POLS ON THE STREET: Farnese Eyes Lt. Guv Nomination

Larry Farnese will have the support from Democrat City Committee if he is intent on seeking the post for Lieutenant Governor and unless other Philadelphians decide to join in the race for the state Democrat nomination in next primary. He’s been talking to Democrat County Chairmen across the state. I’m letting them know my interest, letting them know it’s something I’m seriously considering,” he said.

Farnese, 45, was first elected in 2008 to the 1st Senate Dist., replacing State Sen. Vincent Fumo. Farnese was reelected by a 66-point margin in 2012, meaning he wouldn’t have to give up his Senate seat to run.

Harrisburg City Councilman Brad Koplinski and Bradford Co. Commissioner Mark Smith have announced bids for Lieutenant Governor. Other names have surfaced, too, including former Congressman Mark Critz, Northampton Co. DA John Morganelli and State Sen. John Wozniak (D-Cambria).

Most of the top-tier gubernatorial hopefuls hail from Southeastern Pennsylvania, but only one – State Sen. Mike Stack (D-Northeast) – hails from Philly. If Stack makes the run, it will deal a death blow to Farnese’s chances, and vice versa. It is doubtful the Dems will allow two Philly County candidates to run in tandem.

Businessman and former Pennsylvania Revenue Secretary Tom Wolf says he’s likely to jump into the Democratic primary for Governor. Other Democratic hopefuls for the state’s top seat include John Hanger, Cumberland Co. pastor Max Myers, State Treasurer Rob McCord and former Congressman Joe Sestak.

On the GOP side, Montgomery Co. Commissioner Bruce Castor has also floated a possible bid.

EVERYBODY JUDGES STEVENS A GOOD CHOICE

General Assembly leaders from both parties have indicated they have no problem  supporting Gov. Tom Corbett’s choice for the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth, for Superior Court Justice Correale Stevens. Confirmation should occur on June 24. A two-thirds majority in the State Senate is required to confirm the new justice, who will serve on an interim basis until the state’s voters select a new justice in November 2015.

Corbett has nominated former Democratic congressman Tim Holden to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and Gladys Brown, a lawyer for the Senate Democrats, to fill a spot on the state’s Public Utility Commission. His moves are seen as a buddying-up process.

G.O.P. WARD WEBSITE REDIRECTS TARGET

Ward websites are rare, and those that do exist canCt afford cutting-edge changes. The last time the 59th Republican Ward had a website, it was busy attacking the old guard inside Republican City Committee.

But now the City GOP factions are united, the GOP Ward’s website is back this time attacking the Democrats.

At GermantownGOP.com, Memo from the GOP asks why  local media reported Democratic Mayor Michael Nutter going to Harrisburg to plead for more money, but  failed to mention the City GOP has already crafted a legislative solution that would solve the School District’s financial woes.

RETENTION A WINNER AMONG ELECTION CRITICS

Though state justices and judges from the lower  courts  are not above creating legal problems for themselves, all the groups opposed to judicial elections seem to support all those up for retention this year, and may soon get even shorter. Our state jurists are reaffirmed to their seats almost 98% of the time in retention elections.

SCHWARTZ, McCORD OPPOSE LIQOUR PRIVATIZATION

Gubernatorial Democrat hopefuls Allyson Schwartz and Rob McCord’s stand in opposition to Gov. Tom Corbett’s liquor privatization proposal. Notwithstanding, The odds still favor Gov. Tom Corbett’s effortwsw to privatize the State’s Liquor  stores system.  The Republican Party is demanding its General Assembly membership to vote the party line, which is to privatize the system. With ample numbers in the majority, defections are expected to be few.

PA. NURSES ENDORSE DAYLIN LEACH

The Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses & Allied Professionals has endorsed Daylin Leach for Congress in Pennsylvania’s 13th Congressional Dist. PASNAP is a 5,000-member union of nurses and health professionals, with a large concentration in Montgomery County and Philadelphia.

“Daylin Leach has always been a tireless advocate for Pennsylvania’s nurses and health professionals in the state legislature, so it was with a great sense of friendship that the PASNAP executive board voted to endorse Daylin Leach for Congress,” said Patricia Eakin, PASNAP president. PASNAP’s endorsement comes on the heels of another major labor endorsement from the UAW.

LOCAL 19 ISSUES BOYCOTT LIST

This list is to inform Local 19 Members, family and Union supporters these companies’ locations do not support and continue to break down the wages and standards of the Tri-State area construction workers. CVS – All Locations; Costco Wholesale Club – Three Locations: Bucks County, Warminster; Concordville, and Sanatoga, Pottstown; Beneficial Bank – All Locations; Planet Fitness – All Locations; Popeye’s Chicken – All Locations; Philly Cupcake; Hand & Stone Spa – All Locations; Genesis Healthcare – All Locations; Giant Food Stores – All Locations; Food Lion – All Locations;  Kenny Family Shoprite of Delaware – Five Locations:ShopRite First State Plaza; Governors Square Shopping Cntr; ShopRite Brandywine Commons; ShopRite Newark; ShopRite Wilmington; Med Express Urgent Care – All Locations; Fulton Bank – All Locations; Mall Chevrolet, Cherry Hill, NJ; Joe’s Crab Shack – All Locations; Brandywine Assisted Living; William Penn Bank – All Locations; Buffalo Wild Wings – All Locations; Staples -  Warrington, PA; Andy’s Diner, Trevos; Mayfair Diner – 7373 Frankford Ave;   McCafferty Auto Group; McDonalds – Morrisville.

SEN. WILLIAMS BATTLES METCALFE OVER HB 357

State Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Phila.) is battling State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe’s (R-Butler) HB 357 which would nullify federal laws regarding gun ownership, nullifying  any federal law that attempts to register, restrict or ban a firearm or limit the size of a magazine of a firearm unenforceable in Pennsylvania.   Both have been trading letters, copying both chambers. Williams said the conversation about gun control is “more significant than the usual antics of whipping out a flag and wrapping oneself in it.”

FATTAH WANTS CONSUMPTION INSTEAD OF INCOME TAX

Congressman Chaka Fattah  has introduced legislation which directs the Treasury Department  to  issue a  legislative  proposal to Congress concerning the viability of replacing the current income tax with a consumption tax.

In comparison to the income tax, a consumption tax would place a levy on money spent on goods and services. It would expand the tax base by capturing money spent by all segments of society–individuals, corporations, the rich and the poor. A consumption tax will do what the  current  tax  code  can’t:  reduce  the  number  of  tax  evaders  by  placing  a  tax  on transactions as opposed to income.

This is not the Congressman’s first attempt at overhauling the tax code.  In the summer 2010 edition of the Harvard Law Review, Fattah authored an essay on the feasibility of implementing a 1% fee on all financial transactions.

Implementing a consumption tax would simplify the current cumbersome system and eliminate the use of tax shelters and curb tax evasion, maintains Fattah.

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