Wake-Up Call: Friday, July 18, 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.

Reporters’ subpoenas are tossed

HARRISBURG — A judge threw out subpoenas issued to 15 Pennsylvania journalists who were summoned to testify at a hearing on whether a special prosecutor should be appointed to investigate alleged violations of grand jury secrecy. (Times Leader, AP)

Link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Reporters_rsquo__subpoenas_are_tossed_07...

Readshaw calls for DeWeese to step down

Echoing remarks made a day earlier by two Democratic colleagues, a western Pennsylvania lawmaker is asking House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese (D-Greene County) to step down. (PolitickerPA.com, Alex Roarty)

Link: http://www.politickerpa.com/alexroarty/943/readshaw-calls-deweese-step-d...

Regola fights back

GREENSBURG - A state senator whose gun was used by a teenage neighbor in an apparent suicide said yesterday that his acquittal on gun and perjury charges shows that his prosecution was a politically motivated "witch hunt." (Inquirer, AP)

Link:  http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080718_Regola_fights_back.html

Corruption case in Pa. could derail Senate campaign

HARRISBURG - Sean Ramaley's path to becoming the youngest member of the state Senate once seemed already paved.  (Inquirer, AP)

Link: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080718_Corruption_case_in_Pa__cou...

State schools increase tuition 3.5 percent

Students attending the 14 state-owned universities will pay 3.5 percent more for tuition this fall.

The Board of Governors for the State System of Higher Education voted Thursday to raise tuition by $181 to $5,358 a year for Pennsylvania undergraduates attending the state-owned schools, which include Slippery Rock, Indiana, California and Clarion. The increase was part of a $1.4 billion operating budget for 2008-09 that was adopted yesterday. (Tribune Review, Bill Zlatos)

Link:  http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_578213.html

Barletta claims lead on Kanjorski

HAZLETON -- Congressional GOP hopeful Lou Barletta said Thursday night he has a 5 percentage-point lead over incumbent U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski in the 11th Congressional District race. (Times Leader, Ralph Nardone)

Link:  http://www.timesleader.com/news/Barletta_claims_lead_on_Kanjorski_07-17-...

Sources: McCain adds town hall stop at Kirby to visit

WILKES-BARRE – Republican presidential hopeful John McCain will make two stops in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. (Times Leader, Andrew Seder)

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

Spot reassessment ban foes hail veto of 2 bills

HARRISBURG – Opponents of two bills that would ban spot reassessments in most counties are applauding Gov. Ed Rendell’s veto of the bills on Monday.

But one of the sponsors on Wednesday warned of a possible attempt at a veto override. (Times Leader, Steve Mocarsky)

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

Democrat enters race for Mackereth vacancy

Four Republicans have expressed their interest in running for state representative in the 196th District. Now a Democrat plans to join the fray as well.

Rob McIlvaine, vice president of Workforce Development at MANTEC Inc. and a Dover Area School Board member, said Tuesday he intends to run for the position in November. (Evening Sun, Tom Joyce)

Link: http://www.eveningsun.com/ci_9906772?source=rss

English runs from anti-incumbent environment

WASHINGTON - It would be difficult to think that U.S. Rep. Phil English’s constituents already don’t know all there is to know about their congressman. After all, the Erie Republican has held his northwest Pennsylvania-area seat for 14 years. (PolitickerPA.com, Alex Isenstadt)

Link: http://www.politickerpa.com/alexisenstadt/942/english-runs-anti-incumben...

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.