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Archive for “Harrisburg” news
2 Republican Senators Are Worried that PA Terrorists Are Getting Welfare
By Simon van Zuylen-Wood 5/24/2013
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Are there any Pennsylvanians on the federal terrorist watchlist receiving welfare assistance? And if so, how can we prevent them from getting it? Those are the questions two Republican state senators--Joe Scarnati and David Argall--posed to the state's Department of Welfare chief this week. They asked, by the way, because the Boston Marathon bombing suspects received state aid in Massachusetts, which for obvious reasons, set off a conservative firestorm. Here's the problem with such a policy.
1. It'd be very hard, politically and legally, to change the welfare laws in the state to exclude people for being suspected of terrorist proclivities. Governor Corbett's
Actually, Tom Corbett Has One Latino Staff Member
By Simon van Zuylen-Wood 5/23/2013
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Calm down lefty media hyperventilators! After you all jumped down Tom Corbett's throat for his comment about having no Latino staff members, the Governor's people put out a press release smack-down, pointing out that in fact they've actually got ONE Latino staffer, Maria Montero, the Director of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs.
I would have published this sooner, but I was waiting from a response from Corbett's people confirming that there's really no one else. In fairness, the administration also used to employ preternaturally grumpy Eli Aliva as Secretary of Health and nominated Ken Trujillo for Commissioner of the PLCB.
If
Diddy Was in Harrisburg Yesterday, Pimping His Vodka
By Simon van Zuylen-Wood 5/23/2013
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Diddy, aka Sean Combs, is an official endorser of Ciroc vodka. Which explains why the erstwhile rapper was in nightlife, USA, yesterday meeting with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The entrepreneur, as he'd no doubt like to be called, was promoting soon-to-be released Ciroc Amaretto. The PLCB, which is trying to save off extinction, should publicize this appearance as much as possible. Because nothing says 'relevant' like an appearance by Diddy. Said a board spokeswoman: "He's very, very nice." [Patriot-News]
Why Harrisburg Is More Corrupt Than Other State Capitals
By Simon van Zuylen-Wood 5/21/2013
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Wonkblog directs our attention to a recent paper that finds a correlation between public state-level corruption and the state capital's proximity to the major population centers in the rest of the state. The farther one is from the action, the more likely it is that legislators are getting away with crime. Why? The media and hence, the public, just aren't paying as much attention.
As the chart demonstrates PA (what's up, Vince Fumo?) fits the bill. It's true that in state capitals like Boston and Providence, to pick two notoriously malfeasant northeastern cities, the political class is far more focused on
First Openly Gay GOP Candidate Running for General Assembly
By Simon van Zuylen-Wood 5/17/2013
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We're a little late to this, but with a special election for PA's 95th House District taking place Tuesday, here's an election day tidbit to keep in the back of your mind. The Republican in the race--Bryan Tate--is the first openly gay GOP candidate ever to run for the general assembly. If he wins (he's a relative longshot in a blue area) he'll join the other two openly gay members of the state House, Democrat Brian Sims and Republican Mike Fleck. [Inquirer]
Millersville U. REALLY Doesn’t Want Governor to Speak at Graduation
By Simon van Zuylen-Wood 5/17/2013
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State GOP Demands to Know What the Hell Joe Sestak Is Up To
By Simon van Zuylen-Wood 5/13/2013
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Joe Sestak has raised a lot of money in the past couple months. Nearly $500,000 of I'm running for something money, in fact. But he's not saying exactly what he plans on doing with it. Governor? Senator? The Pennsylvania Republican Party says he's violating the law by not telling.
Sestak’s strategic vagueness is illegal, according to the Pennsylvania Republican Party, which has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission arguing that since Sestak has raised more than $5,000 in his federal campaign account, he must file a statement of candidacy that describes the office he is seeking.
I don't think WarChestGate
Former PA Gov. George Leader Has Died
By Simon van Zuylen-Wood 5/09/2013
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According to AP state politics reporter Marc Levy:
Leader served from 1955 to 1959, limited to four years in office because of an old term-limit law. He was the oldest living former governor in the country, according to his biographer. A Democrat, he implemented Pennsylvania's first major civil rights law. He also helped reform political patronage jobs, professionalize mental health services, and boost manufacturing in economically ravaged areas.
Here he is in '54, gracing the cover of Time.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Funeral home says former Pa. Gov. George Leader hasdied at age 95.— Marc Levy (@timelywriter) May 9, 2013
Can A Court Really “Shame” Justice Joan Orie Melvin?
By Simon van Zuylen-Wood 5/09/2013
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For her various crimes of political corruption, State Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin has been handed sort of an odd sentence. Three years house arrest, then two years probation. OK, no jail time, but seems pretty routine. Now here's the weird part. The Allegheny County judge who conjured up the penalty wants her to inscribe hand-written apologies on 500 copies of a photograph of herself, which will then be sent to Pennsylvania jurists. I.e., she's being shamed.
Here's the photograph, taken after the sentencing hearing. Note the handcuffs, which the judge ordered she wear.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette quizzed some shaming experts
Tom Corbett Is Very, Very Unpopular
By Joel Mathis 5/08/2013
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More news from that F&M poll we talked about earlier: Tom Corbett's approval rating is low—very low: Only 25 percent of Pennsylvania voters believe the governor deserves re-election.
Philadelphia Business Journal analyzes the numbers:
Corbett’s difficulties with voters, F&M surmises, may be due in part from the priorities he has emphasized in recent months. Debate in the state capital has centered on efforts to privatize the state liquor stores and the state lottery, but the poll shows these issues rank well below the economy, creating jobs, or improving public schools as important issues voters want state government to address. Few voters gave
