Opinion

Continuity & Change: Pennsylvania in the new century

by G. Terry Madonna and Michael L. Young

New centuries can be messy affairs to chronicle, often taking a decade or longer to hit their stride. By any measure, however, the 21st century is now well under way. It seems a good time, therefore, to assess the leading trends exhibited in Pennsylvania politics early in the new century.

What’s new and not so new in state politics? And where does the state seem to be heading?

One way to answer these questions is…

March 9, 2010 at 10:07 am | Comments (2)

More ads target Pa. reps on health care

As the push for health care reform legislation enters what seems like the home stretch, representatives on both sides of the aisle are being squeezed.

Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3) is once again being pressured to vote against reform legislation. A new TV ad campaign by American Future Fund targets 18 congressional districts, including hers in northwest Pennsylvania. It’s unclear how big their buy is against Dahlkemper. The ad highlights the deals that have been cut…

March 9, 2010 at 9:57 am | Comments (1)

Critz wins nomination for special election (Updated)

Longtime John Murtha staffer Mark Critz on Monday won the Democratic Party’s nomination for a special election to finish out the late congressman’s term, as the party opted for a relatively untested candidate in a high-profile race, but one who knows the western Pennsylvania district in and out.

Details of the vote began to emerge Monday evening, after the state party’s executive committee had polled its members during the day. Multiple Democratic sources confirmed that…

March 8, 2010 at 11:45 pm | Comments (25)

From the Blogs

LEFTOVERS: A clean campaign call from Pike, Specter’s new book, petition updates

by Dan Hirschhorn

Doug Pike tried for something of ceasefire Monday—and his primary opponent’s response basically amounted to, “we’ll get back to ya, but probably not.”

Pike, one of two Democrats seeking the party’s nod in the 6th Congressional District, cited a report from our buddies at PoliticsPA that noted the contest between him and Manan Trivedi could become one of the “nastiest” primaries of the year (we agree, by the way).

“That would be a real disservice…

March 8, 2010 at 11:30 pm | Comments (6)

Labor endorsements for Sestak, Specter

The Democratic candidate for Senate spent Monday rolling out dueling labor endorsements, with Arlen Specter winning the backing of autoworkers and a major western Pennsylvania union council, while Joe Sestak announced support from a powerful food workers’ union.

Specter’s endorsement from the Allegheny County Labor Council was particularly notable, since the support of the council, which represents about 100,000 workers in the state, is effectively a recommendation to the statewide AFL-CIO. As he’s racked up union support in recent weeks, Specter has continued to court the state’s largest umbrella labor group, which has backed him in the past.

March 8, 2010 at 6:52 pm | Comments (39)

Obama’s Pa. trip sparks war of words

President Obama’s

March 8, 2010 at 6:28 pm | Comments (7)

Anti-abortion group warns Altmire, Kanjorski on health care vote

One of the country’s leading anti-abortion groups is sending a warning shot to House Democrats that if they vote health care reform  legislation that loosens restrictions on federal funding for abortion, they should be ready to lose their jobs.

And they’re bringing polling data to prove it.

The Susan B. Anthony List, founded to advance the role of pro-life women in politics, rolled our their survey late last week, a poll that included data on…

March 8, 2010 at 1:33 pm | Comments (5)

Two from Pa. heading ‘Red to Blue’

Two House Democrats from the Keystone State are helping to head up the party’s campaign efforts at capturing Republican-held seats.

Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8) and Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-13) were among four co-chairs of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Red to Blue” program announced Monday. In addition to aiding challengers, the program also assists in open-seat races.

Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-Md.) and Congressman Bruce Braley (D-Ia.) are also co-chairing the program.

“The DCCC is focused…

March 8, 2010 at 1:20 pm | Comments (4)

From the Blogs

Critz? Really?

by Tammy Alonso

I was just a bit surprised when I received the breaking news Saturday that local Democrats in the 12th Congressional District, had voted to support full story

March 8, 2010 at 8:00 am | Comments (8)

From the Blogs

LEFTOVERS: More Rangel money, Rendell on Corbett’s head, the Dem holdouts on health care

by Dan Hirschhorn

A busy weekend in western Pennsylvania sure makes it hard keep up.

Charles Rangel may have resigned his House Ways & Means chairmanship, but that doesn’t mean Democrats are free of Republican attacks about him. Congresswoman Kathy Dahlkemper (D-3) appears to be the favored target as of late, because unlike many other Democrats, she hasn’t given back or donated campaign contribution from Rangel or his affiliated political action committees. One of her potential GOP opponents,…

March 7, 2010 at 11:56 pm | Comments (1)