2 Political Junkies: Of Course The Trib's Politics NEVER Skews It's Repporting:
Never? Well, hardly ever.
They left out (omitted, expurgated, skipped over, voided) Congressman Jason
Altmire.
Read the full post at 2 Political Junkies.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
State House Elections - 21st District *UPDATED*
Here is the new map of the 21st State House Distinct. The green parts are the old district and the aqua blue line is the outline of the new district.
The 21st District had to add some population to it and also was facing other city Representatives that had to expand out because of population loss. Overall this district looks pretty good for the incumbent, Rep. Dom Costa. It adds more of Ross Township to the 21st, but Rep. Costa's base is in Bloomfield, Morningside, and the North river towns of Millvale, Etna, and Sharpsburg. Also added to the Democratic city base is part of Lawrenceville.
This should be a very solid Democratic seat and the only real election would be in the spring primary. From what I hear Dom Costa is popular with every faction of the city Democratic Party. If anyone decides to run against him and make it a race, it would have to be someone from Ross Township. It would be an uphill battle because he has represented most of Ross Township since 2008.
I also should mention that the State House GOP tried to force Dom Costa and Adam Ravenstahl to face each other by putting them both in the 21st District (h/t Early Returns). However, the backlash of the greedy power grab that created 2 Allegheny County seats with no incumbents living in them must have forced House Republican leadership to split the district between Costa and Ravenstahl.
Incumbent: Dom Costa (Democrat)
Possible Challengers: Matt Drozd (h/t politicspa)
Another tough seat in a Presidential year for a Republican, especially one that not a moderate in any way.
The 21st District had to add some population to it and also was facing other city Representatives that had to expand out because of population loss. Overall this district looks pretty good for the incumbent, Rep. Dom Costa. It adds more of Ross Township to the 21st, but Rep. Costa's base is in Bloomfield, Morningside, and the North river towns of Millvale, Etna, and Sharpsburg. Also added to the Democratic city base is part of Lawrenceville.
This should be a very solid Democratic seat and the only real election would be in the spring primary. From what I hear Dom Costa is popular with every faction of the city Democratic Party. If anyone decides to run against him and make it a race, it would have to be someone from Ross Township. It would be an uphill battle because he has represented most of Ross Township since 2008.
I also should mention that the State House GOP tried to force Dom Costa and Adam Ravenstahl to face each other by putting them both in the 21st District (h/t Early Returns). However, the backlash of the greedy power grab that created 2 Allegheny County seats with no incumbents living in them must have forced House Republican leadership to split the district between Costa and Ravenstahl.
Incumbent: Dom Costa (Democrat)
Possible Challengers: Matt Drozd (h/t politicspa)
Another tough seat in a Presidential year for a Republican, especially one that not a moderate in any way.
Friday, January 6, 2012
State House Elections - 30th District
Here is the new map of the 30th State House Distinct. The green parts are the old district and the aqua blue line is the outline of the new district.
This is another incumbent protection redistricting of a Republican member of the State House. State Rep. Randy Vulakovich won this seat in 2006 defeating a 6 month incumbent that won a special election after Jeff Habay resigned the day before he was going to be sentenced for corruption charges.
The only real changes is adding Richland Township and getting rid of some of Ross Township and some river towns from the old district. I think this is a very solid Republican seat.
Incumbent: Randy Vulakovich (Republican)
Possible challengers: Haven't heard a peep about this race.
This is another incumbent protection redistricting of a Republican member of the State House. State Rep. Randy Vulakovich won this seat in 2006 defeating a 6 month incumbent that won a special election after Jeff Habay resigned the day before he was going to be sentenced for corruption charges.
The only real changes is adding Richland Township and getting rid of some of Ross Township and some river towns from the old district. I think this is a very solid Republican seat.
Incumbent: Randy Vulakovich (Republican)
Possible challengers: Haven't heard a peep about this race.
State House Elections - 28th District
Here is the new map of the 28th State House Distinct. The green parts are the old district and the aqua blue line is the outline of the new district.
Very little changes to the district. This is one of the few districts in Allegheny County that gained population so they had to eliminate some population from the old district. Richland Township has been moved out of the 28th and all of Franklin Park has been added to the 28th. This keeps the political make up of the district extremely similar if not a little better for a Republican candidate.
Incumbent: Mike Turzai (Republican, Majority Leader of the State House, possible candidate for Congress)
Possible challengers: Sharon Brown (Democrat ran in 2010)
I don't believe there is anyone that could beat Mike Turzai this year, no matter how much money or time they spent on this race.
Very little changes to the district. This is one of the few districts in Allegheny County that gained population so they had to eliminate some population from the old district. Richland Township has been moved out of the 28th and all of Franklin Park has been added to the 28th. This keeps the political make up of the district extremely similar if not a little better for a Republican candidate.
Incumbent: Mike Turzai (Republican, Majority Leader of the State House, possible candidate for Congress)
Possible challengers: Sharon Brown (Democrat ran in 2010)
I don't believe there is anyone that could beat Mike Turzai this year, no matter how much money or time they spent on this race.
New State House Districts North of Pittsburgh
Here are the new maps that will have an impact on North Hills area residents. All of the old districts are in green with the new districts outlined in blue:
16th District (State Rep. Rob Matzie):
20th District (State Rep. Adam Ravenstahl):
21st District (State Rep. Dom Costa):
28th District (State Rep. Mike Turzai):
30th District (State Rep. Randy Vulakovich):
33rd District (State Rep. Frank Dermody):
54th District (State Rep. Eli Evankovich):
16th District (State Rep. Rob Matzie):
20th District (State Rep. Adam Ravenstahl):
21st District (State Rep. Dom Costa):
28th District (State Rep. Mike Turzai):
30th District (State Rep. Randy Vulakovich):
33rd District (State Rep. Frank Dermody):
54th District (State Rep. Eli Evankovich):
Saturday, December 17, 2011
State Representative Metcalfe introduces legislation to ban Feliz Navid in Pennsylvania.
Metcalfe Introduces legislation to ban Feliz Navid in the Commonwealth.
12/17/2011
Pennsylvania House State Government Committee Chairman State Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) announced today the introduction of legislation to ban the playing of the Spanish Christmas song Feliz Navid.
“Our American Christmas songs are under attack by foreigners.” said Metcalfe.
Once House Bill 2100 is approved no radio stations will be able to play Feliz Navid in Pennsylvania. Any albums with Feliz Navid will not be able to be sold to Pennsylvania residents.
“Pennsylvania residents deserve the opportunity to listen to their own American Christmas carols,” Metcalfe said. "Not only are illegal immigrants taking our jobs, but they are attacking our ears with their foreign language.
From the PG: New charges filed against Janine Orie
New charges filed against Janine Orie
Justice Melvin's staff offers testimony
Saturday, December 17, 2011
By Timothy McNulty, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Leaning on new testimony from several current and former workers for state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin, prosecutors filed a slew of new charges in the ongoing corruption probe against her sisters Janine, her former judicial aide, and state Sen. Jane Orie.
Detectives for Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. filed five new charges against Janine Orie, one of them saying she directed a judicial staffer to destroy campaign computer files before they could be seized by investigators in late 2009.
A grand jury report also includes claims from court workers for Justice Melvin that they have been doing political work for her on state time over two decades in office. No charges were filed against the Supreme Court justice, and a spokesman for Mr. Zappala would not comment on whether any were forthcoming.
Dressed in a red jacket and black skirt, Janine Orie said just one sentence following her arraignment before Magisterial District Court Judge Nancy Longo: "My faith will get me through this."
Her brother, Jack Orie, used slightly stronger words to describe the new charges. "My family is quite disappointed in the amoral district attorney for filing charges with no merit against my sister Janine."
Janine Orie was released Friday night on her own recognizance and is due to appear in court again on Tuesday.
The 29-page grand jury presentment released Friday contains loads of new material claiming Janine Orie -- while an aide to then Superior Court Justice Melvin -- played a key role in working on her sister's successful 2009 Supreme Court run. Her sister Jane, a Republican state senator from McCandless, has been charged with doing similar work in her state office.
The presentment said Janine Orie worked on the 2009 campaign and another in 2003 in court offices; directed other court workers to campaign, sometimes under orders from her two sisters; and when investigators began looking into the work, directed another aide to copy and then destroy campaign-related files on the court computer network.
Read more: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/11351/1197578-54.stm#ixzz1go1sqq4m
Justice Melvin's staff offers testimony
Saturday, December 17, 2011
By Timothy McNulty, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Leaning on new testimony from several current and former workers for state Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin, prosecutors filed a slew of new charges in the ongoing corruption probe against her sisters Janine, her former judicial aide, and state Sen. Jane Orie.
Detectives for Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. filed five new charges against Janine Orie, one of them saying she directed a judicial staffer to destroy campaign computer files before they could be seized by investigators in late 2009.
A grand jury report also includes claims from court workers for Justice Melvin that they have been doing political work for her on state time over two decades in office. No charges were filed against the Supreme Court justice, and a spokesman for Mr. Zappala would not comment on whether any were forthcoming.
Dressed in a red jacket and black skirt, Janine Orie said just one sentence following her arraignment before Magisterial District Court Judge Nancy Longo: "My faith will get me through this."
Her brother, Jack Orie, used slightly stronger words to describe the new charges. "My family is quite disappointed in the amoral district attorney for filing charges with no merit against my sister Janine."
Janine Orie was released Friday night on her own recognizance and is due to appear in court again on Tuesday.
The 29-page grand jury presentment released Friday contains loads of new material claiming Janine Orie -- while an aide to then Superior Court Justice Melvin -- played a key role in working on her sister's successful 2009 Supreme Court run. Her sister Jane, a Republican state senator from McCandless, has been charged with doing similar work in her state office.
The presentment said Janine Orie worked on the 2009 campaign and another in 2003 in court offices; directed other court workers to campaign, sometimes under orders from her two sisters; and when investigators began looking into the work, directed another aide to copy and then destroy campaign-related files on the court computer network.
Read more: http://www.postgazette.com/pg/11351/1197578-54.stm#ixzz1go1sqq4m
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