March 3, 2015 Senate Democrat Leadership Press Conference
Senate Democratic leaders discussed funding the Department of Homeland Security, Capitol Police and legislation that would give Congress approval over an eme...
By: Roll Call
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March 3, 2015 Senate Democrat Leadership Press Conference - Video
Gun Rights Advancing Despite Democrat Push-back
GOA #39;s Erich Pratt goes on America #39;s Forum with former Rep. J.D. Hayworth, and takes on the President #39;s and Virginia Governor #39;s gun control proposals.
By: Gun Owners of America
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Gun Rights Advancing Despite Democrat Push-back - Video
Published: March 10, 2015 - Updated: March 10, 2015 10:27 pm
By Barbara Miller
Staff Writer
Barbara S. Miller / Observer-Reporter
Business was brisk Tuesday at the Washington County Elections Office, and a rumor a Democrat would come forward to challenge incumbent Republican Gene Vittone for district attorney turned out to be more than just speculation.
Washington attorney Peter V. Marcoline III clocked in a sheaf of Democratic nominating petitions at 10:02 a.m.
Marcoline, 37, of South Strabane Township, has been practicing law in Washington County for a dozen years. In 2004, he joined the law firm Blackwell & Associates, where has maintained a general practice, handling criminal defense, family law, personal injury, construction litigation, juvenile delinquency and juvenile dependency cases. A graduate of Washington & Jefferson College and Dickinson Law School, he made a run for judge in 2013 but failed to secure a nomination.
Vittone, 55, of Bentleyville, is trying for his second, four-year term as district attorney. In 2011, he prevailed in a close general election race against Democrat David DiCarlo of Peters Township. Vittone holds masters degrees in business administration and health administration and a law degree from Duquesne University. He succeeded Republican Steve Toprani, who defeated longtime District Attorney John C. Pettit, after Toprani chose not to run a second time.
The Washington County commissioners race yielded no surprises with three incumbents, a host of announced candidates and one perennial candidate filing for four-year terms. The field includes incumbent Democrats Larry Maggi of Buffalo Township and Harlan Shober of Chartiers Township, plus Democratic challengers Allen A.J. Williams of North Strabane Township; Judith L. Fisher of South Strabane Township; Corey McConn of Cross Creek Township; and Randy J. Barli of Coal Center, who has unsuccessfully sought state and county office repeatedly over the past decade.
On the GOP ticket, incumbent Diana Irey Vaughan of Nottingham Township is one of three candidates, including Mike McCormick of Peters Township and Nick Sherman of North Strabane Township.
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Democrat emerges to challenge incumbent DA
A protest by teachers in Nottingham in 2013. Photograph: Martin P Wilson/Demotix/Corbis
The Conservatives are blocking a pay rise for teachers, according to the Liberal Democrats, in the latest row between the two coalition partners over the future of education and the economy. Ministers are expected to publish pay review recommendations for millions of public sector workers as early as Thursday, which would allow schools to have the flexibility to offer individual teachers in the main pay bracket a raise of up to 2% next year, subject to performance.
There is said to be coalition agreement on other pay reviews including for the armed services, doctors and prison service. But Liberal Democrat sources say the Conservatives are refusing to accept the recommendations for the main rates of pay for teachers, which may mean that the matter will be delayed until after the election in May. A Tory spokesperson said there was no coalition disagreement on the issue.
The School Teachers Review Body (STRB) is said to be recommending that the maximum in the main pay range for teachers (currently 32,187 in England and Wales outside of London) should be allowed to be increased by 2% next year, and the minimum by 1% (from the current 22,023).
The Liberal Democrat schools minister David Laws and the Treasury chief secretary Danny Alexander want to accept the recommendations.Pay ranges for other teaching positions would be increased by 1% at the maximum and minimum levels, but the main pay rate is the key figure since it covers the majority of teachers.
As a result of changes introduced last year, the decision on the specific pay of individual teachers is intended to be left to the schools themselves. The full increase would only be possible if it was merited on performance. Teachers received a 1% rise last year after two years of freezes.
The STRB is said to have estimated that there would be no additional cost to the public purse of implementing their recommendations, as any pay increases awarded by individual schools would have to be met from within existing school budgets.
A senior Lib Dem source said: The Liberal Democrats are fighting tooth and nail in the coalition government to get teachers the pay settlement they deserve for next year. Its ridiculous and unfair of the Tories to accept the recommendations from the pay bodies in other public sector professions but not in teaching.
Its particularly nonsensical when the recommendation wont cost the government a penny the review body make clear this flexibility is affordable within existing pay restraint policies. This one could run and run. Danny will announce the other pay settlements this week but teachers will be conspicuous by their absence.
The Lib Dems will not sign off a lower pay settlement for teachers than is being recommended by the independent review body. Unless the Tories change their position, this could be left to the next government to sort out, which would be very bad news for teachers if the Conservatives win a majority.
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Teachers' pay rise being blocked by Tories, say Lib Dems
Published: Monday, March 9, 2015 at 6:13 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, March 9, 2015 at 6:13 p.m.
The buy, for which details were not disclosed, overlaps the area where TV commercials have been running for Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle.
The radio spot labels Angelle as "Bobby Jindal's right-hand man" for supporting hospital privatizations and cuts at Southern University. The announcer adds, "Without Republican Scott Angelle, Jindal could have never done the damage he's done to Louisiana."
The spot ends with a brief introduction of Edwards, describing him as a Christian and West Point grad.
Contacted for comment, Edwards said, "The bottom-line is Scott Angelle is only telling half the story. He's a workhorse, but the wagon he is pulling is being driven by Bobby Jindal."
Angelle, who has been appointed to several positions by the governor, offered a comment through his campaign manager Ryan Cross.
"Scott Angelle has been fighting for the people of Louisiana since before Bobby Jindal had a driver's license," said Cross. "We appreciate Rep. Edwards' acknowledging Scott's workhorse mentality, but we are only beholden to the hard-working people of Louisiana."
Democrats being recruited to run for governor
The open primary system in Louisiana makes for interesting politics, especially in this year's race for governor where a lone Democrat is having to protect his polled runoff position against a field of Republicans, at least two of which would benefit from another Democrat in the race, thus forcing an all-GOP runoff.
State Rep. John Bel Edwards is that lone Democrat. Also announced for the race are three Republicans, including Angelle, Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and U.S. Sen. David Vitter.
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LA Politics: Democrat throws first media jab in governor race