Good morning, politicos. Here’s the buzz.
A state judge has knocked DeWeese off the ballot, and Romney chose Paul Ryan for his VP. See what connects him to the Keystone State and what the state politicos are saying about him.
Paul Ryan’s PA Tie: Jim Gerlach: The weekend announcement by Mitt Romney adding Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan to his ticket has all the focus on the Midwest. But Ryan is tied to the region by his close friend and fellow Rep. Jim Gerlach.
Romney Ad Hits Back on Priorities Accusations (Watch Video): In a volley that’s lasted all week, Romney for President struck back today with a new TV ad that tears down the President for an ad released by a pro-Obama super PAC earlier this week in which a former GST Steel worker tries to blame Romney for his wife’s death.
Update: Who’s Up For the Gerber Seat: State Rep. Mike Gerber isn’t seeking re-election, and after weeks of chatter the screening committee has chosen Narbeth’s own Mary Jo Daley to replace him on the ballot.
DCCC Poll: Critz Lead Widening Over Rothfus in PA-12: This morning, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee released a new poll indicating a widening lead for Rep. Mark Critz over Keith Rothfus. Their latest poll shows Critz with a 50 to 40 percent advantage.
Casey Ad Knocks Smith on Trade (Watch Video): The Casey campaign has gone negative, launching a new attack ad Thursday against GOP opponent Tom Smith for supporting unfair trade laws.
8/10 Ups & Downs: Who had a good week, and who wishes it could have been nothing more than a bad dream? Check it out.
FLOTUS Fires Up Supporters in Bethlehem: Johnston Hall at Moravian College was the scene for First Lady Michelle Obama’s third and final stop in the state yesterday in Bethlehem, PA. Her message to the crowd of 2,400? It takes one.
Legislative Election Updates
HD-31: GOP candidate Anne Chapman wrote a guest column in Bucks Local News published today defining herself on the issues against her opponent, incumbent Rep. Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks). She focused on three issues: teacher strikes, the public employees’ pension crisis and property tax reform.
HD-50: A state judge ruled Friday that convicted former House Speaker Bill DeWeese is ineligible to run for reelection because he is serving a 2-and-a-half to 5 year prison sentence for using his staff and state resources for campaign purposes. The state party sought the ruling in order to find a replacement to go up against GOP candidate Mark Fischer in the general. DeWeese hoped to remain on the ballot because he plans to appeal his conviction.
HD-142: According to Above Average Jane, Harry Arnold is no longer the Dem candidate, citing an unwillingness by his employer to grant a leave of absence from Verizon. “I am heartbroken that after so much Election Day help from dedicated Democrats across the district to get me on the ballot, my employer has surprisingly chosen to deny my request for a leave of absence so that I might serve the people of my district in the event I had been successful in my campaign for the State House. I am disheartened that the voters of the 142nd will ultimately suffer a loss by not having a real choice in the November election,” said Arnold.
Arnold landed a spot on the ballot after a write-in campaign of an even more challenging nature: his opponent, Rep. Frank Farry (R-Bucks), also was staging a write-in for the Dem slot. According to Above Average Jane, unless Arnold is replaced Farry will be running unopposed for his third term.
National
The Hill: In Ryan pick, echoes of Obama’s own selection of Vice President Biden
The Hill: Ryan selection shows Romney camp eyeing Midwest states for win
Real Clear Politics: With Ryan Pick, Romney Is No Longer Playing It Safe
New York Times: New Focus for Romney on Connecting and Closing the Empathy Gap
New York Times: Ryan pick gives Obama a chance to change the subject
USA Today: Romney, Ryan defend Medicare plan on ’60 Minutes’
USA Today: New polls aren’t all good news for Obama
Slate: Top of the Ticket
Slate: Did Romney Just Give Away Florida?
Slate: Paul Ryan v. Sarah Palin
Wall Street Journal: Crowds Swell at Romney Rallies After Ryan Pick
National Journal: Obama Team Salivates Over Ryan Pick
National Journal: Romney and Ryan, a Matched Pair, Go After Obama on CBS
National Journal: How Biden and Ryan Stack Up
National Journal Hotline: Bob Casey Hits Opponent in New Ad
Washington Post: Tea party leaders find new influence with policy triumphs in PA
Washington Post: Election Day impersonation, an impetus for voter ID laws, a rarity, data show
Washington Post: Poll: Voter ID laws have support of a majority of Americans
Statewide
Capitol Ideas: Mike Turzai gets roasted by The Daily Show over Voter ID comments
PA Independent: Law allows ‘odd’ exemption for stalking by union members in labor dispute
PA Independent: Week in Review: Lawmakers look ahead to Medicaid, pension reform
PA Independent: Liquor store clerk union contract official, despite looming privatization efforts
Capitolwire: In PA-8, GOP attack taken from 2011 judicial election playbook.
AP: Consol: Broken conveyor system that stopped production at 2 western PA coal mines should be partially fixed within two weeks
State Impact PA: Times-Leader Makes The Case For Mining-Related Insurance
State Impact PA: Chesapeake Faces Antitrust Probe
Philadelphia
Inquirer: Paul Ryan: Hawk on budget and tea party darling
Inquirer: Investigation: election day fraud “virtually nonexistent”
Inquirer: Fattah rival cleared to run
Inquirer: The reaction: In the region, both parties find reason to cheer
Inquirer: Local Republicans, Dems split on Ryan choice
Inquirer: How Romney’s choice of Ryan for VP may change race
Inquirer: National labor rally to focus on middle class
Inquirer: Nutter proposes potential firefighter budget cuts to fund arbitration
Daily News: Full text of city’s five-year plan with potential cuts
Daily News: City outlines cuts needed to afford firefighters award
Fox Philadelphia: Union members rally in Philadelphia
KYW Newsradio: Over 300 workers to be laid off from Philadelphia Housing Authority
KYW Newsradio: Workers Stand for American rally sends clear message to politicians
WHYY Newsworks: Thousands rally to show union muscle in Philadelphia
WHYY Newsworks: Obama campaign aides ban voter interviews outside rally
SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Pottstown-area reaction mixed to PA’s ‘voucher lite’ law
The Intelligencer: Politics of the extreme
Delco Daily Times: Delco workers flock to Philadelphia for huge labor rally to take stand for jobs
Delco Daily Times: Democrats continue fight against voter ID law
Delco Daily Times: Delco labor hot under collar over economic climate; set for huge rally Saturday
Montgomery Media: Senate citation given to woman on 102nd birthday
Bucks Local News: Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick proposes legislation to benefit ‘Children of Fallen Heroes’
Bucks Local News: First lady Michelle Obama receives warm welcome in Montgomery County
Bucks Local News: Pennsylvania AG announces distribution of $11.5M to municipalities, non-profits in national bid-rigging settlement
Pittsburgh
Early Returns:Pa among top viewers of Priorities attack ad
Early Returns: All ID eyes on Simpson
Tribune-Review:Romney taps Paul Ryan to be his running mate
Tribune-Review:Explosion of disability payouts hobbles program
Tribune-Review:Disability appeals a $1.4 billion business for lawyers
Tribune-Review:School closings offer challenges, opportunities for new uses
Post-Gazette: Councilman offers bicycle alternative to Penn Avenue
Southwest
Observer-Reporter: West End residents call for solutions
Indiana Gazette: Organized labor rallies in Philly for workers
Indiana Gazette: Government opens competition for school grants
Altoona Mirror: ID, please
Somerset Daily American: County hall of famers discuss new voter ID law
Somerset Daily American: Somerset Township cedes ownership of rural road
Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Commissioners again reject library-study advice
Pennsylvania Ave: Casey airs second ad, takes aim at Smith and free trade
Morning Call: Ryan may make independents take notice
Morning Call: Local notables on PA voter ID list
Morning Call: Vice presidential pick Paul Ryan’s voting record
Express Times: President, local politicians react to Paul Ryan vice president nod
NEPA
Times Leader: Barletta likes running mate
Citizens Voice: Local GOP officials back Ryan selection
Daily Item: Welfare changes: ‘Work first’ approach or lack of support
Daily Item: State, county GOP chairs laud choice
South Central
Carlisle Sentinel: VP Ryan pushes locals toward Obama
Chambersburg Public Opinion: Homeless in Franklin County: Shelters full, options limited
York Daily Record: After testifying at Stetler corruption trial, some witnesses continue to do political, government work
Lebanon Daily News: Trivedi starts food fight with Gerlach
North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Public hearing set to review voter ID law
Opinion
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Ineligible player: DeWeese had no right to be on November’s ballot
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Stale smoke: The tobacco industry is up to its old tricks
Tribune-Review:Voter IDs: The responsible thing to do
Tribune-Review: A more dependent nation
Philadelphia Inquirer Op-ed: Voter ID law is now obviously ‘morally indefensible’
Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial: Time to bury unneeded law
Philadelphia Inquirer Op-ed: Identity crisis: A lawyer’s own photo-ID struggle
Courier Times Op-ed: Bucks drilling moratorium necessary until more is known
Philadelphia Inquirer Op-ed: The Pulse: A chief justice’s time to eschew partisanship?
Pottstown Mercury Editorial: Corbett’s school voucher plan misfires
Philadelphia Daily News Editorial: Gut feeling: Mitt Romney’s claim on welfare reform not true
Philadelphia Tribune Op-ed: Black vote taken for granted again
Courier Times Editorial: Packing heat in Bucks County
Morning Call: With cigars, politicians protect Americans from getting the best
Reading Eagle: John Forester: Partisan politics spawns silliness
Blogs
The Liberty Blog: Obama 2012: A Campaign of Divisiveness- Exploiting Human Weakness for Political Power
The Liberty Blog: Bain & Company: Colleges & Universities – Fiscally Unsustainable
The Liberty Blog: Senator Pat Toomey at Liberal Brookings Institute Explaining Tax Reform
Keystone State Education Coalition: What we know after 20 years is that overall charter schools are no better than public schools
Commonwealth Foundation: Pizza, Burgers and Health Care Reform
Lehigh Valley Independent: The Incidence of the Easton Commuter Tax
Lehigh Valley Independent: Harry Reid’s Source is a Republican
Lehigh Valley Independent: The Choice in 2012
Lehigh Valley Independent: Romney Doesn’t Need to Mobilize the Base
Lehigh Valley Independent: The Generational Politics of RyanCare
Lehigh Valley Independent: Romney Asked Ryan for “Several” Years of Tax Returns
2 Political Junkies: Selena Zito Does it Again
2 Political Junkies: Romney to Announce VP Pick Saturday at 9 AM; NBC Says it’s Paul Ryan
PA Lu-Lac Political Letter: Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney
PA Lu-Lac Political Letter: A Political Truism
The Pennsylvania Progressive: Michelle Obama at Moravian College
The Pennsylvania Progressive: Romney/Ryan Puts Medicare Front and Center
The Pennsylvania Progressive: To Democrats… From Romney… With Love
The Pennsylvania Progressive: News & Notes August 12, 2012
Above Average Jane: 142nd Loses a Candidate
Above Average Jane: Allyson Schwartz’s Reaction to Paul Ryan
Keystone Progress: Paul Ryan’s Priorities Reflect Teachings of Ayn Rand, Not Jesus Christ
Keystone Progress: Everything You Need to Know About the Romney/Ryan Budget Plan
Keystone Politics: If We Want to Control Health Care Costs, We Need to Put More People in Medicare and Medicaid
Keystone Politics: Keith Rothfus’ Tax Avoidance is a Substantive Issue
Keystone Politics: Romney’s “Didn’t Build That” Attacks Flop
Keystone Politics: DCCC Poll: Critz Leads by 10
Keystone Politics: What a Politician’s Job Is
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