Kenney leads another partisan poll, Scott Wagner battles labor again and Casey votes against TPP. Good morning politicos, here’s the Buzz!
PHL-15: AFSCME Poll: Kenney 26 Williams 25 Abraham 22: The latest survey shows a close race in the Philly Mayoral Democratic Primary.
Scott Wagner vs. Unions: Round 237: The State Senator makes fun of the AFL-CIO making fun of him.
PA-Sen: Casey Votes Against TPP “Fast Track”: Senator Casey opposed the measure in the Senate Finance Committee while his colleague, Pat Toomey, supported the bill.
PA-Sen: Toomey to Oppose Confirmation of Loretta Lynch: Pat Toomey is no fan of Loretta Lynch, and will vote against her confirmation as U.S. Attorney General.
Covey Receives Support From NFL Hall-of-Famer Franco Harris: The legendary Steelers running back will host a fundraiser for the Republican Supreme Court candidate next week.
PHL-15: Environmental Groups Endorse Kenney: The four groups represent more than 120,000 supporters in the city.
Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Court Stops State from Sealing Deals with Homecare Workers
State House Sound Bites: Wolf Would Use Veto to Keep Philly’s Sick-Leave Law
PA Independent: County’s Fiscal Watchdog Sues County and Police Department to Get Access
PA Independent: Philly Ghost Teachers Made More Than $1.7M Last Year
PLS Reporter: IFO Report Says Gov. Wolf’s Revenue Proposals Will Increase Taxes Across All Income Levels
PLS Reporter: Committee Hears About Potential Changes to Small Games of Chance Reporting Requirements
Capitolwire: Wolf’s Budget Would Result in Net Tax Increase for All Income Groups, Says IFO Report
Capitolwire: Judge Halts Portion of Wolf’s Direct-Care Worker Executive Order
Philadelphia
Inquirer: New Poll: Kenney, Abraham and Williams ‘Locked in a Tight 3-Way Race For Mayor’
Inquirer: Comcast-TWC Deal Seems Dead; FCC Reportedly Opposes Deal
Inquirer: Gallery Makeover Wins Support of Council President Clarke
Inquirer: Council Moves to Illuminate Super PAC Money
Inquirer: A Nickel For a Shopping Bag? Philadelphia Eyes a New Fee
Inquirer: Wolf Garners More Opposition to Plan Replace Drilling Fee
Inquirer: Court: Stephanie Singer Stays Off Primary Ballot
Daily News: Protesters Day in Court Sparks More Protests, Face-to-Face Confrontation
Philadelphia Business Journal: Allyson Schwartz to Run Lobbying Group
Philadelphia Business Journal: Ironworkers Union Leader Gets Eight Years For Extortion, Racketeering, Arson
SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Government Wants Strict Restrictions for Man Who Shot Reagan (AP)
Pottstown Mercury: US Intends to Pay Families of Hostages Killed by Drone (AP)
Pottstown Mercury: Philadelphia University Sends Out 500 Errant Acceptance letters (AP)
Pottstown Mercury: Wolf Garners More Opposition For Plan Replace Drilling Fee
Bucks Local News: Final Plans Unveiled For Newtown-Yardley Road Upgrade, New Traffic Lights, Turning Lanes Will Be Installed
Delco Daily Times: Ex-CIA Chief Petraeus Gets 2 Years Probation for Leaking Military Secrets
Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: DEP Awards Grants for Environmental, Education Programs
Post-Gazette: Wolf Finds More Opposition to Plan to Replace Drilling Fee
Post-Gazette: Propel Chooses Ten Teachers for Pittsburgh Urban Teacher Corps
Post-Gazette: DA Says Plum Senior High School Probe ‘Has Expanded’
Post-Gazette: Home-Care Workers Issue Dominates Confirmation Hearing for Wolf Nominee
Early Returns: Pots and Kettles
Tribune-Review: Zappala Fears Sexual Abuse of Students Was Common Knowledge at Plum School
Tribune-Review: Kane’s Contempt Hearing Postponed but Judges to Hear Arguments
Tribune-Review: County Controller Cautions Against One-Time Revenue Sources
Tribune-Review: Pro-Union Hourly Workers Picket Rivers Casino
Tribune-Review: AP: Judge Puts Hold on Agreements Under Wolf’s Care Worker Policy
Tribune-Review: Grant to Fund Butler Hotel in Centre City Project
Tribune-Review: 4 Democrats Seek 3 Nods for Latrobe Council
Southwest
Mirror: City Introduces Firearms Ordinance
Mirror: City Considers Land Bank
Mirror: County to Try Out Program in Public Defender’s Office
Mirror: Magisterial District Judge Information
Mirror: Labor Council Selects Annual Winners
Beaver County Times: HUD: Beaver County Attorney had Conflict of Interests
NEPA
Times-Leader: PA Turnpike Unveils New Website
Times-Leader: Griffith Loses Debt Challenge
Times-Leader: Bill would Ban Use of Public Assistance to Purchase Tobacco
Times-Tribune: AG Kane Contempt Hearing Postponed
Times-Tribune: Judge Allows Scranton to Triple Local Services Tax
Times-Tribune: Ex-Agent Sues Kane for Defamation
Times-Tribune: Geroulo, Wansacz Debate Prison Accepting State Inmates
South Central
Carlisle Sentinel: State Rep. Regan honors Battle of the Bulge veteran
Carlisle Sentinel: Silver Spring supervisors reject road plan
Harrisburg Patriot News: State grant awards to college students expected to increase
Harrisburg Patriot News: AG Kathleen Kane hearing postponed, oral arguments to proceed
Harrisburg Patriot News: The other $100,000 club: Report disputes Wolf’s tax break claims
York Daily Record: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf aims to solve school system inequality
York Daily Record: York County children’s agency on provisional license
York Daily Record: York Daily Record to co-host Judicial Candidate Forum at HACC
York Dispatch: York City schools budget restores programs, counts on more from state
Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Mayor announces Bethlehem graffiti, pothole hotlines
Reading Eagle: Advocacy group for immigrants calls for higher minimum wage
Reading Eagle: Researches near milestone in study of Pennsylvania death penalty
WFMZ: In Easton, Council turns its sights on the Christmas holiday season
WFMZ: Educators discuss state funding’s affect on students, taxpayers
Express-Times: Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez’s portrait unveiled
Express-Times: Harrisburg’s inaction forces Lehigh Valley schools to tap local taxpayers, district officials say
Express-Times: Minimum wage hike to $10.10 an hour would benefit 65,382 Lehigh Valley workers, think tank says
Express-Times: Edibles out, ‘nebulization’ in latest Pennsylvania medical marijuana bill
North by Northwest
Campaign ‘15: Reminder: Millcreek GOP candidates forum tonight
Campaign ‘15: Toomey explains ‘no’ vote in Lynch confirmation
Erie Times-News: Congressman Kelly pays tribute to Ed Mead
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Don’t forget about the judges, State Supreme Court candidates urge
Opinion
Philly.com: On Bootleggers and Baptists
Pottstown Mercury: Mike Argento: Is Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf a Socialist?
Post-Gazette: Eisenrich for the GOP
Tribune-Review: Flunking Civics isn’t Optional
Observer-Reporter: A Chance for Our State Lawmakers to Step Up
Tribune-Democrat: Waste Water Leaking Through DEP’s Records
Times-Leader: Changes in Diocese May Offer Lessons for All
Times-Tribune: Bring ‘Anthracite Fields’ Home
Reading Eagle: Castro regime not in same category as Iran, Syria, Sudan
Express-Times: The Great Turf Debate is over in Bethlehem, taxpayers lose
PA Independent: Close Enough for Government Work: This Town Reveals the Problem with Family and Politics
Blogs
Citified: New Poll Shows Virtual Three-Way Tie in Mayor’s Race
Citified: Millennials Hate Cars, Right? Wrong.
Citified: The Candidate Conversation Series: Meet Lynne Abraham, Philly’s Most Viable Female Mayoral Candidate Ever
Citified: Inside Take: When Endorsements Go Horribly Wrong
Citified: The Brief: Tony Williams Dodges a Bullet
Keystone Crossroads: Pa. Lawmaker Wants to Put Chronically Underperforming Schools Under State Law
Keystone State Education Coalition: WaPo: Pa. Schools Are the Nation’s Most Inequitable. The New Governor Wants to Fix That.
Commonwealth Foundation: Judge Halts Stealth Unionization Scheme
Commonwealth Foundation: Clarifying Pension Reform Misconceptions
Lu Lac Political Letter: What Spells Trouble for Bush and Walker