Wake-Up Call: Thursday, August 14, 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.

Pindell Report: Pa. has more competitive congressional races than any other state

With six U.S. House races in play this fall, Pennsylvania has the largest number of competitive congressional races than any other state in the country, a new Politicker.com report shows.

The Pindell Report, which launched today, aims to provide the country's most dynamic and richly reported ranking and analysis of U.S. Senate, U.S. House and gubernatorial races, plus presidential swing states. (PolitickerPA.com, Staff)

Link: http://www.politickerpa.com/editorpa/1178/pindell-report-pa-has-more-com...

Don't forget the 'guv'

Looks as though Pennsylvania will be front and center at the Democratic National Convention -- Gov. Ed Rendell (D) will join U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr. (D-Scranton) as one of its key speakers this September. (PolitickerPA.com, Alex Roarty)

Link: http://www.politickerpa.com/alexroarty/1213/dont-forget-guv

Democrats asking for questions from Philly

Vanessa Ruppe set off yesterday across Rittenhouse Square and encountered a man in sandals who could bring her 15 seconds of fame this month at the Democratic National Convention. (Inquirer, Andrew Maykuth)

Link: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080814_Democrats_asking_for_quest...

Rendell names Torsella to head state education board

Gov. Rendell has picked Joseph Torsella, the president and chief executive officer of Philadelphia's National Constitution Center, to head Pennsylvania's State Board of Education. (Inquirer, Dan Hardy)

Link: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080814_Rendell_names_Torsella_to_...

Unions lose Pa. furlough lawsuit

HARRISBURG - When politics holds up passage of Pennsylvania's budget past the July 1 deadline - as it has the last six years - the governor must choose between furloughing thousands of state employees or requiring them to work without pay until a budget is enacted, a Commonwealth Court judge has ruled. (Inquirer, AP)

Link: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080814_Unions_lose_Pa__furlough_l...

PennFuture touts bill to promote electrical energy conservation

For those worried about electricity price spikes expected in a few years, conservationists say look to the gas pump.

Gas prices soared, people started using less gas and now they’re falling again. If consumers act now, advocates say, Pennsylvanians can stave off the spikes before they happen by using the same strategy. (Times Leader, Rory Sweeney)

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

Gun organizations support Altmire, Hart

Pro-gun organizations are lining up on different sides in the 4th Congressional District race in which Democratic Rep. Jason Altmire of McCandless is being challenged by former Rep. Melissa Hart, the Bradford Woods Republican who Altmire defeated in 2006. (Tribune Review, Staff)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_582783.html

Pittsburgh City Council gives tentative OK to refinance debt

Pittsburgh City Council members said Wednesday they will allow Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's administration to refinance $77.17 million in debt if market conditions improve during council's late August recess. (Tribune Review, Staff)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_582786.html

Ward to seek Regola's seat in state Senate

Westmoreland County Commissioner Kim Ward said she will seek the Republican Party's approval to replace Sen. Bob Regola on the November ballot for the 39th Senatorial District. (Tribune Review, Richard Gazarik)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_582776.html

Opponent rebuts Regola's parting shot

Democratic state Senate candidate Tony Bompiani asserted yesterday that he would not have resorted to negative campaigning about the legal problems of his former opponent, incumbent Republican state Sen. Robert Regola III, who withdrew from the race Monday. (Post Gazette, Michael Fuoco)

Link: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08226/903796-52.stm?cmpid=elections.xml

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.