Our panel features Eric Epstein, co-founder of the government-reform group RocktheCapital.org and a frequent critic of Gov. Ed Rendell’s administration and the Pennsylvania General Assembly; Matt Paul, reporter and anchor for Radio Pennsylvania, WITF’s statewide commercial radio network; and, Lynne Richarde, anchor and reporter for Harrisburg’s talk-radio leader, WHP580. In reality, they'll not just reflect on a year but on a decade of tremendous change.
2010 marks the final 12 months of Democrat Rendell’s reign and so the year will be fraught with political news surrounding the campaigns of his would-be successors. Pollster Terry Madonna and partner Michael Young opine on Pennsylvania’s eight-year gubernatorial cycle that does not bode well for the Democratic Party. That's not stopping what some might consider a crowded field of contenders: Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty; Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel; Philadelphia businessman Tom Knox, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and state Auditor General Jack Wagner. Democratic State Committee meets in Lancaster February 5 and 6 possibly to endorse a nominee.
But the Republicans risk pitfalls. Front-runner Attorney General Tom Corbett enters a fateful month as the meat of his Bonsugate corruption case comes to trial. Former Democratic House Whip Mike Veon and perhaps up to four others face jurors in Dauphin County January 19. They’re hoping for acquittal in an alleged scheme to use taxpayer money for bonuses linked to campaign work. They take heart in the case of their colleague, former Democratic state Rep. Sean Ramaley. A Dauphin County jury found Ramaley not guilty late last year in the first Bonusgate-related case to go to trial. Corbett got a boost late this week, however, as his strongest GOP challenger, Congressman Jim Gerlach, dropped out of the race citing a lack of money. Now Corbett's only opponent for the nomination is state Rep. Sam Rohrer of Berks County. The Republicans stage regional caucuses to gauge support for candidates with the final endorsements expected at the February 13 Republican State Committee meeting.
In the national political arena, Pennsylvania is pivotal as 30-year veteran Arlen Specter tries to win his first U.S. Senate race as a Democrat. Congressman Joe Sestak wants to outflank him in the May 18 primary. And state Rep. Bill Kortz of Dravosburg also presents a primary challenge to Specter. Former congressman and Club for Growth president Pat Toomey and conservative activist Peg Luksik will battle it out for the GOP Senate nomination. Specter’s seat becomes even more precious to Democrats as several senators this week announced their retirement from the world’s most exclusive club.
Pennsylvania’s fiscal situation looks precarious for 2010. It took 101-days to settle the budget impasse with the final piece actually not falling into place until Wednesday night. Gov. Rendell had threated to layoff as many as 1,000 state workers had lawmakers not approved table games at casinos by the end of this week. Now it appears the odds (fears, for some) are raised again for a casino in Gettysburg. Revenue collections for the first six months of this fiscal year are $254.2 million below estimates. State budget officials predict a modest rebound in the second half of the year. Still, this overall tough economic climate sets the stage for heated negotiations, more cuts in spending and perhaps a broad-based tax increase.
Very close to home, the City of Harrisburg is on the verge of bankruptcy, crushed by a nearly $300 million dollar incinerator-related debt and endured its worst annual homicide rate in nearly two decades. However, Mayor Thompson vows she “will make the tough decisions” to get the city on track to solvency and lawfulness. And Attorney General Corbett has warned us all that his investigation of public corruption is ongoing. Perhaps that threat will keep public officials honest in 2010. Please join us Friday at 8:30 p.m. for a new year of Smart Talk and the annual Smarties awards. And be sure to let us know YOUR nominees in the following categories: Story of the Year; Person of the Year; Up and Comer; Smartest Move of the Year; Not-So-Smartest Move of the Year and 2010 Story of the Year Prediction. You can email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
