The First Read — June 23, 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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pa2010.com’s Top 10 Political Consultants
They’re the people pulling the political strings behind campaigns. The people who get politicians elected. The people journalists love to quote, even if they’re not exactly unbiased. They’re the people behind the scenes. They are the Keystone State’s political consultants. Read More
Also on pa2010.com: Forgetting Mike Long

Issue No. 1: It’s still the economy, stupid
As Pennsylvanians prepare to elect their next Governor, decide whether the incumbent Senator deserves another term and pick their representative for Congress, analysts, pollsters, party insiders and politicians alike agree on one thing: The econmy will once again issue No. 1, the factor that can make or break politicians and their candidacies. Read More

House Speaker McCall backs Governor Rendell’s state income tax hike
HARRISBURG — Saying Pennsylvania faces the worst budget crisis in almost three decades, House Speaker Keith McCall today threw his support behind Gov. Ed Rendell’s plan to raise the state income tax by 16 percent. Read More

Lawmakers pitch earmarks for highway bill
U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent has asked Congress for $6 million to help renovate part of Route 22 as part of a massive highway bill up for renewal this year. Read More

Pennsylvania’s income tax shaped by constitution
HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania’s personal income tax is shaped by a constitutional requirement that taxes be levied uniformly. This requirement means the tax is levied at a flat percentage rate on taxpayers regardless of income. As a result, lower-income earners wind up paying a larger chunk of their income in taxes than wealthier Pennsylvanians. Read More

Nader wants Corbett to give back campaign contribution
HARRISBURG — Frequent presidential candidate Ralph Nader is asking state Attorney General Tom Corbett to return at least $15,900 in campaign contributions he received from a Pittsburgh-based law firm that helped House Democrats coordinate a 2004 effort to have Mr. Nader thrown off the Pennsylvania ballot. Read More

Another possible contender for Senate seat
A growing list of Democratic voters in the 24th state Senatorial District has Democrat Jim Maza, the deputy chief operating officer for Montgomery County, contemplating another run. Read More

Network of Obama volunteers takes on health care reform
Greg Nirshberg is one of hundreds of thousands of Organizing for America volunteers that President Barack Obama is counting on to take his newly announced health care reform plan to the streets. Read More

Politics As Usual, A Conversation with Tom Knox
Welcome to a special edition of the “Politics As Usual” podcast. We sat down and chatted this morning with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Knox about politics, the state budget, his gubernatorial aspirations and Clint Eastwood’s last movie. Read More

Have a great day!