Philly marijuana advocates pushing for full legalization
In their most recent “Politically Uncorrected” column, G. Terry Madonna and Michael L. Young reflect on the most recent Franklin and Marshall polling of Pennsylvania voters by calling marijuana legalization “arguably the litmus test of whether one is culturally conservative or liberal.” They continue to note that while recreational marijuana is still...
Continue ReadingPA House Passes Anti-Abortion Health Exchange Bill
Pennsylvania may be down to 49th in job growth, but that didn’t stop the state House of Representatives from taking on one of the social issues with which they’re most comfortable yesterday: Abortion. House Bill 818 is designed to make sure that when the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act kicks in, health plans on Pennsylvania’s insurance exchange...
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Here’s What State Rep. Brian Sims Says About PA’s Path to Marriage Equality
Former (and perhaps, incoming) presidential candidate Hillary Clinton endorsed gay marriage earlier today—a gigantic win for the future of social rights. “I support it personally and as a matter of policy and law, embedded in a broader effort to advance equality and opportunity for LGBT Americans and all Americans,” Clinton said in the video posted...
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10 Things I Saw, Heard and Learned at the PA Progressive Summit
This weekend marked the annual Pennsylvania Progressive Summit in Harrisburg, hosted by the liberal nonprofit Keystone Progress. The conference is a reliably attended get-together of liberals and leftists in Pennsylvania to discuss the state of state politics and how to change things. Here are 10 things I saw, heard and learned. 1. Liberals hold U.S. Congresswoman...
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Pennsylvania Vote-Rigging Takes Center Stage
For over a year, Pennsylvania Republicans have been threatening to anti-democratize the Keystone State and change how we vote for president—from a “winner takes all” system employed by 48 states to an electoral college-based system that would split our votes. And in the current political landscape, such a plan would wholly benefit the GOP, who haven’t...
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PA Republicans Ripped for Hosting Virginia Governor at Lincoln Dinner
Virginia governor Bob McDonnell was in Pennsylvania on Friday to speak with the local Republican Party for their Lincoln Dinner and plenty of opposition party members had reason to question why that was the case. For one, McDonnell had instituted something in his home state in 2010 called “Confederate History Month,” meant to “understand the sacrifices...
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BACKGROUNDER: Rep. Allyson Schwartz’s Likely Run for Governor
A recent Democratic Governors’ Association poll found that U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz could be in striking distance to take the governor’s mansion in 2014. And that’s got some Harrisburg politicos ready to support her potential candidacy, should it come to fruition. According to PoliticsPA, the DGA found Schwartz leading Gov. Tom Corbett—who’s...
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Corbett Wants to Sell Off State Booze Monopoly For Convenience, Schools
Gov. Corbett on liquor sales: "We shouldn't do it halfway." On Wednesday afternoon, Gov. Tom Corbett and several Republican legislators held a press conference in Pittsburgh to announce a new plan to get the Pennsylvania government out of the liquor business—fully, and for good. The conference began with Lt. Gov. Cowley, who noted Wednesday’s...
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Vote Rigging Bill Mirrored in Pennsylvania Denied in Virginia
A Pennsylvania electoral nightmare scenario almost happened last week — in Virginia. On Wednesday, a bill passed through a Virginia state Senate subcommittee which seeks to divide the state’s presidential electoral votes by congressional district, the way Maine and Nebraska do, rather than the current winner-take-all system that’s employed...
Continue ReadingLibertarian Party Prepares Philly Ballot Access Fight with Help From Other Third Parties
The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania handed in about 49,000 signatures on Aug. 1 to get presidential candidate Gary Johnson on the statewide ballot. A week later, as expected, the Pennsylvania Republican Party challenged about 44,000 of those signatures, alleging, among other things, that 26,000 Philadelphia-based signatures came from individuals who are not...
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