seeks to Restore Funding for Solar Rebate Program
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Linda Lane ‘Pleased’ With Wolf’s Budget Proposal
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Wolf Says Pennsylvania Severance Tax ‘Not a Partisan Idea’
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Auditor General’s Report on Cheyney University Paints a ‘Bleak’ Outlook
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Pa. Education Department Faulted Over Audit
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Auditor General Eugene DePasquale Renews Push for Statewide Pension Overhaul
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: GOP Lawmakers Dispute Wolf Budget’s Taxes
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Federal Jury Says Gas Company Shorted Owners on Royalties
Southwest
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Clinton Urges State Department to Release Her Emails (AP)
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Turnpike Operating Under Weather Emergency
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: AG: Man Lied About Buying Auto Insurance at Accident Scene
Beaver County Times: Six Local School Districts Seek Exceptions Over Act 1
Beaver County Times: Ambridge Area Website Helps Address Community Issues
NEPA
Pocono Record: Freezing Workers Claim Dangerous, Inhumane Conditions at Tannersville Freight Facility
Pocono Record: States On Edge About the Future of Health Insurance Markets
Pocono Record: Philadelphia Mayor Unveils 9 Percent Property Tax Hike Plan
The Times Leader: Philadelphia Police Office Shot in Head, Killed
The Times Leader: Luzerne County Court Records Show Defense Bills for Hugo Selinski Approaching $500,000
The Times Leader: Major Survey Shows Most Americans Support Same-Sex Marriage
News Item: Clausi Proposes Construction of New Prison at Celotex Site
South Central
Intelligencer: Expert, in Speech Here, Confronts Civilian Toll of American Wars
Intelligencer: How Much Property Tax Relief will your District get Under Wolf’s Proposal?
Patriot News: State Workers Sent Home Early
Patriot News: PA Budget Debate could Mean Long, Hot Summer for Lawmakers
Patriot News: Wolf Visits PennDOT Workers
Patriot News: Bob Casey Aims for Washington to Reduce School Suspensions
Patriot News: Harrisburg Business Woman Khianna Palmer Enters City Council Race
Patriot News: Penn St: ‘We Are’ Treated Better in Wolf’s Budget than other Universities
Sentinel: Wall Street Managers Get Cut of PA Pension Funds
Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: With Wolf Visit, Hamburg High School Enjoys Attention
Express-Times: Strohe Remembered as a Fair District Judge
Express-Times: Northampton County Council Approves Law Requiring Seven-Day Vetting Process for Cabinet Nominees
Morning Call: Items and Services Newly Taxable Under Wolf
Morning Call: High Court Rejects Judge’s Challenge to Ban on Moonlighting
North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Who Pays Most Taxes, Least Taxes in Erie County
Sun Gazette: ‘The Best’
Sun Gazette: Democrat Announces for City Council
Opinion
Inquirer: Signs and Portents
Daily News: Ramsey & the Policing Guidelines
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Response To Hoax Prompt, Correct
YDR: This is Hope, We Hope, in Wolf’s Budget
Patriot News: Here’ why Brick-and-Mortar Charter Schools are Good for PA
Reading Eagle: With Budget Proposal, Wolf Thinks Big
Blogs
Citified: The Brief: Mayor Nutter’s Last Tax Hike Is a Whopper
Citified: Is Philadelphia Ready for a Plastic Bag Tax?
Citified: Cool New App to Explore City’s Budget
Citified: Does Michael Nutter’s Property Tax Stand a Chance?
Keystone Crossroads: City and State Officials for “Common Sense” Pension Reform
Keystone Crossroads: Snow and more snow leaves some sidewalks unshoveled
Commonwealth Foundation: Historic Spending and Tax Hikes Will Hurt Pennsylvanians
PA Budget and Policy Center: Pennsylvania’s Economy Still a Turnaround: Falling Unemployment Results From People Leaving the Job Market
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Pat Broscius to Seek Magisterial District Judgeship in Bethlehem Township
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: DA Morganelli Pay His Debt to Society
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Brown and Cusick Overheard at Recent GOP Event