Search
Close this search box.

5/26 PoliticsPA Playbook

PA-state-flag6Toomey under fire for missing committee meetings, Fetterman attempts to build a political network and Kane’s driver still has a job. Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Fetterman Seeks to Continue Crusade, Endorses PA Candidates: Josh Shapiro leads the class of Democrats the progressive Braddock Mayor is rallying around.

PA-Sen: Toomey’s Missed 80% of Budget Committee Hearings Since 2013: The junior Senator only attended 11 of the last 57 gatherings.

Kane Aide Still Getting Paid Despite Conviction: Patrick Reese has been charged, convicted and sentenced yet is still earning nearly six figures.

PA-Gov: Wolf Wants to “Free the Six-Pack”: The Governor is spearheading an effort to have liquor sold at gas stations.

PA-BGT: Lawmakers Still Trying to Crack Pension Code: Two amendments to expand gambling were shot down in the House of Representatives.

Santorum Proclaims Support for Trump (VIDEO): The former PA Senator said the Supreme Court was the deciding factor.

Statewide
Capitolwire: Basic ed funding formula bill on its way to the governor
Capitolwire: Significant premium increases proposed by most of PA’s Obamacare insurance providers
Capitolwire: New appointee and Holden’s pivot led to approval of six-pack sales at a few more gas stations
PA Watchdog: Gas stations in Pennsylvania might get to sell beer
StateImpactPA: Federal public health report highlights contaminants in Dimock’s water
WITF: Smart Talk: $ wasted on buses?; PA Tourism
WITF: Judge pauses Penn State Health/PinnacleHealth merger until appeal is decided

Philadelphia
Philadelphia Business Journal: City studying ways to collect $70M in delinquent business taxes
KWY Newsradio: Luxury Condo ‘One Riverside’ Topped Off At Entrance To Schuylkill River Trail
WHYY Newsworks: Southeast Pa. least affordable for renters, national report says
WHYY Newsworks: Philly Council president calls for compromise to pay for pre-K
Inquirer: In testimony, former Fattah confidant links him to crimes
Inquirer: Clarke blasts 3-cent sugary-drinks tax as ‘ridiculous’
Inquirer: Ruling clears way for Ardmore development
Inquirer: Bucks D.A.: Township officials broke Sunshine Act

SEPA
Bucks Local News: Veterinarians take fight to Commonwealth Court in quest to use Satterthwaite property in Lower Makefield as a horse hospital
Delco Daily Times: Preliminary budget adopted in William Penn
Delco Daily Times: Upper Darby School Board OK’s no tax hike prelim budget
Bucks County Courier Times: Water utilities talk cost of contamination at second community meeting
Pottstown Mercury: Pottsgrove School Board prepares policies on opioid overdoses, transgender students
Pottstown Mercury: Pottsgrove High School construction change orders using up funds

Pittsburgh
WTAE: More gas stations can sell beer in Pennsylvania, despite looming court case
WTAE: Opening statements heard in civil case against Target and the men who saved girl inside the store
Pittsburgh City Paper: While they might not be on a grand scale, important changes are on the horizon for public transportation in the Pittsburgh region
KYW: Child Abuse Hotline Calls Are Going Unanswered, Auditor General Charges
WESA: Department Of Human Services Calls For More Affordable Housing In PA
Pittsburgh Business Times: Proposed ‘Marijuana Amendment’ would allow attorneys to counsel medical marijuana businesses
Post-Gazette: School funding formula clears final Harrisburg hurdle
Post-Gazette: Wolf signs DUI ignition interlock bill      

Southwest
Observer-Reporter: Trinity approves purchase of alarms for elementary schools
Observer-Reporter: Charleroi Area School Board proposes 7-mill tax increase
Observer-Reporter: DUI Checkpoint to be held
Beaver County Times: Beaver County’s actual cash-on-hand is $8 million less than it was this time last year
Beaver County Times: State House rejects then saves gambling expansion measures
Beaver County Times: Beaver County Commissioner Sandie Egley: Offensive postings on courthouse walls has to stop
Altoona Mirror: Auditor general says abuse hotline missed 40,000 calls
Altoona Mirror:Cambria Heights OKs preliminary budget
Altoona Mirror: Architects frustrated by AASD board’s decision       

NEPA
Times Leader: State Supreme Court rules PUC must disclose whistleblower’s tip letter
Times Leader: LCTA to launch a route to Frances Slocum Park for the summer
Times Leader: Heroin users beware, Luzerne County coroner warns
Times Tribune: Leaders fear more cuts must be made in area schools    

South Central
Patriot News: Megan’s Law shines bright light on sex offenders: How’d that work out?
Patriot News: Criminal conviction and a $100,000 salary? It’s happening in Kathleen Kane’s office
Patriot News: Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission opens defense in whistleblower case
Patriot News: Memorial honoring war heroes on Capitol Complex grounds to get room to grow
Lebanon Daily News: The government still uses floppy disks
Lancaster Intelligencer: Aument calls for investigation into resigned DEP secretary

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: PA supreme court says PUC has to release PPL outrage documents
Morning Call: 9 more Pa. gas stations given Ok to sell beer, despite looming court case
Express Times: Pa. charter school law is nation’s worst, state auditor says
Express Times: Easton Area schools keep Keystone Exams requirement

North by Northwest
Williamsport Sun Gazette: State officials takes pro-business stance
Williamsport Sun Gazette: East Lycoming OKs proposed budget with hike
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Change orders raise concerns in Montoursville
Williamsport Sun Gazette: Commissioner questions law firm’s ‘agendas’
Erie Times-News: Erie School Board takes on crucial budget decision

Opinion
Philadelphia Business Journal: Why the Philadelphia business community should support Mayor Kenney’s sugary drinks tax
Inquirer: Richard Basciano doesn’t blame himself for the collapse of a building he owned
Daily News: Council needs to be brave and OK sugary-drink tax
Daily News: Freedom, history and soda taxes
Delco Daily Times: Memorial Day events depend on veterans and volunteers
Patriot News: Pa. can keep the Chesapeake Bay clean without hurting farmer – here’s how
Patriot News: It’s time to make Pa’s new school funding formula permanent
Patriot News: Kathleen Kane must fire staffer convicted of spying on his colleagues
Post-Gazette: Generations of loyalty: A family of bakers continues on in McKees Rocks
Post-Gazette: Meet and greet: The G-7 economic summit is minus a major player
Post-Gazette: Not fine at ChildLine: Shameful delays at state hotline for child abuse

Blogs
Above Average Jane: Article on Jared Solomon Campaign
Third and State: Why Philly Needs the Sugary Drink Tax
Commonwealth Foundation: Pennsylvania is Losing Ground
Keystone State Education Coalition: PA Ed Policy Roundup May 25: Senator Killion: Time is now for fair funding
Keystone Crossroads: Joining vast majority of states, Pa. adopts school funding formula
Citified: Clarke Calls 3-Cent Soda Tax “Divisive,” Says It Won’t Pass

4 Responses

  1. Hey Seth Williams – Who slashed the tires? Why didnt she have to pay for the repairs?

  2. WHY HASN’T JOHNNY DOC BEEN ARRESTED YET ? It was aggravated assault on video tape.

  3. There is a HUGE story in PA that no one is really covering. It involves Kane, Seth Williams, Frank Fina and a lawyer. Where to begin … …

    Frank Fina. We know that he sent racist e-mail from his Gov’t computer. We know that he is behind the vicious smear campaign against AG Kane. We know he sent e-mails making light of statutory rape. And e-mails suggesting women on the workforce need to perform oral sex on their male bosses to advance their careers.

    Not only has Seth Williams refused to fire the racist Fina, But Seth Williams is letting Frank Fina run the Philadelphia DA’s Office.

    How else can the hiring of the new 2nd-in-command Kathy Martin be explained?
    Martin has a shady background (representing rapists, drug dealers and murderers). She was a part time prosecutor for a cup of coffee in rural PA somewhere. And then – all of a sudden – she is 2nd in Command in a big city D.A.’s Office (Philadelphia)!!!
    Weird huh?

    Kathy Martin’s title is “Chief of Staff” and “General Counsel.” She has ZERO general counsel experience and just about no prosecutorial experience. Did she interview with the Hiring Committee? Did she get vetted by HR folks? How did she walk off the street into a six-figure salary with the City?

    Hmmmmmm …… Let’s see …..

    When Kathleen Kane won the AG race, but before she took office, then Deputy AG Frank Fina finalized his “unjust” plea deal with Tyron Ali – the con-man cooperator in the sting case. Bruce Beemer, the 1st Asst at the OAG who testified AGAINST AG Kane, called Fina’s plea deal “unjust.” Frank Fina dropped all of the over 2,000 criminal charges that were pending against Tyron Ali. Fina also let Ali keep the $430K he stole from a non-profit set up to help children. That was taxpayer $$$.

    Why’d Fina let him keep the money?

    Con-man Tyron Ali is represented by Bob Levant. Fina negotiated that sweet deal, in the 11th hour (right before Kane was set to take over) with attorney Bob Levant.
    And now Fina is suing the AG’s Office for more taxpayer money. And guess who one of his attorneys is? Yep — Bob Levant.

    Rumor has it that Bob Levant has also helped Seth Williams with the FBI’s criminal investigation into Williams.

    A ways back, Seth Williams hired Frank Fina. It appears they met as they worked together to subvert the rights of innocent people accused of crimes they did not commit. Whether Seth Williams knew of Fina’s “e-mail “issues” when he hired Fina we may never know. But Williams certainly knows now. And the Superior Court just called Fina’s conduct in the Penn State case “highly improper.” Fina lied to a Judge. Williams certainly knows that too.

    “Chief of Staff/General Counsel” at the DA’s Office is a high paying job. Six figures. Seth Williams hired Kathy Martin – the shady defense attorney – off the street into that job. She has zero general counsel experience and hardly any prosecutorial experience.

    But – Kathy Martin is Bob Levant’s wife!!

    Now – Seth Williams’ “Chief of Staff” – Kathy Martin – is in the Press, speaking on behalf of the Philadelphia DA’s Office, defending and praising her husband’s racist client – Frank Fina.

    Huge coincidence, huh?? I think not. It’s no wonder that Williams refuses to fire Fina. They are in bed together. Levant and Martin are on that stinky mattress too.

    Is it OK that Kathy Martin, a high-paid City employee, has a financial interest in smearing the AG and propping up her husband’s racist client – Frank Fina?

    Is it OK that Williams and Martin demoted a hard-working female Deputy who suggested that the DA’s Office not employ racist, sexist prosecutors?

    Is it OK that Seth Williams has a financial interest in keeping Fina around? Just look at who is running Seth Williams’ PAC. His name is Mike Barley. And he is a Corbett guy – just like Frank Fina. Google “On the Rocks – Seth Williams” and read the article. You will see Seth Williams’ motive here — political survival. He has no friends and no money. Fina & The Corbett Pervs are his only hope!!

Email:
  • Do you agree that ByteDance should be forced to divest TikTok?


    • Yes. It's a national security risk. (60%)
    • No. It's an app used by millions and poses no threat. (40%)
    • What's ByteDance? (0%)

    Total Voters: 30

    Loading ... Loading ...
Continue to Browser

PoliticsPA

To install tap and choose
Add to Home Screen