Wolf unleashes another ad, the PA-13 candidates held a forum and we break down the February jobs report. Enjoy this last bit of real news before we dive into April Fool’s Day fun. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.
Pennsylvania’s Dumbest Legislative Staffers: We all know who they are. From Harrisburg to Washington DC, many of the staffers charged with doing the people’s business simply don’t belong there.
PA-Gov: McGinty Proposes Ethics Reform: Her aim is to restore the public’s confidence in their government.
PA-Gov: Wolf and His Jeep Star in New Ad: The Democratic front-runner released a new TV spot today in which he rides around in his now famous vehicle.
PA-Gov: Schwartz Unveils Plan to Increase Government Accountability: The gubernatorial candidate looks to combat many of the recent problems that have plagued state politics.
PA-13: Leach Receives Sen. Sanders’ Endorsement: The Independent Congressman is one of several national supporters for Leach.
PA-13: Candidates Meet Once Again in Open Forum: Five of the six PA-13 candidates debated the issues last Sunday morning.
PA-8: Strouse Talks Veterans Issues on MSNBC: The Democratic congressional candidate spoke about veterans issues with MSNBC host Chris Jansing.
Reader Poll: Will Guzzardi Survive a Petition Challenge?: We ask our readers whether the GOP gubernatorial candidate will ultimately make the primary ballot.
Philly GOP Makes Democratic Blunder Bracket: In honor of March Madness, Republicans had some fun with their Democratic counterparts — who are not having the best month.
February Jobs Report: Unemployment Plummets: Following the media blitz by the Corbett campaign over the unemployment number, the full jobs report and comparative analysis is not available.
Reader Poll: Campaign Ads Don’t Work: Our readers narrowly contend that campaign ads have never changed their views about a candidate.
Statewide
Capitolwire: Bill calls for an end to PlanCon moratorium, resuming state reimbursements for school construction projects
StateImpactPA: Pa. leases more than 1,400 acres of land under rivers and streams to drillers
StateImpactPA: DEP postpones hearings on forced pooling request in western Pa.
Philadelphia
Inquirer: Boston consultant awarded $425K to review PGW sale
Inquirer: Lead prosecutor in sting case appears before ethics panel
Inquirer: Spanier sues prosecutors, seeks dismissal of case
Daily News: Is Democratic race for governor over, or stalled?
Philly.com: FEMA to conduct emergency drill at Pa. nuclear power plant
PhillyClout: State Rep. Pam DeLissio keeps her spot on the ballot
Big Tent: Ethics reform an issue for Dem gov candidates
Heard in the Hall: State Rep. Pam DeLissio wins Commonwealth Court ruling on residency
SEPA
Huffington Post: Docs show Marjorie Margolies turned to her own charity in time of need
Courier-Times: Bucks Commissioners heading down the road
Courier-Times: Galloway bill would ease financial strain for living organ donors
Courier-Times: Federal judge dismisses ’emotional distress’ claim by county worker
Montgomery Media: Bucks County board OKs contracts for Justice Center
Montgomery Media: Proposed Green Lane development heads to Zoning Board
Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: The White House honors the Rev. Glenn Grayson for fighting violence
Post-Gazette: In-home aid for elderly pinched
Pittsburgh Business Journal: Workers’ compensation rates fall
Tribune Review: Lawmaker Schwartz aims to lead pack of Democrats for Pa. governor
Tribune Review: Shale gas drilling could be boost to Allegheny County parks
Tribune Review: Pennsylvania’s charter school funding debate no closer to resolution
Southwest
Observer-Reporter: Demonstrators protest St. Anthony’s Church closing
Altoona Mirror: Amtran embraces use of social media
Altoona Mirror: IRC confronts financial issues
Altoona Mirror: Township approves funds for search system updates
Beaver County Times: NRC to host open house to discuss Beaver Valley nuke plant
NEPA
Times Tribune: Feds won’t oppose temporary release for Musto
Times Tribune: Motorist fee increases start Tuesday
Times Tribune: Senator Casey to appear at autism event
Times Leader: Citizen to join ethics commission
Times Leader: Retiring WA super says the students always came first
Times Leader: Single female driver? It pays to live here
South Central
AP: Pa. Democrats helped GOP in gerrymandering to retain U.S. House control
Harrisburg Patriot News: State ‘private option’ Medicaid plans, like Corbett’s, would cut benefits, hurt the poor: Monday Morning Coffee
Harrisburg Patriot News: Local TV peppered with $1 million in early gubernatorial campaign ads
Harrisburg Patriot News: Legislators want state to repay schools owed $1.7B with Corbett’s proposed block grant money
Harrisburg Patriot News: Real estate trends suggest good news for underwater homeowners
York Daily Record: A rush to enroll, website problems, mark deadline day for health care
York Daily Record: Scott Wagner to be sworn in as state senator Wednesday
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: Corbett still the most likely guv to lose his seat in 2014
Lebanon Daily News: Marijuana rally pushes for legalization, reform
Reading Eagle: Democratic governor hopeful touts experience
Reading Eagle: Exeter residents wary of school merger
AP: Republicans in control of House got help from Pennsylvania Democrats
North by Northwest
AP: Liquor Control Board concerned about W. Pa. judges
Campaign ‘14 Blog: Corbett to launch “Catholics for Corbett-Cawley”
Centre Daily Times: Pat Toomey honors PSU volleyball team
Williamsport Sun Gazette: City man content, praises natural gas development in area
Opinion
Post-Gazette: Clients first: DPA forgot the first rule of customer service
Beaver County Times: Shining star
Harrisburg Patriot News: Here’s what Rob McCord didn’t tell you about my lawsuit: Simon Campbell
Williamsport Sun Gazette: It’s easy to make a villain of the natural gas industry
Inquirer: Inquirer Editorial: They’re not exactly gifts
Daily News: DN Editorial: WOMEN IN PA.-LITICS
Blogs
Commonwealth Foundation: Are Teachers’ Union Dues Used for Politics?
Commonwealth Foundation: Protected from Obamacare
Keystone Politics: #PA13: First Senate Endorsement Goes to Daylin Leach
Keystone Politics: #BlingSting: What If Frank Fina Just Wants Cover For Botched Sandusky Investigation?
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Is Jim Gregory Harassing Woman In the Can?
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Bottom-Feeding Blogger Gets Keystone Press Award
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3 Responses
Dear Signor Ferrari: I have 3 questions that I would like answered about the Corbett/Sandusky case: 1. What happened to Gricar and why has the search for him been so tepid? 2. Why was the Second Mile passed over? This was the Sandusky charity; it’s where he met Victim #!? 3. What advice did the Dark Prince Brabender give on these important legal matters? Brabender is paid to give advice; he doesn’t give it for free. What was his advice? Signor Ferrari: These questions keep me up at night. Can you enlighten me with your thick dossier on all things Corbett.
4/2/14: I’m back! And so is the Great Truth Teller of PA: Signor Ferrari from CasablancaPA.com: Monday, March 31, 2014 LET’S SEE WHAT HAPPENS
The defenders of former Deputy Attorney General Frank Fina recently bent the ear of Philadelphia Inquirer commentator Michael Smerconish. It appears that intrepid crime fighter Fina really wasn’t trying to nab just any ol’ bad guys in the sting Attorney General Kathleen Kane deep-sixed. Instead, Fina wanted to use controversial confidential informant Tyron Ali to troll Harrisburg “to see what would happen”:
“However, these five individuals were never the investigation’s focus, according to a person close to the investigation with whom I spoke last week: ‘We could have done that until the cows came home.’ Instead, the investigation had a broader, long-term focus predicated on relationship-building, ‘not pinching individual legislators,’ said this individual. Indeed, investigators say this wasn’t about individual lawmakers, which is why they take umbrage with Kane having played the race card. Their effort was born of frustration that, despite having racked up 23 convictions of both Republicans and Democrats in Bonusgate and Computergate, there was no change in the culture of Pennsylvania politics. So they set their sights larger, intending to let Ali spread money around, ingratiate himself, and see what would happen if the faux lobbyist set up offices in Harrisburg.” (Philadelphia Inquirer 3/30/14)
Well, if they didn’t really want to nab the now-infamous four Democratic state legislators caught on tape, who exactly did they want to entrap to end this nefarious “culture” of Pennsylvania politics? A sitting leader in the legislature? All members of all four legislative caucuses? What does it really mean to say they wanted an open-ended sting to “see what would happen?”
4/1/14 Dear Politics PA Readers: This will be my last comment! I’ve taken a job with Team Corbett and The Prince of Darkness as the leader of the Zombie Coalition. Zombies favor Corbett by a wide margin and we just have to get out the vote. As was the custom, my wife, Father, Mother in-law and my Son all had to take State jobs. I guess this will drop unemployment in PA. I had to take a blood oath to the PRINCE OF DARKNESS, John Brabender. Also, I had to agree to certain conditions, like stop calling the PRINCE OF DARKNESS, Our Acting Governor, I have to stop asking about Gricar (unless he is a Zombie and then he is fair game.), and I had to write an essay on why PA kids deserve Cyber Charter Schools. Farewell All.