News from Second and State | August 2, 2015 | Weekly Wrap:

Harrisburg was generally quiet this week with neither chamber in session nor any firm news on the budget. Despite the budget impasse, most lawmakers plan to participate in a previously planned educational junket to Israel; however, Speaker Mike Turzai has opted out of the trip in order to continue budget negotiations. And while there’s no news on a full blown budget, mews reports indicate that a three month stop-gap budget is now a possibility.

For more on legislators’ travel plans, go to: http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/08/with_no_budget_resolution_in_s.html#incart_2box_politics_index.ssf

For more on the potential short term budget, go to:

http://citizensvoice.com/news/lawmakers-consider-3-month-budget-1.1923039

Meanwhile, Gov. Tom Wolf announced Major Tyree Blocker as his nominee to head up the Pennsylvania State Police. Blocker will replace acting Commissioner Col. Marcus Brown. Brown, Wolf’s original nominee for the post, never received the full approval of the Senate to serve in that position officially but was appointed to serve as the Director of the Office of Homeland Security this week.

For more about Blocker, go to:

http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2015/2015080376.HTM

For more about Brown’s new appointment, go to: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2015/2015080690.HTM

Politically the week was a little more exciting. On Monday, state Democrats officially announced their chosen candidate for November’s special election. Democrat Heather Arnet will face off against Republican Guy Reschenthaler on November 3 to replace former Sen. Matt Smith, who resigned earlier this summer to become the president of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce.

On Tuesday, there were two special elections in the Commonwealth—one in the 87th district (Cumberland County) and one in the 161st district (Delaware County). In the 87th, Republican Greg Rothman defeated Democrat Bob Charles to replace former Rep. Glenn Grell (R), keeping the seat republican held. In the 161st, Democrat Leanne Kreuger-Braneky defeated Republican Paul Mullen to replace Rep. Joe Hackett (R). Her win is a gain for the House Democrats, bringing the makeup of the House to 122 Republican and 78 Democrat, with three seats vacant. Special elections for those seats will be held next week.

Also on Tuesday, Gov. Wolf’s former Chief of Staff Katie McGinty announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate. McGinty left her post with the Wolf Administration just a few weeks ago and has been replaced by long-time Wolf ally Mary Isenhour.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/capitolinq/Dem-McGinty-announces-run-for-US-Senate.html

The biggest news of all this week came on Thursday, when the Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman announced that criminal charges had been filed against Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane. The charges against Kane include leaking secret investigative information and lying to a grand jury about it. Despite the charges, Kane has no plans to resign and intends to “defend myself vigorously”; however ranking state democrats are now calling for her to step down.

For more on Kane, go to: http://www.pennlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/08/criminal_charges_announced_aga.html#incart_river

Read her statement here: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2015/2015080681.HTM

To read the Governor’s remarks, go to: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2015/2015080672.HTM

To read a statement by Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, go to: http://wallaby.telicon.com/PA/library/2015/2015080670.HTM

To see who is on the short list to replace Kane should she step down, check out: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2015/08/whos_next_a_look_at_possible_m.html#incart_river

A Look Ahead:

Expect more of the same in Harrisburg next week; no committee meeting has been scheduled and the House is still sticking to August 25 as its day to return for voting session. As mentioned, there will be three special elections on Tuesday in the Philadelphia area: voters will make their choices for replacements for former Rep. John Sabatina (D), Rep. Ron Waters (D) and Rep. Michelle Brownlee (D). For more on those races, see our earlier blog: https://www.buchanangovernmentrelations.com/worth-another-look-upcoming-special-elections/

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