Showing posts with label Pennsylvania Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pennsylvania Politics. Show all posts
Monday, June 01, 2026
Friday, October 14, 2022
Josh Shapiro - More of the Same
Beware of elitist Democrats who buy their way into Pennsylvania's Governor's Mansion. Remember how much damage Ed Rendell did to Pennsylvania? From an Associated Press story on millions pouring in from across the country to install left-wing Shapiro as governor: Shapiro has outspent Mastriano by 16 to 1 in the 2021-22 campaign cycle, according to campaign finance filings through the state's latest reporting deadline of Sept. 19. Shapiro has reported $44 million in spending, including in-kind contributions, eclipsing the 2001-02 campaign spending record set by Democrat Ed Rendell of just under $42 million. He still has weeks left to add to that total.
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Something is seriously wrong with John Fetterman
Something is seriously wrong with John Fetterman: I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on television. I'm an ordinary woman who's survived enough of the Earth's revolutions around the sun to know when someone is not well — and in this case, that someone is the Democrats' Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, John Fetterman. First, the guy is not recovering well from his stroke. Second, he has a growth on his neck that looks as if it's going to hatch an alien. Yet this is the best the Democrats can do in Pennsylvania.
Friday, September 02, 2022
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
A tale of two rallies
President Trump and Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden held rallies in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania this week.
More than 10,000 people attended Trump’s rally in Montoursville, many lining up hours before the event to get into the rally. I don't even know where Montoursville is and I've lived in Pennsylvania for almost 50 years.
Contrast that with Joe Biden’s rally in Philadelphia, where the former vice president announced he will set up his campaign headquarters. A couple hundred people attended Biden’s rally and that includes paid campaign staffers and paid union members.
Nobody is being paid to attend Trump’s rallies, which have “sold out” all across the country. He's a rock star and the enthusiasm from supporters is genuine.
But the Mainstream Media keeps telling us that Biden has Pennsylvania locked up – just like the media told us Hillary Clinton had Pennsylvania sown up in 2016. And the pollsters have nearly every Democratic candidate beating Trump in the Keystone State. Yes, these are the same pollsters who guaranteed a Hillary Clinton win in Pennsylvania.
If anything, the enthusiasm for Trump has grown in Pennsylvania since the 2016 election.
More than 10,000 people attended Trump’s rally in Montoursville, many lining up hours before the event to get into the rally. I don't even know where Montoursville is and I've lived in Pennsylvania for almost 50 years.
Contrast that with Joe Biden’s rally in Philadelphia, where the former vice president announced he will set up his campaign headquarters. A couple hundred people attended Biden’s rally and that includes paid campaign staffers and paid union members.
Nobody is being paid to attend Trump’s rallies, which have “sold out” all across the country. He's a rock star and the enthusiasm from supporters is genuine.
But the Mainstream Media keeps telling us that Biden has Pennsylvania locked up – just like the media told us Hillary Clinton had Pennsylvania sown up in 2016. And the pollsters have nearly every Democratic candidate beating Trump in the Keystone State. Yes, these are the same pollsters who guaranteed a Hillary Clinton win in Pennsylvania.
If anything, the enthusiasm for Trump has grown in Pennsylvania since the 2016 election.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Lowman S. Henry: Bluer Blue, Redder Red
By Lowman S. Henry
Guest Columnist
On the surface it would appear the power dynamic in Pennsylvania state government changed little as a result of last week's General Election. Governor Tom Wolf was re-elected and Republicans retained solid control of both the state House and the state Senate.
Back from where we started?
Not quite. The 2018 election cycle saw the continuation of two trends: the drift of Democrats into the arms of the socialist Left, and a Republican power shift from the Philadelphia suburbs to the more conservative central and western parts of the state.
Governor Tom Wolf has often (and for good reason) been labeled the most liberal governor in America. To the degree that Lieutenant Governors matter, the state's new second banana will push him even further in that direction. Lt. Governor-elect John Fetterman is a Bernie Sanders-style socialist. He replaces the hapless Mike Stack, a Philadelphia pol more interested in the power dynamics of politics than ideology.
Wolf titled to the far Left to win his first primary four years ago and clearly felt at home. He went on to propose tax hikes that exceeded those offered by governors in all 49 other states combined and has remained a staunch advocate for Left-wing policies ever since. Fetterman, and the avowed socialists who upended traditional Democrats in the primary to claim seats in the General Assembly, are certain to fortify his position.
As liberal policies made the city more and more unlivable Philadelphia Democrats fled to the suburbs. There they have continued voting into office candidates who espouse the very same policies that destroyed the city. As a result, the four counties surrounding Philadelphia which had for decades been the epicenter of Republican power in the state have trended Democrat.
If there was a "blue wave" this election year it crashed ashore in those counties. The numbers could change a bit as the official count progresses, but Republicans lost 13 state House seats and four state Senate seats in that region. It is rare for more than three or four incumbents to lose statewide in a given election cycle, so the GOP wipeout in southeastern Pennsylvania can rightly be described as a blue tidal wave.
Continuing the westward shift of the statewide GOP, Republicans partially offset their losses in the southeast by flipping three Democrat seats, one in Bucks County and two elsewhere in the state. Republicans held historically high majorities in both state legislative chambers. Thus the losses left them in solid control, but with margins closer to the historical average.
What the election did do was to shift the ideological center of both the House and Senate Republican caucuses away from southeastern liberalism into the mainstream conservatism that is popular in the balance of the state.
While legislative Democrats voted in lockstep with their leadership, Republican legislative leaders had the more difficult task of moving conservative policies advocated by their caucus majority, while trying to appease their southeastern members. The goal was to hold onto those southeastern seats - it didn't work.
The end result is absent the need to protect its members from suburban Philadelphia because - well, they are no longer there - legislative Republicans are now free to stand firmly against the socialist policies Governor Tom Wolf and Democrats are sure to pursue.
This means Pennsylvania's divided state government has become even more divided. The first battle will come in a matter of weeks when Governor Tom Wolf proposes his next state budget. It is sure to be chock full of tax hikes and new spending. Republicans effectively blocked the more radical elements of his agenda during the governor's first term. A more conservative majority should be able to do so in the years ahead.
Thus have voters across Penn's Woods put into effect all the elements needed for epic policy and budget battles which are likely to end in gridlock. Given the fact that most legislation that actually passes expands the dependency state at the expense of taxpayers gridlock may be the best outcome.
Lowman S. Henry is Chairman & CEO of the Lincoln Institute and host of the weekly Lincoln Radio Journal. His e-mail address is lhenry@lincolninstitute.org
Guest Columnist
On the surface it would appear the power dynamic in Pennsylvania state government changed little as a result of last week's General Election. Governor Tom Wolf was re-elected and Republicans retained solid control of both the state House and the state Senate.
Back from where we started?
Not quite. The 2018 election cycle saw the continuation of two trends: the drift of Democrats into the arms of the socialist Left, and a Republican power shift from the Philadelphia suburbs to the more conservative central and western parts of the state.
Governor Tom Wolf has often (and for good reason) been labeled the most liberal governor in America. To the degree that Lieutenant Governors matter, the state's new second banana will push him even further in that direction. Lt. Governor-elect John Fetterman is a Bernie Sanders-style socialist. He replaces the hapless Mike Stack, a Philadelphia pol more interested in the power dynamics of politics than ideology.
Wolf titled to the far Left to win his first primary four years ago and clearly felt at home. He went on to propose tax hikes that exceeded those offered by governors in all 49 other states combined and has remained a staunch advocate for Left-wing policies ever since. Fetterman, and the avowed socialists who upended traditional Democrats in the primary to claim seats in the General Assembly, are certain to fortify his position.
As liberal policies made the city more and more unlivable Philadelphia Democrats fled to the suburbs. There they have continued voting into office candidates who espouse the very same policies that destroyed the city. As a result, the four counties surrounding Philadelphia which had for decades been the epicenter of Republican power in the state have trended Democrat.
If there was a "blue wave" this election year it crashed ashore in those counties. The numbers could change a bit as the official count progresses, but Republicans lost 13 state House seats and four state Senate seats in that region. It is rare for more than three or four incumbents to lose statewide in a given election cycle, so the GOP wipeout in southeastern Pennsylvania can rightly be described as a blue tidal wave.
Continuing the westward shift of the statewide GOP, Republicans partially offset their losses in the southeast by flipping three Democrat seats, one in Bucks County and two elsewhere in the state. Republicans held historically high majorities in both state legislative chambers. Thus the losses left them in solid control, but with margins closer to the historical average.
What the election did do was to shift the ideological center of both the House and Senate Republican caucuses away from southeastern liberalism into the mainstream conservatism that is popular in the balance of the state.
While legislative Democrats voted in lockstep with their leadership, Republican legislative leaders had the more difficult task of moving conservative policies advocated by their caucus majority, while trying to appease their southeastern members. The goal was to hold onto those southeastern seats - it didn't work.
The end result is absent the need to protect its members from suburban Philadelphia because - well, they are no longer there - legislative Republicans are now free to stand firmly against the socialist policies Governor Tom Wolf and Democrats are sure to pursue.
This means Pennsylvania's divided state government has become even more divided. The first battle will come in a matter of weeks when Governor Tom Wolf proposes his next state budget. It is sure to be chock full of tax hikes and new spending. Republicans effectively blocked the more radical elements of his agenda during the governor's first term. A more conservative majority should be able to do so in the years ahead.
Thus have voters across Penn's Woods put into effect all the elements needed for epic policy and budget battles which are likely to end in gridlock. Given the fact that most legislation that actually passes expands the dependency state at the expense of taxpayers gridlock may be the best outcome.
Lowman S. Henry is Chairman & CEO of the Lincoln Institute and host of the weekly Lincoln Radio Journal. His e-mail address is lhenry@lincolninstitute.org
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Watch Tony Phyrillas on Journalists Roundtable on PCN
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| Seated from l-r: Tony Phyrillas, Michael Rellahan, Brian Lockman and Phil Heron. |
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Gerlach Drops Out
I was expecting Congressman Jim Gerlach to drop his bid for Pennsylvania governor before the May primary, I just wasn't sure when he would bail out. Today's announcement that he's dropping out of the race doesn't surprise me at all. I've talked about his odd decision to give up Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional seat for an uphill shot at Pennsylvania governor on various radio shows and at this blog throughout 2009.
Gerlach, who has a long history of public service, including experience in the Pennsylvania Legislature, would have made a good governor.
The problem comes down to money.
The GOP establishment is lining up behind Attorney General Tom Corbett and most of their money is also going to Corbett.
Gerlach acknowledge the money issue in his statement today:
"While we have successfully raised over $1 million, traveled thousands of miles all across this Commonwealth and signed up more than 19,000 supporters eager to help us win, today's media-driven campaigns require four times that amount to wage a successful primary. That left me with two choices: either spend all of my time raising money with little time left for meeting with voters; or withdrawing my candidacy and working even harder to serve the public. I am choosing to serve the public -- many of whom have graciously rewarded me with their support for nearly two decades."The big question now is whether Gerlach will change his mind about Congress. If he gets back into the race, he's a shoo-in for re-election.
Read Gerlach's full statement here.
Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Russ Diamond for PA Lieutenant Governor
The man who led the fight to overturn the infamous Pay Raise in 2005 and helped launch a reform movement that shook up the Pennsylvania Legislature in 2006 has announced he is running for Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor in 2010.Russ Diamond is running on a platform of calling for a for a Constitutional convention, elimination of the property tax elimination, and state sovereignty.
Diamond, 46, of Annville, previously launched unsuccessful campaigns for Pennsylvania Governor and the state Legislature. A former Libertarian Party candidate for state and national office, Diamond, is seeking the Republican nomination for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania.
From his campaign announcement:
"Pennsylvania needs a strong advocate for reform in the executive branch," Diamond said. "It's easy to talk about reform but there's really only one way to get it - a constitutional convention. But if we want to hold a convention, we need a specific plan to make it happen. I am the only statewide candidate with a legitimate, workable plan in hand."Read the full announcement at Diamond's new campaign Web site, http://www.russdiamond.org
In 2007, Diamond authored legislation calling for a citizens' constitutional convention and submitted it to the Senate State Government Committee. It was introduced as SB1290 and HB2723 in 2008. The bill was re-introduced with bipartisan support during the current legislative session as SB340 and HB1929.
In response to a recent study published by the Commonwealth Foundation, Common Cause/Pennsylvania, DemocracyRisingPA, and the League of Women Voters, Diamond has improved the plan and is asking the co-sponsors of SB340 and HB1929 to amend them accordingly or introduce it as a new bill.
"This is the only way to attack the roots of corruption, fraud, and budget debacles which have plagued Pennsylvania of late. We need to rebuild the Commonwealth's institutions of government and restore the faith of the people in them," he added.
On eliminating property taxes, Diamond favors a permanent constitutional prohibition that sets a future deadline and gives the legislature ample time to debate the revenue replacement mechanism.
"Some problems are too complex to tackle in one fell swoop," he said. "In order to be as effective as possible, we must separate the question of property tax elimination from the revenue replacement method. If we agreed today to prohibit property taxes as of June 30, 2015, there would be plenty of time for the legislature to weigh competing options for how to best replace this archaic system that drives citizens from their homes and imposes an intolerable burden on taxpayers and local government."
Diamond's focus on defending Pennsylvania from federal intrusion is centered on the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution.
"The 10th Amendment draws a distinct line between state and federal authority, but we also need to consider the practical ramifications of federal intrusion," Diamond said. "For instance, if we weighed the burden of federal regulations on Pennsylvania's public education system against the percentage of education funding Washington provides, would it really be worth it? Every state department and agency receiving federal funds should be tasked with publicizing the two sides of this equation."
Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS
Friday, August 14, 2009
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Jim Gerlach first out of the gate for 2010 governor's race
U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, who represents Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District, announced today has formed an exploratory committee to run for governor of Pennsylvania in 2010.In addition to filing the necessary paperwork establishing a committee to help him raise money, Gerlach also launched a new Web site, www.GERLACHFORPA.com
"We are taking this process one step at a time," Gerlach said in a statement. "At this early stage we are very excited about the support we've received, and that's why I've decided to move forward with the exploratory committee. Although this isn't a declaration of my candidacy, it will allow us to ratchet up our travel around the state to speak with political, business and community leaders, help our 2009 statewide judicial candidates, conduct polling and determine if there is a clear path to victory. I suspect that by late spring we'll know whether to formally move forward with a campaign for governor."
Gerlach said his decision to take the next step toward the governor's mansion came after discussions with longtime friends, supporters, family members and political leaders across the state.
"I believe Republicans in Pennsylvania are looking for a winner and a leader who has the experience and ideas to solve the problems faced by the taxpayers, families and seniors of Pennsylvania," Gerlach said. "The exploratory committee and I are dedicated to the governing principles of smaller and smarter government, creating good paying jobs, ensuring retirement security, cutting government waste and no new taxes."
Gerlach spokesman Mark Campbell said his boss has shown he can attract voters in a highly-contested part of the state.
"Congressman Jim Gerlach is a proven winner, surviving two Democrat wave elections in one of the most difficult congressional districts in the country and winning this past fall with his largest margin of victory ever," Campbell said. "Gerlach also earned more votes in his district than any other Republican candidate on the ballot. All this despite an overall net gain of 50,000 Democrat registrations and President Obama carrying the top of the ticket with 59% of the vote."
Gerlach has been one of the few bright spots for Republicans in Pennsylvania, holding the 6th District seat despite major efforts to unseat him by the Democratic Party.
In 2006, after national pundits counted him out and Democrats spent $7.3 million to defeat him, Gerlach won by 3,000 votes in the same year Democrat Gov. Ed Rendell carried Gerlach's district with 66% of the vote, Campbell notes.
Does Gerlach have a chance? Gerlach is well known to voters in the nine counties in the Philadelphia and Allentown TV media markets, which accounted for nearly 40% of all votes cast in the last gubernatorial election, Campbell says.
And remember that little-known congressman from Erie by the name of Tom Ridge? He ended up winning two terms as Pennsylvania governor.
Gerlach will continue to operate his congressional fundraising committee until a final decision is made on his 2010 statewide bid, according to his staff.
Gerlach has said he will run for only one office in 2010, so it's likely he will give up his Congressional seat.
Originally posted at TONY PHYRILLAS
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Reforms move forward in GOP Senate
Republican lawmakers in Harrisburg continue to push for ways to reform state government. Unfortunately, the Democrats who control the state House continue to put up obstacles for reform measures.
Barry L. Kauffman, executive director of Common Cause/Pennsylvania, reports that the Senate State Government Committee passed two important government reform bills on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 346 upgrades the way that legislative and congressional districts would be redesigned after each Census, Kauffman says.
Changing the way Pennsylvania politicians draw political boundaries is "considered one of the critical pillars of reform," Kauffman says.
SB 346 moved out of committee by an 8-3 vote.
Kauffman complimented Committee Chairmen Jeffrey Piccola and Anthony Williams for working together to get the bill moving and give it a chance to meet the mid-July constitutional deadline.
"This redistricting reform bill is crucial to making Pennsylvania's legislative and congressional elections meaningful again. When SB 346 becomes law, there will be much greater likelihood that voters will have meaningful choices on election day, and therefore have a greater ability to hold their elected officials accountable." Kauffman said.
A companion piece of legislation is bogged down in the House, where the Democratic chairwoman of the House State Government Committee, Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., is refusing to allow a vote on the measure.
The Senate committee also unanimously approved Senate Bill 1488, which would make it illegal for lobbyists and those who hire lobbyists to provide gifts, hospitality, entertainment, meals or lodging to state-level officials and employees, Kauffman says.
The bill contains a reasonable exemption for plaques and also permits an official to participate in a group meal when speaking at a major organizational event that pertains to official duties, according to Kauffman.
"The Piccola gift ban proposal largely closes one of the big loopholes in the recently passed lobbyist disclosure; and in so doing ends a practice that appears to have raised serious concerns with most citizens. Lobbyists themselves have raised concerns about demands from officials for gifts and meals, while most citizens want to feel assured that their officials' loyalties lie with them rather than with special interest lobbyists that provide the largesse," Kauffman says.
Barry L. Kauffman, executive director of Common Cause/Pennsylvania, reports that the Senate State Government Committee passed two important government reform bills on Tuesday.
Senate Bill 346 upgrades the way that legislative and congressional districts would be redesigned after each Census, Kauffman says.
Changing the way Pennsylvania politicians draw political boundaries is "considered one of the critical pillars of reform," Kauffman says.
SB 346 moved out of committee by an 8-3 vote.
Kauffman complimented Committee Chairmen Jeffrey Piccola and Anthony Williams for working together to get the bill moving and give it a chance to meet the mid-July constitutional deadline.
"This redistricting reform bill is crucial to making Pennsylvania's legislative and congressional elections meaningful again. When SB 346 becomes law, there will be much greater likelihood that voters will have meaningful choices on election day, and therefore have a greater ability to hold their elected officials accountable." Kauffman said.
A companion piece of legislation is bogged down in the House, where the Democratic chairwoman of the House State Government Committee, Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., is refusing to allow a vote on the measure.
The Senate committee also unanimously approved Senate Bill 1488, which would make it illegal for lobbyists and those who hire lobbyists to provide gifts, hospitality, entertainment, meals or lodging to state-level officials and employees, Kauffman says.
The bill contains a reasonable exemption for plaques and also permits an official to participate in a group meal when speaking at a major organizational event that pertains to official duties, according to Kauffman.
"The Piccola gift ban proposal largely closes one of the big loopholes in the recently passed lobbyist disclosure; and in so doing ends a practice that appears to have raised serious concerns with most citizens. Lobbyists themselves have raised concerns about demands from officials for gifts and meals, while most citizens want to feel assured that their officials' loyalties lie with them rather than with special interest lobbyists that provide the largesse," Kauffman says.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Why did the media ignore tax rally?
Here's a more complete roundup of today's media coverage of Monday's "Save Our Homes Rally" in Harrisburg.
The event should have received a lot more coverage. The hundreds of people who went to Harrisburg Monday to demand the elimination of property taxes were not paid lobbyists or special interest groups. They were people who took time away from their jobs or other commitments to try to save their homes from Pennsylvania's antiquated way of funding public education.
Although some lawmakers attended the rally, most of the people gathered in the Capitol Rotunda were everyday citizens of Pennsylvania. Why does the media hover around politicians and lobbyists and ignore the people of the this state?
The most comprehensive coverage of the rally is in Tuesday's edition of The Mercury, which ran a lead story entitled, "Taxpayers rally: Save Our Homes" and a sidebar, "Lawmakers optimistic about revised tax plan"
The same story by reporter Michael Hays was picked up by the Daily Local News in West Chester under the headline, "Tough talk on Taxes" (There were quite a few Chester County lawmakers who were no-shows at the rally, even though several busloads of Chester County residents attended.) Another Chester County newspaper, The Phoenix, also ran both stories that originated in The Mercury.)
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review focused on state Rep. Sam Rohrer's long struggle to eliminate property taxes in a story headlined, "Lawmaker tries again to eliminate property tax"
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also ran a story, "Seniors rally against property taxes"
Even though David Baldinger, one of the organizers of the rally hails from Berks County (as does Rep. Sam Rohrer), the Reading Eagle ignored the rally.
The state's biggest newspaper, The Philadelphia Inquirer, also ignored the story, as did The Morning-Call in Allentown.
The Associated Press moved a five-paragraph brief on the rally, which is all The Harrisburg Patriot-News ran even though the event was in the paper's backyard and was probably the biggest political story of the day.
The Pennsylvania Cable Network taped the rally and showed it several times on cable systems across Pennsylvania.
WFMZ Channel 69, which covers the Lehigh Valley and Berks County, ran a report on its evening newscasts and also posted it on its Web site.
No coverage in the Philly TV stations, who are busy covering a story about a TV anchor who read the private e-mails of his fired co-anchor.
In the blogosphere, the event was mentioned at GrassrootsPA, PowerBlog!, Lincoln Blog, THE CENTRIST and TONY PHYRILLAS
There's also a bunch of photos posted at TONY PHYRILLAS
The event should have received a lot more coverage. The hundreds of people who went to Harrisburg Monday to demand the elimination of property taxes were not paid lobbyists or special interest groups. They were people who took time away from their jobs or other commitments to try to save their homes from Pennsylvania's antiquated way of funding public education.
Although some lawmakers attended the rally, most of the people gathered in the Capitol Rotunda were everyday citizens of Pennsylvania. Why does the media hover around politicians and lobbyists and ignore the people of the this state?
The most comprehensive coverage of the rally is in Tuesday's edition of The Mercury, which ran a lead story entitled, "Taxpayers rally: Save Our Homes" and a sidebar, "Lawmakers optimistic about revised tax plan"
The same story by reporter Michael Hays was picked up by the Daily Local News in West Chester under the headline, "Tough talk on Taxes" (There were quite a few Chester County lawmakers who were no-shows at the rally, even though several busloads of Chester County residents attended.) Another Chester County newspaper, The Phoenix, also ran both stories that originated in The Mercury.)
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review focused on state Rep. Sam Rohrer's long struggle to eliminate property taxes in a story headlined, "Lawmaker tries again to eliminate property tax"
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette also ran a story, "Seniors rally against property taxes"
Even though David Baldinger, one of the organizers of the rally hails from Berks County (as does Rep. Sam Rohrer), the Reading Eagle ignored the rally.
The state's biggest newspaper, The Philadelphia Inquirer, also ignored the story, as did The Morning-Call in Allentown.
The Associated Press moved a five-paragraph brief on the rally, which is all The Harrisburg Patriot-News ran even though the event was in the paper's backyard and was probably the biggest political story of the day.
The Pennsylvania Cable Network taped the rally and showed it several times on cable systems across Pennsylvania.
WFMZ Channel 69, which covers the Lehigh Valley and Berks County, ran a report on its evening newscasts and also posted it on its Web site.
No coverage in the Philly TV stations, who are busy covering a story about a TV anchor who read the private e-mails of his fired co-anchor.
In the blogosphere, the event was mentioned at GrassrootsPA, PowerBlog!, Lincoln Blog, THE CENTRIST and TONY PHYRILLAS
There's also a bunch of photos posted at TONY PHYRILLAS
Pennsylvania sued over ballot access
Dennis Baylor, an independent candidate for Pennsylvania's 29th state Senate seat, filed a lawsuit Monday in Federal District Court to stop the Pennsylvania's Department of State from denying what Baylor says is his First Amendment rights of "Free Speech" and "Association." The deadline for independent and third-party candidates to file nominating papers for the November election is Aug. 1. Baylor is challenging how the state assesses the validity of the signatures on petitions to access the November ballot.
While Republicans and Democrats have to gather fewer signatures to get on the ballot and hold "invitation only" primary elections to select candidates, independent and third-party candidates are at a disadvantage in Pennsylvania, which has some of the most restrictive ballot access laws in the nation.
According to Baylor's complaint (Docketed at CV-08-1060), the candidate is also charging that the Department's practice of not "officially" recognizing third party candidacies until the Aug. 1 deadline for them to file petitions to access the ballot, is discriminatory, and amounts to giving the major party candidates an impermissible head start in political races.
Baylor also claims that the pervasive practice of gerrymandering legislative districts unconstitutionally burdens First Amendment rights of "Association" by geometrically expanding the media markets a candidate must reach due to the fracturing of "communities of interest."
It's a long shot, but Baylor has little to lose. The deck is already stacked against independent and third-party candidates.
A copy of Baylor's complaint is posted on his blog, http://dennisbaylor.wordpress.com/
The 29th Senate District covers all of Schuylkill County and parts of Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe and Northampton counties. The incumbent is Republican James Rhoades, who has held seat since 1981.
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