The LuLac Edition #12-May 22th, 2006

NEWS OF THE DAY………….Various interest groups are now trying to figure out how to approach their state legislators as budget time comes near. Legislators must pass a budget by July 1rst and lobbyists and persons of interest are struggling for ways to diplomatically approach some of the vanquished members of the House. Meanwhile in the Pa. Senate, there are indications that both Senator Jubilier and Brightbill will remain in their leadership roles until the end of their terms. There seems to be no stomach for a coup in the State Senate Republican leadership.
Here is a list of the House members who were defeated in the primary election, just one week ago.
Dennis Leh (R-Berks)
Bob Allen (R-Schuylkill)
Steve Maitland (R-Adams)
Teresa Forcier (R-Crawford)
Tom Stevenson (R-Allegheny)
Sue Cornell (R-Montgomery)
Gib Armstrong (R-Lancaster)
Paul Semmel (R-Lehigh)
Roy Baldwin (R-Lancaster)
Pat Fleagle (R-Franklin)
Peter Zug (R-Lebanon)
Frank Pistella (D-Allegheny)
Fred Belardi (D-Lackawanna)
Frank LaGrotta (D-Lawrence)

The silliness of the Senate campaign has started to ramp up with Senator Rick Santorum accusing Robert Casey, Jr. of endangering his family. The Senator has a home in Penn Hills outside of Pittsburgh. He resides in Virginia with his wife and 6 kids. A Democratic party operative peeked in the windows of the Penn Hills house and told KDKA TV "the house was empty". Now Santorum is asking for extra police to watch an empty house and the Casey campaign is responding to Santorum's bluster about how the Democratic candidate is making his family unsafe. As Jackie Gleason used to say, "And away we go!!!"

COMMENTARIES..............People keep asking for a Casey/Santorum debate. After seeing the give and take on the Penn Hills issue this week, be real careful what you ask for.........Have you noticed that most of the state rep and senate candidates have removed most of their signs from the roadsides? Kudos to all who did so.

MEDIA WATCH........Sue Henry on WILK had Senator Santorum on her show last week where he brought up the house issue. Santorum also referred to Casey as a "thug". Henry had to ask the question twice to make sure she heard right................If the Times Leader is sold to the Shamrock Newspaper group, one has to wonder about the political reporting that will emanate
from the merged papers. The Times Leader has never met a controversy it hasn't liked while Times Shamrock has been quite selective in it's story coverage. As you recall, last year, it took them weeks to report on the Don Sherwood/Cynthia Ore story.