Category Archives: Campaign Finance and the Influence Game

Upcoming Potential Milestone in PA Redistricting Reform & What You Can Do About It NOW

Every ten years, following the census, the political party in power gets to redraw the lines of congressional districts. This process, called redistricting, is often used by the party in power to do what is known as gerrymandering, or drawing … More after the jump

Posted in Action Alert, Campaign Finance and the Influence Game, Corruption, Elections, Open Government

New Government Reform Caucus in PA & What They Miss – PA Headlines 2/4 Counterpoint PA 5/1-2/2013 (with transcript)

State Senator Rob Teplitz, a Democrat representing Dauphin and York counties, and State Representative Bryan Cutler, a Republican representing Lancaster county, have announced the formation of a new Government Reform Caucus in the Pennsylvania Legislature. The Government Reform Caucus has … More after the jump

Posted in Campaign Finance and the Influence Game, Corruption, House of Representatives, Open Government, Senate, State Government

After Announcing PA Gubernatorial Campaign, Allyson Schwartz “Punches the Hippies” on CISPA

“Punching the hippies” is a figure of speech I have picked up on from never missing MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show. Most recently used by Rachel to describe President Obama’s proposal to effectively cut Social Security benefits, “punching the hippies” … More after the jump

Posted in Campaign Finance and the Influence Game, Civil Rights, Elections, Governor Corbett, Philadelphia and suburbs, State Government

Rep. Lou Barletta an Example of Republican Hypocrisy on Debt

According to an article by James Buckley and Paul Gaige of The Atlas Project, Congressman Lou Barletta provides a prime example of the debt that Republicans don’t want to talk about: their own campaign finances. The article does not say … More after the jump

Posted in Budget/Taxes/Spending, Campaign Finance and the Influence Game, Elections, Miscellany Tagged , ,

AFSCME President Compares Philly Mayor Nutter’s “Bullshit” Union-Busting to Walker, Kasich, & Snyder

AFSCME President Lee Saunders did not pull any punches this morning at AFSCME’s 2013 Legislative Conference in Washington, DC. In front of more than 600 AFSCME members, Saunders railed against Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, comparing Nutter to anti-labor Republican Governors … More after the jump

Posted in Campaign Finance and the Influence Game, Labor and Unions, Philadelphia and suburbs Tagged ,

The Best Argument for Public Financing of Campaigns

Ryan Grim and Sabrina Siddiqui: For an incoming member of Congress still basking in the glow of electoral victory, it’s a message that hits those in both parties hard — the most direct indication that time in the people’s chamber … More after the jump

Posted in Campaign Finance and the Influence Game, Elections

Bill Peduto Raised $330K for #PGHMayor Primary

Everybody seems to be saying a successful primary challenge will require at least $1 million, and Bill Peduto seems to be well on his way to hitting that target. Here’s Tim McNulty on the Peduto campaign’s respectable year-end haul. : How do you … More after the jump

Posted in Campaign Finance and the Influence Game, Elections

*Clerical Error* Totally Why Corbett Failed to Disclose Fracker-Funded Vacation

Hoo boy! I do not envy Kevin Harley ever today: Marie Cusick has the bombshell: In July 2011, Governor Corbett took a vacation to Rhode Island that was paid for by a central Pennsylvania businessman with ties to the natural … More after the jump

Posted in Campaign Finance and the Influence Game, Corruption, Elections

How to Stop Philly Traffic Court Corruption

Awesome op-ed from Lynn A. Marks of Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts: Structural reforms to the court are also needed. Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts is researching the viability of a number of proposals such as: anonymous and mandatory reporting of problems, with … More after the jump

Posted in Campaign Finance and the Influence Game, Corruption, Elections

Jason Altmire Passes Through the Revolving Door and Comes Out an Insurance Industry Lobbyist

Jason Altmire did the insurance industry’s political work inside Congress, and now he’ll keep doing it outside Congress. Good riddance.

Posted in Campaign Finance and the Influence Game