The First Read — September 16, 2009

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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Obama praises Specter at Philly fundraiser
PHILADELPHIA—President Obama on Tuesday portrayed Senator Arlen Specter as a constituent-first legislator, integral to the successful passage of comprehensive health care reform. Read More

Hoeffel wins a straw poll
In a gubernatorial primary that some Democrats say is short on true progressives, Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel might be the darling of that crowd. Read More

Meehan and Welch: Nothing but nice things to say
Steven Welch is “very impressive.” So says Pat Meehan. Pat Meehan is a “good-government guy.” So says Steven Welch. If there’s any enmity between Welch and Meehan after the former ditched his 7th Congressional district aspirations for the latter, neither candidate is showing a hint. Read More
Also on pa2010.com: Parsing Steven Welch’s residency (with Google Earth)

With Trivedi in, a Berks insider backs off his endorsement of Pike
With a primary field seemingly to himself in the 6th District, Democrat Doug Pike had been piling up endorsements from party insiders and elected officials at a frenetic pace. But now Pike has a primary opponent in Reading doctor Manan Trivedi. And that has led one of Pike’s supporters to reconsider. Read More

State budget deal finally close at hand
Two and a half months after the July 1 deadline for enacting an on-time state budget, negotiators for Gov. Ed Rendell and legislative leaders appear to be inching toward the finish line on a roughly $28 billion spending plan. Read More

Bonusgate likely to dog Corbett in governor’s race
The jury’s not only out, it’s scratching its head: How political has all of this been? Read More

Specter says he’ll support labor bill
Speaking to hundreds of labor activists, Senator Arlen Specter said Tuesday that he will back the Employee Free Choice Act. Read More

Schroder gets a campaign manager
State Representative Curt Schroder (R-Chester) has hired a campaign chief for his 6th District Congressional run. Read More

Santorum may challenge ‘injurious’ Obama
Rick Santorum affirmed on an RNC conference call that he’s considering a run for president in 2012—because, he said, the Obama presidency is “injurious to America.” Read More
Also on the blogosphere: Santorum on Specter’s ‘blatant, pandering flip-flops’

Students flex political muscle in forum with Pa.’s first lady
A town hall meeting where officials challenged students to think critically about politics became an opportunity for those same students to voice their displeasure with school policies and the way their voices are heard. Read More

For Specter, hypocrisy on missing votes?
Specter has every right to criticize Sestak for missing votes, but when you’re closing down an entire branch of the U.S. government to raise money for your own political campaign, it hardly seems fair to cry foul. Read More

Former judges plead not guilty
U.S. attorneys asked a federal magistrate judge Tuesday to alter conditions of bail for former Luzerne County judges Mark Ciavarella and Michael Conahan, alleging they are trying to hide assets and may flee. Read More

Kanjorski says public option not a deal-breaker for health care reform
Publicly sponsored competition for insurance companies is a key component to holding down health care costs, yet is not a deal-breaker when it comes to reform, says Paul Kanjorski. Read More

Dishonest tactics on climate bill a disgrace
In a Voices piece, state Representative and Congressional hopeful Bryan Lentz (D-Delaware) decries lobbying tactics against climate change legislation. Read More

Coatesville manager outlines budget shortfall
City Manager Harry Walker said the budget is on target but officials should expect some shortfall in revenue at the year’s end. Read More

Meehan stops short of opposing health care legislation
DREXEL HILL—Even as he outlined a textbook conservative position on health care policy, GOP Congressional hopeful Pat Meehan on Monday passed on the opportunity to directly criticize health care legislation that is emerging in Washington. Read More

Have a great day!

September 16, 2009 at 5:30 am

--pa2010.com Staff

Tags: The First Read