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 Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:52:32 GMT 2009-11-12T14:52:32Z en-us http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=403844&44=69852847&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fpolitico%2FRSS_POLITICO20091112_POLITICO_Playback.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:51:24 GMT 71638053cfc0cb46478afedcfaafb2c5 2009-11-12T14:51:24Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=403844&44=69852842&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fpolitico%2FRSS_POLITICO20091112_ACORN__We_want_our_money_back.html Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:52:32 GMT b8c1e7b1a3ba489ae3dc52cfa41d8530 2009-11-12T14:52:32Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=69832412&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20091112_Phila__black_firefighters_sue_union__cite_racism.html In a federal lawsuit filed yesterday, an organization of African American firefighters accused the Philadelphia firefighters union of being "racially harassing and abusive" to blacks. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 034b47dbbb8f88bbb5512efd507e3b3e 2009-11-12T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=69832092&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20091112_SEPTA_strike_riles_Harrisburg_lawmakers.html The day after SEPTA employees returned to work, a morning meeting of House Republicans in Harrisburg was dominated by one issue: how to prevent another strike. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 7a7c445865b8ae00e5d4dc491948b14a 2009-11-12T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=69832387&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20091112_GOP_wants_Runyan_to_tackle_Adler_for_Congress.html Burlington County Republicans are wooing former Eagles offensive tackle Jon Runyan to take out U.S. Rep. John Adler, the first Democrat in memory to win the House district that cuts through the Republican heartlands of Burlington and Ocean Counties. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 7a92c928d9a6af25fe4afa8877a5060b 2009-11-12T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=69832382&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20091112_N_J__at_risk_of_economic_calamity__study_says.html New Jersey made it onto an undesirable top-10 list yesterday, ranking high among the states most at risk of economic calamity, according to a national research group. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT a913fb588d669378c0efb87246c40891 2009-11-12T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=69832082&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20091112_Democrats_ponder_financing_in_post-Corzine_world.html A week after the election, Democrats in New Jersey are wondering how to live in a post-Corzine world. Since 2000, Gov. Corzine has spent at least $190 million of his own money on Democratic races - three of his own and dozens of others. And by largely funding his own U.S. Senate run and two gubernatorial campaigns, he allowed donors to concentrate on other races. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 8981f52b39cbed48e1c087e755c04f2c 2009-11-12T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323231&44=69832422&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcongressional%2F20091112_Lawmakers_raise_issue_of_homeless__incarcerated_vets.html For Tyrone McMullins, a Vietnam War veteran, the real troubles started when he left the Marine Corps in 1970. With few skills, he struggled to find a job. Then he turned to drugs. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 4fc972e25643b2c4f26c34f19aeb49fd 2009-11-12T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168206&44=69832787&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F20091112_Cases_indicate_a_rash_of_bad_behavior.html Corruption complaints have piled up against the Pennsylvania State Police in recent years. Here are nine of the more notable ones: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT ed31d411389efbd9cb5ebabb5b243129 2009-11-12T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168206&44=69832067&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F20091112_Envoy_wary_on_troop_increase.html WASHINGTON - The U.S. ambassador in Kabul has sent two classified cables to Washington in the last week, expressing deep concerns about sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan until President Hamid Karzai's government demonstrates that it is willing to tackle the corruption and mismanagement that have fueled the Taliban's rise, senior U.S. officials said. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT a4ee6f6713e53cc4b41f252bb8d2c738 2009-11-12T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=69807017&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20091111_ap_loudobbssaysheisleavingcnn.html CNN's Lou Dobbs, a lightning rod for criticism following his transition from a business journalist to an opinionated anchor on such issues as illegal immigration, told viewers on Wednesday that he was quitting his nightly show to pursue new opportunities. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:27:19 GMT b0ee6757a9a46bff73fcc97890c0d931 2009-11-12T00:27:19Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=69737432&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20091111_Butkovitz_accuses_tow_operators_of_bilking_drivers.html City Controller Alan Butkovitz yesterday accused private tow-truck operators of bilking Philadelphia motorists and of violating city law by refusing to accept noncash payments for towing charges. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT e24a3f1af698103f1fa1ea0260308151 2009-11-11T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=69635167&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20091110_Recovery_aids_some_areas.html Third of four parts James Reilly sips morning coffee on his new front porch so he can watch the sunrise glow upon the looming Ben Franklin Bridge. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 41f16b4e30f3bd78c5801572d5e56817 2009-11-10T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=403844&44=69754982&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fpolitico%2FRSS_POLITICO20091111_We_shouldn_t_be_attacking_our_own.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:04:58 GMT ba938a59ef7cc27a7edd55cc297d37e2 2009-11-11T10:04:58Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=403844&44=69754967&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fpolitico%2FRSS_POLITICO20091111_POLITICO_Playback.html Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:02:05 GMT af7a0d0f289ffddd5d7da2130079a4aa 2009-11-11T14:02:05Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168206&44=69737792&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F20091111_John_Baer__Scranton_s_mayor_joins_the_gang_who_would_be_guv.html I'VE LONG suspected something's in the water up in Scranton, you know, maybe residue anthracite silt making its citizens overenergized when it comes to playing politics. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT af74d6fde365ecba860e59a3ddf042a8 2009-11-11T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=69737407&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20091111_Scranton_mayor_enters_race_for_Pennsylvania_governor.html SCRANTON - Only one Pennsylvania city can claim to have produced two governors in the last half-century. Chris Doherty, elected just last week to his third term as mayor of this cradle of governors, hopes to join Republican William W. Scranton (served from 1963 to 1967) and Democrat Robert P. Casey (1987-95) as Scrantonians who made it to the executive mansion. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT b6332604441be566dcbee9f2b677e4ee 2009-11-11T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=69737412&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20091111_Fumo_excused_from_Citizens__Alliance_lawsuit.html A Commonwealth Court judge excused former State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo from a civil suit against Citizens' Alliance for Better Neighborhoods because he was not an officer or director of the South Philadelphia nonprofit that he once said under oath was "my baby." Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 7b07203624f3e02cfeb21bab02a3e6a9 2009-11-11T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=69737462&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20091111_Monica_Yant_Kinney__Camden_s_unmet_need__Commitment.html Seven years ago, I attended the first meeting of the Camden Economic Recovery Board with a raised eyebrow and a poison pen. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT f7ef095cf724c49b7cc790a5c36c676e 2009-11-11T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=69737427&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20091111_Nutter_acts_to_boost_census_participation.html The last time the federal government tried to count the number of people in Philadelphia, only 56 percent of city residents returned their U.S. census forms - far below the national average of 67 percent, according to Mayor Nutter. Wed, 11 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 8e7fc6f7882de6438227326561c1be8f 2009-11-11T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=69635172&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20091110_SEPTA_strike_over__but_fare_hikes_loom.html Now that buses, subways, and trolleys are running again after a six-day transit strike, SEPTA riders can brace for the next unpleasantness: a fare hike. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT b434b1637e50f32d0073196a2f977906 2009-11-10T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168206&44=69635152&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F20091110_Politics_aside__doctors_universally_fed_up_with_insurers.html U.S. physicians are torn over what the government should do to make health care more available and affordable, but they're surprisingly like-minded about one perceived scourge - the insurance industry. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 2ab5fe7e8d1292400f82e64dd6704bb1 2009-11-10T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=403844&44=69654407&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fpolitico%2FRSS_POLITICO20091110_Breakdown__2010_trends.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:49:52 GMT 7bbfd9cf401e435c57e73cbc004a4a1c 2009-11-10T13:49:52Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=403844&44=69654402&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fpolitico%2FRSS_POLITICO20091110_POLITICO_Playback.html Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:38:56 GMT 875d31cbc36c76c1bd220c63754fab53 2009-11-10T14:38:56Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=69635472&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20091110_City_unions_emboldened_by_SEPTA_settlement.html For all the political drama and commuter inconvenience it caused, the SEPTA strike may have been just a curtain-raiser to a bigger act of labor strife, featuring the City of Philadelphia and 22,000 unionized city workers now laboring under expired contracts. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 5114a5fe5ef6c87065ac7dfabf971506 2009-11-10T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=69635467&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20091110_City__quot_not_as_deep_quot__in_fiscal_woods_as_last_year.html One year after Mayor Nutter announced the closure of fire companies, pools, and libraries to fight a financial crisis of "incredible proportions," his administration announced yesterday that Philadelphia will face a $31 million deficit unless further reductions are made next year. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT f029afcd3f991d3e5b2c81675e4d6e27 2009-11-10T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168206&44=69635972&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F20091110_Top_Teams_-.html AREA TOP 15 1. North Penn. . . 10-0 2. St. Joseph's Prep. . . 8-1 3. Pennsbury. . . 9-1 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 980087796d05249a016e6d09a757c994 2009-11-10T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168206&44=69635157&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Felections%2F20091110_Abortion_threatens_health_bill.html WASHINGTON - A political storm gathered yesterday over efforts to restrict coverage for abortion in the health-care overhaul, threatening to swamp Democrats' efforts to pass President Obama's signature legislative initiative by year's end. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 5fb2fce56038d37e4f504693585a9a78 2009-11-10T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=323181&44=69635447&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2Fcity%2F20091110_SEPTA_commuters__quot_thrilled_quot__strike_is_over.html Evening commuters at Suburban Station were no longer plagued by the snaking queues of riders who had been forced during the six-day SEPTA strike to switch from idled buses, trolleys, and subways to Regional Rail lines. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 0e429ea8f5c311dac23e426b588697cd 2009-11-10T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=168201&44=69635407&32=3796&7=195367&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F20091110_Karen_Heller__The_lesson_from_the_streets__Big_money_is_not_the_answer.html Friends, what have we learned this past week? Plenty. Pundits will tell you that Chris Christie won New Jersey's gubernatorial race and Jon Corzine lost it because there's a backlash against President Obama's agenda. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT de6c199ec1743eead3683a4a37bba481 2009-11-10T08:01:00Z