Interview with Lynn Doyle

Lynn Doyle, host and producer of "It's Your Call" on CN8, was willing to answer some interview questions. Doyle also serves as CN8's political director and will be providing post-debate analysis this evening following the last presidential debate. Doyle has won 9 Emmys. She has worked in television for 25 years but prior to that she was a print journalist.


You once worked as a spokeswoman for a Maryland governor, and also worked in corporate communications. How has that internal political experience and corporate experience informed and influenced your work as a journalist?

It’s given me exposure to a different perspective in terms of communicating with the public. What I mean is that journalists are trying to get the information in a timely fashion because they’re up against deadlines. When you’re on the other side, you have to accommodate those needs -- but at the same time you have to control those needs.

I think I was successful working for the governor because I appreciated the deadlines of a journalist, since I had been one. I knew TV needed a live shot and reporters wanted a sound bite. They loved working with me because I had been there. I had insight into the other side.

The Comcast Newsmakers, a brief segment that highlights local projects or groups, is reportedly an idea you brought with you from Maryland . Tell us one or two of your favorite Newsmaker stories.

I co-created the concept with my husband in 1985, who was GM of the system at the time. He wanted to take advantage of Turner's opportunity, and I figured out the format. CNN Headline News gave cable operators five minutes to talk about local issues. In Baltimore it was first called “Up Close.”

The idea was to give people a local version of headline news – what was happening with their leaders. It’s been a monumental success, and Comcast now uses this all over the country.

One of the first interviews I did in that format was with a young member of the House of Delegates in Maryland named Bob Ehrlich, who had little exposure to TV. Years later I ended up interviewing him again when he was the governor of Maryland .

I also had to interview the chairman of the Baltimore County Council, who controlled the franchise for cable television -- it was my father! I often had to interview him and do so in a way that the average person would not know we were related.

The very first Newsmakers I did in New Jersey in 1995 was with the mayor (Louis DeBell of Roseland) whose concern was goose poop. So my first interview in N.J. was how to control the geese population on the soccer fields and keep the kids from being exposed to E. coli. When he started explaining that it was a community health concern, I understood the subject matter.

Who picks the topics for It’s Your Call? How involved are you personally in the selection of guests?

I generally pick the topics for the program and, of course, am open to suggestions from staff and member of the public. I ultimately make the final decision. After 13 years, I obviously have guests I’m comfortable with and familiar with. If I feel there are certain people that can speak to a topic, I suggest them. Producers always find new guests; however, I’m involved in every inch of the show.

To ask you the same question that has been asked of someone else recently, what magazines and newspapers do you regularly read? What other information sources to you read, listen to or view regularly?

I read everything I can get my hands on. I watch the Today Show every morning to start my day off with what’s happened. I read two or three newspapers every day, People magazine, TIME magazine, sports …and the National Enquirer. If you write it, I’ll read it. I like it all. I haven’t gotten into blogging, but am being exposed to it by younger staff members

Your husband, who had been the Eastern Division president, recently left CN8. Having worked for the same company many years, is your household adjusting to the change?

Yes, between us we have 51 years of service to Comcast, so it will always be a huge part of our lives. Having said that, it’s a very exciting time for him to be presented with new opportunities and explore them.

Having worked in print journalism and then moved to broadcast, what do you see as the future of newspapers?

It will be very challenging for newspapers in the format that we are accustomed to; news is instantaneous now. There are 24/7 news channels. As for the Internet, people are breaking stories on it and TV is pulling them from there. I think we’re going to see more in-depth, subject matter-oriented newspapers versus “breaking news” newspapers. That will involve more expensive and involved investigative reporting.

This year we have a woman running for vice president and a woman who almost made it to the top of the ticket. What women do you see waiting in the wings to run nationally in the next few years?

You can’t count Hillary out again; obviously, she’s going to watch the results over the next four years. You can’t rule out Nancy Pelosi. Or Sarah Palin. Those are three that come to mind -- they are the three most predominant. As for Diane Feinstein, you just never know.

How satisfied are you with the diversity and breadth of the people who call your show or send in e-mail questions / comments? Who isn’t calling in that you would like to hear from?

I’m pretty happy with the diversity. I do think we hear from men, women and different races and nationalities. I’m more than satisfied and enormously pleased with the diversity. I just want more to call in! Young people call depending upon the topic.

If you could change three things about Pennsylvania state government, what would they be?

I wish Harrisburg was a bit closer because then I might run for office!

What are the pros and cons of the debate formats we have seen -- the traditional podium-based, questions from the moderator, versus the town hall forum with questions from the audience and e-mail?

The pro of any debate is that you get to hear from the candidates on the specific issues that are important. They’re on the spot and they need to address concerns.

The con is that the way it’s been, follow up is minimal because time is limited. The town hall debate was very constrained; quite frankly, the candidates did not stray from message. There hasn’t been enough follow up and interaction from the moderators. There’s a blatant disregard for rules and the timing. Town hall attendees weren’t allowed to follow up on their questions. The candidates should have to answer to those people.

If you could ask the electorate to do one thing, besides vote, what would it be?

I would ask people to accept the decision -- whatever it happens to be -- with dignity and unity as a democracy, instead of with divisiveness and the blame game.

We have to remember we’re all Americans. Democracy means someone will have to lose.

Unite, unify and work in a bipartisan way.

My thanks to Lynn Doyle for taking the time to answer questions.

Republicans for Murphy?

From the inbox:

Patrick Murphy received major endorsements today, from prominent Bucks County Republicans. They cited his character, his independence and his bipartisan accomplishments as factors in their support. Former Riegelsville Mayor Todd Myers, Nockamixon Supervisor Bruce Keyser and Kathleen Babb, Chairwoman of the Haycock Board of Supervisors all announced they will publicly back Murphy in November's election after working with him on a variety of local issues over the past two years.

"I am always working to bring Democrats and Republicans together to get things done for the families I represent and I am honored to receive the support of these well-respected Republican officials," Patrick Murphy said. "Over the last 22 months, I have been proud to lead bipartisan efforts to create green jobs, provide relief to flood victims and finally bring a National Veterans Cemetery to Bucks County. These Republican officials know what it means to work together on behalf of families and I appreciate their support."

"As a lifelong Republican who has worked closely with Patrick Murphy, I can say without hesitation that Patrick always puts politics aside to do what's right for his constituents," said Todd Myers, former Mayor of Riegelsville and Chairman of Republicans for Murphy. "I'm proud to support him because he will never let partisanship stand in the way of progress, and that's a rare quality these days.

"Whether it's providing flood relief for families living along the Delaware River or giving firefighters the tools they need to keep our families safe, Patrick has always been there for our community," Myers added.

"Patrick Murphy has always been there for our community. But more than that, Patrick Murphy has the character and integrity we need to lead our country forward. I'm sick of the partisanship that taints our political system, and I'm supporting Patrick because he puts Bucks County families first," said Republican Nockamixon Supervisor Bruce Keyser.

During his first 22 months in office, Murphy has a long list of bipartisan accomplishments. Together with the Bucks County Director of Veterans Affairs, Murphy worked to ensure the Veterans Administration notifies veterans about all the benefits they have earned. He also teamed up with State Rep. Gene DiGirolamo and Bensalem Mayor Joe DiGirolamo to close a federal loophole that would have allowed for an unwanted waste transfer station in Bensalem. He also worked with officials like Yardley Borough Manager Bill Winslade to improve flood relief and mitigation in the heavily flooded areas along the Delaware River.

A member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition, Murphy has received praise from Republicans for his disciplined approach to spending and budget matters. Murphy has cosponsored more than two dozen major tax cuts and has voted to cut $3 billion in waste from spending bills. He also introduced a bill that could save as much as $55 billion annually from cutting wasteful spending inside the federal government.

Ummm, Wrong House Maybe? Sen. McCain Writes to Jane

Oddly enough, very little political mail comes to the house. I thought there would be an uptick this year but no, or at least not yet. And we live on a street that isn't where you would think a residential street would be and it doesn't really go anywhere, so door to door contacts are even less frequent. Add in the fact that we don't watch much network tv, and it's no surprise that quite a bit of the political world passes us by. I read the Inquirer, the Wall Street Journal, the New Yorker (behind on this), a few other print publications, watch Washington Week in Review, and sometimes PCN, and read some blogs.

When something does come in the mail, especially if it is out of the ordinary, it's a real treat, or at least something to look over and study.

Take today. Mr. J and I got a nice letter from John McCain. Why is Sen. McCain writing to two registered Democrats? I don't know but they have our name listed the same way it is on the mailing label for Money Magazine so I suspect they bought a mailing list of presumed conservatives. Just goes to show that niche marketing is not failproof.

Here's how the letter starts:

We've reached a critical juncture in the campaign. The Obama Democrats and their leftwing, special interest allies have come together in a united front, combining their enormous fundraising arsenal. Meanwhile, the national Democrats led by Chairman Howard Dean are stepping up their cynical campaign of distortions and outright lies, and with the help of the cronies, like MoveOn.org, are raising staggering amounts of money.

There are references to "we Republicans" and to me "as a most valued and trusted member of our Party." That's not quite right but I am kind of excited about the possibility of being a crony. Let's face it, I'm a little dull; my version of living dangerously is riding an escalator with untied shoelaces. The crony label might spice me up a bit.

McCain is asking for donations to the RNC not to his campaign directly. He says circumstances are "dire" and that the Democrats have a financial advantage at this point. If you are a valued and trusted member of the GOP and did not get this letter, you are now apprised of the situation.

And let's all remember that I am the crony of an enormous fundraising arsenal and thus fearsome.

Upper Dublin in the Washington Post

The Washington Post's David Broder staked out a spot near an Upper Dublin library and quizzed people on their view of the presidential election:

What has changed since last spring in this suburb is both the worldview and the impression of the candidates. Back then, the economy was not a major worry, and opinion was divided between McCain's stay-the-course policy in Iraq and the Democrats' withdrawal plans.

Now, economic anxieties are pervasive and Obama, whose ads are seen far more frequently than McCain's, is viewed as the candidate more seriously addressing those domestic problems.

Later

At the time of the primary, Obama was fighting two foes: Clinton and the voters' lack of familiarity with him. The Democratic National Convention and those ubiquitous ads have dealt with the latter problem, and Clinton herself was working the Philadelphia suburbs on behalf of Obama yesterday.

In early September, Obama opened a storefront headquarters not far from the library where I was interviewing voters -- one of three such offices in Montgomery County alone. The day after I visited, a platoon of New York volunteers was arriving to help local supporters canvass the same neighborhoods.

It's hard to see how John McCain can overcome these odds in Pennsylvania.

This is surely good news for State Rep. Rick Taylor, up for re-election in Upper Dublin.

(h/t Chris Cillizza)

Shapiro Update

Heard in City Hall has a note on a swanky Josh Shapiro fundraiser this Friday. Shapiro, currently the Deputy Speaker of the House, is running unopposed. Minimum suggested contribution: $500.

From Philadelphia Magazine's October issue, "Obama Goes to Philly," by Matthew Teague:

A couple of days before the planned speech [Obama's speech on race], State Representative Josh Shapiro of Montgomery County received a call from Obama advisors. "They said he was planning this speech to outline race relations and they were looking for input," says Shapiro.

Busy guy.

Food for Thought: Health Care

From the August 11 & 18 New Yorker, "Superbugs," by Jerome Groopman:

Before the development of antibiotics, the threat of infection was urgent: until 1936, pneumonia was the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, and amputation was sometimes the only cure for infected wounds.

That was only 72 years ago.

Manion / Murphy Debate at Shir Ami

8th Congressional District Debate, Oct. 12th, 2008, Shir Ami in Newtown.

These are rough notes, hand-written while the candidates were speaking. It is not a complete transcript and it is possible that some words are not presented as they were spoken. A best effort was made at contextual accuracy. Apologies in advance for any errors or misconceptions. Those with questions about either candidate's stance on a particular issue should contact the appropriate campaign. Where specific bills are mention I have included a link to the THOMAS database; if you click on the link and enter the bill number you can read more about that bill.

Rep. Patrick Murphy (D)(legislative site) / Tom Manion ( R )

Introductions by Spence Snyderman of the Shir Amir Men’s Club.
League of Women Voters, timekeeper Judy Clark of Bucks County
League of Women Voters, moderator Kelly Green of Philadelphia (according to LWV rules someone from outside the district has to moderate debates)

Opening Statements

Manion: [provides biographical information] Attended Widener University, in the Marines 11 years, and the Marines for an additional 19. Worked at Johnson & Johnson for 18 years. Washington is broken. I want to make a difference, with leadership and experience. It is time to work together and get things done.

Murphy: Our country faces a lot of challenges. We can tackle them if we work together. We need to wind down the war in Iraq, refocus on Al Qaeda, green energy.

Q: bailout of the financial sector

Murphy: I’m upset we have this problem. Small business would get inventory on credit and now can’t. Seniors with pensions or 401(k) accounts cut in half. Wall Street has been focused on greed and has run wild for the past 8 years. The bill that passed was not a perfect action but we had to do something. It included a cap on executive pay with a review in 5 years. [blogger’s note: I missed some detail on some of this.]

Manion: This is a travesty for our country, complicity and greed throughout and in the leadership in D.C. We need to fix the problem, privatize Fannie and Freddie, with the right level of regulation, no more risky loans

Q: job creation

Manion: Work with businesses to allow them to grow. 90% of the businesses in this area are small businesses. We need partnerships, need to work together. We have port, railway system, roads. We need to market what Bucks County has. We have the 2nd highest tax rate in the world and need to cut the business tax rate.

Murphy: We need tax breaks for small businesses. We need to look out for our seniors. We need to create green jobs, like the hub in Bucks County. 99% of the businesses in this area are small businesses. That’s why we passed the Hill / Murphy law. (HR 3021; press release on it here)

Q: change tax structure?

Murphy: No one wants more taxes. We are now a country at war and a country in debt, 68% of the new debt under Pres. Bush is foreign. We need to tighten our fiscal belts. Everyone here owes over $30,000 in debt. In favor of some tax breaks. Ask 3% more if people make over $250,000.

Manion: The last thing we need to do is increase taxes. We need to simplify the tax code; there should be a one page tax code. We need more discipline. Since Patrick Murphy has been in office the debt has gone up 170%.

Murphy: We must get a handle on where money is spent. My first bill was the Iraqi Accountability Bill (H Res 97). At home I have sponsored the Improper Payments Act (HR 5467).

Manion: It starts at home. The Iraqis need to step up and start paying. We need to get control of earmarks. Murphy is #4 in the US for earmarks.

Q: On social security, should we privatize?

Manion: We need to protect the social security system. It is not sustainable in the long-run. No action has been taken in the last 2 years. We need action to protect what was paid in. First protect those near retirement age. We don’t have the money and system for sustainability.

Murphy: No privatization. If we had privatized when Pres. Bush wanted to we’d be in big trouble. Needs to be more efficient. I voted twice against the budget because it went into social security. The Improper Payments Act, auditing process. Right now if something is under $2 million there is no audit. [gives example of a doctor that billed for several hundred procedures a day]

Manion: I didn’t say I was for privatizing but we need to look at system. Getting rid of waste, fraud and abuse won’t solve the problem. The budget is a piece of paper. The government is run through appropriations.

Murphy: We cut $7 million from earmarks and made the process more transparent.

Q: Energy independence

Murphy: We need to change how we power our country. The nation’s 4th largest solar panel field is being built in Bucks County and is almost complete. The windmill factory is at 56% capacity and has a 3 year backlog. We must work on several types of energy. We also need to work on personal responsibility. We changed CAFÉ standards to 35 mpg.

Manion: I am for an all encompassing strategy, not a business as usual strategy. However, our infrastructure is built on oil. We need to increase internal supply. Murphy helped write the overall energy bill then after a congressional recess he supported the [less comprehensive] Pelosi bill.

Murphy: The bill that passed the House will invest in green collar jobs. My bill will also invest in education for green collar jobs. We need to do more; CAFÉ standards should be higher.

Q: windfall profit tax for oil companies?

Manion: No, we tried that in the 1970’s and it didn’t work. It gets passed on to consumers. When we tax our companies it puts them at a disadvantage in a global economy.

Murphy: It is not the most appropriate or efficient way. We need to get them to buy into green energy. Energy companies need to be good corporate citizens. If oil is taken from US soil, they need to share the wealth earned from it. We also need to change the tax code.

Q: Iraq

Murphy: I served in Iraq. My brother just came home from his overseas deployment. The Iraqi government needs to step up. I support a phased redeployment over 16 months. Leave a small strategic strike force.

Manion: Don’t look back. The surge was successful. We need to talk about the consequences of leaving there. During the Viet Nam war we tried to run a war from Washington. We need to get behind Gen. Petraeus. Don’t share our strategy with the enemy. The Iraqis are stepping up – they are having an election. Conditional withdrawal.

Murphy: I served with Gen. Petraeus. Our troops are doing a great job. Al Qaeda is strongest in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We can’t let Al Qaeda in Pakistan get nukes.

Manion: These are 2006 talking points. We can’t let Iraq fall apart. Gen. Petraeus doesn’t need your advice [said to Murphy].

Q: On Sept. 12th, 2001, what would you have advised the president to do?

Manion: The president talked about going back to normal life as quickly as possible. Would have advised against that. Not normal. We should have tightened our belt, reaching out more.

Murphy: I wouldn’t have told Americans to go shopping and then cut taxes on the wealth. We should have used the spirit of coming together to focus on challenges ahead. We can’t focus on Iraq and Afghanistan; the troops are stretched too thin. I would have advised against going into Iraq. We should have finished the job in Afghanistan.

Manion: Need to get together and recognize the significance of 9/11. Learn from that. Make sure Afghanistan doesn’t go the way of Iraq.

Murphy: Not advocating leaving Iraq in a shambles. Need to spend their money not ours.

Q: Would you go into Pakistan without government’s support and approval?

Murphy: They are our ally and we want to work with them. If they are unwilling or unable to intervene and if we have reliable intelligence, it is the duty of Congress to protect American families.

Manion: If necessary would support it. Starting to change our approach in Pakistan.

Murphy: Given them $10 billion but nothing to show for it.

Manion: Rhetoric about Iraq. The surge was successful. We can’t let the area fall apart. Trust Petraeus. My son worked with Iraqis. He was shot and killed as he fought along with them.

Q: 47 million Americans have no health insurance, 70% of those are in a family with at least one full-time worker

Manion: There are a lot of challenges in health care. I’m not for a single payer system. I want an open market, put responsibility on the individual patient and doctors, open up interstate health insurance. More medical records should be made electronic. More information technology in administrative work. Preventive care. Put patients and doctors back in charge. We have a Do Nothing Congress.

Murphy: Congress passed children’s health insurance three times and the president vetoed it. 300 million Americans can’t afford health insurance. I’m proud of our efforts with Doylestown Hospital for electronic medical records. To say ownership on patient is reckless. Open market – look at financial crisis. Does not support single payer system.

Manion: Open market irresponsible? That’s what America was built on. Opposed to change dynamic. Put decision making back on patient and doctor.

Murphy: Crack down on abuses. Shared sacrifice – doctors, patients, insurance companies, attorneys, more responsibility.

Q: illegal immigration

Murphy: We have an immigration crisis. There are 12 million illegal immigrants in the US. We need to crack down on borders, south and north. 800 miles of fence built. I worked with Rep. Dent (Republican from the 15th congressional district). We need to crack down on employers who knowingly hire illegals. Pres. Clinton brought charges against hundreds of employers. Pres. Bush has brought charges against four. I don’t believe in amnesty.

Manion: We need to close the borders now. Still not secure 7 years after 9/11. Lack of leadership in DC. We need a robust visa program. Deport criminals. Enact the laws. Democrat Pete Shuler of North Carolina has co-sponsored a bill with Murphy. It has never moved to the House floor. Murphy hasn’t signed a discharge petition.

Murphy: When unemployment is rising we should not have more work visas.

Manion: We need to move legislation forward.

Q: American companies hiring workers overseas

Manion: The global environment and marketplace. We need to strengthen companies at home. Work with them. Incentives. Cut tax rates from 35% to 25%.

Murphy: The tax code rewards companies for outsourcing jobs. Americans are the hardest working employees in the world. An open market pits US companies against countries without child labor laws or environmental standards. We need fair trade not free trade.

Manion: I’m for balanced trade. The only way to strengthen the economy is to work with our companies. Strong business in America creates jobs.

Murphy: tax breaks implement in Bucks Co. A former brownfield is now a hub of green energy. Jones Apparel used to make clothes. Those jobs overseas now.

Q: same sex marriage

Murphy: civil unions. Let people see their partners if they are in the hospital. Health benefits. Taught constitutional law. Justice is for everyone.

Manion: civil unions. Let the states decide.

Q: abortion

Manion: Against abortion as a means of birth control. Okay in cases of rape, incest, life of mother. Support stem cell research.

Murphy: I’m pro-choice. I’m a practicing Catholic but cannot impose my religious beliefs on others. I support limitations. No one is for abortion as birth control. Partnered with a Republican for an adoption tax credit (H.R. 471?).

Manion: Don’t believe in federal funding for abortion as birth control. State issue.

Murphy: It is a federal issue.

Q: Israel / Palestine conflict

Murphy: Israel has a right of self-defense; it is the #1 ally of the US. Iran wants to wipe Israel off the map and wants nukes. The symbol of the American eagle has in one talon arrows, to symbolize military leadership. In the other talon is the olive branch of diplomacy.

Manion: Israel is the #1 strategic partner in the Middle East. Do anything that supports that partnership. The US is #1 in protecting Israel. Must strengthen sanctions against Iran. Diplomacy includes pre-conditions. Sanctions. If necessary 100% behind Israel defending itself.

Murphy: We cannot allow Iran to get nuclear weapons. Robust diplomacy. Need to talk with Iran about this.

Candidates ask each other one question.

Murphy to Manion: Do you support Sen. McCain’s comprehensive immigration policy?

Manion: I support my plan. Close borders. Robust visa program. Send home those here illegally. Allow them to apply for legal migration. Send criminals home.

Manion to Murphy: What are your top spending priorities?

Murphy: defense spending. The military needs to have every tool in its toolbox.

Q: Priorities of constituents?

Murphy: A congressional representative who will look them in the eye and tell them the truth. In government: military spending, a change in how we power the country. [Mentions working with local Republican officials in Yardley to get funding for flood prevention.]

Manion: Economy, health care, defense. People not happy with lack of leadership in Washington. This is on both sides of the aisle. Do Nothing Congress. They don’t get it. We need leadership, bipartisanship, reform.

Closing Statements

Murphy: [thanks LWV and synagogue] I am honored to represent the 8th congressional district and serve on the Armed Forces and Intelligence committees. We passed the largest increase in veterans benefits. Post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, common in Iraq War veterans. New GI bill. Attracting green energy jobs. My office sends out 180 letters a day, not form letters but answers to constituents’ questions. Both Democrats and Republicans work in my office. I’ve been back at the train stations every week since the election, thanking people for their votes and keeping in touch.

Manion: [thanks LWV and synagogue]. Need straight talk and integrity in DC. All for alternative energy companies. But they were here before our current representative was in office. All for veterans benefits but that’s an easy task to tackle. What have we done about health care and social security. Same people in charge of fixing Fannie and Freddie that were in charge of regulating them. [mentions Barney Frank and Chris Dodd]. Need people of action.

Allyson Schwartz on the Air

Allyson Schwartz, Democratic congressional representative for the 13th district, running for her third term, is on the air with a new campaign ad. You can watch Schwartz's ad online.

Twelve

Not for the squeamish.

Just a few possibly related items for your consideration:

1) The current average age for menarche is twelve. This is a girl's first menstrual period. Some girls are fertile before the onset of menarche; others cannot become pregnant until months or years afterward. But the average age of possible pregnancy is 12. Most girls are just starting 7th grade then.

2) From "Palin's fiscal priorities clash with anti-crime agenda," by Ashby Jones, Wall Street Journal 10/02:

In 2007, Alaska's rates of forcible rape outpaced all 50 states, and for most of the past 20 years it has exceeded the national rate -- at least twice as high in many years. In a recent study partly funded by the U.S. Department of Justice that examined sexual-assault cases reported to Alaska state troopers in 2003 and 2004, some 65% of the victims were 15 years of age or younger. "Our sexual-violence problem is severe," says Andre Rosay, a professor at the University of Alaska-Anchorage and co-author of the study. "And the statistics we have probably don't tell the full story."

3) From www.factcheck.org, on the question of whether or not Sarah Palin was in favor of requiring women to pay for rape test kits:

We've seen countless Internet and e-mail claims that Sarah Palin forced women to pay for their own forensic testing when reporting a rape. Unlike some claims about Palin, this one has some merit, though Palin's precise role is unclear. Here's the story:

In 2000, complaints about this practice in rural cities including Wasilla prompted the Alaska Legislature to pass a bill preventing alleged victims of sexual assault from being billed for forensic tests. It was signed into law by then-Gov. Tony Knowles. Palin had been the mayor of Wasilla for four years at the time, and a local paper reported that the Wasilla police chief, Charlie Fannon, defended the practice, saying he had billed women and their insurance companies for these tests rather than placing a "burden" on taxpayers:

4) Gov. Palin is on record as saying she opposes allowing women who are forcibly impregnanted due to rape or incest the option of terminating that pregnancy. She voiced this in 2006 when running for governor and again in a recent interview with ABC's Charlie Gibson:

McCain supports abortion in instances of rape or incest, but Palin, a mother of a 5-month-old infant with Down syndrome, said she would advocate abortion only if a mother's life was in danger.

You may favor her views, or you may not.

PA in the WSJ

This is a list of articles regarding Pennsylvania in this week's Wall Street Journal. Chances are I missed something, but these are the articles that caught my eye.

It should be noted that I routinely do not read the editorials in the WSJ. So any discussions of the state, its elected officials, businesses, or citizens, in editorials will not be mentioned here.

PA Politicians

Pennsylvania gets some mentions in “Labor woos whites for Obama,” by Brody Mullins and Kris Maher (10/07)

“McCain still targets Pennsylvania, Ohio,” by Elizabeth Holmes (10/08)

Articles on the presidential campaign that only mention Pennsylvania in passing are not listed.

PA Businesses
From “Home Depot learns to go local,” by Ann Zimmerman (10/07):

When Safeway Inc. in 2001 bought Genuardi’s, a small Philadelphia-area supermarket chain,” it dropped several local and regional products in favor of national brands. Customers revolted and sales dropped for three years before recovering, says Burt Flickinger, managing director of Strategic Marketing Group, a consulting company.

Wharton prof Stephen Hoch is quoted in the same article.

Pittsburgh International Airport has sealed off part of its terminal due to decreased usage, according to “Airports suffer terminal illness,” by Scott McCartney (10/07)

The Pittsburgh-based aluminum maker is the focus of “Alcoa digs in as soft demand sinks profits,” by Robert Guy Matthews (10/08)

U.S. Steel is among the companies discussed in “Steelmakers weigh cuts in production,” by Robert Guy Matthews (10/08)

This week’s requisite Mark Zandi (of West Chester-based Moody’s Economy.com) quote is in “Home loans ‘under water’ grow, pressure the economy,” by James R Hagerty and Ruth Simon (10/08). He is also quoted in “Slowing export machine is starting to sputter,” by Timothy Aeppel (10/08)

Just in case you ever need to know, Patrick Egan of Fox Rothschild LLP had defended Internet pharmacists. See “New bill targets rogue druggists on the Internet,” by Sarah Rubenstein (10/09)

Other PA

Two Pennsylvania families are mentioned / quoted in “The next bailout: your adult children?” by Sue Shellenberger (10/08)

William Kilpatrick, of Pennsylvania, is quoted in “A month away, some voters can’t decide,” by Easha Anand and Brad Haynes (10/06)

Neel T. Kashkari, interim assistant secretary for financial stability in the Treasury Dept. (who will handle the bailout), who bears a striking resemblance to the actor playing the mummy in “The Mummy,” is a Wharton grad. See “Regulators outline steps to quell crisis,” by Deborah Solomon (10/07)

Bethlehem Steel by Kenneth Warren is reviewed by Paul Ingrassia (10/08)

Wharton School postdoc student Scott Rick tells us the earthshattering news that if you had two thrifty parents, you are likely to be thrifty as well. See “Making of a miser: nature vs. nuture,” by Neal Templin (10/09)

The Phillies get a mention in “Out of left field: the errors in counting black ballplayers,” by Carl Bialik (10/10)

Other Interesting Tidbits

David Lodge, one of my favorite novelists, is interviewed in “His university career is over, but not his academic studies,” by Naomi Schaefer Riley (10/09). Academics might try “Small World;” normal people might start with “Paradise News.” I didn’t read his early Catholic novels but am told they are good. A British prof who specialized in Renaissance literature suggested I try Lodge when I was a grad student and I have eagerly awaited his new novels ever since.

In the “makes my head explode” and “delusional, criminal, or just plain nuts” departments, we find “Lawmakers lay into Lehman CEO,” by Susanne Craig (10/07). Just days before its collapse Lehman Brothers paid three executives a total of more than $23 million. CEO Richard Fuld, Jr., has, been paid $480 million since 2000. That’s an average of $60 a year. Nice work if you can get it, especially if the government will bail out when your high flier crashes and burns. In “Congress grills former AIG chiefs,” by Liam Pleven and Susanne Craig (10/08), we read that AIG, a firm that received $85 billion from the government to shore up its finances, was paying a former executive $1 A MONTH in consulting fees. Might be torch and pitchfork time.

A Look at the State Treasurer Race

Earlier this year I took a brief look at the attorney general race. This is a similar look at the state treasurer race. What does the state treasurer do?

Treasury and its employees are accountable for safeguarding the financial assets of all Pennsylvanians, serving as custodians, investors and disbursers of the Commonwealth’s funds.

There is no incumbent in the state treasurer’s race this year. Bob Casey, Jr. was the last elected treasurer. He left the office last year when elected to the senate. Gov. Rendell appointed Robin Weissmann to fill out Casey’s term. She said she would not run for the office.

The candidates this year are Republican Thomas J. Ellis and Democrat Rob McCord.

Ellis presents his biography as:

Tom Ellis is a lifelong resident of Montgomery County and a partner in the Public Finance Department of the law firm of Ballard Spahr Andrews and Ingersoll, LLP. He has worked on a variety of tax exempt financing projects since joining the firm, primarily with Pennsylvania local governments and municipal authorities.

In 2003, Tom was elected to the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners. Even prior to his first day in office, Tom used his finance experience to re-evaluate a portion of Montgomery County’s bonds, saving County taxpayers millions of dollars. During his tenure as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Tom oversaw a county budget of a half a billion dollars and utilized cutting-edge financing techniques enabling the county to increase services while cutting costs. Tom was also successful in reducing county taxes, preserving record amounts of open space, and introducing new technology to keep our children safe while in school.

There have been some blips in his personal life. A former girlfriend filed and then withdrew a pfa. Later there were questions about the nature of his relationship with a county employee. (Ellis was then a Montgomery County commissioner.) He was recently endorsed by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Rob McCord is described on the campaign website as:

Rob McCord is one of Pennsylvania’s leading business finance experts and a passionate Democrat who is running for Pennsylvania State Treasurer. As Treasurer, Rob will use his energy and experience to help create jobs for hard-working Pennsylvanians, grow the state economy and stop wasteful spending in Harrisburg.

As a business leader – not a politician – Rob has managed more than one billion dollars in assets and has raised money for start-up companies that have created more than 1,900 jobs in the state. Rob has served as co-founder and Managing Director of Pennsylvania Early Stage Partners – a family of three venture funds that invests in early-stage life-science and information technology firms – and he co-founded the Eastern Technology Fund, a successful provider of funding that serves more than 800 innovative companies.

While McCord worked on Capitol Hill for a decade he has not held elected office before and so has not been subject to the scrutiny that Ellis has.


For more information:
Fenton, Jacob, “Ellis gains support for PA treasurer,” Intelligencer, 12/25/07

Levy, Marc, “Treasurer's race pits bond lawyer against venture capitalist,” Morning Call 9/22.08

Singleton, David, “Treasurer hopefuls share visions," Times Tribune 10/09/08

DVRPC Workshops

From the inbox:

The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) will hold public workshops throughout the bi-state region to gather public input that will help shape the region’s long-range plan. Offering food, networking and an opportunity for individual voices to be heard, the workshops will examine the issues that we face today as well as those that will be with us in the coming years.

Workshops will be scheduled for all nine counties in the metropolitan Philadelphia area, the first to be announced include the following:

Philadelphia Workshop: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21 5:30 P.M.
Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market Street , Philadelphia

Gloucester County Workshop: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29 5:30 P.M.
Office of Government Services Building , 1200 North Delsea Drive , Clayton , NJ

Camden County Workshop: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30 5:30 P.M.
Cherry Hill Public Library, 1100 Kings Highway North ,
Cherry Hill, NJ

Details for workshops in Burlington , Mercer, Bucks, Chester , Delaware and Montgomery counties are coming soon.

For more information about DVRPC’s long-range plan and the Public Workshop announcement, please visit: http://www.dvrpc.org/connections/index.htm.

DVRPC’s Plan will provide guidance for land use decisions and determine the region’s transportation investments throughout the next 25 years. The Plan will also address issues such as combating sprawl, reinvestment in older cities and suburbs, alleviating traffic congestion, and will deal with environmental and economic issues likely to impact the Delaware Valley .

VFW PAC Endorses Patrick Murphy

From the inbox:

Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th District) announced today that he has been endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Political Action Committee. Murphy was joined on a conference call by representatives from the Department of Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars. The VFW endorsed Murphy for re-election based on his "strong support for veterans, national security/defense, and military personnel issues," according to a letter from the VFW-PAC. Rep. Murphy, the only Iraq war veteran in Congress, has been a tireless advocate for his fellow veterans during his first term in office. He fought to pass the largest increase in veterans' benefits in our nation's history and helped lead a bipartisan effort to finally bring a National Veterans Cemetery to Bucks County. In 2006, the VFW-PAC endorsed Murphy's Republican opponent.



"As a veteran, I am honored to receive the support of my brothers and sisters-in-arms. We have a moral responsibility to fight for those who fought for us, and no organization understands that better than the VFW," Patrick Murphy said. "Too many veterans have been left behind, and in my first term, I have fought to make sure everyone who wears the uniform of the United States gets the care he or she has earned. I am proud of my record and I will continue to fight for veterans and military families."



"Thank you for your service to your country. We know you served in uniform and we're all so proud of you and we're proud of the job that you are doing," said John Brenner, State Adjutant, Department of Pennsylvania VFW. "You've supported the VFW in so many things. You have been a good friend of our veterans in Pennsylvania and you know our VFW mission has always been to support veterans from all areas and we expect our federal lawmakers to do the same, and you certainly rise to the top and we commend you Congressman for what you've done for all of our veterans and their families."



"I know you are there always for the veterans, looking out for our needs and we appreciate it. Wherever the VFW needs you, you're there," said Thomas Goodman, Post Commander, Joseph A. Schumacher VFW Post 1597.



The Veterans of Foreign Wars Political Action Committee is the nation's only major Veterans Service Organization PAC. The VFW-PAC provides the 2.2 million members of the VFW, its auxiliaries and their families with an opportunity to collectively support candidates for federal office. According to Director Larry W. Rivers, the VFW-PAC endorses "only those candidates for federal office who support our nations' veterans and stand in support of a strong national defense."



Prior to being elected to Congress, Patrick Murphy served as a Captain in the U.S. Army. After 9/11 he deployed twice for our country – first to Bosnia and then to Iraq. In Iraq, he served with the 82nd Airborne Division where he was awarded the Bronze Star for service. He is the first and only Iraq war veteran to serve in Congress and is a member of Joseph A. Schumacher VFW Post 1597 Croydon, PA.



Supporting Our Veterans

* Congressman Murphy helped lead a bipartisan effort to bring a National Veterans Cemetery to Bucks County. For years veterans have fought to secure the long overdue honor of being buried alongside their fellow warriors. Finally, this dream is becoming a reality for the veterans of Southeastern Pennsylvania.



* For far too long, proper treatment and funding for veterans was not a priority in Washington. To change this, Patrick Murphy proudly voted for the largest funding increase in the 77-year history of the VA. This will give the VA the resources it needs to treat the two signature injuries of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) -- as well as adding personnel to reduce the VA's enormous backlog of claims. Congressman Murphy recently held a PTSD Roundtable to raise awareness for this issue.



* Many disabled veterans were unaware they were eligible for property tax relief and other benefits offered by the state government. This was a case where the federal government didn't know what the state government was doing. Congressman Patrick Murphy and Dan Fraley, Bucks County Director of Veterans Affairs fought to change VA policy, making sure the VA notifies veterans about these other benefits to which they are entitled based on their service. These benefits are no good to veterans if they don't know about them.



* As we care for our aging veterans, it's critical that we meet the needs of the next generation of American heroes returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Patrick Murphy voted for an expansion of the original GI Bill, giving those who served after 9/11 up to four full years of college tuition, books and living expenses. He introduced a similar piece of legislation, the 21st Century G.I. Bill of Rights. Many of the provisions in my bill were included in the bill that passed.



* Congressman Murphy was a legislative co-sponsor Wounded Warrior Act to improve access to quality medical care for wounded soldiers and clean up the mess at Walter Reed Hospital.

"Forbidden" SNL Skit

If you have seen references to a deleted or "forbidden" Saturday Night Live skit, on the bailout bill, it has been reposted on the SNL site in a slightly modified form. A transcript and screen shots from the original are also online. You can compare and see what was changed. I only noted one difference between them and, from my completely uninformed viewpoint, it seemed appropriate to change it.

Presidential Debate Thoughts

As might be expected, I thought Sen. Obama did well in this debate, though they both seemed to avoid specifics.

Did Sen. McCain really say he knew how to get Osama Bin Laden? If so, why haven't we gotten him yet?

Did he really call Sen. Obama "that one"?

Tom Brokaw makes how much money a year? And he can't improvise when the candidates stand in front of his teleprompter?

Warren Buffet is one popular guy. I remember a few years ago when high flyers were pulling in a greater percentage than Mr. Buffet's investments and people wondered if he had lost his edge. Slow and steady wins the race yet again. And if an investment deal (or a mortgage) sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

McCain talks about changing not only the interest rate on mortgages but the principle too. How do you do that and who makes the decision? That sounds very tricky to me. Housing prices can fluctuate daily.

I'm really tired of watching candidates throw numbers at each other (you voted for standing on your head three times! But you were for the hokey pokey before you were against it!) like bored monkeys pitch poo across a zoo cage.

McCain just seemed to shuffle around a little. I understand his war injuries have left him with limited range of motion but as a visual it is not a comparative plus.

Bob Brady and College Voters

The folks at www.866ourvote.org, the Election Protection people, have been sending me updates on attempts to suppress the vote. Something in one of these emailed press releases really caught my eye. Check out this local connection:

Congressman Robert A. Brady (PA-01) , in his role as Chairman of the Committee on House Administration, presided over a hearing entitled, “Ensuring the Right of College Students to Vote,” designed to collect evidence of existing barriers to students seeking to vote in the upcoming election. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) testified alongside students, election officials and voting rights activists.

* PENNSYLVANIA: Last week, students at Drexel University in Pennsylvania reported seeing flyers around campus warning students that police would be at the polls on Election Day, arresting anyone with a prior offense, including unpaid parking tickets.

It went on to list other tactics aimed at keeping college students out of the polls.

Info Resources II: Environmental Ratings

The Pennsylvania Sierra Club and Clean Water Action has released their Pennsylvnia General Assembly Environmental Scorecard for the 2007-2008 session. The bloggers at Commonwealth Confidential, the Inky's new state political blog (which may give Capitol Ideas a run for its money) has specifics on some locals pols:

Philadelphia Democrats Vincent Hughes and Michael Stack were the only members of the Senate to receive perfect scores for their votes on environmental bills. Sixteen House members, including Daylin Leach (D., Montgomery), Bryan Lentz (D., Delaware), James Roebuck (D., Phila.), Rick Taylor (D., Montgomery) and Greg Vitali (D., Delaware) received 100 percent ratings. Philadelphia Republican Rep. George Kenney received the highest score among House Republicans with 90 percent.

The entire report is online so you can check on your own elected officials.

I had fun going through and seeing who only got a 10% rating.

Info Resource I: Party Registration Stats

Today is the last day to register to vote before the general election next month. For those who wish to keep up with the latest trends, Pennsylvania's finest newspaper-based political blog, Capitol Ideas, gives the scoop. You can find the numbers on the Dept. of State's website.

Questionable Tactics I: McCain's Health Care

Got a call this evening bashing John McCain's health care policy. There was no note or mention of who sponsored it or paid for it.

Questionable Tactics II: Leafleting

Two young men in Marina Kats for Congress t-shirts were leaving Kats campaign literature under the windshield wipers of cars in a store parking lot this afternoon. Kats is the Republican candidate for the 13th congressional district. Stores often frown on that.