Category: Pennsylvania

Arlen Specter has to be a sad panda too these days:

After fiercely lobbying Specter to make the switch, Rendell himself has been uncharacteristically silent on the issue. He issued a relatively tepid statement more than a day after Specter made his announcement, and has yet to appear publicly with the Senator.

Fast Eddie is going to want to see whether the horse has any life in him before he bets on it.  If the grassroot dems keep demanding a competitive primary, that might be a wise move.  Surely Rendell understands Specter’s value in holding a seat for Democrats, but Rendell surely would prefer someone in the seat that’s more left too.

We had one endorsed candidate in the Pennsylvania primary yesterday, who did very well.  Congratulations to NRA-PVF endorsed candidate Judge Joan Orie Melvin.  NRA doesn’t typically endorse in primaries, but in this case, it seems to have paid off:

ORIE MELVIN, JOAN (REP) 264,535 55.7%
PANEPINTO, PAUL P. (REP) 82,279 17.3%
ALLEN, CHERYL LYNN (REP) 127,819 26.9%

Winning a comfortable majority in a three way race is pretty impressive.  I understand why NRA is leery of endorsing in primary races, but pretty clearly in primaries their endorsement carries some weight.

The Governor’s predations against the Second Amendment have been well documented here, but we never really expected the Governor to come out against the thirteenth amendment:

Gov. Rendell is notifying nearly 80,000 state workers today by email that they will stop being paid in the event of a budget impasse – but should continue showing up to work.

Perhaps I should start getting the guest room straightened out, and affixing locks to the liquor cabinet in anticipation of what is no doubt coming next.

Hat Tip to Capitol Ideas

It appears that Democrats in the House are blocking a bill to bring a little transparency to political photo ops.

Legislation sponsored by Rep. Jim Cox, R-Berks, would replace Rendell’s name with “Pennsylvania Taxpayers” on the checks — all the better to make it clear where the luchre is actually coming from, the newspaper reported.

The House State Government Committee was to have acted on the proposal Monday, but held off on action at the request of the chamber’s majority-Democrat leadership.

What I like about this bill is that it doesn’t cost us a thing. With a $3 billion deficit, it’s good to see a new law that doesn’t cost us a penny.

It’s also a win-win situation for Republicans. If Democrats on the committee approve it, then all of those photo ops with “free” money handed out to pet causes are suddenly no longer credited to the generosity of Ed Rendell and the Democratic Party. It reminds people exactly who is paying for these politically favored causes. And if the Democrats block it, well, why are they against a bit of transparency on behalf of taxpayers?

Brian Faughnan at Red State is reporting that Specter seems to be working out a deal on Card Check:

A spokesperson for Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), the lead sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act, confirmed today that an agreement is near that will allow Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) to return to his earlier position of support for the legislation.

One wonders what else Specter is going to flip on?  Let’s hope he’s not talking to Kirsten Gillibrand too.

Sestak is still making louder noises about a primary Challenge against Specter, and it looks like the progressive-left is looking to get behind him, despite the fact that the Democratic establishment in Pennsylvania is behind Specter.

Actually, if NRA endorses Specter in the primary, I will gladly help him.  Let’s not forget Sestak is an anti-gun leader, and is a solid-left Democrat.  I will gladly help Arlen beat him in a primary.  The idea of Sestak representing Pennsylvania in the Senate disgusts me a lot more than Arlen ever has.

UPDATE: More here.

The Senate, last night, voted to strip Arlen Specter of his senority in the Senate:

In announcing his move across the aisle last week, Specter asserted that Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) had assured him he would retain his seniority in the Senate and on the five committees on which he serves. Specter’s tenure ranked him ahead of all but seven Democrats.

I guess Harry Reid’s word is about as good as Obama’s.

Instead, though, on a voice vote last night, the Senate approved a resolution that made Specter the most junior Democrat on four committees for the remainder of this Congress. (He will rank second from last on the fifth, the Special Committee on Aging.)

Ouch, that’s gotta hurt.  Apparently Specter had designs on heading the Appropriations Committee, and this reduction in seniority is going to make it very difficult to pork up the budget.  I hear a very tiny violin playing softly in the background.

Looks like there are two bills going forward in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, House Bill 1411 and Senate Bill 843.  Both have identical language.  NRA is asking folks to contact the committee heads here for the Senate, and here for the House, in opposition.

The good news is that the bills are pretty narrowly defined, such that they ought not to affect legitimate hunting and dog training activity.  The bad news is, it’ll make it harder to defeat.  I have no love of pigeon shooting, but I do not wish to see it banned, and embolden HSUS, who is behind the ban.  If they win, they will be back with more money (which they have plenty of) to push for more restrictions on hunting.

Consider how they used this issue in Michigan, and you’ll see what I mean.  Dove Hunting, which is legitimate hunting, with hunters eating their catch (I know a few dove hunters myself) was banned by referendum there, because HSUS was able to smear it as a not legitimate hunting activity.  Also remember that HSUS supports a comprehensive ban on lead ammunition.

Every legislative victory will bring them more money and more power.  This will be an awful pandoras box we’ll be opening, if we allow HSUS to achieve an easy victory in Pennsylvania,.  Let’s not make this easy for them.