Anne's Arts & Activities Blog

Megan Totino Consedine was unanimously confirmed today as the Secretary/Parliamentarian for the Pennsylvania State Senate. Totino Consedine is the first woman to serve as Secretary/Parliamentarian of the Pennsylvania State Senate, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson). As an elected officer of the Senate, the Secretary/Parliamentarian supervises an extensive array of offices and services essential to the day-to-day operations of the Senate, including overseeing numerous legislative, financial and administrative functions. The Senate Secretary is also integral to the process of Senate Session and oversees a staff of approximately 80 Senate employees, including those in the Secretary's Office, Senate Library, bill room and page room. "In Megan Consedine, I feel confident that we have found the right individual who will serve with integrity, independence and a commitment to excellence," Scarnati said. "Serving as Secretary of the Senate...

The Marcellus Shale Coalition announced Friday that former Governor Tom Ridge has agreed to serve as its strategic adviser. A coalition spokesman says Ridge's communications and policy groups will be paid $75,000 a month for help in such areas as public outreach, education and coalition building. We have learned from the past that we must develop our resources safely and efficiently. During my term as governor, we grew our economy by providing incentives for economic growth and always by ‘Growing Greener.’ The development of the Marcellus Shale will benefit all of the citizens of our state, our region, and our nation. Not only can the environmental and economic benefit be transformational for generations to come, our homeland security will be forever strengthened,” Ridge added. http://marcelluscoalition.org/2010/07/gov-ridge-joins-the-marcellus-shale-coalition-as-strategic-advisor/

Former Pennsylvania Governor and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has decided he won't run for senate next year. Ridge's statement says he is enormously grateful for the confidence my party expressed in me, the encouragement and kindness of my fellow citizens in Pennsylvania and the valuable counsel I received from so many of my party colleagues." Ridge also said, "To those who believe that the Republican Party is facing challenges, they are right. To those who believe the Democratic Party is without its own difficulties, they are wrong. No one party has a monopoly on all of the answers." Quinnipiac University pollster Clay Richards recently said Ridge is probably the only Republican who could give new Democrat Arlen Specter a run for his money. To read Ridge's statement, go to pa2010.com .

HARRISBURG – Governor Edward G. Rendell today issued the following statement in response to U.S. Senator Arlen Specter’s announcement that he has joined the Democratic Party: “I welcome Senator Specter to the Democratic Party. He is a strong leader who has done great work on behalf of the people of Pennsylvania regardless of their political affiliation. “Arlen Specter did not leave the Republican Party – the Republican Party left him. Today’s Pennsylvania Republican party is a far cry from the party of John Heinz, Hugh Scott and Governors Bill Scranton and Tom Ridge.”

An ex-political fundraiser for former Governor Tom Ridge who admitted stealing money from his campaigns is accused of embezzling more than $1 million. Court records indicate 44-year-old Laurie Simmons will plead guilty in U.S. District on May 1 to a single count of wire fraud in connection with the money she allegedly stole from two companies she worked for in the Harrisburg area. Under a plea agreement, Simmons agreed to forfeit property valued at more than half a million dollars, including a $225,000 property in Aruba, $40,000 worth of wine and $35,000 in gold and silver coins. She could spend up to 20 years in prison. In 2000, Simmons was sentenced to one year in prison for stealing $93,500 she had raised for Ridge's campaigns.

Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge is scheduled to speak tonight at the Republican National Convention. According to excerpts from his speech provided to WESB and The HERO by the RNC Committee on arrangements, Ridge will speak about Senator John McCain as a friend and leader, and on his readiness to be president. He will say McCain is "Ready to lead. Ready to serve. Ready to deliver." He's scheduled to speak in the 8 to 9 o'clock hour following a video on vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Ridge will be followed by another video and Cindy McCain.

Former Governor Tom Ridge has been bumped again from the speaking line-up at the Republican National Convention. Ridge originally had been scheduled to speak Tuesday night, but Hurricane Gustav forced a shortened convention program, dropping him from the schedule. He won't be speaking tonight either as convention organizers continue to rearrange the schedule. Convention spokeswoman Maury Donahue says she doesn’t know yet whether Ridge will be on the speaking schedule for Thursday’s final night.