Above Average Jane

• More Green Bucks

  Number of comments: 0
  From Friday's inbox:
  Today, Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th District) announced over $1.2 million in federal funding for green energy initiatives in Bucks County . Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Rep. Murphy proudly voted for, Conservation Works! received $1,211,011 in federal grants to go toward green [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 11:39pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Finding Info in Senate Health Care Bill

  Number of comments: 0
  From Mike Allen's Politico Playbook on this past Saturday, a little indexing of the senate health insurance reform bill:
  
  CORRESPONDENT DAN PFEIFFER REPORTS ON THE WHITE HOUSE BLOG: 'Speaking of page numbers... Since some opponents of reform seem too obsessed with the length of the Senate health insurance reform' [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 11:37pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Sibelius: Health Care Reform Benefits for PA

  Number of comments: 1
  From the inbox:
  HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the release of a new report highlighting the benefits of health insurance reform for Pennsylvania. Health Insurance Reform and Pennsylvania: The Case for Change is available now at www.HealthReform.gov.
  
  “Families, seniors and businesses are all suffering under the [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 11:29pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Toeplitz on Toomey

  Number of comments: 0
  Shira Toeplitz has an interesting article on Pat Toomey in Roll Call. Read "Is Toomey Edging to the Center?" [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 11:20pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Congressional Spending Habits: PA Version

  Number of comments: 2
  I was in DC over the weekend for a conference and a friend, who knows my proclivities, gave me the 3 vol. July - Sept. Statement of Disbursements of the House. I'm told this information will be going online in the vaguely near future but for now is only available' [...]
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  Posted: November 22, 2009, 10:43pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Jack Wagner in DiStefano's Column

  Number of comments: 0
  A few months ago I discovered Joseph DiStefano's "PhillyDeals" column in the Inky. Somewhat surprisingly it is a great source of political news. Today's offering, "Not all towns back an interest-swap ban," is on PA Auditor General and gubernatorial candidate Jack Wagner's plan to bank interest-rate swaps. It's' [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 12:18am EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Murphy to Receive Kennedy Award

  Number of comments: 0
  Kudos to Congressman Patrick Murphy. From the inbox:
  CAROLINE KENNEDY TO HONOR RECIPIENTS OF THE 2009 NEW FRONTIER AWARD
  
  Cambridge, MA – Monday, November 23, Caroline Kennedy will present the sixth annual John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award to U.S. Representative Patrick Murphy of Pennsylvania, the first veteran of [...]
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  Posted: November 18, 2009, 11:32pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Dent and Gerlach Targeted

  Number of comments: 0
  Belated note from the inbox:
  Following the passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act in the U.S. House of Representatives last Saturday, Organizing for America (OFA)-Pennsylvania, a project of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), announced today that its volunteers would be called on to drop by the offices [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 9:49pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• News From the Economy League

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  From the November issue of the Economy League's Citizens' Business:
  
  Dr. Wendell E. Pritchett, Chancellor of Rutgers University at Camden (top right), has joined Dr. Steven M. Altschuler, President & CEO of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, as a co-chair of the World Class Greater Philadelphia initiative. The' [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 9:47pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• 11 PA Cities on Milken List

  Number of comments: 0
  The Milken Institute has released its 2009 list of the 200 best performing cities. There are 11 Pennsylvania cities on the list of large cities, and 4 on the list of small cities. [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 9:12pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• PA in New Blue Green Alliance Report

  Number of comments: 2
  From the inbox:
  The recommendations included in a report by the Blue Green Alliance, Building a Clean Energy Assembly Line: How Renewable Energy Can Revitalize U.S. Manufacturing and the American Middle Class, outline policies for market building, market reforms, financing, innovation and capacity building to create clean energy jobs. [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 12:16am EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Campaign Website Updates

  Number of comments: 0
  For those keeping score at home, there are some new websites and twitterers to follow.
  
  State Rep. Bryan Lentz, who recently launched his campaign for 7th district congressman, has a new campaign website up: www.votelentz.com, and you can follow him at www.twitter.com/bryanlentz.
  
  Joe Hoeffel's gubernatorial site [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 12:08am EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Two New Information Resources

  Number of comments: 0
  A few new information resources for your browsing pleasure:
  
  Good Jobs First, a national policy resource center for grassroots groups and public officials, promoting corporate and government accountability in economic development and smart growth for working families, has compiled a report, "Show Us the Stimulus," analyzing states'' [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 11:57pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Brett Mandel Update

  Number of comments: 0
  Brett Mandel, who was a candidate in Philadelphia in the primary, sent around a note updating people on what he has been doing. He spent time with his family and has now moved on to a new job:
  I am now leading the work of the National Education Technology Funding [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 11:38pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Interview with Dr. Manan Trivedi, Democratic Candidate for the 6th Congresstional District

  Number of comments: 0
  Dr. Manan Trivedi is one of two Democratic candidates for the 6th congressional district. This is an open seat as the incumbent, Jim Gerlach, has decided to run for governor. Dr. Trivedi grew up in Berks County, went to medical school, served in the Navy with one of the [...]
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  Posted: November 15, 2009, 5:37pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Joe Biden Gets the Last Laugh

  Number of comments: 0
  During his first presidential campaign, in 1987, Joe Biden took a lot of heat for not crediting British politician Neil Kinnock when quoting or paraphrasing some of his remarks. Yesterday Robert Pear noted in the New York times ("In House, many spoke with one voice -- lobbyists'") that a' [...]
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  Posted: November 15, 2009, 3:50pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Willow Grove Base Deal Falls Through

  Number of comments: 0
  This was posted to The Reporter Online today, "State pulls outof Willow Grove base," regarding the Willow Grove Naval Air Base:
  Governor Edward Rendell announced Thursday that Pennsylvania has withdrawn plans to continue operations at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NASJRB) in Willow Grove, according to [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 11:56pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• PA Leads in Legislators in Uniform

  Number of comments: 0
  Our friends at the National Conference of State Legislatures posted a note on their The Thicket blog about a survey on state legislators serving in the military. Take note of this:
  
  A total of 34 state legislatures currently have at least one member serving in the military [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 11:52pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Grand Jury Report on Perzel, et. al.

  Number of comments: 0
  If you want to read the full grand jury report that Attorney General Tom Corbett (also running for governor) announced today, it is available on the state's website. The 187 page document is broken up into three files. ' [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 11:48pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• PA State Legislature on Health Care

  Number of comments: 0
  Our friends at the National Conference of State Legislatures have put together a list of state bills, well, this is how they word it:
  
  As part of state-based responses to federal health reform legislation, members of at least 11 state legislatures are using the legislative process to seek [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 11:43pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Fed Funding Work on I-81

  Number of comments: 0
  From a press release on recovery transportation funding (italics mine):
  
  In the last week, the DOT has approved hundreds of additional transportation projects across the country, topping 10,000 projects. In Florida, a $71.2 million Recovery Act funded project will construct a new four-lane highway to relieve traffic congestion in [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 11:39pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Lentz Announces Congressional Campaign

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox:
  
  Standing with his wife and son, Representative Bryan R. Lentz today announced his candidacy for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District at a 10:00 AM press conference at American Legion Post 214 in Upper Darby. Lentz, who made his candidacy official just one day after Veteran’s Day, [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 11:34pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Yeakel Endorses Sestak

  Number of comments: 0
  As expected Lynn Yeakel, the Democratic candidate for Senate in 1992, has endorsed Joe Sestak.
  
  Sestak's press release is on his site.
  
  PA2010 has a longer article on the event. ' [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 11:28pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Patrick Murphy on OFA Blog

  Number of comments: 0
  Congressman Patrick Murphy was featured on the Organizing for America blog, congratulating him on his vote for health insurance reform. [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 11:22pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Race for the Top

  Number of comments: 0
  Today Secretary of Education Arne Duncan held a conference call to announce the official start of the $4.35 billion Race to the Top Fund competition. Race to the Top represents the largest-ever federal investment in school reform.
  
  Potential funding amount for PA: $200-400 million [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 10:59pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Brief Book Review: A Table in the Presence

  Number of comments: 0
  Cash, Lt. Carey H. A Table in the Presence. Nashville, TN: 2004.
  
  There are a number of first person accounts of the Iraq War in print, but this one is unusual as the author is a chaplain. Cash was with the First Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment, which he [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 12:05am EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Veterans Day Remarks from PA Officials

  Number of comments: 0
  The inbox was overflowing today with Veterans Day press releases.
  
  Congressman Patrick Murphy held a Veterans Day event in Washington Crossing Park, but I don't have any details on it yet.
  
  Joe Sestak, currently the 7th district congressman and candidate for senate, has a [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 11:56pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• President's Remarks on Veterans Day

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox:
  Thank you, Secretary Shinseki, for the generous introduction -- more importantly, the extraordinary bravery in service to our country, both on and off the battlefield. I want to thank our outstanding Vice President, Joe Biden, and his wonderful wife, Dr. Jill Biden, for being here today. We [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 11:54pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Schwartz Holds Veterans Expo

  Number of comments: 0
  Tomorrow, Thursday, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-13) will hold a veterans resources expo. More than 20 national and local organizations will be represented. The event will be held form 10 a.m. to noon, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Orleans Technical Institute, 2770 Red Lion Road, Philadelphia[...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 11:47pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Two Political Announcements Tomorrow

  Number of comments: 0
  Writing tomorrow's news today! Two notable political announcements are slated for Thursday.
  
  State Rep Bryan Lentz (D-151) is planning to kick off his campaign for the 7th congressional district seat. According to the press release:
  Lentz is already winning strong support for his candidacy even before his announcement. He' [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 11:36pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• A Philly Blog Returns

  Number of comments: 0
  One of my favorite Philadelphia blogs had been hiatus but appears to be back in business again. A warm welcome to America's Hometown, americashometown.blogspot.com ' [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 11:29pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• A Cease Fire Update

  Number of comments: 0
  CeaseFire PA would like us to know that all 12 of the PA mayors on the ballot who are in favor of reporting lost or stolen guns won.
  
  In other news, the city of Braddock has become the 15th community in the commonwealth to pass gun legislation:
  [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 11:21pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• A Quick Look at Gail Conner

  Number of comments: 3
  Today Gail Conner announced her candidacy for the 7th congressional district, joining State Rep. Bryan Lentz (who formally kicks off his campaign this Thursday) and Teresa Touey on the Democratic ballot for the open seat now held by Joe Sestak. Her campaign announcement can be found on her campaign website: [...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 12:28am EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Hoeffel Conference Call and Campaign Website

  Number of comments: 0
  Joe Hoeffel, former state representative, former congressman, current Montgomery County Commissioner, and candidate for governor, has unveiled a new campaign website, www.joehoeffel2010.com.
  
  Here are my rough notes from the call. I apologize in advance for any errors or misconceptions. Many of Hoeffel's policy statements are spelled out on' [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 11:40pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Bucks Winery Goes Green

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox:
  State Rep. Steven J. Santarsiero, D-Bucks, announced today that Crossing Vineyards and Winery has been awarded a $21,093 Small Business Energy Efficiency grant by the state Department of Environmental Protection for its progressive efforts in energy savings.
  
  Santarsiero said the grant funds will be used [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 11:38pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Sestak on Natural Gas Drilling

  Number of comments: 0
  Congressman Joe Sestak, currently running for senate, sent out a press release on the environmental problems associated with natural gas drilling. Here is an excerpt:
  
  In light of recent Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) findings across the state, which have revealed harmful contamination of drinking and [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 11:32pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• White House Veterans Initiative

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox:
  Today, the White House announced the launch of an initiative that is designed to transform the federal government into the model employer of America’s veterans. This evening, President Obama will be joined by Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, Secretary of Homeland [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 11:17pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• An Assortment of PA Rep's Statements on Health Care Bill

  Number of comments: 0
  The inbox overflowed with statements on the House health care bill that passed late Saturday night. Here they are, for your perusal.
  
  Allyson Schwartz (D-13):
  In an historic vote to improve health care in America, U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (PA-13) joined her colleagues in the House of Representatives [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 9:36pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• A Remark on a Movie Review

  Number of comments: 0
  Something caught my eye in Saturday's Inquirer. Dave Hiltbrand's review of "the Box," ("Press button, make movie die"), ends with this sentence:
  [Cameron] Diaz and [james] Marsden don't make a very convincing couple, either. Though they're roughly the same age, his boyish face makes him look like he could be [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 9:20pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• A Word on Kitchen Gadgets

  Number of comments: 0
  One of the most popular posts on this blog is one written in April, 2007, on the foodstamp challenge (trying to live on what people receive in foodstamps). My post pointed out that it would be easier for me to live off that amount than it would be for [...]
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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 9:16pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Nagle Wins Spot on Radnor Township

  Number of comments: 0
  Long time friend of the blog John Nagle won a seat on the board of commissioners for Radnor Township. Many congratulations, John, and thanks for all the tea, sympathy, and tips over the years. [...]
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  Posted: November 06, 2009, 9:47pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Implementing Green Infrastructure

  Number of comments: 0
  I'm delayed in noting the release of a new report, "Implementing Green Infrastructure: Developing a Winning Strategy to Fund Philadelphia's Ambitious Visions,” commissioned by the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) and prepared by the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, that examines funding sources for green infrastructure.
  
  An executive'" [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 11:05pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Obama on AARP and AMA

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox, remarks from Pres. Obama:
  I am extraordinarily pleased and grateful to learn that the AARP and the American Medical Association are both supporting the health insurance reform bill that will soon come up to a vote in the House of Representatives.
  
  When it comes to [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 10:47pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• A Good PA Reporter Moves On

  Number of comments: 0
  From www.twitter.com/capitol_ideas:
  
  Dept. of Full Disclosure: Our D.C. colleague, Josh Drobnyk, has moved on to become press guy for Rep. Chris Carney, D-10th. Godspeed, Josh.
  
  I've read Josh's blog, Pennsylvania Avenue, since it's inception, and many of his Morning Call newspaper stories as well. He was accurate, approachable,' [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 10:32pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Regional EPA Administrator Announced

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox:
  
  Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced President Barack Obama’s selection of Shawn M. Garvin to be the agency’s new Regional Administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region (Region 3). This region encompasses Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
  
  "I" [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 5:56pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Women's Day of Action for Health Reform

  Number of comments: 0
  A couple of things showed up in the inbox relating to women's health and health insurance reform. One is that today is Women's Day of Action for Health Reform. According to the press release:
  As we mark Women’s Day of Action for Health Reform, we must remember that while [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 11:26pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Supreme Court Fundraising

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox yesterday:
  
  PHILADELPHIA (November 3, 2009) – Today is Election Day in Pennsylvania. The top of the ballot features a contest to fill one vacancy on the state Supreme Court. The candidates are Democrat Jack Panella and Republican Joan Orie Melvin.
  
  Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 10:48pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Family Announcement from Rep. Patrick Murphy

  Number of comments: 0
  An arrival on Monday:
  
  Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA, 8th District) issued the following statement today on the birth of his son:
  
  “Jenni, Maggie and I couldn’t be happier to welcome John Martin 'Jack' Murphy to the family this morning. Jack was born at 9:15 AM, weighing in [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 10:43pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Stack of Clippings, Mostly Business

  Number of comments: 0
  Like everyone else, I'm sorting through the stack of things that accumulated during the buildup to the election and the immediate aftermath.
  
  Here is a group of clippings and news stories that caught my eye but didn't make it to the blog until now:
  
  According to Bob Fernandez [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 10:26pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Unofficial Election Results

  Number of comments: 0
  A morning round up of races I had followed. Numbers are unofficial but from state and county websites.
  
  State Supreme Court:
  
  Joan Orie Melvin
  
  State Superior Court
  
  Judy Olson
  Sallie Mundy
  Paula Ott
  Anne Lazarus (by 4,000 or so votes)
  
  State Commonwealth Court
  
  [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 6:41am EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• SEPTA Strike Info

  Number of comments: 0
  For information on SEPTA service during the strike, check:
  
  [www.septa.org] [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 6:39am EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• D'Oh! Election Results Update

  Number of comments: 0
  Sorry, folks, I forgot to list the URLs for the election sites I was following. In case anyone is still interested, they were:
  
  Statewide: http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/
  
  Delco: [election.co.delaware.pa.us]
  
  Bucks County: [www.buckscountyelections.org]
  
  Montgomery County: [webapp.montcopa.org]
  
  I'm calling it a night. [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 11:46pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Election Results Sources

  Number of comments: 0
  Okay, folks, following my new patter, I'll be twittering election results through the night until I get tired and call it quits (you want more dedication, follow professional journalists and politicos).
  
  twitter address: www.twitter.com/aajane
  
  Sites I'll be following:
  
  statewide:
  
  Bucks County:
  
  Delaware County:
  [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 9:11pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Delco Court of Common Pleas

  Number of comments: 0
  Residents of Delaware County are also elected someone to their Court of Common Pleas. The Democratic candidate is Nancy Rhoads Koons; website: www.nancyrhoadskoons.org [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 12:02am EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Montco Court of Common Pleas Candidates

  Number of comments: 0
  Those who live in Montgomery County will be electing judges to the Court of Common Pleas. Currently all judges on this bench are Republican.
  
  Democratic candidates are:
  
  Cheryl Lynne Austin
  Joel Bernbaum
  Richard Haaz
  Jeff Lindy
  Lois Murphy
  Michael C. Shields
  Ann [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 11:57pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Statewide Judicial Elections

  Number of comments: 0
  Hey, folks, there is an election tomorrow. Depending on where you live there may be county-wide offices up for grabs, as well as local and school board elections. But statewide there are a number of judicial races. Most of us try to stay out of courtrooms, unless there is a [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 11:36pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Two More Notes on Chris Asplen

  Number of comments: 0
  Chris Asplen, Democratic candidate for District Attorney in Bucks County has been endorsed by John Walsh, long time host of tv's "America's Most Wanted." Asplen also noted that his opponent's campaign finance reporting forms were incorrectly prepared. The campaign treasurer is taking the blame, but the candidate also takes [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 11:22pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• Funding for Sewer Work in Bristol

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox:
  Today, Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th District) joined local officials to announce a $9million loan from PENNVEST for improvements to the Bristol Township sewer system. The low-interest loan will be critical to improving the township’s water infrastructure, ensuring the existing system can support new businesses, fostering [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 11:13pm EST
  by AboveAvgJane

• SEPTA Stimulus Projects in Montco

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox:
  
  SEPTA General Manager Joseph Casey, Pennsylvania State Senator Stewart Greenleaf, and Pennsylvania State Representative Kate Harper, joined with local government and community leaders at North Wales Regional Rail station to announce the start of extensive two-year federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) projects.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 10:29pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• PA Stimulus Jobs

  Number of comments: 1
  From the inbox:
  
  The Obama Administration today reported that recipients of Recovery Act funds have informed the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board that they have created or saved 7,427 direct jobs in Pennsylvania in reports covering a little less than half of the funds put to work through September [...]
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  Posted: October 30, 2009, 9:53pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Two Good Signs for Chris Asplen

  Number of comments: 0
  Chris Asplen, Democratic candidate for Bucks County District Attorney has two new heavy hitters in his corner.
  
  He was endorsed by the Bucks County Courier Post. The endorsement is measured and takes into account the pros and cons of each in a more thoughtful way than most [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 11:54pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Gov Campaign Updates

  Number of comments: 0
  Hotcha! I've gotten on a few gubernatorial campaign email lists. It is wonderful to be so popular and I only had to ask once!
  
  From Onorato:
  Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato announced that if elected he will veto any legislation that forces the state to “opt out”' [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 11:17pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• SEPTA World Series Service

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox:
  Extra Service Ready For Fall Classic & Other Big Weekend Events
  
  PHILADELPHIA, PA (October 29, 2009) – SEPTA is ready for what promises to be a busy weekend at the Sports Complex in South Philadelphia – highlighted by the return of the Phillies and their World [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 11:13pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Two Statements from Schwartz

  Number of comments: 0
  Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz issued two statements today.
  
  One is on the new health care legislation:
  Earlier today, House Democrats unveiled The Affordable Health Care for America Act. U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz’s statement concerning the bill follows.
  
  “Finding a uniquely American solution to ensuring that all Americans [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 9:58pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Daryl Metcalfe's Worst Nightmare

  Number of comments: 0
  State Rep Daryl Metcalfe, who seems to react badly to veterans concerned about global warming, the idea that both parties in a relationship can face domestic abuse, and any religion other than Christianity, will probably not be happy to learn that the Chinese are invading Harrisburg.
  
  From the [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 11:25pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Lentz Hires Campaign Manager

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox:
  
  Representative Bryan R. Lentz took another significant step toward formally launching his candidacy for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District by announcing that former aide to Congressman Sestak, Congressional Campaign Manager and Capitol Hill Communications Director, Vincent A. Rongione has signed on to manage his campaign.
  
  “We [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 11:24pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Press Release Round Up

  Number of comments: 0
  Went out phone banking for 2 hours this evening. Most people in the campaign office were doing a mailing and had a tv on to keep up with pre-game activities, which sometimes made it hard to hear the people on the phone.
  
  Here are a few press releases [...]
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  Posted: October 28, 2009, 10:37pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Berlin Wind Project and Seven Million Dollars

  Number of comments: 0
  I don't quite understand all this but it involves money coming into Pennsylvania so it seems worth reporting and maybe someone out there will know what it all means.
  
  From the inbox:
  As part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to spur renewable energy production, the U.S. Department of Treasury' [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 9:11pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• PECO Smart Energy Grid

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox:
  Today, Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th District) and Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-13th District) praised the announcement by the White House that PECO (Philadelphia Energy Company) will receive a $200 million grant for Smart Energy Grid technology under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which both Rep. [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 9:07pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• PA Unemployment Rate by County

  Number of comments: 1
  The Pennsylvania Policy Blog has a really cool map of unemployment by county. It rotates through December 2007 to September 2009. You can watch the colors change as unemployment spreads and changes. [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 9:04pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Breaking News: PA Legislature Does Something Right

  Number of comments: 0
  Today the NCSL Thicket blog ran an entry, "Top Ten for Back to School Progam," by Jan Goehring. She starts out saying:
  
  Each summer, NCSL's Trust for Representative Democracy collects information about how many legislators participated in the America's Legislators Back to School Program the previous [...]
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  Posted: October 27, 2009, 8:56pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Conference Call on "Lost or Stolen Guns" Legislation

  Number of comments: 0
  Today I sat in on a conference call with an assortment of people who supported a requirement to report a lost or stolen handgun; the call was sponsored by CeaseFirePA. My notes from the call are provided below. As always, I apologize in advance for any errors or misconceptions.
  [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 11:53pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Preliminary Govenor Notes

  Number of comments: 0
  We have a few (4?) declared Democratic gubernatorial candidates and some ditherers who can't make up their mind yet.
  
  Dan Onorato has opened an office in Philadelphia
  Chris Doherty opened one last month.
  (See this note at PA2010 for a very humorous welcome note' [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 10:51pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Proposed Green Jobs Academy in Bucks

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox:
  Today, Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th District) joined local business leaders, educators, and elected officials to announce funding and partnerships for a Green Jobs Academy in Bucks County . The Academy is the result of a significant public-private partnership, the result of the Congressman’s work to [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 10:44pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• 2 PA Energy Research Projects Funded

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox:
  The Department of Energy today announced major funding for 37 ambitious research projects – including some that could allow intermittent energy sources like wind and solar to provide a steady flow of power, or use bacteria to produce automotive fuel from sunlight, water and carbon dioxide. [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 10:30pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Bryan Lentz's Clean Energy Summit

  Number of comments: 2
  This morning I went to an event in Delaware County and took notes. You may notice that they are more cryptic as the event went on. My apologies for that but my hand gets tired. As always I apologize for any errors or misconceptions. Where possible links are included so [...]
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  Posted: October 22, 2009, 11:35pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Redistricting Site

  Number of comments: 0
  One item of concern to the politically informed is the redistricting that will be done after the 2010 census. To get an idea of how your district stands up compared to others nationally, you can check www.redistrictingthenation.com.
  
  The group behind it is Philly-based. Here are some details [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 11:18pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• An Alternative to Metcalfe

  Number of comments: 0
  State Rep Daryl Metcalfe has some competition. Zack Byrnes is running againt Metcalfe for the 2010 election. Read more at 2 Political Junkies. [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 10:35pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Things To Do Thursday

  Number of comments: 0
  Two events for your consideration tomorrow, Thursday Oct. 22:
  
  10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  Delaware County Community College
  901 South Media Line Road
  Media, PA 19063
  
  Join state Rep. Bryan R. Lentz as he hosts a panel discussion with regional and national leaders involved in helping America [...]
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  Posted: October 21, 2009, 9:34pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Daryl Metcalfe Insults Veterans

  Number of comments: 1
  State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, who thinks including men in a resolution about domestic violence promotes homosexuality (guess he's never heard of Lorena Bobbit), is in the news again.
  
  Metcalfe, a veteran, was sent an email from a group advocating enviromental policy for national security reasons. His response was [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 11:30pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• More Info on Stoopville Road Project

  Number of comments: 0
  I posted a note awhile back on the Stoopville Road project in Bucks County. It generated a lot of hits and interest so it makes sense to post an update. From the inbox:
  
  Today, Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th District) joined PennDOT and local officials of both parties to [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 11:26pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• SEPTA Sports Express Tomorrow (Wed)

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox:
  
  SEPTA has extra service on deck as the Phillies try to close out the Los Angeles Dodgers and move on to the World Series.
  
  The Fightin’ Phils take on the Dodgers in Game Five of the National League Championship Series at Citizens Bank Park on [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 11:20pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• SEPTA's New Hybrid Buses

  Number of comments: 0
  This is part of a press release from SEPTA yesterday:
  
  The 40 buses being purchased under the ARRA bolster an already robust and growing number of hybrids in the transit authority’s fleet. SEPTA is purchasing over 400 additional hybrids from New Flyer through 2011 under a four-year deal [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 11:18pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Fed Money for PA First Responders

  Number of comments: 0
  from yesterday's inbox:
  
  The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that it is awarding $20.9 million to states, territories and Native American tribes to improve the nation’s response to transportation incidents involving hazardous materials. The grants will help train first responders to react to incidents involving hazardous materials [...]
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  Posted: October 20, 2009, 11:09pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• 3rd Quarter FEC Report Round Up

  Number of comments: 0
  Okay, here we go again. First off, you can browse these reports yourself at www.fec.gov. As always I apologize in advance for any errors or misinterpretations. I am neither a lawyer nor an accountant, just an interested observer and these thoughts should be taken as such.
  
  This quarter [...]
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  Posted: October 19, 2009, 11:07pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Playing Dead

  Number of comments: 0
  Every year SEPTA is required by federal mandate to conduct a full-scale emergency simulation. This year's practice scenario was the collision of an automobile, a stranded passenger train, and a diesel fueled work train. Volunteers play the role of passengers and SEPTA staff who would be injured or killed during [...]
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  Posted: October 18, 2009, 10:56pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• ... And His Lovely Wife: A Local Version

  Number of comments: 0
  None of our local political spouses have written books, but Young Lawyer published a nice biography of Jenni Murphy, wife of Congressman Patrick Murphy, and a lawyer in her own right, a little over a year ago. The June 12, 2008 issue is available as a pdf document. The [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 10:37pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Book Review: ... And His Lovely Wife

  Number of comments: 0
  …and His Lovely Wife: A Memoir from the Woman Beside the Man, by Connie Schultz. NY: Random House, 2007.
  
  Most political spouses stay on the sidelines or in the shadows. Connie Schultz, who was a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist before her husband, Sherrod Brown, decided to run for a [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 10:16pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Sports Express This Weekend

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox:
  
  SEPTA is back on the rails to a championship, with extra service ready to go when the Phillies return to Citizens Bank Park for National League Championship Series action against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
  
  SEPTA’s Sports Express trains on the Broad Street Line will provide [...]
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  Posted: October 15, 2009, 10:05pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Blog Action Day: Climate Change

  Number of comments: 2
  It's blog action day. Once a year bloggers around the world can all blog on the same topic. This year blog action day is focusing on climate change.
  
  You can take an international view, like the folks at www.climatehearings.org/. For a national view you can check [...]
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  Posted: October 14, 2009, 11:40pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• 2009 Blogging Survey Results

  Number of comments: 0
  Some time ago videojug did a survey of bloggers, yours truly included. The survey is complete and the results available online. I just perused the brief summary. Contrary to the blog name, looking at the results I would appear to be very average indeed. [...]
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  Posted: October 13, 2009, 11:52pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• PA Medicine Praised in WSJ

  Number of comments: 0
  In catching up with last week's Wall Street Journal, I read an interesting article on the Commonwealth's health system.
  
  "Hospitals find way to make care cheaper -- make it better," by Thomas M. Burton (10/06/09). Here is one paragraph:
  
  Except in Pennsylvania. For two decades, a state [...]
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  Posted: October 13, 2009, 9:50pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• PA Women to Head Dept of Labor Bureau

  Number of comments: 0
  Excerpt from one of today's White House blog entries:
  
  Sara Manzano-Diaz was nominated to lead the Women's Bureau at the Department of Labor. For almost 90 years, the Department of Labor's Women's Bureau has worked to improve the status of wage-earning women, improve their working conditions, and advance their [...]
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  Posted: October 13, 2009, 9:21pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Another Look at Women Voters

  Number of comments: 0
  I've been out to a few women in politics meetings recently, one very local and one regional. The first was a lot of fun. I had a chance to catch up with some people, meet a few candidates, and eat some good food (the cupcakes were overdecorated but the little' [...]
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  Posted: October 12, 2009, 11:38pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Lentz Hosts Cleland and Veterans

  Number of comments: 0
  From Friday's inbox:
  The Herbert W. Best VFW Post 928 in Folsom yesterday was the site for a town hall style meeting hosted by State Representative Bryan R. Lentz. Joining him was special guest, former US Senator and Vietnam War veteran, Max Cleland.
  
  Lentz and Cleland spoke to [...]
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  Posted: October 11, 2009, 11:27pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Gavin Newsome Visits with PennDems This Week

  Number of comments: 0
  The PennDems, the University of Pennsylvania's student organization for Democrats, continue to enhance their reputation as political heavyweights. The candidates they back tend to win and they are willing to put their volunteer muscle where their convictions are, making their support a valuable asset. Now out of town names [...]
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  Posted: October 11, 2009, 11:07pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• A Few Updates

  Number of comments: 0
  Back from a not so wonderful weekend away and catching up on the news. There is a cluster of updates to items I have previously blogged about. Here you go:
  
  In 2005 State Rep. Josh Shapiro (D-153) introduced a bill that allowed college students to more easily [...]
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  Posted: October 11, 2009, 10:36pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• PA Legislature Used as an Example of "Too Big"

  Number of comments: 0
  The Thicket (National Conference of State Legislatures) had a blog post comparing a legislative body that might need to be pared down compared with one that was, perhaps, too small. Guess who was cast as the bloated legislature? [...]
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  Posted: October 08, 2009, 11:40pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Sunday Sports Express

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox:
  PHILADELPHIA, PA (October 8, 2009) – The Eagles are back in action Sunday, October 11th, after their bye week – and so is SEPTA’s Sports Express service.
  
  Kickoff for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is set for 1 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field, and [...]
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  Posted: October 08, 2009, 11:37pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane

• Fed Funding for PA Energy Projects

  Number of comments: 0
  From the inbox:
  
  Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that Philadelphia, Pennsylvania will receive $14,108,700 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support energy efficiency and conservation activities. Under the Department of Energy’s Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, Philadelphia will implement programs that lower [...]
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  Posted: October 08, 2009, 11:29pm EDT
  by AboveAvgJane