Wake-Up Call: Wednesday, July 23, 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.

Changing demographics crack open door for Stuski

LEMOYNE -- Margie Stuski knows she still must overcome long-shot odds to become Cumberland County's only Democratic lawmaker. (PolitickerPA.com, Alex Roarty)

Link: http://www.politickerpa.com/alexroarty/977/changing-demographics-crack-o...

John Baer: Pa. Legislature: Too bad, so sad

HOW BAD IS the Pennsylvania Legislature?

So bad, they're talking about it in Washington.

The Brookings Institution, the oldest think tank in America, a centrist (leaning left) nonprofit, almost always referred to as "the prestigious" Brookings, held a daylong round table this week on our own beloved Legislature. (Philly Daily News, John Baer)

Link: http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20080723_John_Baer__Pa__Legislatur...

Protest can’t use Square

WILKES-BARRE – The Alliance for Retired Americans will protest Republican Sen. John McCain’s visit to the city today, but will not gather on Public Square as planned.

According to city spokesperson Bridget Giunta, the Committee to Elect John McCain has reserved Public Square for the entire day, forcing the alliance to stage its protest elsewhere. (Times Leader, Bill O'Boyle)

Link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Protest_can_rsquo_t_use_Square_07-23-200...

McCain arrives for W-B visit

WILKES-BARRE – Traffic patterns in the downtown will be slightly altered this morning due to the visit of Republican presidential candidate John McCain. (Times Leader, Bill O'Boyle)

Link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/McCain_arrives_for_W-B_visit_07-23-2008....

Hackett blasts Carney, brochure

DALLAS TWP. – Chris Hackett called a press conference Tuesday to detail what he described as Chris Carney’s “misuse of taxpayer dollars for his campaign.” (Times Leader, Andew Seder)

Link: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Hackett_blasts_Carney__brochure_07-23-20...

Council makes no decision on drink tax referendum

It will be at least another week before voters know if they'll have a say on Allegheny County's 10 percent drink tax in November. (Tribune Review, Justin Vellucci)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_578923.html

Grand jury: Dem leaders illegally targeted Diven

Former Rep. Michael Diven of Brookline was singled out for defeat by an illegal political machine run by the House Democratic Caucus, according to a state grand jury report. (Tribune Review, David Brown)

Link: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_578919.html

Rendell says he's not being vetted for VP

Gov. Ed Rendell said this morning on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" that he is not being vetted for vice president.

"No, no, no, I'm not being vetted," Rendell said. "I haven't been contacted by anybody, showing that the Obama campaign has good sense." (PolitickerPA.com, Alex Roarty)

Link: http://www.politickerpa.com/alexroarty/970/rendell-says-hes-not-being-ve...

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.