Second Spouse Bill Clinton?

Thursday, June 5th, 2008

Imagine this: It’s August 28th, 2008 in Denver, Colorado and the Democratic Party is concluding its convention on the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech by nominating the first African American candidate of a major party in American history. The crowd is cheering, the balloons are falling, and [...]

Krugman Outed

Monday, March 10th, 2008

Let me just say I have been a big fan of Paul Krugman’s for quite a while now. Even prior to September 11, Dr. Krugman had the Bush administration figured out for what they were. And in the insanity of 2002 and 2003 he was one of the very few mainstream voices that recognized the [...]

Welcome to Pennsylvania

Wednesday, March 5th, 2008

So all of a sudden we matter. Crazy. Expect this blog to restart as I document my take on the next 7 weeks. For the most part, I’m not going to talk about the actual political news, as there are far better sources for that. But I’ll give you my experience. Yes We Can.

Penna’s 3 Democratic Contenders for U.S. Senate Meet for Televised Debate

Saturday, April 8th, 2006

Candidates Bob Casey Jr., Chuck Pennacchio, and Alan Sandals will duke it out together for the first time 7 p.m. tonight Saturday, April 8, live from Slippery Rock University on the PCN cable channel. A rebroadcast is set for Sunday 3 p.m., and PCN will stream it online. Be an informed voter and fire up [...]

Pennsylvania Assembly Passes Minimum Wage Hike

Friday, April 7th, 2006

There’s good news from Harrisburg: In a lopsided 146-50 vote, Pennsylvania’s State Assembly passed HB 257, the long-stalled raise in the minimum wage. A large number of Republicans joined the solid Democrats on Wednesday to increase annual pay for the state’s lowest-wage workers by $4,000. Hourly pay would bump up to $6.15 starting July1 this [...]

Republicans Stall Penna. Minimum Wage Increase Again, 4th Time in 4 Weeks

Saturday, March 11th, 2006

Just back from the legislature’s February-March break, Pennsylvania’s Assembly Appropriations Committee unanamously approved sending the minimum wage bill (H.B. 2021) to the full House for a final vote. Then, after the Committee adjourned, Chairman Brett Feese pulled it back, using a maneuver to reconsider the bill. It’s now four consecutive legislative weeks that Committee Republicans [...]

‘Unknown’ Candidate Pennacchio Shows Strength

Thursday, March 9th, 2006

Here comes Pennacchio: At its annual endorsement meeting Saturday in preparation for this spring’s primary election, the Bucks County Democratic Committee reflected a growing recognition of progressive U.S. Senate candidate Chuck Pennacchio. Pennacchio, a Bucks resident whose name has been unknown to most Pennsylvanians, garnered a surprising 47% of the vote, nearly edging out major [...]

Rendell: I’ll veto anti-voter bill

Tuesday, February 21st, 2006

Congratulations to Gov. Ed Rendell for standing up to the Republican-dominated state legislature in their attempt to limit voters’ rights! In a speech at the National Constitution Center, the Governor announced yesterday he would veto the bill passed by the state legislature that would make voting more cumbersome by requiring every voter to show an [...]

Roadblocks at the Ballot Box: Legislature Passes Pennsylvania Anti-Voting Rights Act

Friday, February 17th, 2006

Remember the first time you voted and had to show your ID? There’s new legislation requiring voters to remember to bring proper ID at every election. The state Senate and Assembly passed House Bill 1318 on party-line votes– with Republicans in favor of cracking down on teens who haven’t gotten drivers’ licenses, little old ladies [...]

Penna. Republicans Block Vote to Raise State Minimum Wage– 3rd Time in a Month

Wednesday, February 15th, 2006

In a Valentine present to Pennsylvania’s low-wage employers, the Republican majority in the State Assembly yesterday voted for the third time in as many weeks to block a Democratic-backed bill to raise the minimum wage. The vote came just as the Assembly started its break for the rest of the month. The new rate, a [...]