Wake-Up Call: Monday, August 11, 2008

With the PolitickerPA.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Pennsylvania's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

With the PolitickerPA.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Pennslyvania's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

Specter on McCain, Matthews, Manion and more

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter has some words of advice for U.S. Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain as they campaign for the White House:

"They'd be well advised if they didn't promise too much." (PolitickerPA.com, Dan Hirschorn)

Link: http://www.politickerpa.com/danh/1152/specter-mccain-matthews-manion-and-more 

Party unity eludes Dems at platform meeting

Unity will have to wait.

Emotions of some supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton remain raw, months after Sen. Barack Obama all but locked up the Democratic Party's nomination for president. Their frustration bubbled to the surface Saturday at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, where more than 150 Democrats finalized the party's platform. (Tribune Review, Mike Wereschagin)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_582112.html

Mayor Nutter's watershed moments

Mayor Nutter's outburst last week over the role Department of Human Services workers played in the 2006 starvation death of 14-year-old Danieal Kelly was probably his most memorable tirade. It certainly was his most profane. (Inquirer, Staff)

Link: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080811_Mayor_Nutter_s_watershed_m...

Trainer Borough mayor charged with 3rd DUI

In Trainer Borough documents, Eugene Maysky is referred to as "The Honorable Mayor," but according to Philadelphia Police, Maysky's actions early Friday were anything but honorable. (Philly Daily News, Stephenie Farr)

Link: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080811_Trainer_Borough_mayor_cha...

Monroeville eyes tax-cutting goal

Monroeville Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a business community proposal that would commit the municipality to looking at reducing its public safety spending while giving tax breaks to businesses. (Tribune Review, Brian Bowling)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_582141.html

Scandal puts focus on ballot access

HARRISBURG -- Were it not for the statehouse scandal over illegal use of public funds for political purposes, this election year in Pennsylvania might be free from friction over ballot access.  (Tribune Review, AP)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_582149.html

Ariz. Gov. Napolitano to speak in Pittsburgh

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano is back in her hometown of Pittsburgh as part of the Democratic Platform Committee meeting.

Today, Napolitano is to tour a "green job" training center run by Local 95 of the International Union of Operating Engineers. Napolitano then plans to speak to reporters at the union's headquarters. (Tribune Review, AP)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_582131.html

State development grants too political?

For decades, the state has doled out grants and loans in an effort to jump-start economic development.

Gov. Ed Rendell, who swung through the state on a five-day bus tour last week to bequeath the latest round of state aid, has ratcheted up the effort and made it a hallmark of his administration.

The Department of Community and Economic Development now oversees about 100 programs that are meant to help businesses grow, create jobs and rebuild neighborhoods. (Evening Sun, Richard Fellinger)

Link: http://www.eveningsun.com/ci_10157269?source=rss

Police plan for McCain's visit to York

Officials from West Manchester Township and York City on Thursday afternoon expected to find out how much security - if any - they will be asked to offer for Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain's upcoming visit to York.

West Manchester Township Police Chief Arthur Smith said Thursday that his department planned to meet with the U.S. Secret Service later that day.

"I'm sure we'll be asked to do something," he said. (Evening Sun, Eugene Paik)

Link: http://www.eveningsun.com/ci_10149288?source=rss

PennPraxis: Phila. casino sites won't work

No amount of tinkering with the designs of Philadelphia's two proposed casinos could make them compatible with the city's new vision for the Delaware River waterfront, according to a report delivered yesterday to Mayor Nutter by PennPraxis. (Inquirer, Jennifer Lin)

Link: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080809_PennPraxis__Phila__casino_...

GOP leader Boehner of Ohio aids Hackett

U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, will be in the Back Mountain today to attend a barbecue that is doubling as a fundraiser for congressional candidate Chris Hackett. (Times Leader, Andrew Seder)

Link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/GOP_leader_Boehner_of_Ohio_aids_Hackett_...

Report: Regola will end re-election bid

Westmoreland County GOP officials scrambled to address reports that state Sen. Bob Regola of Hempfield will end his re-election bid Monday. (Tribune Review, Robin Acton)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_581982.html

Pittsburgh casino's revenue could be tops in state

Pittsburgh's casino quickly will become the state's most profitable, according to estimates from state regulators and investors trying to take over the project. (Tribune Review, Mike Wereschagin)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_581977.html

Bill would fund job-related courses

A bill awaiting President Bush's signature would help colleges and businesses create courses tailored to the needs of local industry and give students college credit for taking them.

The Higher Education Opportunity Act, approved by the House and Senate last week, provides financial incentives for colleges and businesses to offer courses that meet the hiring needs of businesses, Democratic U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire of McCandless said during a news conference Friday at the North Side campus of Community College of Allegheny County. (Tribune Review, Bill Zlatos)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_581939.html

Democrats extend registration advantage in Pennsylvania

Democrats continue to extend their registration advantage over Republicans in Pennsylvania, according to the Department of State. (Tribune Review, Staff)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_581888.html

With the PolitickerPA.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Pennsylvania's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.