The First Read — May 14, 2009

Good Morning!

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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THE PRESS ROOM: For Specter campaign, loads of media but no spokesperson
Senator Arlen Specter’s reelection campaign is arguably the most high-profile race in the country, followed by reporters and bloggers from coast-to-coast.But despite millions of dollars in the bank, the campaign still hasn’t hired someone to handle all those pesky journalists. Read More

For Kortz, the challenge is getting noticed
PHILADELPHIA—It seemed like every Democratic candidate in the room was up on stage. Candidates for local row offices, judicial slots and more were introduced one-by-one by Congressman Bob Brady (D-1), chairman of the city’s Democratic Party. And then there was Bill Kortz, standing off-stage, seeming almost like an anonymous observer in the crowd of rank-and-file Democrats at the party’s spring dinner here this week. Read More

Statewide realty tax system finds another ally
HARRISBURG—The touchy topic of property reassessment is roiling the political waters in counties like Allegheny, Philadelphia, Luzerne, Bucks and Mercer, with others likely to follow. So one Democratic legislator thinks it’s time to study a major change—whether the Legislature should create a statewide office of property reassessment. Read More
•Earlier on pa2010.com: As a political obstacle looms, Onorato looks to put the onus on Harrisburg

Refund Watch: $97K in Specter donor refunds
Log on to pa2010.com for continued coverage of who is asking for their money back, who isn’t, and why. Read More

Living Left of Center
Such a scene still takes getting used to: Arlen Specter, the erstwhile Republican in his natty suit, working a crowd of 800 boisterous Democrats who are washing down cheese steaks with beer in the hiring hall of the local Sheet Metal Workers union in Philadelphia. Read More

Platts has ‘no intention’ of running for Senate
Congressman Todd Platts (R-19) is flattered to be pushed as a Senate candidate—but he’s not interested, a spokesman said Wednesday. Read More

Rendell: No pay for state workers under budget impasse
Gov. Ed Rendell is notifed nearly 80,000 state workers by e-mail that they will stop being paid in the event that a new state budget is not adopted on time – but should continue showing up to work. Read More

Murtha opponent says aide threatened him
The Republican who challenged Congressman John Murtha (D-12) in 2008 says a top aide to the embattled Pennsylvania Democrat threatened to have him recalled to active duty in the U.S. Army so he could be court-martialed for engaging in politics while serving in the armed forces. Read More

Cunningham with $700K on hand
Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham raised about $136,000 in the first three months of the year, leaving the likely gubernatorial candidate with $706,000 in cash on hand, according to campaign finance data. Read More

Former Santorum fundraiser is new RNC Finance Director
RNC Chair Michael Steele has selected Robert Bickhart, who served as finance chair to former Senator Rick Santorum to be the party’s finance director. Read More

NRCC radio ad highlights Murtha’s airport
A new radio ad by the National Republican Congressional Committee is targeting House Democrats, in part, for their support of Congressman John Murtha’s (D-12) earmarked airport. Read More

McCaffery ups the ante in Philly D.A. race
A new $200,000 contribution by district attorney candidate Dan McCaffery to his own campaign may change the contours of the six-way race in its final days. Read More

Have a great day!