Harrisburg GOP Machine Ousted...
A tire salesman just took down the machine. Well, at least one of the men behind the Harrisburg Republican machine. Republican businessman Mike Folmer handedly beat State Senate Majority Leader David "Chip" Brightbill (R) by an almost 2-to-1 margin, and Blaine Co. Commis. John Eichelberger (R) is well on his way to beating State Sen. Pro Temp Bob Jubelirer (R).
A Midsummers Night Dream -- Or Was It?
In the days following July 4th last summer, Pennsylvania state lawmakers voted to raise their own paychecks by an average of one third, making them one of the highest paid state legislatures in the country. The bill -- voted on in the wee hours of the morning and without any floor debate -- was signed by Gov. Ed Rendell (D), who will now face ex-Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann (R) in November.
Although the pay raise was eventually repealed last fall, tonight proves that voter anger on the issue never subsided. It's been well reported that about 1/3rd of the state lawmakers are facing primary challengers -- the most in twenty years. And now Brightbill, one of the most powerful lawmakers in the state, has lost to a political newcomer only shows that the statehouse could have significant turnover come next session.
For Rendell, this means he needs to distance himself from Harrisburg as much as possible. It wouldn't be hard to do with a heavily GOP statehouse, except for the fact that Democratic governor signed the legislation into law and publicly approved of it post-facto. Couple the pay hike with no property tax reform plan to date, and there's the reason why the man they named Rendellphia after is struggling against a conservative former athlete from southwestern Pennsylvania [SHIRA R. TOEPLITZ].