The First Read — August 17, 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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NETROOTS ROUNDUP: Sestak wins a poll, Specter makes a call and Toomey comes to town
Here’s a quick rundown of what happened in The Steel City. Read More

Research 2000 poll shows Specter still leading
Senator Arlen Specter is still ahead in both his primary matchup with Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) and a general election contest with Republican Pat Toomey, according to a recent Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll. Read More
Also on pa2010.com: Rasmussen poll says Toomey would top both Specter, Sestak

Creating chaos
Big-city mayors tend to govern by crisis and Gov. Ed Rendell, the former Philadelphia mayor, now is at the helm of the largest crisis in his three decades of public life. Read More

Roggio decides against Congressional run in PA-6
Bob Roggio will not be running for Congress. Roggio, a Democrat who narrowly lost to Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6) last year, said earlier this week that he hadn’t “ruled out” another go-round. But he told pa2010.com Friday that he had decided not to launch another campaign. Read More

Killion may join crowded GOP field for Lt. Gov.
State Representative Tom Killion (R-Delaware) is considering a run for Lieutenant Governor, and may form an exploratory committee for the race as early as next week. Read More

Pennsylvania owes money to counties because of budget impasse
Without a state budget, Lebanon County is owed about $2 million in payments for its human service agencies from the state, which is close to three months behind on payments, the county administrator said this week. The county is fronting money to pay bills from its other revenue for agencies including Children and Youth and the Community Action Partnership, said Jamie Wolgemuth, county administrator. Read More

Rendell taking losing weight as seriously as the budget crisis
HARRISBURG — Ed Rendell, the unabashed indulger in all things greasy, has not had so much as a bite of a cheese steak in two months. He’s given up sweets, too, including his favorite dessert — Starbucks coffee ice cream. Not a spoonful, as hard as that might be to believe. Read More

Onorato gets a reassessment setback
The state Supreme Court on Friday brought property-tax reassessments one step closer to a political headache for Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, when it ruled that the county cannot delay while it seeks help from Harrisburg. Read More

With new Web site, Specter keeps hammering Sestak on missed votes
If you thought Senator Arlen Specter’s attacks on opponent Joe Sestak’s voting attendance in Congress were just a temporary, opening salvo, think again. Specter’s campaign this week launched a new Web site, NoShowJoe.org, which chronicles Sestak’s missed votes and where he was instead of the House floor at various times. Read More

FEC split on targeting Specter donors
Federal Election Commission lawyers couldn’t decide whether the Club for Growth’s plan to target party-switching Sen. Arlen Specter’s donors using his campaign finance reports was a violation of the donors’ privacy. Read More

Citizens call on Reed to run again, he says
The mayor, who was defeated for the Democratic nomination, said he will announce by Labor Day whether he will mount a write-in campaign. Read More

Pittston Dems vote son on ticket in father’s place
A once uncomplicated and uncontested Pittston City Council race was shaken up Thursday when one Democratic nomination went from Best to Best. Read More

Rendell picks former Fumo aide Tuma for press chief
Gov. Rendell yesterday tapped Gary Tuma, longtime spokesman for now-disgraced former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo, to be his new press secretary. Read More

Have a great day!