http://www.philly.com/r?19=960&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F Philly.com politics headlines. en-us Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:05:15 GMT 2009-07-10T14:05:15Z en-us http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=403844&44=50469072&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fpolitico%2FRSS_POLITICO20090710_Johnston__Palin_did_it_for_the_money.html Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:05:17 GMT f915c5b6b473d33d64d2c2eedaaa3728 2009-07-10T13:05:17Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=403844&44=50469067&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fpolitico%2FRSS_POLITICO20090710_Obama__health_care_doable_but__hard_.html Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:05:15 GMT 0a0358023a0dbf091172b69388a9ea81 2009-07-10T14:05:15Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=50451597&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20090710_Fumo_s_bid_for_new_trial_rejected.html The federal judge who is set to sentence former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo rejected Fumo's bid yesterday for a new trial, saying a defense request to explore whether jurors had learned prejudicial facts about Fumo was a mere "fishing expedition." Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 31430c950d0ad5f975161f9b139335a0 2009-07-10T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168206&44=50440397&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F20090710_Clout__Lost_Street_papers_found.html IT'S BEEN 26 years since Geraldo Rivera breathlessly opened mobster Al Capone's "vault" in front of live TV cameras at a Chicago hotel, finding only a few empty liquor bottles. Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 5424a4bf1b0bc184af3fcf70a2ce8dd3 2009-07-10T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=50451657&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20090710_Pa__budget_gap_threatens_city_jobs.html Closing Pennsylvania's $3.2 billion budget gap by making deep cuts would have dire consequences for Philadelphia, Mayor Nutter said yesterday as he raised the specter of a reduced police force and Fire Department under the spending plan advanced by state Republicans. Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 7531821bfa46792512376214b9f32d84 2009-07-10T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=50451582&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20090710_Democrats_in_Pennsylvania_House_plan_vote_on_GOP_budget.html HARRISBURG - House Democrats are making a risky gambit to break the budget deadlock: They're planning to vote Monday on the bare-bones Senate Republican spending plan with a painful $1.7 billion in additional cuts, conceding they don't have the votes for an income-tax increase. Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT af38f0a5771a1e7799d2885565ff82b3 2009-07-10T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323206&44=50440432&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fstate%2F20090710_Judge_rejects_Fumo_s_2nd_bid_for_new_trial.html Vince Fumo's second bid to win a new trial was rejected yesterday by a federal judge. Fumo, 66, filed court papers last week contending that a hearing and new trial was warranted based on "newly discovered evidence" that jurors had been exposed to information outside court that was prejudicial to him. Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT a2a710e50db76742a09a7a1fc9ce5137 2009-07-10T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168206&44=50341117&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F20090709_G-8_Vows_to_Cut_Emissions.html L'AQUILA, Italy - Targeting global warming, President Obama and other leaders of the world's richest industrial countries pledged yesterday to seek dramatic cuts in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050 to slow dangerous climate change. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 6526d69e4ef6ac57a2e07bdc7fb8d62d 2009-07-09T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168206&44=50346547&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F20090709_John_Baer__Pa__employees_burn_up_the_Rendell_request_line.html HE SHOWED UP well-tanned and then got tattooed. Of the 16 calls that Gov. Ed took during a 60-minute live call-in show on the Pennsylvania Cable Network last evening, 14 were openly hostile. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT fe6dc28e057b00634e33f5e7d03258ad 2009-07-09T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=50341522&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20090709_Lawyers_argue_over_Fumo_sentence.html With the sentencing of former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo set for Tuesday, prosecutors and defense lawyers delivered spirited arguments yesterday about the amount of the fraud committed by the once-powerful Democrat. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 94af8d6bdefb0ebc8e7d2dafa87d26cd 2009-07-09T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=50346552&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20090709_Stu_Bykofsky__When_Barack_met_Michelle.html GUYS, DO YOU remember when you met your wife? Ladies, can you say when you first laid eyes on your husband? Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:24:08 GMT bbabf8d6e41c1f2e904cf1e896bf2016 2009-07-09T17:24:08Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=403844&44=50358767&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fpolitico%2FRSS_POLITICO20090709_Arena_Digest__Is_the_stimulus_a_failure_.html Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:51:13 GMT 30c4bfdf6f9363e5fcfb3c5d71e7f3a9 2009-07-09T09:51:13Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=403844&44=50358762&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fpolitico%2FRSS_POLITICO20090709_W_H__rebuffs_Waxman_claim_on_Rx_deal.html Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:07:52 GMT e9db0d7ce3235907d5bed48693dea737 2009-07-09T14:07:52Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168206&44=50341112&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F20090709_Rendell_faces_questions_on_stimulus_funds.html WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Republican from Utah, is no fan of the federal stimulus package. He thought it was a waste when it was passed in February. And he thinks now that it has produced too few jobs - 150,000, by the latest White House estimate - for the $57 billion that has been spent nationally so far. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 275435703e54ab61651fd271195319f0 2009-07-09T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=50341097&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20090709_Phila__schools_agree_to_settle_1970_desgregation_suit.html Nearly 40 years after the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission went to court seeking equal education for white and minority students in the city, the Philadelphia School District is poised to settle the landmark desegregation case by instituting reforms to benefit black and Hispanic children. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 277294edc16713dab9b976dbba99d27f 2009-07-09T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=50346562&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20090709_Council_wonders_what_to_do_with_their_pay_raise.html City Council wrestled yesterday with a topic fraught with political and financial pitfalls - what to do about a 5.13 percent raise its members received a week ago? Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 2c0a9475375c1e114acb845d96bc0a3b 2009-07-09T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323206&44=50346587&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fstate%2F20090709_Fumo_sentence_a_topic_of_debate.html A federal judge said yesterday that he would inform prosecutors and defense lawyers today what the appropriate sentencing guideline range should be for disgraced former state Sen. Vince Fumo. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 7f08a5113c472e8930fd49cfb4e1a6d8 2009-07-09T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=50341557&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20090709_Philadelphia_Council_may_return_raises_-_on_own_terms.html Philadelphia City Council is willing to give back the 5 percent cost-of-living raise it received June 30, but only on members' own terms. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 14e264db978d594f8e989d43bc3622c5 2009-07-09T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=50346637&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20090709_Experts_discuss_Sotomayor_nomination.html U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is under fire for her ruling as a lower-court judge in a landmark reverse-discrimination case. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:24:09 GMT cb700e8fcb08038d71367f45f7c47ce4 2009-07-09T17:24:09Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=50346632&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20090709_Stimulus___coming__but_impact_not_clear.html One bright spot in the city's grim budget situation is that federal stimulus dollars are starting to trickle in to city agencies. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:22:55 GMT 3a8c110a692d1995a096b750538259a8 2009-07-09T17:22:55Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=50235377&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20090708_ap_obamameetswithworldleadersoneconomyclimate.html President Barack Obama joined fellow world leaders in Italy Wednesday for talks on threats to global security and stability at a summit where climate change, a continuing global economic crisis, nuclear proliferation and world hunger took top billing. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:35:33 GMT 8c33d54f0e21fb00762b3dc3f1f96683 2009-07-08T21:35:33Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=50211487&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20090708_Toomey__I_m_electable__GOP_leaders_not_so_sure.html As Democrats Arlen Specter and Joe Sestak dig in for a Senate primary that will likely pit power brokers against liberal activists, Republican Pat Toomey has 16 months to sharpen his message of fiscal conservatism for the November 2010 general election. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:31:37 GMT 5abcea3d3c6d94fe54bf707cda2c3f02 2009-07-08T21:31:37Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=50272727&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20090708_Toomey_claims_hes_raised__1_million-plus_in_Senate_bid.html HARRISBURG, Pa. - Republican Pat Toomey says he raised more than $1 million in the first 11 weeks of his campaign for the U.S. Senate. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:39:19 GMT 367a6a2e55d30e80dc6497fc6c363d87 2009-07-08T22:39:19Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=50206347&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20090708_Monica_Yant_Kinney__To_serve__protect_______and_park_illegally.html It's become fashionable to blame the Philadelphia Parking Authority for just about everything that's wrong with this city, from drops in tourism to the failing schools. Aggressive ticket writers have even gained reality-TV fame, joking to the cameras as they prowl the mean streets taking no prisoners. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 0a623aea415158161f3175cfff3c428c 2009-07-08T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=403844&44=50223512&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fpolitico%2FRSS_POLITICO20090708_Reform_s_revenge.html Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:04:02 GMT b4f5f7354554326e75f9923184a30855 2009-07-08T10:04:02Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=403844&44=50223507&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fpolitico%2FRSS_POLITICO20090708_At_G-8_summit__Obama_tough_on_Iran.html Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:40:25 GMT 5a041c3b8d4b9cdc8b1905bd6243ec59 2009-07-08T14:40:25Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=50206267&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20090708_Nonprofit_seeks_restitution_from_Fumo.html The South Philadelphia nonprofit that former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo called "my baby" has cast itself as a victim of a fraud scheme by Fumo and its former executive director, Ruth Arnao, according to court documents filed yesterday. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 55753d1a6904faa5200ada0e28a7d9e0 2009-07-08T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168206&44=50206332&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F20090708_Murphy_takes_up_overturn_of__quot_don_t_ask__don_t_tell_quot_.html U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, an Iraq War veteran, is taking the lead in Congress to repeal a law that bars openly gay people from serving in the military. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT a89e5a6cc8e2cbd43806964bfbce5240 2009-07-08T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=50205822&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20090708_Meehan_to_return__10_000_campaign_contribution.html Former U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Meehan, a possible Republican candidate for governor, yesterday said he was returning a $10,000 campaign contribution from a political fund after learning it got most of its money from a Philadelphia union Meehan had previously investigated. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 3e6fc09596d2c48264af066a59ad57d5 2009-07-08T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=50205837&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20090708_Law_eliminating_school_districts_criticized.html When Gov. Corzine signed a bill last week that established a process to eliminate 26 small school districts that do not operate schools, it seemed to many people a no-brainer. Legislative sponsors hailed it as a commonsense step toward consolidation that would save public money and still support education. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT a77e3db17e4002919a73977bf1f59a7c 2009-07-08T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168206&44=50211452&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F20090708_John_Baer__Tax-hike_plan_hitting_GOP_wall__for_now.html AT THE START of week two of the annual state budget impasse, Republicans are increasingly convinced that they're on stronger political footing than Gov. Rendell and Democrats, and many guarantee eventual passage of a no-tax budget. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT 00dd49f3f0fed1a9ada4eac48fddf044 2009-07-08T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=50206247&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20090708_Rendell__Budget_process_slowly_progressing.html HARRISBURG - Gov. Rendell insisted yesterday that he and lawmakers were "making progress" on reconciling their differences on the state budget, having agreed in recent days to tens of millions of dollars in additional cuts. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT d893adb4ee873f288e21ca2340a520ca 2009-07-08T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=50206237&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20090708_Ex-lawmaker_to_get_separate_Bonusgate_trial.html HARRISBURG - A judge ruled yesterday that a former state lawmaker from Beaver County will get his own trial on corruption charges, separate from others indicted in the Capitol scandal known as Bonusgate. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT d98564421b24707f6b7449d5c29dbe3e 2009-07-08T07:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168206&44=50205842&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F20090708_Leaving_Moscow_on_note_of_hope.html MOSCOW - President Obama laid out a vision of greater cooperation between the United States and Russia yesterday in a speech that also contained veiled criticism of the Kremlin's authoritarian style of rule. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:01:00 GMT f91392ab9177eccf9748301ca8117a74 2009-07-08T07:01:00Z