pa2010.com

Two ex-lawmakers back Marino in 10th District

Dan Hirschhorn — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:58:53 +0000

Two former state Senators endorsed Republican Tom Marino’s congressional bid Thursday, giving the former U.S. Attorney more party support as he seeks his party’s nod to take on Congressman Chris Carney (D-10).

Former state Senators Charles Lemmond (R-Luzerne) and Roger Madigan (R-Bradford County) backed Marino over Snyder County Commissioner Malcolm Derk and Luzerne County chiropractor Dave Madeira.

“I have known Tom since his days as Lycoming County District Attorney,” Madigan said in a statement. “I…

Schuylkill Dems endorse Wagner

Dan Hirschhorn — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:54:20 +0000

Yet another county party has endorsed Democrat Jack Wagner’s gubernatorial bid, with the Schuylkill County Democratic Committee unanimously backing the state auditor general

“Jack has been a friend to Schuylkill County throughout his career,” party chair Edward Kleha said in a campaign statement. “It is our pleasure to unanimously endorse him, and we look forward to making him Pennsylvania’s next Governor.”

Wagner has been racking up party support for the last several week, and was…

Meehan asks D.A. to investigate his ballot petitions (Updated)

Dan Hirschhorn — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:19:45 +0000

Former U.S. Attorney and GOP congressional hopeful Pat Meehan has asked the local District Attorney in Delaware County to investigate some of the ballot petitions he filed this week, acknowledging that at least four sets of signatures gathered by one local Republican “are questionable and have the potential to not be legitimate.”

The request came in a letter that Meehan’s campaign said it was hand-delivering to county District Attorney Mike Green Thursday morning. The campaign…

What was she thinking?

Tammy Alonso — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:47:29 +0000

Dropping out of the race in the 12th Congressional District is probably the best thing Barbara Hafer could have done—for herself.

From announcing her candidacy before John Murtha’s family had even had a chance to hold his funeral, to besmirching Murtha’s legacy in the eyes of many of his loyalists in the process of trying to smear her opponent, long-time Murtha aide Mark Critz, to decrying and questioning the fairness of…

Dems blast Toomey’s silence on jobs bill

pa2010.com Staff — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:29:22 +0000

Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey hasn’t yet taken a position on the jobs bill that passed the Senate a couple weeks ago—and Democrats think it’s about time to do so.

Both Senator Arlen Specter and the state Democratic Party criticized Toomey this week for his apparent silence. Specter wrote to Toomey, urging him to “stand up for Pennsylvania’s working families and support this legislation, or explain why you won’t help our economy at…

A Glenside Tea Party

Beth Hegedus — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:19:07 +0000

Suburban Snapshot made it out to the Tea Party rally in Glenside this week.

Creativity was there in abundance. The homemade signs were clever, and definitely got the point across that the Democrats need to slow down on ramming through this health care reform bill. One of the best signs I saw was a picture of a little girl with the saying below, “I’m only three years old and already I owe the government $40,000.”…

A labor correction

Dan Hirschhorn — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:14:30 +0000

An article on March 8 about labor endorsements in the Senate race originally misstated the number of Pennsylvania workers represented by the UAW, which endorsed Arlen Specter. It is more than 9,400, not more 140,000.

You can view all corrections by clicking on the Corrections tag.

LEFTOVERS: Earmark scrutiny for Critz, firefighters for Specter, Young Dems for Pike

Dan Hirschhorn — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:31:23 +0000

Mark Critz’s staunchest critic might be out of the race, but that doesn’t mean he’s out of the woods.

The candidate who Barbara Hafer lambasted as un-vetted is facing scrutiny over a meeting he apparently attended in 2005 that led to an earmark for defense contractors, an earmark that eventually led to convictions. CQ Politics reports that Critz represented his late boss John Murtha at the meeting, though it’s far from clear if…

Teachers’ union endorses Onorato

Dan Hirschhorn — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:30:59 +0000

The state’s largest teachers’ union endorsed Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato Wednesday, giving the Democratic gubernatorial hopeful his most significant labor support in the race so far.

The Pennsylvania State Education Association, which represents about 200,000 teachers and other employees in public school and universities, backed Onorato during an event in Philadelphia.

“Dan Onorato shares our belief that the power of a great education can result in strong schools, successful children and vibrant communities,” PSEA…

The (not quite) reinvention of Arlen Specter

Dan Hirschhorn — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:05:52 +0000

My City Paper cover story about Arlen Specter hits newsstands Thursday. But it’s on the newspaper’s Web site now.

It’s far, far too long to even bother excerpting parts of it for you.

So check it out.

Enjoy.