Onorato says he wouldn’t let state opt-out of public option

Trying to firmly position himself in favor of a public option for health care reform, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato said Wednesday that, if elected governor, he would veto any state legislation making Pennsylvania opt-out of such a provision.

His statement came in response to emerging legislation in the U.S. Senate, which would include a government-run insurance plan but allow states to opt-out through legislative action. It remains unclear if that bill will be in …

Toomey to wish Specter a ‘happy anniversary,’ while Dems say a fake would beat him

This is fun. Republican Pat Toomey’s campaign has said that he’ll be giving Senator Arlen Specter a gift today, the 6-month anniversary of Specter’s defection to the Democratic Party. The Toomey folks say that “even anniversaries of questionable events can be worth commemorating.”

No word on what the gift is yet. Maybe better poll numbers?

Meanwhile, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has something interesting to say about the fake Senate candidacy being staged as a …

BRYAN LENTZ HIRES FORMER CARNEY AND SESTAK AIDE AS CAMPAIGN MANAGER

By LENTZ FOR CONGRESS

SWARTHMORE, PA—Representative Bryan R. Lentz took another significant step toward formally launching his candidacy for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District by announcing that former aide to Congressman Sestak, Congressional Campaign Manager and Capitol Hill Communications Director, Vincent A. Rongione has signed on to manage his campaign.

“We are very pleased to have Vince on the team,” Lentz stated.  “He brings a lifetime of experience in Delaware County and an excellent track record …

Corbett still winning guv primary, but most undecided

State Attorney General Tom Corbett still holds a significant lead over Congressman Jim Gerlach (R-6) in next year’s GOP primary for governor, but more than half of Republican voters are undecided, according to a new poll.

The Franklin & Marshall College survey of 202 Republicans showed Corbett garnering 30 percent of the vote, compared to 8 percent for Gerlach. But 57 percent of primary voters are still undecided.

Corbett has gained 15 points in the …

Onorato Pledges to Veto Any Plan “Opting Out” of Public Option

By ONORATO FOR GOVERNOR

PITTSBURGH:  Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato announced that if elected he will veto any legislation that forces the state to “opt out” of the public option included in the emerging national healthcare reform bill.  The provision, which first became public yesterday, would allow states to “opt out” of the public option.

“It is critical for Pennsylvania’s employers and workers that we help lower healthcare costs.  I believe that the proposed ‘public …

Poll: Two-thirds undecided in Dem primary for guv

Yet another poll showed Wednesday that the Democratic primary for governor is anyone’s race to win, with 66 percent of voters still undecided.

The Franklin & Marshall College survey of 250 Democrats was largely consistent with other public and private polls. Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato leads all candidates with 10 percent of the vote, trailed closely by Auditor General Jack Wagner at 9 percent. Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel garners 6 percent of the …

Carney aide will manage Lentz campaign

A former campaign aide to Joe Sestak and Chris Carney who has recently served as Carney’s legislative spokesman has been hired to run state Representative Bryan Lentz’s (D-Delaware) bid for the 7th District House race.

Vincent Rongione, a Delaware County native, was a deputy campaign manager for Sestak in 2006 and the campaign manager for Carney in 2008. Since then, he’s been Carney’s press secretary in Washington.

His hiring, announced Wednesday morning, continues Lentz’s early …

Wagner keeps hitting Rendell on contract reform

State Auditor General Jack Wagner continues to assail the Rendell administration for not adopting recommended changes in the state procurement process, threatening to go the legislature if the governor does not make the contact bidding process more competitive.

At a press conference and in a release Tuesday, Wagner, who is running for the Democratic nomination to succeed Rendell, kept up …

The First Read — October 28, 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.

Sign up for The First Read. And for all the latest news, log on to pa2010.com, your destination for Pennsylvania’s big 2010 elections.

Specter on a Democratic endorsing spree
Senator Arlen Specter appears to be tripping over himself to endorse any Democrat on a ballot in next week’s election. Also on empa2010.com/em: a href="http://www.pa2010.com/2009/10/mulling-specters-doma-reversal/?utm_source=PA2010.com+First+Read+Opt-In+List&utm_campaign=191ea24337-The+First+Read+10%2F28&utm_medium=email" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.pa2010.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pa2010.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fmulling-specters-doma-reversal%2F%3Futm_source%3DPA2010.com%2BFirst%2BRead%2BOpt-In%2BList%26amp%3Butm_campaign%3D191ea24337-The%2BFirst%2BRead%2B10%252F28%26amp%3Butm_medium%3Demail','Mulling+Specter%22s+DOMA+reversal')" target="_blank"Mulling Specter’s DOMA reversal/abr /
a href="http://www.pa2010.com/2009/10/more-campaign-finance-reports-are-online/?utm_source=PA2010.com+First+Read+Opt-In+List&utm_campaign=191ea24337-The+First+Read+10%2F28&utm_medium=email" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://www.pa2010.com']);return TrackClick("http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pa2010.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fmore-campaign-finance-reports-are-online%2F%3Futm_source%3DPA2010.com%2BFirst%2BRead%2BOpt-In%2BList%26amp%3Butm_campaign%3D191ea24337-The%2BFirst%2BRead%2B10%252F28%26amp%3Butm_medium%3Demail','More+campaign+finance+reports+are+online')" target="_blank">More …

Auditor General Jack Wagner Faults Administration For Rejecting Recommendations on Procurement Reform

By THE OFFICE OF AUDITOR GENERAL JACK WAGNER

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 27, 2009 – Auditor General Jack Wagner said today that if the Rendell administration did not voluntarily change the way it bids state contracts he would press the General Assembly for new legislation to make bidding more competitive and less expensive to taxpayers.

Wagner held a press conference today to address the Rendell administration’s response to a Department of the Auditor General audit, released …