Scalia’s death puts Toomey in an impossible position

Plus: more juvenile budget behavior and the Kane show that will never end By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times After this past week of watching Pennsylvania politics, I almost wish I was back on the serious pain meds I took after my recent back surgery — because it wasn’t exactly a week that covered the commonwealth with glory and it hurt a bit to watch it all. From the juvenile tussle over the...

Chesco Dems back Sestak, Parrish, Balchunis and Hartman

The county’s Democratic Party made key endorsements in the U.S. Senate race as well in three local congressional races at its annual party convention, Wednesday night, backing Joe Sestak for Senate and Michael Parrish in the 6th District, Mary Ellen Balchunis in the 7th District and Christina Hartman in the 16th District. Additionally, the committee endorsed Josh Shapiro for Attorney General...

Merry Election Season? Not so far

State House GOP budget play doesn’t seem to make political sense By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times It’s that time of year — you can see the indications of it everywhere. It’s election season. What, you thought I was talking about Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza? After just a few weeks off from the local 2015 elections, politics has moved back front and center, even if the events of 2015 will...

Birthright citizen challenge is a slippery slope

Can citizenship be taken away by a whim? By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times Much in line with the old Chinese curse, we live in interesting times. Arguably, though, with more than one Republican presidential candidate arguing for repeal (or downright ignoring of) the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, suggesting that the children of illegal immigrants to the United States should be denied...

Does 161st election prompt worry for GOP?

Also, Kane must go; thoughts on GOP presidential debate By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times It’s still August, and as much as we want to cling to our icy-cold beverages, sun screen and the amazing scent of meat grilling in the back yard, like a storm front, politics, both local and national keep pulling us forward into the fall political season. We’ll dig into the Kathleen Kane issue, the Republican...

Rafferty to run for Attorney General

State Sen. John Rafferty (R-44) State Sen. John Rafferty (R-44) — who represents parts of Chester County — announced Wednesday he would run for state Attorney General in 2016. The post is currently held by Kathleen Kane, a Democrat. Rafferty made his announcement in Harrisburg at the Pennsylvania State Troopers Headquarters in part to highlight a number of high-profile endorsements he received...

Op/Ed: The Affordable Care Act works

By Joe Sestak Joe Sestak I’m reminded that it was five years ago last month that Congress voted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law, promising to control costs and offer better coverage to more Americans. Back then, many argued that the ACA would be a massive failure with disastrous consequences for our state and bankrupt our nation. They claimed that the law was too...