The First Read — June 16, 2009

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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Internal poll from Knox camp shows tight Guv primary
An internal poll commissioned by Democrat Tom Knox’s gubernatorial campaign shows the wealthy Philadelphia businessman in a dead-heat with Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato in next year’s primary. Read More

In PA-6, Pike starts staffing up
Still standing alone in the Democratic field for Congress, former Inquirer editorial writer Doug Pike is beginning to build his political team in the 6th Congressional District. Read More

T0omey camp says it passed $1M mark, hires former Specter fundraiser
Republican Pat Toomey’s Senate campaign said Monday that it had raised over $1 million in its first 60 days, as the former Club for Growth president looks to solidify GOP support for a possible general election matchup with Senator Arlen Specter. Read More

A MontCo dentist looks to challenge Schwartz
A dentist from Huntingdon Valley says he’s likely to challenge Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-13) next year, going up against a popular and well-entrenched incumbent in what is sure to be a steep uphill battle. Read More

House bill would allow Independent, non-party affiliates to vote in primary
Disenfranchised primary voters who don’t want to affiliate with the two major parties will finally get their chance to vote for candidates if a House bill becomes law. Read More

Rendell calls emergency money meeting
HARRISBURG — Gov. Ed Rendell has called an “emergency meeting” of his Cabinet on Wednesday to deal with the state’s dire fiscal situation. Steve Crawford, Rendell’s chief of staff, told Cabinet members in a Friday memo attendance is mandatory and restricted to members of the Cabinet. “The single item for this agenda is the budget,” Crawford wrote. Read More

With Detroit ailing, Sestak looked to Japan
Last October, as the American auto industry neared collapse and pleaded for government help, U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak bought $8,500 worth of stock in Honda and Toyota. Sestak’s investment in the Japanese carmakers, his only direct investment in the auto industry, helped diversify a portfolio that includes more than 40 different stocks and is valued at between about $759,000 and $2.3 million, according to newly filed financial disclosure reports. Read More

Radnor on list of pricey suburbs, but commish balks
Editors at BusinessWeek magazine and real estate researcher OnBoard have named Radnor Township the sixth most expensive suburb in the country in which to live. Read More

Parade postpones Pittsburgh financial recovery meeting
A showdown over city finances between Pittsburgh City Council and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl will have to wait. City Council canceled a meeting set for 1 p.m. today in deference to the Downtown parade for the Penguins. The Pens won the Stanley Cup in Game 7 on Friday against the Detroit Red Wings. Read More

NRSC head Cornyn gave Toomey $5K
National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman John Cornyn recently donated $5,000 to Pat Toomey’s Senate campaign from his own political action committee, The Washington Times reports. Read More

Specter announces statewide 2010 re-election committee
A week after he was officially introduced to the Pennsylvania Democratic Party at their spring meeting in Pittsburgh, Sen. Arlen Specter announced Monday the formation of a statewide advisory committee for his 2010 re-election bid. Read More

DSCC fundraises for Specter
It’s striking how swiftly the Dem establishment has lined up behind Arlen Specter, making Joe Sestak’s expected primary challenge to the newly-minted Dem a major uphill climb. Read More

Pennsylvania Senate Republican leader Scarnati takes a look at table games
HARRISBURG — The Senate’s top Republican said today he’s “willing to listen” to proposals to legalize table games at casinos. Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, said raising revenue from table games would be preferable to hiking taxes as Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell has proposed. Read More

Have a great day!