The First Read — October 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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Toomey says he raised $1.5M in 3Q
Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey said Wednesday that his campaign brought in $1.5 million during the third quarter, giving the campaign $3.1 in total contributions during the cycle so far. Read More
More Senate race news: Sestak’s ‘church’ talk raises eyebrows
Says he’ll go two terms and out
Specter raising money in Salt Lake

Hoeffel: Time to catch up
Making its first earnest attempt to raise money from supporters, Democrat Joe Hoeffel’s gubernatorial campaign acknowledged that his political organization is running behind that of other candidates who had been planning to run for months and has lots of leg work to do. Read More

New Jersey race carries warning for Pa. Republicans
Tom Corbett, the state Attorney General, is running a campaign similar to Chris Christie’s. His message: I’m clean, I’m capable, I may be a little boring but I’ll clean things up. Vote for the man, and for change; leave the party and the ideology alone. There are limits to this kind of campaign. Read More

State budget is in sight
House Majority Leader Todd Eachus says his leadership team has reached agreement with Senate Republicans on the final details of a $27.8 billion spending plan. Read More
More budget news: Poker, gas leases still among issues
Budget optimism?
State House sends tax bill to guv

Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed may be making a political rebound
For four months after he lost the Democratic mayoral primary, Stephen R. Reed would not, or could not, decide if he should mount a write-in campaign for re-election. He finally ended speculation on Sept. 25, when he faxed his explanation why he won’t contest City Council President Linda Thompson and Republican candidate Nevin Mindlin in November. However, for a man said to be wounded and depressed about the sudden end to his 27-year run as Harrisburg mayor, a rebound might finally be in the making. Read More

Casey pushes to prevent pension funds from investing in Iran’s energy sector
Senator Bob Casey is pitching a bill aimed at divesting state and local pension funds from companies that do business with Iran’s energy sector, a measure that Senate leaders say they’ll fold into a broader effort aimed at penalizing the country. Read More

Wagner blasts Bethlehem superintendent
State Auditor General Jack Wagner on Wednesday blasted the administration of outgoing Bethlehem Area School District Superintendent Joseph Lewis for ” inadequate controls over more than $11.5 million of laptop computers,” and for not contacting police in timely manner when at least 80 of them disappeared in the district. Read More

Philly mayor’s office takes over tax assessment
In the first substantial change in Philadelphia’s broken property tax system in more than a century, the troubled Board of Revision of Taxes agreed to surrender responsibility for setting tax values to Mayor Nutter. Read More

Have a great day!