Some huge news in the emerging PA-13 primary, plus the fundraising numbers are in. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz.
Q1 2013 Fundraising: Winners & Losers: The numbers are in! See which Pennsylvania members of Congress had a good start to the 2014 cycle, and who didn’t.
Schwartz Pulled in $416K for Q1, Transfered $3M to Guv Run: Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz made productive use of her final three months as a congressional candidate, raising $416,000 in the first quarter. She also made a big transfer to her gubernatorial campaign.
Saidel Drops PA-13 Bid, Brady Backs Boyle, Cohen Files: The race for PA-13 changed a great deal Tuesday. Former Philly Controller Jonathan Saidel will not run to replace Allyson Schwartz in Congress, citing support for former Congresswoman Marjorie Margolies. Philly Dem kingpin Bob Brady endorsed Brendan Boyle.
Statewide
AP: PA flags will be lowered to half-staff in honor of bombing victims
State House Sound Bites: Senate GOP transportation plan unveiled: would raise $2.5B
State House Sound Bites: Transportation bill’s author severs ties with Senate Ds on liquor
State House Sound Bites: Charting a new route for liquor privatization money
PA Independent: Ran a red light? $100, please: PA proposal adds traffic fines for road repairs
PA Independent: PA prevailing wage changes advance, despite union, Democratic objections
Capitolwire: Sen. Rafferty’s transportation bill calls for $700 million more than Gov. Corbett’s plan
Capitolwire: Senate leaders, chairmen, administration press House leaders to act on transportation
Capitolwire: Senate Democrats to push for revamped adultBasic using future tobacco money
Capitolwire: News of facility coming to western PA promising for future of cracker plant Corbett team says
Philadelphia
Philly Clout: Saidel drops out of race for Congress, citing interest from Margolies
Philly Clout: Brady backs Boyle for 13th District U.S. House Seat
Philly Clout: Sheriff’s office asks City Council for more $$$
Heard in the Hall: Groups call for AVI Fairness, Accuracy, More Information
Commonwealth Confidential: Main Street, not State (Government) Street
Inquirer: Toomey-Machine gun bill facing uphill fight
Inquirer: Philadelphia City Council mulls “gentrification relief” from property taxes
KYW: Pa. lawmakers propose Penndot fee hikes to fund transportation projects
SEPA
AP: Senate highways plan would up ante 50 percent
AP: 2nd day added for May hearing on Philly casino
Pottstown Mercury: Public barred from joint Pottstown, Pottsgrove sewer meeting
Delco Daily Times: Gosnell abortion case shows failures of PA health department
Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh police added to stations
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh area veterans hit hard by backlog of claims
Tribune-Review: Pittsburgh mayoral candidate Wagner faults current administration, says council shares some of blame
Tribune-Review: Increased security measures planned for Pittsburgh Marathon after Boston bombings
Tribune-Review: 200 law enforcement officials to gather in Ross to start two-day conference on gang activity in Western PA
Southwest
Altoona Mirror: Blair’s Tea Party supporters rally against tax burden
Altoona Mirror: City man who ran away as teen returns with circus
Altoona Mirror: Judge reopens records of trial
Altoona Mirror: McQueary lawsuit vs. PSU moving forward
Beaver County Times: Pittsburgh Marathon prepared for secure event in May
Beaver County Times: Citing ‘unwarranted expenditure,’ body-armor charge dismissed against North Hills rapist
Beaver County Times: Officials reviewing Pittsburgh Marathon security
Beaver County Times: Pa. hospital parent firm to lay off hundreds
Beaver County Times: Corbett winds up South America trade mission
Beaver County Times: EPA: 2 Pa. natural gas companies to improve safety
Observer-Reporter: Natural gas companies agree to improve operations in Washington County
Observer-Reporter: Another state agency questions lottery deal
Observer-Reporter: Gun background check deal in jeopardy in Senate
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: William Kuchera pleads guilty to defrauding government
NEPA
Citizens Voice: Council members finishing up Lawton evaluations
Standard Speaker: AG wants to close Pa. gun loophole
The Times Leader: Game Commission acquires nearly 3,700 acres
The Times Leader: Event to assess Pa.’s odds of success
The Times Leader: Table game revenue sets record in March
The Times Leader: Lehman Twp. dissolves its municipal authority
The Times Leader: County Chief Engineer Joe Gibbons resigns
Times-Tribune: Campaign 2013
Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: City on course for $35 million cumulative deficit by ’17
Reading Eagle: Birdsboro authority defends Aquabilities purchase
Reading Eagle: Major tax hike in Gov. Mifflin district moves closer
Reading Eagle: Candidates for judgeships tout qualifications at forum
Reading Eagle: District judge candidate cites probation-officer background
WFMZ: Allentown City Council candidates blast water lease plan
Express Times: Hunterdon County freeholders introduce 2013 budget with no tax levy increase
Express Times: Nazareth Mayor Fred Daugherty Jr. resigns from office – UPDATE
Express Times: Many Pennsylvania counties skip reference checks on license-to-carry applications
Express Times: Easton Area School Board to vote on preliminary budget tonight
Morning Call: Bipartisan Pennsylvania Senate plan offers $2.5 billion in road, bridge and transit repairs and upgrades
Morning Call: Allentown council candidates speak out against water, sewer lease
Pennsylvania Ave: Toomey meets with Giffords on guns deal
South Central
AP: Health law could stress Pa. addiction services
Roxbury News: Senate Bill 1: Transportation Funding
Roxbury News: Harrisburg City Council: A name change?
Roxbury News: NRA selected by the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center to Produce the “Great American Outdoor Show.”
Lancaster Intelligencer/Era: National Rifle Association is taking over the Eastern Sports & Outdoors Show
Harrisburg Patriot News: Senate GOP ups ante on Gov. Corbett’s transportation funding package
Harrisburg Patriot News: Pa. Senate moves swiftly on jury commissioner bill
Harrisburg Patriot News: Gov. Corbett: Pa. public safety discussions ‘going on’ after Boston Marathon bombings
Harrisburg Patriot News: State Sen. Rob Teplitz to hold meeting in Derry Township
North by Northwest
AP: Corbett orders Pa. flags lowered to half-staff
AP: Giffords meets with senators on gun buyer checks
AP: Pa. Senate highways plan would up ante 50 percent
AP: Pa. Senate moves swiftly on jury commissioner bill
AP: EPA: 2 Pa. natural gas companies to improve safety
Williamsport Sun Gazette: State promotes worker safety with traveling memorial
Opinions
Standard Speaker: Secret warrants invite corruption
Citizens Voice: Both sides should take swat at black fly plan
News Item: No need for 2 agencies, so put Turnpike in PennDOT
Times-Tribune: Merge ahead: DOT, ‘Pike
Centre Daily Times: Our View: Residents show their compassion for causes
Tribune-Review: Sentencing the Ories: Not enough time
Tribune-Review: Nomenclature [Don’t change the name of the state Department of Welfare]
Daily Local News: Faulty and misleading reasoning concerning immigration reform
Blogs
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Callahan, McClure and Reibman Deliver Big BM
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Allentown City Candidates to Denounce Water Lease Today
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Is It Wrong For a Doctor to Hook Up With a Patient?
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Embattled Kerr Resigns as NorCo GOP Chair
Lehigh Valley Ramblings: Allentown: Now It’s Kim’s Turn
Keystone Politics: Are Anti-Testing Liberals Helping Rightwingers Subvert Public Education?
Keystone Politics: #PA15: What’s Charlie Dent Up To?
Keystone Politics: Spend the Alcohol Reform Money on Whatever Will Buy Off Senate Republicans
Keystone Politics: PA Republicans Introduce Bill to Empower Future Kermit Gosnells
Keystone Politics: Josh Kruger: Controller’s Office Staff Doing Political Work for Alan Butkovitz
Keystone Politics: #PA9: Go Nuts Tea People
Keystone Politics: Use City Branch for Bus Rapid Transit
Keystone Politics: Turbotax Adds Zero Value
Keystone Politics: Rothfus Raises More than $250K in 1st Quarter: A Close Look at the Report
Keystone Politics: Vote Bill Peduto for Intergovernmental Cooperation
Jon Geeting: The Allentown Reform Slate
Jon Geeting: J.G. Petrucci Proposes Ugly New Building for Hill-to-Hill Bridge Corner
Jon Geeting: Counties Should Provide Police Services to Police-less Exurban Townships
Jon Geeting: Equality PA Endorses Willie Reynolds for Bethlehem Mayor
Jon Geeting: How Lafayette Can Reduce Cars on Campus
Jon Geeting: The American Safety Net
Jon Geeting: Turbotax Adds Zero Value
Keystone State Education Coalition: Had 2nd kid share anxiety over test-me”C’mon what’s worst that can happen?” Him”They can fail me, fire my teacher & close my school.” Well.
Commonwealth Foundation: Lawmaker calls for directing liquor privatization dollars to transportation
Commonwealth Foundation: No gift horse
PA Budget and Policy Center: Memo to House: Vote No on Private Jets Tax Break
2 Political Junkies: Change the Conversation: Only Rapists Can Prevent Rape
John Hanger: A Tale Of Coal In 2 Nations: China Adds 50,000 Megawatts of Coal But USA Retires 9,000 Megawatts
John Hanger: Utilities Trade Association Sounds Alarm That Distributed Generation Is Destroying Grid Monopoly–Right Now!