PA in the WSJ

Once again I bring you a list of articles from this week's Wall Street Journal that touch on Pennsylvania. No guarantees of it being a complete list, just the things I noticed.

PA Politicians

It seems to be all John Murtha all the time in the WSJ lately. The Pennsylvania congressman is the focus of “House Democrats Set to Retreat From Effort to Cap Troop Levels,” by David Rogers (3/02). He gets a woodcut with this one.

Alas he merits only a passing mention in “Democrats Battle Over Iraq Policy,” by David Rogers (2/27). In a sign that coverage of him may be waning the article says:

After proposing restrictions on the funds, the bill’s manager, Rep. John Murtha (D., Pa.) has been pummeled by Republicans and even fellow Democrats eager o bring him down a peg or two.”

Waiting in the wings to take up the slack in coverage is Pennsylvania’s senior senator.

On Saturday 3/03, the “Power Tables: Where the Business Elite are Eating” column discusses Le Bec-Fin in Philadelphia. It notes that Sen. Arlen Specter stops in monthly and sits near the fireplace. If you want to know what to get him for his next birthday, he likes Champagne Ruinart.

Arlen shows up again in “U.S. to Enter Iraq Talks with Iran, Syria,” by Neil King, Jr., and Jay Solomon. The relevant paragraph:

Sen. Arlen Specter (R., Pa) was one of seven Republicans who broke with the White House on a recent vote over its Iraq strategy, praised the decision. He told Ms. Rice that it was “very important” because of the “widespread sentiment in Congress that a resolution of the Iraq issue will require diplomacy.”

It’s Arlen week as he is mentioned a third article, “Carbon Curbs Gain Backers,” by John J. Fialka (2/27). The chart accompanying the article indicates that Pennsylvania gets 50% or more of its electricity from coal-fired power plants. The article says that Specter and Sen. Jeff Bingaman are preparing a bill that “features the safety valve to keep emissions-cret prices low and a more moderate approach towards emissions reductions.”

PA Businesses

In “While You’re At It, Why Not Generate A Little Electricity,” by Jane Spencer, (3/01) we find this paragraph:

Larry Rome, a biology professor at the University of Pennsylvania, recently launched a company called Lightning Packs that aims to sell backpacks that generate electricity from the jiggling motions of walking. In a recent test, his prototype was able to produce about 15 watts of power from the up-and-down motion of the pack.

Horsham’s Nutrisystem is featured in “A Closer Look: Inside the Leaders and Laggards,” by Joseph T. Hallinan and Roger Thurow (2/26)

Other PA

Haverford is among the colleges boosting its alumni donation percentages by including college seniors as alumni donors. (“To Boost Donor Numbers, Colleges Adopt New Tricks,” by Daniel Golden, 3/02)

D.B. from Philadephia writes Sue Shellenbarger’s “Work & Family Mailbox” column on 3/01 and asks if he can beg off from home and child responsibilities because he makes more money than his wife. She gives a long answer. I’ll do it in one word: No.

George Bush’s 2004 campaign manager, Ken Mehlman is a graduate of Lancaster’s Franklin & Marshall College. He is also a Harvard Law School classmate of Sen. Barack Obama. (“Bush’s Ex-Campaign Manager To Give Firms Political Advice,” by John Harwood and Brody Mullins, 3/01)

University of Pittsburgh researcher John Mellors is quoted in “Emerging Drugs Show Promise Against HIV,” by Marilyn Chase and Jacob Goldstein (2/28)

“Seniors, No Luck on Job Hunt? Don’t Panic – There’s Still Time,” by Erin White (2/27) follows a University of Richmond graduate to Philadelphia for her first job, soul searching about what she really wants to do, and her second job at Swarthmore.

“Is an Economist Qualified to Solve Puzzle of Autism,” by Mark Whitehouse (2/27), quotes Dr. Anna Baumgaertel, a developmental behavioral pediatrician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. [blogger’s note: I have met Dr. Baumgaertel, though not in the context of autism, and found her very impressive].

Philly-based Pew Charitable Trusts is spending $2.2 million to study the current status of economic mobility among Americans. The money will be divided among four think tanks, two liberal, two conservative. (“Think Tanks Set to Review Mobility Data,” by David Wessel, 2/27).