GOP rider would boost party spending

POLITICO: Senate Republicans plan to insert a provision into a must-pass government funding bill that would vastly expand the amount of cash that political parties could spend on candidates, multiple sources tell POLITICO. The provision, which sources say is one of a few campaign-finance related riders being discussed in closed-door negotiations over a $1.15 trillion […]

Pennsylvanian officials are subject to impeachment

A dispute has taken place among contributors as to what the Pennsylvania Constitution has to say about who is subject to impeachment. Below is the relevant excerpts from Pennsylvania Constitution: Power of Impeachment Section 4. The House of Representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment. Trial of Impeachments Section 5. All impeachments shall be […]

Truck Drivers Protest in Russia

On November 15 a new Russian law took effect, whereby trucks weighting twelve tons or more are charged 1.5 rubles ($0.02) for each kilometer on Russia’s roads. The tax will be introduced stage by stage ending by 2018 with the price rising to 3.73 rubles for kilometer. It means the transportation companies will have to pay today on average about 350,000 rubles ($5,410) for each heavy goods vehicle per year. The fine for an unpaid trip will be 450,000 rubles (almost $7,000) for the first recorded violation and one million rubles (around $15,500) for subsequent violations.

Committee says Senate should consider removing Kane as AG

PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE: A special Senate committee Wednesday recommended the full Senate consider removing Pennsylvania’s attorney general, who faces criminal charges and holds the office without a valid law license. Attorney General Kathleen Kane responded that any such attempt would be unconstitutional. She vowed to choose prosecutors to comb public computers for potentially offensive emails, as […]

Racist emails could impact pending criminal cases against two black legislators

[Defense attorney, A. Charles Peruto Jr.] soon would learn of accusations that top prosecutors on Bishop’s case had instructed the lead investigator to “target” black politicians, even though a confidential informant, Tyron Ali, initially had pointed them in the direction of at least four white state lawmakers, according to a May 2013 memo written by First Deputy Bruce Beemer to his new boss, Attorney General Kathleen Kane.