Since the PA Republican State Committee endorsed its slate of candidates in January, there’s been no shortage of backlash from the activist crowd.

Drawing particular ire is the assertion by the state party that non-endorsed candidates should not speak or participate in official party functions at the county level.

But while party bylaws do prohibit members and committees from supporting Democrats – complete with a procedure for discipline – there are no such rules against welcoming non-endorsed Republicans.

Indeed, in a recent kerfuffle at state committee, committeewoman Cynthia Smith criticized the PAGOP for opposing incumbent Cambria County Commissioner Sam Valenty, a Republican. The party paid for mailers against Valenty, citing the fact that he voted with the Democratic commissioner 800 out of 800 times while in office.

In a letter to Smith obtained by PoliticsPA, the PAGOP’s general counsel Lawrence Tabas writes:

“The Rule [for removal of a committee member] does not limit, restrict, or prohibit in any way a [Member of the Republican Party of Pa.] from opposing a Republican candidate seeking nomination in a Republican Primary.”

That’s fortunate, because it’s been happening a lot.  Read more here.

Since 2001, candidates endorsed by Democratic state committee have gone on to win the party’s nomination about 48 percent of the time. Endorsed Republicans have won 90 percent. Here’s why.

The PA Republican party issued a memo Monday to county chairmen and women around the state, in which it laid out the protocol in races where state committee has endorsed.

“As our endorsed candidates travel on the campaign trail, they should receive concessions in regards to official party events,” the memo stated. “As members of the PA GOP and leaders of your county party, we request respect for the following longstanding traditions associated with our endorsed candidates.”

Namely, non-endorsed candidates are to have nothing to do with any official party functions. They are not permitted to speak at county functions (dinners, etc), and county party members should only circulate petitions and literature for endorsed candidates.

Click here to read the complete memo sent to county chairs.

Three years ago on February 17, a newly elected President Barrack Obama signed The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, effectively pumping $787 billion into a flagging American economy. Pennsylvania received $9 billion in recovery funds. Projects funded included increased education funding and money for PA’s highways.

The anniversary of this stimulus bill has proven to be an opportunity for PA Democrats to reflect on a job well done, while Keystone Conservatives are equally enthusiastic in pointing to what they see as a failed jobs policy.

Read more.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Allegheny County

Event: A Town Hall with Sam
Hosted by Rose Tennent with special guest U.S. Congressional candidate Evan Feinberg
When: 6:30pm-8:30pm
Where: Green Tree Fire Hall: 825 Poplar Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15220

Get Directions Here

THURSDAY MORNING:
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Beaver County

Event: Coffee with Sam
When: 10:00am-11:30am
Where: King’s Family Restaurant: 1451 Old Brodhead Rd., Monaca, PA 15061

THURSDAY EVENING:
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Westmoreland County

Event: U.S. Senate Candidate’s Debate
When: 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Greensburg Garden and Civic Center: 951 Old Salem Road, Greensburg, PA 15601

         Get Directions Here

FRIDAY MORNING
Friday, February 24, 2012
Butler County

Event: Coffee with Sam
When: 10:00am-11:30am
Where: King’s Family Restaurant: 191 New Castle Rd., Butler, PA 16001

Get Directions Here

FRIDAY EVENING
Friday, February 24, 2012
Westmoreland County

Event: A Town Hall with Sam
Hosted by Rose Tennent
When: 6:30pm-8:30pm
Where: Ferrante’s Lakeview: 6153 State Route 30, Greensburg, PA 15601

Get Directions Here

As taxpaying citizens in America, we must all demand that the government take every step possible to ensure all voters are eligible. Otherwise, ballots can be illegally neutralized, thus violating our rights as voters. It is the responsibility of the federal government and the legislators in every state, to enact and enforce laws that prevent voter fraud. The only way to do that is to require photo I.D. for all American citizens who are lawfully registered.

There is only one reason to oppose voter identity in this country; To enhance opportunities for voter fraud.

Read more.

State Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) has introduced Pennsylvania Voter Identification Protection Act, HB 934.  It passed in the State House on June 23, 2011 and currently sits in the State Senate Appropriations Committee.

According to some in the press, the Tea Party is all but dead.  Or is that just wishful thinking?

On February 16, 2012, approximately two hundred San Francisco Tea Party members stood outside of the Nob Hill Masonic Center in San Francisco to protest Barack Obama.  Standing behind the barricades next to the Tea Partiers stood a motley crew of Occupiers, pot legalizers and environmentalists, also protesting the president.  The press was all over the place.  After all, Obama was in town.

You couldn’t miss the Tea Partiers — they had about 100 bright red foam fingers that read “NOBAMA 2012.”  The protest and accompanying fingers were inspired by SF Weekly journalist Erin Sherbert’s jab at Jan Brewer on January 27, 2012 entitled “Obama Coming to San Francisco, Where Nobody Will Wag Their Fingers in His Face.”

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy purchased 55 acres in Venango County Feb. 13 for the specific purpose of protecting the venomous massasauga rattlesnake, an endangered species in Pennsylvania.

Habitat for this diminutive but deadly rattlesnake has disappeared considerably over past decades. Little remains, which makes this purchase vital.

This acquisition is just the latest move in a long-term focus on this species. The goal is to protect and maintain the massasauga rattlesnake habitat before it is too late, or before it gets to the point where it would cost considerably more to recover a population in Pennsylvania.

The first major accomplishment was purchasing land that would become Jennings Nature Reserve, in Butler County. A relict prairie, which is massasauga rattlesnake habitat, is the focus of this state park land.

Read more.

Has the economy improved since Barack Obama became the president of the United States? Of course not. Despite what you may be hearing in the mainstream media, the truth is that when you compare the U.S. economy on the day that Barack Obama was inaugurated to the U.S. economy today, there is really no comparison. The unemployment crisis is worse than it was then, home values have fallen, the cost of health insurance is up, the cost of gas is way up, the number of Americans living in poverty has soared and the size of our national debt has absolutely exploded. Anyone that believes that things are better than they were when Barack Obama was elected is simply being delusional. Yes, things have stabilized somewhat and our economy is not in free fall mode at this point. But don’t be fooled.

Read 18 Statistics which prove the economy has not improved.

The Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act — HR 2117 — would reverse two Education Department rules from 2010, one of which sets out federal rules for how states decide whether to allow colleges and universities to operate within the state.  This poses a problem for online schools by forcing them to win authorization from every state that has an enrolled, online student.  A second regulation sets a federal definition for “credit hour.”

Read more.

as of 3:01 p.m. February 17, 2012.  This is the unofficial list of candidates for President, US Senate, US House, Attorney General, Auditor General, State Treasurer, State Senate (only odd number districts are up for reelection this year), State House, Delegate and Alternate Delegate for National Republican and Democratic Conventions in the fall.  Click here for complete list.