The First Read — October 7, 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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Lentz says he’s raised $250K
State Representative Bryan Lentz’s (D-Delaware) Congressional campaign said Tuesday that it has raised $250,000, a total higher than his likely Republican opponent Pat Meehan. Read More
Also on pa2010.com: Meehan got $200K in 16 days

Announcing candidacy, Onorato vows to ‘change the status quo’
PHILADELPHIA—Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato on Tuesday formally declared his candidacy for governor, making official what had been considered certain for months and pledging to change the entrenched culture of Harrisburg. “There will be those who say Harrisburg can’t be fixed,” Onorato, a Democrat, said during a speech at City Hall here. “That the culture is the culture, the status quo is the status quo. But let me be clear: Not only will I take on the status quo, I want to take on the status quo.” Read More
Complete coverage: The candidate on abortion, guns (Video)
He speaks to the press (Audio)
Protesters arrested in Pittsburgh
Live-blogging the announcement

Conservative group says it’s contacted 6,000 Specter donors
The conservative Club for Growth said Tuesday that its political action committee had contacted 6,000 individual and committee contributors to Senator Arlen Specter, encouraging them to request that their donations be refunded. Read More
More Senate race news: Sestak says he’s the 101st senator
Climate change legislation as a flash point?
On judiciary, Specter’s a liberal
Reflects on the death of his sister

Not so suddenly, Pa. becomes ground zero for competitive House races
First, Joe Sestak left his seat open to take on Arlen Specter. Then, Jim Gerlach said goodbye to his hard-to-defend seat to run for governor instead. Later, the Democrats got their man to run a competitive race against Charlie Dent. Primaries got crowded. Political forecasters got more and more excited. Oh, and there’s still those freshman and sophomore Democrats who have to defend conservative districts. Read More

Senate aims to end stalemate with budget votes
The state Senate approved key spending and tax bills Tuesday in a bid to pressure the House to go along with their plan to end Pennsylvania’s long budget stalemate. Read More
More budget news: Dems lash out at Rendell
Still weeks to go?
Never a dull moment

The Democrats’ new Bob Casey problem
Someone ought to tell the president and the speaker of the House that they are creating a new Bob Casey problem for their party. And his name is Bart Stupak. Read More
Also: Obama’s pick-and-roll partner

Rendell cabinet member leaves to join natural gas firm
A top member of Gov. Ed Rendell’s staff has resigned to go to work for a Texas gas firm that’s active in drilling for natural gas in Marcellus shale areas of Pennsylvania. Read More

As Bonusgate nears 1,000 days, activist challenges Corbett
More than 30 months since news of his legislative corruption probe first broke, state Attorney General Tom Corbett was once again hounded Tuesday for not moving fast enough when a political activist called on him to issue a new round of indictments or resign his office while he campaigns for governor. Read More
Also on pa2010.com: Knox won’t go negative—except against Corbett

Another GOP candidate emerges in PA-6
The GOP field seeking the replace Jim Gerlach might soon have another addition, and the new candidate sounds markedly different from the rest. Read More
On the blogosphere: Bad news for Welch

State cuts could mean slash in library services
Library personnel across the state are bracing for what could be a devastating blow from budget cuts. As the year drags on without a state budget, fears grow that libraries and the programs they offer will be cut mercilessly. Read More

Supreme Court hopeful Joan Orie Melvin stumps in Erie
Supreme Court judge candidate Joan Orie Melvin said she has seen the pain in Luzerne County, where two county judges were recently indicted in a $ 2.6 million kickback scheme. Read More

Kanjorski drafts bills for financial reform
Congressman Paul Kanjorski (D-11) has drafted proposals that would increase the powers of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, add regulations on hedge funds and establish a federal insurance office. Read More

Nutter says BRT reform in Council’s court
The road to reform for Philadelphia’s Board of Revision of Taxes winds through City Council. Read More
More Philly politics: Who forgot the $65 million referendum question?

Have a great day!