NYC anti-frack.billionaire to spend money in PA gubernatorial campaign

[Divernan]

Last edited Sun Jul 20, 2014, 11:08 AM - Edit history (1)

July 19, 2014 12:15 AM
Max Radwin / The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Billionaire Tom Steyer and his Super PAC, NextGen Climate, are making big moves in Pennsylvania this year.

The organization aims to call out elected officials who deny the existence of climate change while working with those who are fighting to stop it. In Pennsylvania, it has its eyes on the gubernatorial race between Republican Gov. Tom Corbett and Democratic challenger Tom Wolf.

During a 2011 budget speech, Mr. Corbett said he wanted to make Pennsylvania “the Texas of the natural gas boom.” In May, during an interview with StateImpact — an NPR-affiliated policy news site — he said the reality of climate change was “up for debate.”

A spokeswoman for NextGen Climate said it is working to show voters how Mr. Corbett “stood up for powerful energy companies (who are significant contributors to his campaign) at the expense of Pennsylvania voters’? best interests.” Last week, NextGen sent a Right-to-Know request for all correspondence between Mr. Corbett and oil and gas companies, plus campaign finance records.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2014/07/19/NYC-billionaire-to-spend-money-in-Pennsylvania-gubernatorial-campaign/stories/201407160044#ixzz380OXKFPp

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. Tom WHO?

Never heard of him.

There's so many of these creatures running around loose now. They are beyond keeping track of.

[packman]

2. Any Billionaire that wants to join

our side and is pro-environment is OK with me. Any millionaire too, thousand-aires welcome also and even those with shallow pockets. Corbett is a piece of shit .

[Divernan]

3. If he spreads $$$ down ticket;2 more seats gives Ds the state Senate.

Dems are a lock for the Governor's seat; if we add just 2 more seats in the State Senate, we can finally impose an extraction fracking tax on Big Oil & Gas. (PA is the only fracking state without such a tax - even Texas & Alaska have extraction taxes, but PA GOP Governor Corbett has refused - we all believe in anticipation of major perks after he's out of office - multiple board memberships with stock options, etc.)

Democrats expect gains in state Senate

Party hopes lead in governor’s race will bring majority
July 19, 2014 11:08 PM
By James O'Toole / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Republicans have controlled the state Senate in Harrisburg for two decades.

But some Senate Democrats, buoyed by the polling lead of their candidate for governor and their own gains in the 2012 elections, contend they are on the verge of reclaiming the majority that has eluded them for a political generation.

Republicans held a dominant majority in the chamber going into the 2012 presidential election, with a lead of 29 to 20. But Democrats trimmed that edge to 27 to 23, picking off seats opened by GOP retirements. If they could flip just two seats in November, and if, as polls currently suggest is likely, the Democrats were also to capture the governor's mansion, they would control a tied chamber with their lieutenant governor wielding the tie-breaking gavel.

In an election in which half the seats are on the ballot, analysts see control being determined by the outcomes of the races in three open seats and a handful of GOP seats in the Philadelphia suburbs in which veteran Republican incumbents have so far prevailed against increasing Democratic strength in that corner of the state.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-state/2014/07/20/Democrats-expect-gains-in-state-Senate/stories/201407200171#ixzz380NNep8I

[packman]

4. What's the saying?

Pennsylvania has two Democratic cities on either side (Pittsburgh and Philadelphia) with Rep's holding the rest of the state. As an ex-Pennsylvanian , I would love to see that state go all blue.

[Divernan]

5. The saying is:

Pennsylvania has 2 Democratic cities, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, with Pennsyltucky in between.