The First Read — July 8, 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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Shapiro may run for Lt. Gov.
State Representative Josh Shapiro (D-Montgomery) is being encouraged to dive into the relatively empty Democratic field for Lieutenant Governor, and when Harrisburg’s contentious budget negotiations are over, he may do just that, a Democrat close to Shapiro told pa2010.com. “It’s something he will look at seriously,” the Democrat said on condition of anonymity because Shapiro hasn’t made any decision. Shapiro, the Democrat added, is not currently making moves toward the race, and will not consider doing so until a new budget is in place. Read More

Saidel’s head start in Lt. Gov. race growing formidable
As the first candidate by far to make moves for Lieutenant Governor, Democrat Jonathan Saidel was always going benefit from some early momentum. Now, that momentum could be breaking into a sprint, one fast enough to scare off some other potential candidates. Read More

The In-Specter on the state of the Senate race
If you’ve been following my analysis here at The In-Specter, you know where I stand on the state of the Pennsylvania Senate race. The Washington Times ran an excellent article that distills many of the memes I have been advancing. I’d like to summarize what I see as the “state of the race” right now, in an easy, bullet-point form. I hope these will provoke a discussion about whats happened so far and where we’re headed in this race. Read More

Pa. legislative bonus trial delayed until January
Eleven people charged with diverting public resources to help House Democrats win campaigns will go to trial in January – exactly three years after news first broke that millions in bonuses were doled out to legislative aides. Read More

800 Pennsylvania workers will be laid off, Rendell says
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell says state government will lay off close to 800 employees because of spending cuts. Rendell said Tuesday that pink slips will go out when he and the Legislature agree on a budget, perhaps sooner. Rendell says he deeply regrets the layoffs, but that he has been unable to persuade labor unions to allow rolling furloughs as an alternative. Read More

Exec with Murtha ties took kickbacks, fed says
PITTSBURGH – A former executive for a defense contractor with ties to Democratic U.S. Representative John Murtha has been charged by federal prosecutors with taking about $200,000 in kickbacks from a subcontractor. Read More

Judge weighs prosecutorial bias in Pa. bonus case
HARRISBURG – A former state lawmaker awaiting trial for allegedly diverting public resources to help House Democrats win campaigns persuaded a judge Tuesday to order him tried separately from the other 11 defendants. Read More

State Representative Bill Kortz to take on Specter
While Congressman Joe Sestak keeps sticking his toe in the water, another Democrat has already plunged into a primary race against U.S. Senator Arlen Specter – state Representative Bill Kortz, a little-known two-term legislator from the Mon Valley, outside Pittsburgh. Read More

Clearfield mayor hauls council to court
Clearfield Mayor Patti Gilliland has filed a motion in Clearfield County Court for an injunction to allow her unlimited access to the borough’s police department. Gilliland and the borough council have been at odds since March 2008 when the council passed a motion to prepare a policy to secure the police building. Read More

Top PAC spenders identified
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has returned from Harrisburg after a trip aimed at lobbying for more taxing power. Among other things, Ravenstahl asked the Legislature for the right to raise the local services tax from $52 to $145. Read More

Have a great day!