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The First Read — May 28, 2009

Good Morning!

Every Monday-Thursday morning, pa2010.com compiles the most important political news of the day, from newspapers to the blogosphere and back. Enjoy this edition.

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Sestak saying he’ll run for Senate
Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) has been telling supporters that he plans to run for Senate, giving Senator Arlen Specter the primary challenge he and party leaders had hoped to avoid, Democratic sources confirmed Wednesday night. Read More

Lentz waiting for clearer signal from Sestak before declaring for Congress
With Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) reportedly preparing to enter the Senate race, it looks like state Representative Bryan Lentz (D-Delaware) will get another chance to run for his Congressional seat. Read More

Still behind Specter, Pa. Dems await ’spirited primary’
Now that Pennsylvania Democrats are confronting the prospect of a truly competitive Senate primary, things just got more difficult for Gov. Ed Rendell and his newly-Democratic friend Senator Arlen Specter. But party leaders say they’re not panicking, even as they continued their implied support for Specter. Read More

Analyst: Primary no ‘cakewalk’ for Specter
If Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) does indeed run for Senate, Pennsylvania Democrats should get ready for a contentious and exciting primary—and one that could get vicious. Read More

Toomey happy to see a Specter challenger
The man who entered Senate race to unseat Arlen Specter is, not surprisingly, glad to see that Specter couldn’t escape a primary challenge by switching parties. In a statement released shortly after news broke that Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) is planning to run against Specter, Republican Pat Toomey welcomed him to the race. Read More

Rendell: State may avoid tax hike in budget this year
Gov. Ed Rendell said today the state may dodge an income tax increase this year, but should be prepared to address the problem in future budgets if revenue continues to fall. Read More

Pennsylvania senator proposes same-sex marriage bill
A Montgomery County lawmaker said Wednesday he will introduce a bill to establish full and equal marriage rights for same-sex couples in Pennsylvania. Current state law defines marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman. Read More

Attorney General Corbett re-files charges against Veon
Prosecutors are refiling charges against a former top-ranking Democrat in the Pennsylvania House less than a week after a district judge threw out the original case. The attorney general’s office Wednesday asked for the case to be sent directly to a Dauphin County judge, arguing that the lower-court judge erred in dismissing the corruption case. Read More

Specter camp’s response to seniority attack line: It didn’t matter anyway
Before Democrat Joe Torsella called of his bid for Senate, his campaign made clear an attack line that’s likely to be used by challengers of Senator Arlen Specter from both sides of the aisle—that Specter can no longer count on the Senate seniority he has often told voters is so important to them. Read More

After an electoral sweep, Doherty eyes higher office
Scranton Mayor Chis Doherty pulled off an unusual Election Day coup this month when the Democrat won his party’s nomination for reelection while also winning the Republican nomination as a write-in candidate. Now, the popular mayor is rumored to be eyeing bigger things, with potential runs for Congress or Lieutenant Governor in the mix. Read More

Computer glitch delays checks for 100,000
HARRISBURG, Pa. – The state says a computer glitch has delayed unemployment compensation payments for nearly 100,000 Pennsylvania residents. Read More

Nutter loses another top aide
Andrew Altman, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter’s chief planning official, is leaving his job at the end of June to head an effort to revitalize London after the 2012 Olympics. Mayor Nutter announced the deputy mayor’s departure at a City Hall news conference this morning, with a “tremendous amount of pride and regret.” Read More

Labor panel rules against universities’ outdoor smoking ban
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s 14 state-owned universities cannot bar faculty members and coaches from smoking outdoors on campus, unless their unions agree to the restriction, a state labor panel ruled. Read More

Senator drops proposal to levy state tax on movie theater owners
HARRISBURG — A Republican alternative to video poker legislation is being scaled back. Senate Education Committee Chairman Jeff Piccola, R-Harrisburg, has dropped a plan to expand state funding for college tuition aid offered by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency and levy a state tax on movie theater owners and end a state tax credit for film producers to help pay for it. Read More

Have a great day!

May 28, 2009 at 5:30 am

--pa2010.com Staff

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