Each year in the U.S., 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school with limited options for higher education or employment. Many undocumented youth were brought to this country as children, even infants, by their parents. They are indistinguishable in every way but one from their citizen friends, classmates, and siblings: they don’t have a piece of paper that says they can stay here.

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) would change that. The Act would provide conditional legal status to applicants who:

Yesterday, the PA Senate finally started the process of approving Philly’s pension change and sale tax hike that will keep the infamous ‘plan c’ from happening. Good. It is sort of hard to cheer such a basic thing, which should have been done a lot earlier, but, good.

Still in front of us, however, is the PA Budget. And, if Senate Republicans get their way, the State budget would arguably have an even greater impact on Philadelphia than the city’s own budget disaster. Cuts in everything from social services to parks to nursing homes for veterans to legal services for the poor are on the Senate chopping blocks. Basically, if the Senate gets its way, civil society in Pennsylvania fundamentally changes, for the worse.

And although we rightfully focus on Senate Republicans, especially Dominic Pillegi, for their current stance, the Joe Sestak campaign has reminded us of one guy who really has not gotten enough ‘credit’ for the huge gap in Pennsylvania’s budget: Arlen Specter. In fact, Arlen Specter is largely responsible for the entire gap between Ed Rendell’s original budget proposal and the infamous Senate Bill 850. How? With his ‘courage’ in the battle over President Obama's Recovery Act.

Back in May, the Pa. Senate Republicans released Senate Bill 850 (SB 850), which slashed every program imaginable to the bone or simply totally killed its funding. The difference between the Senate and Rendell’s budget was about 1.7 billion dollars. In effect, the Senate GOP was using the crisis as a chance to make an ideological stand to gut and gut and gut our civil society. But, guess what? That huge gap would barely have existed at all, except for the work of a couple ‘moderate’ Senators, led by our own Arlen Specter.

Nationally, most economists knew at the time of the stimulus that the original package proposed by the Democratic House was a good bill, but probably not big enough given how fast our economy was shrinking. And then, in a battle that echoes the global warming and health care fights, the Senate took the package and made it much worse. In the interest of ‘compromise,’ an Arlen Specter led group of Senators slashed 100 billion from the package, and shifted a lot of the funding towards tax cuts. Specter in fact lamented that we couldn’t have slashed all spending from the Recovery Act:

The agreement we reached was the best one we could under the circumstances. We were able to cut out $100 billion from the package and include 35% in tax relief in the overall bill. My preference would have been John McCain’s proposal, which I voted for, to have the stimulus package of $421 billion in tax cuts alone. I voted for the Reagan tax cuts back in 1981 and that would be the best course, but in a legislative body you don’t have exactly your own choice.

So, Specter didn’t get all of the cuts he wanted, but he was sure happy he was ‘able to cut 100 billion from the package.’ And what was one of the cuts he was successful in getting? 40 billion dollars for the state stabilization fund. In other words, 40 billion dollars in direct payment from the Federal Government to the states to help them with their huge budget problems.

According to Pa’s share of the national population, Arlen Specter’s Recovery Act cuts cost Pennsylvania about 1.6 billion dollars, or almost the entire gap between Rendell’s original budget proposal, and SB 850. Since then, the budget gap has grown. But even now, it would be halved if Arlen Specter didn’t slash the Recovery Act.

So the next time Specter brags about his vote on the Recovery Act, just remember what he was bragging about a couple months before he switched parties, and how that potentially could endanger Pennsylvania civil society as we know it.

After all of the hullabaloo the past week about chaos and disruptions at health care oriented town halls across the country, here's a somewhat tardy account of last Sunday's Philadelphia event, one of the very first to be over-run with anti-reform protesters.

On Sunday, I went to what was billed as "a town hall meeting on health insurance reform" at the Constitution Center, with Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and recent-D Senator Arlen Specter. The event was also billed as being devoted largely to "taking questions from the audience," but "questions" is far too generous a term to describe the reality, and, I suppose, so was "audience." An ample crowd packed into a limited space (not the auditorium, but a large open area on the second floor) and tittered as we awaited the event's start, with ample stickers and shirts, and animated conversations too numerous for me to effectively eavesdrop on.

Joe Sestak finally took the step we have been waiting for and expecting, and announced this morning that he is getting in the race for US Senate:

There are some who say it’s impossible to win without the backing of the establishment, who say we’d be better off cutting deals and bargaining on our principles. But that kind of political calculation isn’t what put the Democrats in power, and it isn’t going to keep us there. I say — and I’ve heard people all across the state say — that we need to stand up for our beliefs, that we need leaders of genuine conviction, not political convenience.

In other words, people should choose, not party leaders. I don't understand what is so hard to grasp about that, and yet, even today, we have TJ Rooney, the supposed chair of our party, saying things like this:

While the Pennsylvania Democratic Party welcomes Congressman Sestak to the race, he has an uphill climb against Senator Specter, the incumbent Democrat. Senator Specter is the front runner and enjoys the full support and financial commitment from President Obama, Vice President Biden, Senator Casey and Governor Rendell and thousands of rank and file Democrats.

I am a member the the Democratic party. I have volunteered and given part of my non-existent income to PA Democrats. But somehow, I missed the poll that TJ Rooney did that told him that rank and file Democrats are lining up behind Specter.

In any case, the Sestak challenge is good for the state and for the Country. Why? Check out this graph, from Nate Silver of 538:

"

In the middle of crucial votes on healthcare and energy, Sestak has effectively made Specter a reliable Democrat.

I don't know how this will all shake out. Sestak has a long way to go, and a lot of ground to cover. But this is a very real challenge to Specter, and it is good for all of us that it is happening.

An article in yesterday's Scranton Times Tribune gives us the perspectives of Mr. Frank Scarvo, a manager for Keystone Automotive.

In Mr. Scarvo's opinion, the binding arbitration provision of the Employee Free Choice Act would harm employees. He also says that the current workplace regulatory agencies are sufficient. It is easy enough to discover with some research or, as many workers have found out through first hand experience, that this is untrue.

Mr. Scavo should know that there are many dirty tricks that employers use when they don't want to deal with the union that their employees worked hard to form and win. Most commonly, they draw out the collective bargaining process with excessive appeals. This unfair practice of forestalling process is hardly uncommon.

At the Joe Sestak fundraiser I went to, Sestak referred to Arlen Specter as a "flight risk" from the Democratic party. It was a pretty funny line, and he started to use it a lot, and true Democrat Arlen Specter didn't like it one bit (h/t OpenLeft):

Despite campaigning across the state as a “true Democrat” ready to run against Senator Arlen Specter, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-7) did not register as a Democrat until shortly before running for Congress three years ago, according to voter registration records.

Specter’s campaign pointed out Sestak’s registration history, first in a message to supporters Monday, later in follow-up messages to a reporter and again in a fierce statement against Sestak Thursday. After more than two months of remaining largely silent while Sestak attacked him at every turn, the remarks amounted to Specter’s first retaliation, and turned up the heat in a Senate primary that is likely to get far more contentious in the coming months.

“Congressman Sestak is a flagrant hypocrite in challenging my being a real Democrat when he did not register as a Democrat until 2006 just in time to run for Congress,” Specter said in the statement. “His lame excuse for avoiding party affiliation, because he was in the [military] service, is undercut by his documented disinterest in the political process.”

Na na na boo boo, eh? Well, Sestak hit back:

"Let's be clear," Sestak said, "I voted for Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, and Barack Obama while Arlen Specter was voting for George Bush and Bob Dole and John McCain. My question to Arlen Specter is this: do you regret voting for George Bush and John McCain? Why should Democrats support someone like you who actively campaigned - as recently as last year - for politicians with values like George W. Bush?"

.....

"Like Colin Powell (who was also registered as an Independent while he served), I believe that military officers should be nonpartisan," Sestak said. "The military depends on cohesion and unity, and the defense of this nation must never be political. I'm proud that I was an Independent during my 35 years in the Navy, and I was proud to register as a Democrat as soon as I retired from active duty. "

I really don't think this is a winning argument for Specter. Specter's best bet is basically to put his head down, to be a strong advocate for Healthcare, to walk back his opposition to EFCA, ettc. What he sure does not want to do is have a discussion about 1) his history as a Republican or 2) criticize Joe Sestak for not (in the tradition of military officers) registering with a political party.

From Twitter user @Kalahn, we see the poster that seems to be everywhere in Philadelphia these days:

As Chris Bowers noted, while some of labor may have fallen in line with Specter, there is a real understanding by many that Specter has sold them out, and if he wants their support, he needs to start singing another song on the Employee Free Choice Act.

A lot has happened in the past week in regards to the PA Senate race:

First, a new Keystone Poll shows Arlen Specter is not all that popular:

The strong backing of Democratic Party leaders has done little to change slumping public support for the party's newest convert, U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter. Only 28 percent of all those surveyed say that he deserves re-election, according to the latest Keystone Poll, and double that number say it's time for a change.

....

Back in March, before the switch, roughly half the voters in each party said that Specter was doing an "excellent" or "good" job in the Senate.

Those numbers have plunged in the latest survey. Whereas 57 percent of Democrats gave him good or excellent ratings in March, only 46 percent rate him as highly now. Among Republicans, 49 percent rated his job performance as good or excellent in March, and only 18 percent gave him those ratings last week.

The support that is he somewhat holding onto is that of Democrats. If there is a real primary, or if Arlen doesn't come out strong for the Obama agenda, those numbers will sink, too. Further, in a match up against Sestak (with a very big MoE), the poll has it at 33-13. For an ultra incumbent like Arlen, being that much below 50 percent is very, very dangerous, and adds to worrisome trend lines in polls of the race:

And that is without Sestak doing any campaigning... Sestak is edging ever closer to a run. Word is that he will not announce for a month or two, but, he has made it pretty clear that he is in.

While that Keystone poll was in the field, Arlen was supposed to speak at the convention of the United Steelworkers. They dis-invited him. (Read this whole post, because it is pretttty funny.) If labor leaves him, he is really screwed.

Given all of that, and in an attempt to head left, he recently said that he is for a public health care option, after scoffing at it right after he switched parties. No one said Arlen wasn't good at making you a little dizzy.

On the Republican side, ultra-right Pat Toomey has effectively been cleared for the general election, as local Congressman Jim Gerlach has said he will not run.

As Sean notes, there is an extensive article today in the Daily News about Joe Sestak, and his run for the US Senate. And yeah, it includes Ed Rendell at his most charming:

Gov. Rendell thinks that Sestak would "get clobbered" in next year's Democratic primary, ticking off the reasons why Sestak has "practically no chance" against Specter, who is well-known across the state and likely will have an inexhaustible supply of campaign cash.

"What in God's name is he doing?" Rendell exclaimed.

You have to love Big Ed. It is not that the Guv doesn't think Sestak has a chance. Of course he has a chance. It is that the Guv can't understand why someone would run when the Guv says not to. As Ed knows, no one can ever upset someone in a Democratic primary:

Buoyed by a tide of hometown popularity, former Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell captured the Democratic nomination for governor over Auditor General Bob Casey Jr. after the most expensive primary campaign in Pennsylvania history.

With 99 percent of the state's vote counted, Rendell was headed to a landslide win, 56 percent to Casey's 44 percent.

After receiving a ritual call of concession from Casey, Rendell entered a Center City ballroom crammed with cheering suporters. The strains of the Democratic anthem, "Happy Days Are Here Again," competed with shouts of "Eddie, Eddie," as he worked his way to the stage.

"Change must come to Pennsylvania," Rendell declared as he launched into a capsule version of his standard stump speech.

Of course, that was a Democratic primary with two actual Democrats. This would be a Democratic primary with one Democrat, and one Arlen Specter. And already, as Chris Bowers has noted, Specter's support may not be that strong:

Sestak already leads among voters who know both candidates: Perhaps the most remarkable number of all in this poll is that Joe Sestak is already leading Arlen Specter among the 30% of voters who know both candidates (p. 4-5):

Among voters that know Sestak (mostly in the Philadelphia inner suburbs) he enjoys an 18 - 4 favorable-unfavorable ratio, and among voters who already identify both candidates, Sestak actually leads Specter in the initial head to head 52 - 44 percent.

With numbers like these, claims from Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell that Sestak has no chance are unmasked as either absurd or desperate. Sestak is already winning among Democrats who know both candidates. Rendell might have even seen this poll before he made those remarks, since it was completed ten days beforehand.

If Arlen Specter almost lost to a little known Pat Toomey in a Republican primary, he can certainly lose to a well funded Congressman in a Democratic one.

The commercials write themselves:

So, yes, there is plenty of room for Sestak. However, Sestak has to work for this. Right now, unlike Patrick Murphy, he still has failed to make a strong statement on the public option for healthcare. If Sestak doesn't, he will fail to activate the activists who will do the hard work to get his message across. But if he does that? Then yes, he has a very real shot.

Last week, Governor Ed Rendell called upon the Justice Department to pursue federal civil rights charges in the 2008 beating death of Luis Ramirez. His call breaks an oppressive political silence since the murder and the subsequent acquittal of the defendants on all serious charges. In his statement, Rendell said:

"The evidence suggests that Mr. Ramirez was targeted, beaten and killed because he was Mexican," wrote Governor Rendell in the letter. "This beating was so brutal and violent that Mr. Ramirez’s skull was crushed in two different places. This senseless and cowardly attack appears to have been a hate crime as racial slurs were hurled against Mr. Ramirez throughout the fatal assault.

"Such lawlessness and violence hurts not only the direct victim of the attack but also our towns and communities that are torn apart by such bigotry and intolerance. That is why I am pleased that the Department of Justice is presently investigating whether to bring civil rights charges against Piekarsky and Donchak for their role in the fatal beating of Mr. Ramirez. I believe that justice and fairness mandate such a prosecution."

The Inquirer’s editorial board also issued a call for justice in this case, saying it has not been served.

First, many thanks to the Governor and others who are doing their part to stand up on this tragedy. Pennsylvania is fast earning a reputation as an anti-immigrant breeding ground. The political antics of Hazleton embarrassment Lou Barletta (the 2008 PA Mayor of the Year) to media clown Joey Vento have helped put PA on the national radar as a place of anti-immigrant ignorance and hate. And as the injustice of Luis Ramirez’ murder continues to rally people nationwide, it’s more important than ever that politicians in PA be held accountable for condemning rather than ignoring what's happening in our state.

So, ahem, Nation to Arlen Specter: Where are you on this issue?

(Note: A quick phone call to his office revealed that he has made no statements thus far on this case.)

According to Talking Points Memo, Joe Sestak will run against Arlen Specter for Senate:

Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) is privately telling supporters that he intends to run for Senate, TPMDC has confirmed.

"He intends to get in the race," says Meg Infantino, the Congressman's sister, who works at Sestak for Congress. "In the not too distant future, he will sit down with his wife and daughter to make the final decision."

...

Earlier today, a Sestak volunteer and contributor received a handwritten note from Sestak himself, announcing his intent to run and asking for a contribution. The source provided TPMDC a scan of the letter:

Good.

Like everyone else on the Obama list, I got an email last week from Joe Biden about his "friend," Arlen Specter. Mr. Vice President, please, from me to you, butt out. The conversation that needs to happen is between Arlen Specter and Democrats about why he switched, not between you and us. If Specter is really a Democrat, he has the next year to show it.

If not, well, an actual Democrat appears to be entering the race.

As you may know, the Senate is debating credit card reform in response to thoroughly disgusting and predictable abuses engendered by the Senate's LAST foray into credit card reform, the the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, which was anything but.

what the bill did was make it harder for individuals like you and me (but not corporations) to declare bankruptcy protection from credit card debt. What the bill also did was allow credit cards to change your rates whenever they want, and worse, charge rates typically described as "usury" or "loan sharking".

It looks like Arlen Specter may have to deal with Joe Sestak:

Sestak, a retired Navy admiral who represents suburban Philadelphia in the House, has been taking every opportunity to question Specter’s Democratic credentials. And though Sestak has not officially jumped into the race, he appears headed that way.

“I’m very much leaning toward it,” Sestak said Monday in an interview on a local Philadelphia television station, adding the odds were “strong” that he would proceed.

In e-mails Monday, Sestak thanked his straw poll supporters. “I and many others were paying attention,” he said. “If I decide to run, it will be in large measure because of the grass-roots energy of so many people like you.”

Here is Sestak, on the straw poll:

I really see this as a can't lose. Sestak will continue to push Specter left, like this:

Recent party-switcher Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.) may be giving new life to one of the most controversial aspects of comprehensive health care reform.

Specter had previously stated his opposition to a “public option,” which would allow consumers a government-run insurance plan in addition to private options. But in a letter Friday to Health Care for America Now, he appeared to reconsider his position. President Barack Obama, along with most Democrats, supports the public plan.

“I look forward to discussing and considering this issue,” Specter said, calling Sen. Charles Schumer’s (D-N.Y.) public option proposal announced last week “a starting point” for discussion.

Good stuff.

On a side note, it is hilarious that the media can call a provision controversial when it is supported by about 50 points in the last poll I saw. But, I guess it is controversial to Senators who have been plied with campaign cash?

Last chance to vote in the straw poll about drafting Sestak to take on Arlen. As Adam Green says:

Voting remains open for less than 24 hours, ending 10am EST Monday. Arguments for and against drafting Sestak are made on the polling site.

This Straw Poll has already been covered by Politico, ABC, NBC, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and a bunch of news outlets across Pennsylvania. We launched it with Daily Kos, The Pennsylvania Progressive, Keystone Progress, Afro-Netizen, Howard Dean's DFA, Open Left, Digby, Crooksandliars, Latina Lista, and other progressive partners.

Our goal is to give the grassroots a voice in a race with national implications that has thus far been dominated by a few party insiders. Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) told a local paper he is watching the Straw Poll, as are other political insiders.

Please let your opinion be known by casting your vote here today.

So, Tom Ridge isn't running for Senate. As Adam Green says:

Interpretation: In the Pennsylvania Senate race, the Republicans are basically toast.

Dems now face a choice: Do they want their nominee to be someone who in the last week opposed Employee Free Choice, opposed the Obama health care "public option," sided with bankers against homeowners, said Norm Coleman should be seated, and declared he would not be a loyal Democrat?

And if they want someone else, who?

To me, any moral hazard of a primary against Specter just went out the window with Tom Ridge not running. He is the only Republican who I would really fear. (I still would rather a Democrat if Ridge did win, but it is certainly a strange wildcard that is gone.)

If you haven't voted, please do so now: