Pennsylvania: Pa

From an email from Dan Onorato, Allegheny County Executive and PA gubernatorial candidate:
Dear friends:

On Monday, the U.S. Senate announced that its most recent healthcare bill includes a provision that allows states to choose whether or not to offer a "public option." Basically, states will be able to decide whether or not to offer their residents access to low-cost health insurance.

As Governor, I will veto any effort by the Pennsylvania General Assembly to "opt out" of the public option.

It is critical for Pennsylvania's employers and workers that we help lower healthcare costs. I believe that the proposed public option will help expand competition and reduce prices while maintaining our current fee-for-service system.

He's announcing his candidacy a little earlier than he originally planned.

Just got this in an email from Zack Byrnes:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2009

Zack Byrnes to Announce Candidacy for 12th District State Representative Seat

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA – Democrat Zack Byrnes will announce his candidacy for the 12th District state representative seat on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 2:00 PM at the Butler County Democratic Fall Event at South Butler Fire Hall.

Byrnes will challenge Representative Daryl Metcalfe, who has held the office for nearly 12 years. For Byrnes, the decision to run was made after Metcalfe’s most recent outburst against veterans. In an email to Operation FREE, a veteran’s group focused on the national security implications of climate change, Metcalfe called veterans supporting the organization traitors and compared them to Benedict Arnold.

By now many of you have seen the disruptive outbursts and repetition of talking points BLATANT LIES that occurred at Sen. Arlen Specter's last town hall on health care reform (see here and here and here).

Tomorrow (8/13), Sen. Specter will be in Kittanning for a town hall meeting - the only one that he'll be doing in Western PA before returning to DC to work on the health care bill.

Those who know how vital health care reform is to the very health of this nation must turn out for this meeting.

And of course the idea is not to come to shut out or shout down the other side, but to civilly and respectfully make our side's determination felt ("our side" being the vast majority of Americans).

Remember Drill Here Drill Now campaign? It's one approval away from becoming a reality.
As of October 1, 2008 no moratoriums exist on offshore oil and gas development, however, no new areas may be leased or developed unless they are included in a 5 Year Program. The Minerals Management Service is in charge of developing this five year plan and their 2010-2015 proposal includes leasing in the Atlantic and expanded leasing in the Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific, and Alaska. But the plan still has to be approved.

The Consumer Eneregy Alliance is asking for your help to make sure this plan passes.