| June 16, 2010 | Posted by p2wp under Gossip, Politics |
This screenshot from the Post-Gazette today shows quite the contrast in approaches between two of our elected officials. I’ll let the headlines speak for themselves.
[Ravenstahl scolded over library funds]
[Rudiak aims to boost public input on projects]
| March 19, 2010 | Posted by p2wp under Blogs |
We noticed this little widget on the side bar of The Digging Pitt blog (a great blog about art and transit in Pittsburgh) for Streetsblog.net – some of the articles looked like they would be of interest to the Progress Pittsburgh community. About Streetsblog.net …
Bringing together the best of the nation’s bloggers on sustainable transport, smart growth and livable streets, Streetsblog Network is a place where we can learn from each other and move the discussion on these issues forward.
| March 18, 2010 | Posted by p2wp under 2010, Blogs, Elections, Pennsylvania, Politics, Polls, voting |
If you missed yesterday’s news in the governor’s race, you missed some really bizarre behavior from the Onorato campaign.
Just before the close of business on the final day that petitions could be challenged, the Onorato campaign filed objections trying to block Joe Hoeffel from being on the ballot.
The Hoeffel campaign fired back in a statement from co-manager Lauren Townsend:
“We filed petitions with 7,632 signatures from 33 counties…”
[State law requires gubernatorial candidates to have at least 2,000 signatures in total and have at least 100 signatures from 10 counties.]
“Dan Onorato has good reason to be scared, and now he has turned desperate. This is a cowardly act.”
Press was rough for team Onorato all across the state. For example, NEPArtisan said, “Dan Onorato has gone the low road.”
Throughout the campaign, Onorato has been attempting to paint the race as a fait accompli. If this is the case, why challenge someone who clearly had exceeded the signature requirements?
Maybe it has something to do with these polling results, touted by team Hoeffel a few days ago. They show that, in a general election matchup, in vote-rich Southeast PA (a region that a Democratic nominee MUST win big to have any hope of winning statewide), Hoeffel leads Corbett, while Onorato trails.
Things got even stranger later in the day when Onorato withdrew his challenge. Their explanation raises more questions than it answers. In a statement to Politics PA, team Onorato said–and try to stay with me here–that they filed the suit, because they thought that Hoeffel might challenge Williams’ petitions. In what universe is this how a serious candidate for governor makes decisions!? For his part, Hoeffel called it a “lame-ass” excuse; a “cynical effort to play around with the Democratic process”, and it’s hard to disagree.
So what is really going on? Your guess is as good as mine, but I think these poll results (and what we can infer about Onorato’s internal polling) must have a lot to do with it. It’s not unusal that when campaigns of so-called front-runners start to spudder or slide, they begin to show signs of disorganization, bad political decision-making, and irrational behavior.
| February 19, 2010 | Posted by p2wp under Progress Pittsburgh Updates |
We are moving up in the social media world – you can now be our fan on Facebook and follow Progress Pittsburgh on Twitter @ProgressPGH.
| January 22, 2010 | Posted by p2wp under 2010, Endorsements, Pennsylvania, Politics, Women's Rights |
Thirty-seven years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that women have a constitutional right to privacy that includes a legal right to terminate a pregnancy for any reason during her first trimester and in order to protect her health after that. With a U.S. Supreme Court today where George W. Bush filled the seats of Sandra Day O’Connor and William Rehnquist with John Roberts and Samuel Alito, the ability of Roe v. Wade to withstand being overturned has never been so much in danger. If this decision were overturned, abortion-rights would be in the hands of each state. Pennsylvania is a neither a state that has passed a trigger law that would outlaw abortion if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned, nor have we passed a law to ensure that women’s rights are protected.
It is with that background on Roe v. Wade’s anniversary that the Hoeffel Campaign sent out a release announcing that Kate Michelman is endorsing Joe for governor and will head his Women for Hoeffel committee. Michelman is the former president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.
The full text of Michelman’s endorsement letter is below the fold.
| January 11, 2010 | Posted by p2wp under 2010, Elections, Pennsylvania, Politics |
There’s a lot of campaigning ahead of us, but in the early stages of the race for the the Democratic nomination for governor, it would seem that at least two of the campaigns are acknowledging that winning progressives is the key to winning the race.
Following Luke Ravenstahl’s infamous New Year’s Eve veto of the prevailing wage bill, Joe Hoeffel, Democrat from Montgomery County, issued a statement slamming the move and supporting the bill:
The bill had been passed unanimously by Pittsburgh’s city council and has received support from labor groups, environmental groups, and other progressives from across the City.
He went on to challenge Onorato and others to “stand up for economic justice and denounce the move.”
Onorato–who has the support of Luke Ravenstahl–failed to criticize the move or support the specific legislation on the table, but offered general support for prevailing wage legislation in principle. In acknowledgement of the base that Onorato has no choice but to try to win, he went on to say,
“I think Mr. Hoeffel may be surprised by the support I have with progressives, including progressives in [southeastern Pennsylvania],”
This is an odd statement for those of us in Allegheny County who have some history with Dan. For example, look back on this article written by Tim McNulty when he was a candidate for County Executive:
He says he’s against the living wage, a proposal pushed by organized labor, saying it is anti-business. He doesn’t have to mention it, but people there also know he is anti-abortion and pro-gun.
and maybe more interestingly,
[L]aw students were debating President Ronald Reagan’s nomination of Robert Bork to the Supreme Court and proposals to prohibit burning the American flag, both of which were ultimately rejected.
Onorato, though, was in favor of both.
Meanwhile, from Hoeffel HQ:
“I’m thrilled to be endorsed by Philly for Change,” said Democrat Joe Hoeffel…
Philly For Change endorsed Hoeffel at its first monthly meet-up of the year on Wednesday night. With more than 4,000 members, Philly For Change is one of the largest progressive organizations in the greater Philadelphia area.
With a Democratic electorate that is desperate to be motivated by someone who has a record of standing up for environmental justice, economic justice, and the rights of women, working people, and the LGBT community, there should be a lot more coming on the race to secure the progressive base.
| December 8, 2009 | Posted by p2wp under Uncategorized |
The Ramaley Trial.
The first trial stemming from the Bonus Scandal investigation continues this week after jury selection and opening arguments last week. Former Rep. Sean Ramaley, D-Beaver, is defending himself against charges of theft for allegedly working almost exclusively on his 2004 election campaign while being paid by taxpayers.
In last week's testimony, House Democratic research staffer Stephen Webb said that he worked with Ramaley on his campaign at taxpayer expense. Webb said he intended to take leave from his tax-funded job and said he needed $2,000 to set up shop in Beaver County for the rest of the campaign. Shortly thereafter, he received a $2,000 bonus, at taxpayer expense, for work that was part of his normal duties.
Webb's testimony at trial contradicts his testimony before the grand jury, which Ramaley's attorney was quick to point out. Click here for the Post-Gazette's story.
Yesterday, former Democratic staffer Mike Manzo confirmed Webb's story about the bonus, and an email documented former Rep. Mike Veon's interest in Ramaley's campaign. Click here for a Tribune-Review story.
Three More Invitations to the Grand Jury.
State Revenue Secretary Steve Stetler, D-York, House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, and House Majority Whip H. William DeWeese, D-Greene, last week disclosed that they received letters from the grand jury inviting them to appear.
The grand jury's interest in Stetler comes not from his current job as secretary of revenue but from his former role as chair of the House Democratic Campaign Committee. According to grand jury testimony, Stetler was advised to hire outside consultants to conduct research on candidates opposing Democrats but decided to continue having the work performed by House Democratic staffers.
Such letters are seen as the state equivalent of federal "target" letters, letting the recipient know that the grand jury is investigating them. Last month, similar letters preceded charges against former House Speaker John Perzel, R-Phila., and former Rep. Brett Feese, R-Lycoming. Click here for a story in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Another Luzerne County Judge and the Cost of Corruption.
Last week a third Luzerne County judge was forced from the bench after pleading guilty to federal charges of fraud and false tax filings. The state Supreme Court immediately suspended Judge Michael Toole. Click here for a report from the Scranton Times-Tribune.
Finally, the Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader has its eye on the cost of all the corruption in Luzerne County, and not just the financial cost, which is in the millions. Read The high price of corruption and substitute "PA" every time you see "Luzerne County."
| December 2, 2009 | Posted by p2wp under Blogs, Politics |
From Chris Potter:
You’ve probably heard of the “Anybody But Luke” crowd, right? Well, I can tell you where everybody who is anybody will be on the night of Dec. 3.
They’ll be hanging out with city councilor Bill Peduto.
Here’s the details on that party, from billpeduto.com:
Here is how you can show your support for Bill – and build a better Pittsburgh! We need you to help us to make this event even more special.
Please join us and bring your friends.
For more information or to RSVP, please call 412-414-1430 or email Mike Devanney at Mike.Devanney@gmail.com.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=fcfc13c6-2d21-4afc-b21e-c4b74e469517)
| December 1, 2009 | Posted by p2wp under Uncategorized |
Uptown Public Safety Meeting
Monday, December 7, 2009
6-7 pm
Uptown Partners office, Suite 1000, 710 Fifth Ave
This meeting about safety and crime issues in Uptown will include:
| November 5, 2009 | Posted by p2wp under Uncategorized |
Planned Parenthood of Western Pa now has a blog – check it out here
http://www.plannedparenthood-wp.blogspot.com
| October 28, 2009 | Posted by p2wp under Government, Pennsylvania |
Here is an update from the Pittsburgh Film Office about the PA Film Tax Credit Program – looks like this survived the budget process. This was included in a recent email from the Pittsburgh Women in Film and Media.
Dear Supporters of the Film Industry in SWPA:
Thank you for all of your hard work and support of the Pennsylvania Film Tax Credit program.
We are thrilled to announce that because of the great support for this valuable program, the Film Tax Credit Act of 2007 will continue! The Governor and the Pennsylvania Legislature can see the economic benefits and jobs the film production industry produces for the Commonwealth. That said, in this very difficult budget year, the cap has been set at $42 million. Next year the cap will increase to $60 million, continuing the tremendous expansion of the film industry in Pennsylvania! (more…)
| October 21, 2009 | Posted by p2wp under Uncategorized |
| October 19, 2009 | Posted by p2wp under Uncategorized |
The following is from this week's Democracy Rising email blast. Some interesting information about WAMs and some link's to Sen. Daylin Leach's Blog. What can we do to get this WAM issue under control?
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
WAMs: Guilty as Charged
We are indebted (if you'll excuse the expression) to Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery) for proving that WAMs are unconstitutional. Writing in " Daylin's Blog ," he not only defends WAMs but describes the process forbidden by a 1995 court decision, Common Cause of Pennsylvania v. Commonwealth 668 A.2d 190. Click here for a legal memo about this case and why WAMs violate the Constitution.
Leach, a lawyer, wrote, "The way DCED Grants work is that a certain amount is passed as part of the budget in open session. Each caucus then gets access to a percentage of the total, and legislative leaders then divide that amount up among their members. Organizations can apply to receive grants. Members can then decide which projects in their district get funded within the constraints of the total amount of money available and the legal parameters of allowable grants."
While Leach defends WAMs as beyond reproach, he fails to explain:
P.S.
Rumor has it that some legislative leaders will use caucus surplus funds for WAMs. We'll keep watching.
| October 16, 2009 | Posted by p2wp under Uncategorized |
Pennsylvanians United for Single Payer Healthcare and Healthcare4AllPA
invites you to a Grand opening of their 2101 Murray Ave office. The
event is from 4 to 9 pm Oct 17, 2009.
| October 15, 2009 | Posted by p2wp under Uncategorized |
Sister Shout is Pgh’s newest lesbian and queer women’s broadcast/podcast.
Follow Sister Shout on Twitter http://twitter.com/SistershOUTshowMichelle Obama to Attend Fundraiser at Rivers Club on April 17
The Obama Victory Fund
Invites you to a reception with special guest
First Lady Michelle Obama
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
3:00 PM
The Rivers Club
301 Grant Street
One Oxford Centre Suite 411
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
To rsvp or for more details, please contact tfletcher@barackobama.com
Infographic on voter suppression from @ACLU - Let People Vote
PA <3 O’Bama via @ofa_pa
Sign in a storefront on Penn Avenue in East Liberty that reads, “Pennsylvania Loves O’Bama”.
MoveOn Pgh is hosting a free screening of the Document Hot Coffee on Sun. March 11, 2012 1pm @ USW Building
MoveOn Pgh is hosting a free screening of the Document Hot Coffee on Sun. March 11, 2012 1pm @ USW Building - RSVP here http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=127094&is_manage=1
The state Senate rejected a series of Democratic amendments before passing the voter identification bill 26-23, with three Republicans joining the Democrats in opposition. Democrats had tried to add new forms of acceptable identification and postpone the requirement until after the November elections.
Oh? Why did we pass this bill?
“The reason people don’t have confidence is because they think there’s fraud,” [Secretary of the Commonwealth Carol Aichele] said. “This would eliminate or dramatically reduce anyone thinking that there are people voting illegally in Pennsylvania.”
So, there’s fraud, is there?
“This is simply a solution in search of a problem,” said Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Brookline. “It will alienate many of our citizens, including the poor, elderly and minorities.”
But Carol Aichele said there was fraud, didn’t she?
“The reason people don’t have confidence is because they think there’s fraud”
I see. So there is no fraud, but people think there is fraud. So we need to do this so that no one will see people without ID voting, and think there is fraud.
“This bill is a simple, common sense measure to protect the integrity of the voting process, which is the very foundation of our democracy,” Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi said. “It’s important to note that no voter will be turned away from the polls on election day.”
So people will go to the polls, see people asked for ID, which they will not be required to actually provide, and this method will assure everyone that there is no fraud, which we have already agreed is the case.
Gov. Tom Corbett supports requiring voters to show photo identification, and a spokesman for House Republicans said he expects the House to pass the bill in its current form.
Well, at least everyone can get behind this measure that everyone agrees will fail to solve a problem that does not, in any case, exist.
Who are you supporting for Allegheny County Controller
Total Votes: 33
Loading ...
Follow Us!