The Voter ID challenge hearing began yesterday. And with it came a horde of Democratic politicians and organizations asking for either a) You make sure you and everyone you know has ID to vote, but who has the time for that? Not you? Then how about b) A donation? Kevin Washo, executive director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, sent an email yesterday after the hearing, saying:

“The Voter ID bill passed by Harrisburg Republicans is a solution to a nonexistent problem. After the testimony today we hope they’ll do the right thing and throw out the law—but we aren’t taking any chances. No matter what happens in court—we are hard at work making sure voters have the information they need to vote this fall.” And how about $12 while you’re at it?

And former U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy sent out an email called “My Hometown” on behalf of the think-tank blog Think Progress, which notes he feels especially worried about the Voter ID hearing (which you can read about on Think Progress!) because it’s taking place in Philadelphia, where he’s from. Also, Republican ideas are “awful,” he says:

“I’m sure you saw, but oral arguments on the Voter ID bill just started here in Philadelphia. This hearing will determine whether or not the state upholds this dangerous and discriminatory law. We know what’s at stake: Republicans are suppressing hundreds of thousands of votes here in Pennsylvania because … well … their ideas are awful. Now is not the time to idly sit by. You’ll be hearing more about the case on ThinkProgress, but I can tell you from talking to folks here that their work has made a huge difference in shaping public opinion. That’s going to play to our advantage for sure.” And how about chipping in $5?

Yesterday’s hearing was standing room only, Pennsylvania chief deputy attorney general John Korr told the court, “This idea that … on Election Day, we are going to have one million and a half voters without IDs is a fantasy. If you look at the whole population of Pennsylvania, the whole adult population, we don’t have that many people without driver’s licenses, let alone registered voters.” A ruling is expected before the election.

City Council President Darrell Clarke introduced a bill yesterday that would double the penalties on people who owe more than $20,000 in back taxes to the city. He said the city is going to be “very aggressive on that matter.”

City Council overrode the recently vetoed bill that’d allow for an expansion on Finnegan’s Wake—the place where all of Ireland’s finest douchebags come to remember old times, listen to a many-fine-Irish tune, drink a pint of the finest Irish lager, and drive back to Jersey, er, Ireland, high on a fine Irish mix of Coors Light and Jagermeister—by a vote of 17-0. Councilman Mark Squilla told CBS the vote had less to do with the issue at hand, and more to do with “setting the precedent” of councilmanic prerogative. So, when even more fights break out outside the bar and the stench of puke in Northern Liberties is just a wee bit stronger, blame councilmanic prerogative!

Foreclosures increased 129 percent from August 2011, according to RealtyTrac, which tracks foreclosures nationwide.

A bipartisan task force that’d been tasked with studying the death penalty asked Gov. Corbett to halt all executions until December 2013, when the group’s report is filed. The request comes as Terrance Williams is set to be executed October 3. Tom Corbett’s nihilistic attitude toward these sorts of things makes us think the task force and other anti-death penalty advocates probably shouldn’t hold their breath over this.

Philadelphia Republican leaders have filed a complaint to the Board of Ethics regarding Mayor Nutter’s trip to the Democratic National Convention last week. Total expenses for the mayor’s trip and resulting five-minute speech came to $7,363, paid for by the taxpayers.

The Obama campaign held a conference call yesterday stressing the importance of Pennsylvania education. Discussing the president’s goal of cutting the college tuition growth rate in half over the next four years, Philadelphia Rep. Bob Brady noted, the president has “worked to make quality, affordable education to all.” Republicans came out with their own education snipe, saying “Mitt Romney will pursue genuine education reform that put the interests of parents and students first and makes it easier for graduates to find a rewarding employment and be successful.”