The Sunlight Foundation is an organization and a campaign to use technology to bring more transparency to government. Last week the Sunlight Foundation kicked off their Public Equals Online campaign with a panel discussion at the Google Headquarters in Washington DC.

Panelists included:

• Jake Brewer, engagement director of the Sunlight Foundation
• Mark Tapscott, editorial page editor of the Washington Examiner
• Jose Antonio Vargas, Technology & Innovations Editor at the Huffington Post
• Ginny Hunt, Head of Google’s Public Sector Lab
• Ryan Hopkins, Public Square Project
• And a representative from the federal government

The Public Square Project is based in Pittsburgh.  From the website:

The Public Square Project seeks to empower citizens to make positive change in local government by building an online hub for information about government and public policy in the Pittsburgh region.

Be a Fan of the Public Square Project on Facebook here.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Let the Sunshine in (googleblog.blogspot.com)
• Jake Brewer: Bringing Local Government into the 21st Century (huffingtonpost.com)
• Sunlight Foundation wants more government docs online (computerworld.com)

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Yesterday – Congressman Jason Altmire stated that he would vote no on health care reform bill.

Today the Steelworkers responded to Representative Altmire’s decision at his office in Aliquippa.

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.

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.

Dear Friends,

As a proud Pennsylvania woman, I want to use the occasion of this anniversary of Roe v. Wade to announce my support for Joe Hoeffel for Governor in 2010.

Roe v. Wade is the landmark Supreme Court decision recognizing a woman’s right to decide matters of pregnancy, childbearing and abortion – in privacy, safety and with dignity.  It is a time to reflect on and remember those who have sacrificed to fight for and protect that fundamental American right.  It is also a time to rededicate ourselves to continuing the fight for women’s lives, health and economic security.

At a time when many in the Democratic Party are retreating from the issues that matter to many of us, I am proud to endorse someone who can be counted on to stand up for what is right — no matter how the temporary political winds might be blowing.  That is especially true on reproductive rights.

Joe Hoeffel is a determined pro-choice leader who understands that the rights of women to make their own reproductive health decisions cannot be traded away. Joe Hoeffel has served Pennsylvania in the State House, in the US Congress, and as a County Commissioner. During my tenure as President of NARAL Pro-Choice America, I saw Joe fight hard for women. He spoke out against passage of Pennsylvania’s restrictive abortion law, he worked for equal pay for equal work, and he is the only candidate for Governor to speak out against the prohibition on abortion coverage in the Health Care Reform bill.

The willingness of National Democratic leaders to secure passage of health reform by prohibiting abortion coverage under private insurance plans represents a significant setback for women, potentially for generations to come.

Joe Hoeffel is the kind of leader who understands that health care legislation at the price of women’s health is regression, not reform.  He’s the kind of leader who can speak to the people of Pennsylvania about these choices in clear and compelling terms.  He is the kind of leader who knows that policies that invest in women — their health, education, skill training and job security — are an investment in the well-being of our nation.  At this moment, in our long journey for women’s liberty, equality and freedom of choice, for which we have fought for so long, Joe Hoeffel is the leader we need.

I hope you will join me today by signing up for Women for Joe Hoeffel.  (Supportive Men are welcome to join as well.)

You can also support the campaign by:

– Joining me at his Campaign Kickoff this Tuesday, January 26, in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, or Philadelphia.

– Making a contribution to the campaign.

It is vitally important that women be actively involved in choosing the Democratic candidate for Governor. Whether you can contribute your time or your money or both, your support will make an important difference.

Sincerely,

Kate Michelman

One complaint that we hear from time to time is that poor neighborhoods often get the leftover trashcans from other neighborhoods.  One example taken earlier in the year (Kevin Acklin used this particular example in the second mayoral debate, back in October): a trashcan behind the Homewood-Brushton YMCA labeled “Bloomfield”.

Here’s a photo taken today:

Problem solved?  Glad to see that the mayor is still getting it done.

According to Rich Lord,

Ravenstahl’s campaign raised $127,496… Kevin Acklin raised $135,290… Franco Dok Harris raised $113,611

Most observers believed that Harris would outraise Acklin, and any prognosticators who would have claimed that Ravenstahl would be outraised would have been run out of town.

Of course, raising money is half the story, but cash-on-hand is the other half.  Ravenstahl has $312,437 on hand, Acklin has $51,828, and Harris has $27,704.  It will be interesting to see if these numbers are thrown around in the effort to win over the Anybody-But-Luke vote.

* for the record, I do think that the corruption story is big, I just don’t find it shocking in the least.

The mayor shall have been a resident of the City for at least three years immediately preceding election

Harris held a press conference today, where he admitted (1) he only registered to vote in Pittsburgh this year, (2) he has never voted in the City of Pittsburgh, and (3) he had an apartment in the City of Pittsburgh, while voting in Sewickley.

There’s a couple of facts that are not really up for dispute:

1. As a student, temporarily living in Pittsburgh, Dok had a legal right to vote at his permanent address in Sewickley.  In other words, charges of voter fraud are ill-founded.  The U.S. Supreme court has ruled that students have a right to vote at their school address OR their permanent address.
2. Dok’s name cannot–at this point–be removed from the ballot.  Just as when a candidate dies between the time that the ballot is set and when an election occurs, that candidate’s name would likely remain on the ballot.

At the press conference, Harris produced copies of leases showing that he had an apartment in Pittsburgh, but by focusing on the two issues above, the media may be missing the boat on a bigger issue.  By exercising his right to vote from his parents’ address in Sewickley, is that an implicit establishment of that address as his permanent residence?  If this is the case, and Dok only established residency in the City of Pittsburgh this year, then would that make him ineligible to serve as mayor, if he were elected?

My guess is that the story may be over for now, but if the election ends up the way that Dok is hoping it will, then the question of residency and eligibility will be front-and-center.

University of Pittsburgh
October, 23, 2009 6:00 – 8:00pm (Doors open at 5:30) ”
This event is FREE.
CLICK HERE to register for this event

Featured Panelists: 

• Paul H. O’Neill 72nd Secretary of the US Treasury, Co founder of the Pittsburgh Regional Healthcare Initiative & Founder of Value Capture, LLC.  During his government service, Mr. O’Neill helped to shape many of the policies which define the American health care system today. 
• Congressman Jason Altmire D- Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional DistrictCo-chair of the New Democratic Coalition’s task force on health care reform and serves as a subcommittee chairman on the Small Business Committee.  Prior to his election to Congress in 2006, Jason spent 15 years in health care policy, working as a congressional staffer, a hospital association executive and for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).
• Congressman Tim Murphy R- Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional DistrictCongressman Murphy relies on his three decades as a child psychologist to advocate for meaningful reforms in the U.S. healthcare system.  As one of only a handful of members of Congress with a background in healthcare, Tim quickly established himself as a leader on the issue.  He is Co-chair of the 21st Century Healthcare Caucus, Mental Health Caucus and Men’s Health Caucus, and currently serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, where he sits on two subcommittees:  Health and Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Moderator: Dr. Beaufort B. Longest M. Allen Pond Professor and Director, Health Policy Institute

COAL COUNTRY is a dramatic look at modern coal mining. We get to know working miners along with activists who are battling coal companies in Appalachia. We hear from miners and coal company officials, who are concerned about jobs and the economy and believe they are acting responsibly in bringing power to the American people. Both sides in this conflict claim that history is on their side. Families have lived in the region for generations, and most have ancestors who worked in the mines. Everyone shares a deep love for the land, but MTR (Mountain Top Removal mining which has leveled over 500 Appalachian mountains) is tearing them apart. We need to understand the meaning behind promises of “cheap energy” and “clean coal.” Are they achievable? At what cost? Are there alternatives to our energy future?

“A balanced, sober look at the reality of coal; both the good news and the bad, and the staggering phenomenon that is mountain top mining. It not only reminds you what it takes to turn your lights on, it’ll make sure you remember to turn them off when you leave the room.”
Peter Horton, director.

Sept. 21, 2009 – 7pm @ Pittsburgh Filmmakers Melwood Screening Room

RSVP on Facebook

Related reading…

• Speaking of fake grassroots – HOW ABOUT THOSE “FACES OF COAL” (iflizwerequeen.com)
• Washington Theater Presents The MTR Follies (jcwinnie.biz)
• Coalcorp Provides Updated Default Status Report (newswire.ca)

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