PA Dems Meet In Pittsburgh

The state Democratic Party is boogieing down to Pittsburgh this weekend. I and my dancing shoes are staying home but it looks like those attending will have a good time. Arlen Specter may or may not take a shift in the dunk tank (Sestak supporters have their fingers crossed), but there will definitely be a big crowd of Pennsylvania power brokers at the first annual Catharine Baker Knoll Dinner. Watch for news reports early next week or over the weekend.

Mars Might Have Women, Hershey and Toll Brothers Do Not

Travel and other commitments have prevented me from doing as much blogging as usual lately. I’ve also been behind on reading lately and am just now getting caught up. The One of the things in the “to be read” pile was the spring issue of Pink Magazine. On pages 58-59 there is a list of the 59 largest companies in America with no women on the board ("The Zero Club," by James Burroughs). Not a one. Zippo. No girls allowed. I didn’t check the corporate offices of all the companies to see how many were in Pennsylvania; finding corporate headquarters can be tricky. Two names did jump out at me, however. Hershey and Toll Brothers were on the list. Toll Brothers has eleven directors, Hershey nine, all of the male persuasion.

Just zooming around google I found a number of women that might make an excellent addition to Toll; women in green construction, women who specialize in sustainable interiors, women who hold prominent positions in the retirement community industry. There are also a number of prominent women in the greater Philadelphia area, if they want to keep it local.

Hershey amazed me. It’s a CHOCOLATE company. Do women not buy chocolate? What madness is this? Tom Ridge is on the board of directors. Sure he’s a former governor and former cabinet secretary. If I wanted to know about homeland security Tom would be the go to guy. But, really, does he know more about candy than the average woman on the street? I think not.

To get a reality check on the candy business I looked at one of Hershey’s prime competitors, Mars, the makers of my personal vice, M&Ms. Mars is privately owned by the Mars family and therefore don’t have to tell anybody much of anything, but there are several women in the family who seem to have something to do with the business.

A few other names on the list: KBR, no shocker there. Land’O’Lakes was another surprise though. Interesting.

Lentz Edges Forward with Congressional Run

As Congressman Joe Sestak (D-07) moves closer to a primary run for Senate, State Rep Bryan Lentz (D-161) shadows his steps into a run for the congressional seat. Shira Toeplitz of Roll Call wrote on Friday ("State lawmaker preparing to run for Sestak's house seat"). In part the article says:

Lentz said he has tapped Aubrey Montgomery, a veteran Philadelphia-area Democratic fundraiser, as his finance director to help him raised the $3 million that he needs to run his campaign.

“I’m going to take the next week or so and form a top-notch finance committee with the bigger political fundraisers and contributors from Delaware County and the region, and shortly thereafter file the papers,” Lentz said in a phone interview.

It should be noted that Montgomery worked with Seth Williams's successful DA campaign and also on Daylin Leach's winning state senate campaign (see 12/15/08 "In Philly DA race, Williams seems to emerge with early edge -- an plenty of challenges" by Dan Hirschhorn then of PolitickerPA, now at www.pa2010.com

PA Congressmen on Twitter

I've noted a couple of these twitter feeds but dhmeiser has compiled a complete list of Pennsylvania congressional representatives who are on twitter:


http://www.twitter.com/JimGerlach
http://www.twitter.com/RepBillShuster
http://www.twitter.com/JoeSestak
http://www.twitter.com/USRepMikeDoyle
http://www.twitter.com/CongressmanGT (Glenn Thompson)

An Assortment of Twits

Here are a few new additions to the list of people / groups I follow on Twitter:

Josh Shapiro: http://twitter.com/Josh_Shapiro/

Montgomery County Democrats: http://twitter.com/MCDems

Jim Gerlach: http://twitter.com/JimGerlach

PA House Dems: http://twitter.com/PaHouseDems

PA Senate Dems: http://twitter.com/PaSenateDems

Dan Hirschhorn: http://twitter.com/DanPa2010

Arlen Specter: http://twitter.com/SenArlenSpecter

Of course, all of you already read Capitol Ideas: http://twitter.com/Capitol_Ideas

I am at: http://www.twitter.com/aajane, but mostly post notices of new blog posts, or quick notes.

Green Education in Bucks

From the inbox:

Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th District) today joined Senior Vice President of Exelon Generation Doyle Beneby, local officials, and business leaders for the dedication and ribbon-cutting of the Exelon Fairless Hills Renewable Energy Education Center. The facility, which is attached to a fully-operational landfill gas (LFG) electric power-generating station, recently earned the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certification.

Additionally, the Center serves as an important resource for Bucks County students and citizens by providing valuable information and hands-on experiences to demonstrate the possibilities surrounding renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and recycling technologies.

“It’s great to see Exelon’s strong commitment to green education and environmentally-sound technology right in our own backyard,” said Congressman Patrick Murphy. “The Renewable Energy Education Center is a welcome addition to our district, and it highlights the importance of green technology’s role in our economic future. We’re confident that our region’s commitment to renewable energy will continue to bring good-paying green jobs to Bucks.”

“As a leader in the energy industry, Exelon feels a strong obligation and responsibility to educate the community about the environmental benefits of renewable energy,” said Doyle Beneby, senior vice president, Exelon Power. “This facility should help make that goal a reality. We hope students of all ages will take advantage of the opportunity to learn about alternative energy sources and their role in the future.”

The Renewable Energy Education Center at Fairless Hills features a curriculum based upon the Pennsylvania Board of Education’s Environment and Ecology standards. Geared toward fourth- through eighth-grade students, the education center provides an interactive experience for students, giving them the opportunity to see first-hand how energy is manufactured from renewable resources.

G20 to Pittsburgh

There were two items in the inbox today about the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh. The first is a general announcement. The second is an excerpt of a press conference with Robert Gibbs comments on the upcoming event.

Announcement:

Fact Sheet: United States to Host Next G20 Summit in Pittsburgh

The United States will host the next G20 Summit September 24-25, 2009, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At the Pittsburgh Summit, President Obama will meet with leaders representing 85 percent of the world’s economy to take stock of progress made since the Washington and London Summits and discuss further actions to assure a sound and sustainable recovery from the global economic and financial crisis.

About the G20

Invited leaders represent approximately 85% of the world’s GDP and come from all regions of the globe. The United Nations Secretary General and heads of International Financial Institutions and appropriate International Organizations and groupings also participate.

G20 finance ministers have met regularly to coordinate policy since the Asian financial crisis in the 1990’s. At the leaders level, the G20 is not an institutionalized process, but a response to the global economic and financial crisis. The G20 leaders held their first summit in Washington in November 2008 and met again in April in London.

How the Pittsburgh Summit Came About

At the meeting in London in April, leaders decided that, given the nature of the crisis and the importance of a robust response, it would be useful to meet again in September to assess the status of the economy and to discuss further actions. With leaders already scheduled to be in the United States in September to attend the United Nations General Assembly, President Obama offered to host the Summit and leaders of the G20 welcomed the invitation.

About the Summit Location

Pittsburgh has demonstrated a commitment to employing new and green technology to further economic recovery and development. The Summit will be held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh, an exemplar of that commitment. The facility is proud to have a LEED Gold Certification from the U.S Green Building Council for leadership in energy and environmental design.

Here is the press conference excerpt:

PRESS BRIEFING BY PRESS SECRETARY ROBERT GIBBS
James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
1:54 P.M. EDT

MR. GIBBS: One quick announcement before we get started. The United States will host the next G20 summit, September 24th through the 25th, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Q Where?

Q What?

MR. GIBBS: Did I get a little murmur there? That's -- there's a Terrible Towel back there somewhere, wasn’t there? There you go.

At the Pittsburgh summit, President Obama will meet with leaders representing 85 percent of the world's economy, take stock of the progress made since the Washington and London summits, and discuss further actions to assure a sound and sustainable recovery from the global economic and financial crisis.

Q Why Pittsburgh?

MR. GIBBS: At the conclusion of the meeting in London the group had to make a decision about where the next summit would be. Because a lot of people will be in our country for the U.N. General Assembly meeting, the President offered to host the next meeting; the group agreed with that, and we identified Pittsburgh as a good place to do that.

Q Why?

MR. GIBBS: I think it's an area that has seen its share of economic woes in the past but because of foresight and investment is now renewed -- giving birth to renewed industries that are creating the jobs of the future. And I think the President believes it would be a good place to highlight some of that.

Q Isn't it unusual to have two meetings in here?

MR. GIBBS: For the G20? This is -- they were going to do this at some point in the next -- after London, so it's not --it's on the regular schedule of things.

HHS Money to PA

From the inbox:

Sebelius Marks 100 Day Anniversary of Recovery Act, Highlights Community Health Centers’ Work to Aid Rising Number of Uninsured in Pennsylvania

Secretary Releases $3,087,408 to Expand Health Center Services in Pennsylvania

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today marked the first 100 Days of the Recovery Act and discussed the Act’s critical support for Community Health Centers. Sebelius was joined by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Mary K. Wakefield, Ph.D., R.N. and leaders from Community Health Centers across the country.

Sebelius also announced the release of $3,087,408 to support services offered at health centers in Pennsylvania. The grants are funded through the Health Center Program, which helped more than 17 million individuals last year by providing access to high quality, family-oriented, comprehensive primary and preventive health care. HRSA, an agency within HHS, oversees the Health Center Program, a major component of America's health care safety net. In a typical year, about 40 percent of health center patients have no insurance coverage.

“The economic downturn is hurting all of us and when workers lose their jobs, they often lose their health insurance, too,” said Secretary Sebelius. “Community Health Centers provide essential care for families in Pennsylvania and across the country that do not have insurance or cannot afford the high cost of care. The Recovery Act grants and the funding we have released are key investments that will help deliver care to millions of Americans.”

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides $2 billion for grants to
health centers over a 2-year period. $500 million will be used to support new health center sites and service areas, increase services at existing sites, and address spikes in uninsured populations. The additional $1.5 billion will be used to support construction, renovation and equipment, including health information technology systems, in health centers and health center controlled networks.

HHS has already awarded approximately $155 million in Recovery Act grant funds to support 126 community health center sites across the country. The 126 New Access Point (NAP) grants were awarded to applicants that were approved but unfunded in 2008. These grants will provide access to health center care for 750,000 people in 39 states and two territories.

HHS has also awarded $338 Million in Increased Demand for Services grants for health centers. Health centers will use these funds provide care to more than 2 million additional patients over the next two years, including approximately 1 million uninsured people. In addition, over the next two years, health centers will use the funds to create and retain approximately 6,500 health center jobs.

The non-Recovery Act grants awarded today include $1,522,013 to expand medical capacity at 3 existing health centers in Pennsylvania. Centers receiving funding include:

Community Health Net / Erie Pa. / $522,013
Delaware Valley Com. Health / Philadelphia Pa. / $600,000
Primary Health Network / Sharon Pa. / $400,000

An additional $1,565,395 will be distributed among all 36 Community Health Centers in Pennsylvania to supplement all health centers' base grant awards and offset rising costs associated with maintaining current service levels.

PA Leadership in 2009 House Caucuses

In 2007 I posted a note about Pennsylvania congressional representatives holding leadership positions on House caucuses. This is an update for the new congress.

The House Administration Committee collects together a list of House Member Organizations. These are bipartisan and not the same as party-specific groups such as the Blue Dog Democrats. Feel free to review the entire list of caucuses, available on the House Administration Committee's website. The site doesn't list all members, but only officers of the caucus.

Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-06)
Congressional Ukrainian Caucus
Land Conservation Caucus

Rep. Bill Shuster (R-09)
Congressional Georgia Caucus
Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus

Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-13)
Congressional Georgia Caucus

Rep. Michael Doyle (D-14)
Coalition on Autism Research and Education (CARE)

Rep. Joe Pitts (R-16)
Electronic Warfare Working Group (EWWG)
Land Conservation Caucus
U.S. Mongolia Friendship Caucus

Rep. Tim Holden (D-17)
Congressional Correctional Officers Caucus
Lyme Disease Caucus

Rep. Tim Murphy (R-18)
Congressional 21st Century Health Care Caucus
Congressional Mental Health Caucus
Congressional Steel Caucus
GOP Doctors Caucus

Rep. Todd Russell Platts (R-19)
Congressional Arts Caucus
Congressional Heart and Stroke Coalition
House National Service Caucus

Flu Pandemic Preparation and Delco

When David Landau ran for Delaware County Council in 2007, one of his issues was the lack of a county health department (see his interview here). Democratic candidates this year have also mentioned it as a concern. This came to mind when cnn.com ran an AP article, "Flu scare reveals strapped local health agencies," by Rita Beamish and Frank Bass this morning. Here are a few excerpts:

The swine flu outbreak fell short of a full-blown international crisis, but revealed the precarious state of local health departments, the community bulwarks against disease and health emergencies in the United States.

later

Decreases in the Public Health Emergency Preparedness program were most significant in Iowa, Mississippi, Colorado, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Louisiana. After a pair of killer hurricanes hit Louisiana in 2005, Washington sent nearly $15 million in 2006 health emergency help. This year, it's down to $9.8 million.

Existing county health departments might be stretched thin but counties without a health department at all might be in more trouble. But that's just my opinion.

Art of Political Campaigning

From the inbox:

The June 11- 13 Art of Political Campaigning conference in Washington, DC is set to once again be the most important stop this year for anyone in politics. If you’re involved in campaigns or elections, you should not miss this conference. This year our 26th annual conference, features dozens of training sessions and several important networking events.

I went to this for a day two years ago and really enjoyed it.

Expanded Property Tax Relief for Disabled Vets

from the inbox:

In a showing of ongoing support for veterans and military personnel, state Rep. Steven J. Santarsiero, D-Bucks, today joined other area lawmakers at a news conference to announce legislation that would expedite the process that exempts disabled veterans from paying real estate property taxes.

Santarsiero said the exemptions discussed at the news conference apply to veterans and military personnel who have become permanently disabled as a result of their service to the U.S.

"While a program already exists to exempt disabled veterans from paying property taxes, veterans often must wait as long as a year and a half before learning whether they will be exempt," Santarsiero said. "This can be an eternity for veterans and their families who must pay for expensive medicine and equipment, while making ends meet and paying other bills. My proposal would immediately suspend property tax payments for disabled veterans as soon as they apply for the program."

Currently, disabled veterans can receive a property tax exemption through the Disabled Veterans’ Real Estate Tax Exemption program, provided they make no more than $79,050 annually. Veterans who apply are placed on a waiting list while the state Veterans Commission, which oversees the program, processes their applications to determine whether they are eligible for an exemption.

Santarsiero's proposal would provide an immediate suspension of property tax payments for any veteran while the commission reviews the application. He said veterans who meet the program guidelines would be exempt from all future property taxes and those suspended during the certification process. Ineligible veterans would be responsible for paying the property taxes suspended during the application process, but would not incur any penalties or have to pay interest accrued during the suspension.

U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Murphy and state Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-Delaware, also discussed their efforts to ensure that disabled veterans and spouses of military personnel killed in action receive property tax exemptions.

"Easing the burden of our brave men and women who must readjust to civilian life when they return home is a responsibility that I take very seriously," said Murphy, D-8th District. "This legislation will ensure that vets who have served and sacrificed for their country receive the benefits they’ve earned as soon as they get home."

Lentz has introduced a bill that would further the state's current Disabled Veterans’ Real Estate Tax Exemption program by removing the need provision requiring disabled veterans to provide proof of their annual income and expenses every two years to demonstrate financial need in order to retain the exemption. The exemption would also pass on to the surviving spouse upon the death of an eligible veteran.

The Disabled Veterans’ Real Estate Tax Exemption program exempts permanently disabled veterans from paying property taxes on residences they occupy if they are blind, amputees, paralyzed or otherwise declared 100 percent permanently disabled as a result of a service-related injury, and if they meet the need provision.

Map the Fallen

The Pennsylvania Democratic Party is encouraging those with friends or family who died while in military service, to participate in the Map the Fallen Google Map. This will provide a visual representation of the country's sacrifice, and allow a chance for each soldier's story to be told.

Schwartz Message on Memorial Day

Allyson Schwartz sent out this reminder of Pennsylvanians in uniform:

As you and your family look ahead to the Memorial Day weekend, please think of our soldiers, veterans and their families and of the enormous sacrifices that they have made for our country.

It is especially important to acknowledge the tremendous service of Pennsylvania troops currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and in other missions around the world. Today, there are more 11,750 Pennsylvania soldiers currently deployed around the world, including in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Since 2001, 223 Pennsylvania soldiers have given their lives and 1,418 others have been wounded while deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. We must never forget the commitment and courage shown by these men and women who have sacrificed so much for America.

I am the daughter of a Korean War veteran, so I take very personally my responsibility to ensure that our troops receive the respect that their service has earned them. In Congress, I have been a steadfast supporter of our men and women in uniform.

On this Memorial Day, please join with me in remembering those who have paid the ultimate price by giving their lives in service to our nation. Our thoughts are extended to their families as we honor their memory.

Arlen Specter and the Day the Earth Stood Still

The family watched the original (1951) version of "The Day the Earth Stood Still" this evening. Professor Barnhardt is the character based on Albert Einstein. He is played by Sam Jaffe. It's been awhile since I've seen the film and I didn't notice last time around, but Jaffe looks an awful lot like Sen. Arlen Specter.

(As an aside, everyone sing along now "Michael Rennie was ill / the day the Earth stood still ..." You bring the rice; I'll bring the newspapers. Costumes are optional, but the doing the Time Warp is required.)

Roll Call on Specter / Sestak

Shira Toeplitz, of Roll Call, has a nice summation of the potential Specter / Sestak senatorial primary. See "Specter's Welcome Party Hasn't Fully Arrived in PA," 5/21

1st Quarter FEC Report Roundup

1st Quarter FEC Reports

Okay, here we go again. First off, you can browse these reports yourself at www.fec.gov. As always I apologize in advance for any errors or misinterpretations. I am neither a lawyer nor an accountant, just an interested observer and these thoughts should be taken as such.

This quarter covers January – March, 2009.

Keep your eye on individual donations vs. PAC’s

Some candidates, such as Allyson Schwartz and Patrick Murphy, leave their reports in alphabetical order. That makes it easy to see who donated what when. Some arrange their reports chronologically so you can see the pattern of donations. Others, most of the other candidates listed here, scramble their reports so the names are not in alphabetical order or the donations on chronological order and that makes it darn difficult to keep track of them. Transparency, folks, a little more transparency please. Yes, this thwarts your opponent but it thwarts your constituents too.

If there are two numbers one is for the quarter, the other for the election cycle to date.


6th Congressional District

Jim Gerlach, Republican incumbent (elected 2002)

Column A This Period Column B Election Cycle-To-Date
I. RECEIPTS
11. Contributions (other than loans) From:
(a) Individuals
(i) Itemized 56,900.00
(ii) Unitemized 1,706.00
(iii) Total Contributions From Individuals 58,606.00 / 61,397.00
(c) Other Political Committees (such as PACS) 87,750.00 / 88,750.00
(e) Total Contributions 146,356.00 / 150,147.00
14. Refunds, Rebates, etc 2,441.92 / 3,274.92
15. Other Receipts 5,249.95 / 6,016.20
16. Total Receipts 154,047.87 / 160,056.36
II. DISBURSEMENTS
17. Operating Expenditures 99,370.04 / 249,324.56
21. Other Disbursements 1,450.00 / 3,950.00
22. Total Disbursements 100,820.04 / 253,274.56
III. CASH SUMMARY
23. Cash On Hand At Beginning Of Reporting Period 71,061.55
24. Total Receipts This Period 154,047.87 / 160,056.36
25. Subtotal 225,109.42
26. Total Disbursements This Period 100,820.04 / 253,274.56
27. Cash On Hand At Close Of The Reporting Period 124,289.38

Arranged chronologically. Four new maxed out contributors. There are four donations from people who work at DC based pr firm Cavarocchi, Ruscio, Dennis. Contributions from three employees of Blank Rome plus $1K from the Blank Rome PAC. Among the PACs are those from flight attendants, aircraft owners, and pilots. Financial and health industries also represented. Interestingly, the congressional campaign pays his gubernatorial campaign for office space and Two paid employees, reimbursed for health insurance; media ($43K) and fundraising consultants ($15K)


7th Congressional District

Joe Sestak, Incumbent Democrat (elected 2006)

RECEIPTS
11. Contributions (other than loans) From:
(a) Individuals/Persons Other than Political Committees
(i) Itemized 338,310.00
(ii) Unitemized 25,421.35
(iii) Total Contributions From Individuals 363,731.35 / 371,051.02
(b) Political Party Commitees 94.82 / 94.82
(c) Other Political Committees (such as PACS) 176,000.00 / 176,000.00
(e) Total Contributions (11(a)(iii) + (b) + (c)) 539,826.17 / 547,145.84
15. Other Receipts 10,598.08 / 19,995.89
16. Total Receipts 550,424.25 / 567,319.96
Disbursements
17. Operating Expenditures 133,683.12 / 288,270.89
Total Contribution Refunds 5,180.00 / 11,241.71
21. Other Disbursements 5,000.00 / 5,000.00
22. Total Disbursements 143,863.12 / 304,512.60
III. CASH SUMMARY
23. Cash On Hand At Beginning Of Reporting Period 2,937,140.09
24. Total Receipts This Period (line 16) 550,424.25 / 567,319.96
25. Subtotal 3,487,564.34
26. Total Disbursements This Period 143,863.12 / 304,512.60
27. Cash On Hand 3,343,701.22

25 newly maxed out contributors. Local economist and one-time McCain advisor Mark Zandi donated $4800, as did someone else with the same last name. Zandi spoke at Sestak’s business summit last month. Vanguard’s John Bogle is also a donor. Among individual donors there seemed to be quite a few people in various aspects of the financial industry. One of the more unusual names is someone at the San Francisco Zoo. Among disbursements there is a $5K donation to Children’s National Medical Center in Maryland. $10K to The Campaign Group for general political consulting. Six employees, two named Sestak; Richard Sestak is well paid for a campaign worker. Local website company. As always Sestak’s report is scrambled making it very difficult to work with.


8th Congressional District

Patrick Murphy, Incumbent Democrat (elected 2006)

I. RECEIPTS
11. Contributions (other than loans) From:
(a) Individuals/Persons Other than Political Committees
(i) Itemized 220,999.80
(ii) Unitemized 5,733.62
(iii) Total Of Contributions From Individuals 226,733.42
(c) PACS 137,550.00
(e) Total Contributions 364,283.42
14. (Refunds, Rebates, etc) 2,612.17
15. Other Receipts 133.67
16. Total Receipts 367,029.26

The end of year campaign finance report for this campaign has been amended and, going by a letter from the FEC on file with the pdfs of printed reports, will have to be amended again. The first quarter report will also need to be amended. Instead of holding the blog post until the reports are amended I’m going ahead with partial data. The receipts are unlikely to change so I’ve included them, and my notes below. You can see the reports online at www.fec.gov if you would like to review them in their current state. Hopefully all will be fixed by the end of the second quarter.

11 newly maxed out contributors. A good percentage of the individual contributors are attorneys. Other frequent businesses, occupations are consultants and the like. Actress Felicity Huffman is among the contributors. In the PAC contributions we find $10K from the Blue Dog PAC. 11 people on the payroll, though many are for short periods of time. $1200 to a business in New Orleans for event expenses. Nearly $25K to a DC hotel for event expenses [Update: someone emailed to say this was probably an inaugural reception; indeed, the payment is dated 1/20]. $8500 to the Spectrum for event expenses. $10K to Stones Phones for phone calls. $19K to Sutters Mill for fundraising consultant. There are a lot of travel expenses. There is a $39K debt to Squier Knapp Dunn for media purchase; nearly $39K in debt to Stones Phones.

13th Congressional District

Allyson Schwartz, Incumbent District (elected 2004)

I. RECEIPTS
11. Contributions (other than loans) From:
(a) Individuals/Persons Other than Political Committees
(i) Itemized 239,994.69
(ii) Unitemized 5,205.00
(iii) Total Of Contributions From Individuals 245,199.69 / 259,558.19
(b) Political Party Committees 58.88 / 58.88
(c) Other Political Committees (such as PACS) 125,500.00 / 129,500.00
(e) Total Contributions 370,758.57 / 389,117.07
15. Other Receipts 8,449.83 / 14,501.72
16. Total Receipts 379,208.40 / 403,618.79
II. DISBURSEMENTS
17. Operating Expenditures 93,773.06 / 156,052.19
20. Refunds of Contributions To:
(a) Individuals/Persons 0.00 / 1,000.00
(d) Total Contribution Refunds 0.00 / 1,000.00
21. Other Disbursements 119,380.00 / 119,480.00
22. Total Disbursements 213,153.06 / 276,532.19
III. CASH SUMMARY
23. Cash On Hand At Beginning Of Reporting Period 1,980,215.91
24. Total Receipts This Period 379,208.40 / 403,618.79
25. Subtotal 2,359,424.31
26. Total Disbursements This Period 213,153.06 / 276,532.19
27. Cash On Hand At Close Of The Reporting Period 2,146,271.25

There are only TWO newly maxed out contributors. A number came in at $4600 which means they can only contribute $200 more, but at this point in the game, to have only two newly maxed out contributors is amazing, especially considering she only paid a little over $7K to a fundraising firm/consultant. This means she can go back to the well at least one more time. There is a real occupational diversity among contributors. Her celebrity contributor is the CEO of the Eagles. There is a lot of health care in the PACs. 2 paid staff. $100K to DCCC, $17K to FOP Survivors Fund. The campaign is renting a storage unit.

What the Heck Happened?

I was surprised by some of the judicial race results last night, especially by the poor showing for SEPA candidates. Apparently the western areas just got the vote out better. From Capitol Ideas:

Writing for Capitolwire this morning, our colleague Pete DeCoursey gives it up for western voters, who turned out in droves yesterday. According to DeCoursey, eight of 12 statewide judicial candidates this year will be from Allegheny County. And the secret to that success lies in the numbers: In Allegheny, 83,000 Democrats and 43,000 Republicans voted for Supreme Court. In Philadelphia, which has 300,000 more people and more than 100,000 more voters, only 69,000 Democrats voted for Supreme Court and about 11,000 Republicans. In higher-turnout Montgomery County, only 32,000 Republicans voted in the contested GOP Supreme Court race, DeCoursey wrote.

Stimulus Funding for PA II: Transportation

For ease of reading I am combining six separate emails into one blog post:

* Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will receive $9.4 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds for the renovation of the Elizabethtown Train Station. “By reinvesting in our nation’s transit infrastructure, we are making our communities more livable, invigorating the local economy, and putting America back to work,” Secretary LaHood said. The funds, awarded in two separate grants in the amounts of $8 million and $1.4 million, will be used to renovate the vacant train station to serve passengers traveling on the AMTRAK-operated Keystone Corridor service from Philadelphia to Harrisburg. The renovation will include painting, lighting, plumbing, installation of windows and doors, heating and air conditioning, and electrical upgrades. Also, improved and increased parking facilities will include areas for taxi and bus pick-up and drop-off areas, improved area landscaping and storm drainage management, and bicycle racks. ADA-compliant full-length high-level boarding platforms and ADA-compliant access to other station facilities will accommodate Persons with Disabilities. Improved outside lighting and signage will also be installed. The ARRA, signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009, includes $8.4 billion for transit capital improvements. These funds are made available through the Federal Transit Administration assistance programs.

Other project funding announced today by LaHood:

* the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will receive $1.7 Million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to improve transit in the State College, Pa. urbanized area. These funds will be used to rebuild approximately four 35-foot and six 40-foot buses.

* the Luzerne County Transportation Authority will receive $3.1 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to improve transit in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Penn. area. The funds will buy five hybrid electric buses and bike racks, which will cut down on pollutions and provide commuters with alternatives to driving. The funds will also provide for enhanced security and communications.

* the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will receive two grants, one for $62.9 million and a second for $65.7 Million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds for several capital, rail and station improvements in the Philadelphia area. The first grant of $62.9 million will be used to make computer-based train control upgrades, make station improvements, and replace 40 aging buses with new hybrid buses. The buses will not only offer commuters a smoother ride but will also cut down on pollution in the city. The second grant of $65.7 million will pay for fixed guideway rail and station improvement projects.

* that the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority will receive $62.9 Million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds for several capital projects. The funds will be used to purchase 40 replacement hybrid buses, make station improvements and for Computer Based Train Control upgrades. The buses will not only offer commuters a smoother ride but will also cut down on pollution in the city.

* the Centre Area Transportation Authority will receive $1.7 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds to rebuild city buses. CATA plans to rebuild as many as ten buses—four 35-foot and six 40-foot vehicles—with the funds being approved in this grant. The rebuilding will be completed one bus at a time until all funds are spent.

Stimulus Funding for PA I: Attorney General

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U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder today announced that more than $45 million in Recovery Act funds will go to the State of Pennsylvania to maintain or increase public safety in the state, while creating or retaining jobs within the law enforcement community. These Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program funds are part of more than $4 billion in Justice Department Recovery Act funds available to assist state, local and tribal law enforcement and for other criminal justice activities that help to prevent crime and improve the criminal justice system in the United States while supporting the creation of jobs and much needed resources for states and local communities.

As submitted in their application, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency plans to support initiatives that focus on the improvement of criminal record databases; the development or adaptation of new technologies for law enforcement, corrections, and the courts; the support of comprehensive, proactive law enforcement programs aimed at reducing crime; the development of victim services leadership training to promote organizational stability; the support of alternatives to incarceration programs and problem solving courts for non-violent offenders and reentry services, that includes resources for juvenile day/evening reporting centers, mental health initiatives aimed at reducing the number of justice involved individuals with co-occurring disorders, and reentry programs that provide jail-based and community supervision and treatment; the sustainment of probation officer positions that would otherwise be eliminated due to agency budget cuts; prevention and intervention programs aimed at truancy abatement, services for at-risk youth, and victim services; and the removal of vacant and blighted properties in an effort to reduce crime and revitalize communities. Pennsylvania is required to provide a portion of the $45.4 million to the local jurisdictions.

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“By addressing Pennsylvania’s economic challenges while simultaneously meeting the state’s public safety priorities, these funds represent the best of what the Recovery Act can do for our communities,” Attorney General Eric Holder said. “This vital funding will help fight crime and build safer communities, and we look forward to continued work with Pennsylvania to address these criminal justice goals.”

The procedure for allocating JAG grants is based on a formula of population and violent crime statistics, in combination with a minimum allocation to ensure that each state and territory receives an appropriate share of funding. Sixty percent of the allocation is awarded directly to a state and 40 percent is set aside for units of local government. States are required to sub-grant a portion of the funds to local units of government, such as a city, county, township or town. Faith-based and other community organizations are also eligible to receive pass-through funding from the state, as are Tribal governments.

Local Recovery Act JAG awards will be announced at a later date. The deadline for local units of government to submit their Recovery Act applications to the Department of Justice has been extended to June 17, 2009. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), a component of the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, established the previous deadline of May 18 to encourage early submission of applications in an effort to provide economic stimulus as soon as possible. Because this is a non-competitive formula grant program, the extension of this deadline does not impact either eligibility or funding determinations. For more information on the local solicitation, visit http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/recoveryJAG/JAGrecoveryLocal.pdf

The JAG Program is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions and is managed by BJA. JAG funds support all components of the criminal justice system, from multi-jurisdictional drug and gang task forces to crime prevention and domestic violence programs, courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives. Projects may address crime through the provision of services directly to individuals and/or communities and by improving the effectiveness and efficiency of criminal justice systems, processes, and procedures. For more details on the JAG Program or to track the use of Recovery Act funds, visit www.ojp.gov/recovery. For more details on how to apply for the state managed, pass-through funding, visit http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/saa/index.htm.

The Office of Justice Programs, headed by Acting Assistant Attorney General Laurie O. Robinson, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims. OJP has five component bureaus: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; and the Office for Victims of Crime. Additionally, OJP has two program offices: the Community Capacity Development Office, which incorporates the Weed and Seed strategy, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART). More information can be found at www.ojp.gov.