We’ve got boots on the ground tonight

You might think the news day is winding down, but don’t go too far.

We’ve got correspondents in two counties tonight to bring you the latest news.

Later, we’ll have dispatches from the debate between 6th District Democratic hopefuls Doug Pike and Manan Trivedi in Kutztown.

And we’ll also have reports from the candidates night being hosted by the Liberty City Democratic Club in Philly.

So stay tuned.

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Robo-calls target Dent’s vote against health care

A day after Congressman Charlie Dent (R-15) joined in unanimous GOP opposition to health care reform legislation, a liberal group launched robo-calls targeting him and the Lehigh Valley district Democrats are eager to capture.

The group, Americans United for Change, said it had was making “thousands” of the robo-calls.

Last weekend, Congress passed the health reform bill to reign in the power of the big insurance companies and guarantee that regular people can get the…

Report: Labor leader mulling Altmire challenge

The first bits of health-care-related political fallout hit Congressman Jason Altmire (D-4) Monday, when his vote against health care reform legislation prompted a local labor leader to say he might run against the two-term Democratic incumbent.

It’s too late to get on the primary ballot, with the deadline for gathering signatures having lapsed earlier this month. But Jack Shea, president of the Allegheny County Labor Council, said that he was considering a run, either as…

Corbett joins AGs suing to block health care bill

State Attorney General Tom Corbett is joining more than 10 other state attorneys general in seeking to block the health care reform legislation that passed the House Sunday, his office said.

In a brief statement Monday, Corbett, the Republican front-runner for governor, said he believes the courts will find the federal legislation to be an unconstitutional violation of states’ rights.

Though the lawsuit Corbett will file appears to be separate from legal actions by other…

Jim Cawley

Cawley doggedly pursued and won the state GOP’s endorsement. Many candidates still stayed in the race, and despite fierce criticism from some grassroots conservatives, Cawley prevailed in the May primary to win a job as Tom Corbett’s running mate.

GOP wants party unity, but Russel’s not budging; will write-in himself for special

After pBut Russell, ever the anti-establishment candidate, is sticking to his guns. He’s continued to criticize the process by which Burns was nominated. He’s preparing to go up against Burns in the May primary to be held the same…

DelCo GOP boss says ballot challenge allegations are ‘baseless’

The lawyer for a Delaware County Republican leader accused of wrongdoing in gathering signatures to get Pat Meehan on the ballot says his client “did nothing wrong.”

The lawyer for former party chairman Tom Judge Sr. told The Delaware County Daily Times that the allegations that Judge didn’t follow proper procedure when circulating nominating petitions for Meehan are “baseless,” saying Judge witnessed all the signatures he gathered as required.

“Honestly, I’m trying to figure out…

Dahlkemper: I’ll be targeted no matter what

Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3) defended her vote in favor of health care reform legislation Monday, and played down the political consequences of her decision to support the bill that passed the House Sunday.

Describing it as a “whole-life” bill that “protects the sanctity of life from conception to natural death,” Dahlkemper said she wasn’t focusing on the numerous Republicans lining up to run against her when she cast her vote. She was one of several…

Early Returns gets a makeover

Our friends over at The Post-Gazette have given their politics blog, Early Returns, a new coat of wax.

Full Story

Dems look to hang pay hike vote on Argall, but is it too late?

It’s been almost five years since Pennsylvania lawmakers voted to raise their own pay in the middle of the night without public debate, igniting a fury of voter outrage that ended with dozens of of them being voted out of office and the pay hike being repealed.

And even after that much time, partisans on both sides of the aisle still look for ways to hang that vote on opponents who cast it. Democrats are…