Eugene DePasquale declares candidacy for #PA10 against Republican Perry | Monday Morning Coffee

Good Monday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

Sometimes you don’t ask yourself ‘Whether’ something will happen, but ‘When?’

It was just two, short years ago, after all, that Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale took himself out of the running for the Democratic nomination for what was then the 4th Congressional District against Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Perry.

And, then, faster than you could say, ‘Court-ordered congressional map,” Lutheran pastor and Army vet George Scott came within a mere 2.7 percentage points of knocking off Perry in heavily targeted race. And you just had to know that DePasquale, in-between carrying sandbags on his shoulders and dragging truck tires on chains held between his teeth, was somewhere silently kicking himself.

Not this time, bubbala.

As you can see from that there photo up there, DePasquale has confirmed news, broken in the midst of Budget Week last week, that he will, indeed, declare for 2020 against his fellow York Countian. And just a couple days later, obligingly, George Scott took himself out of the running for the Democratic nod.

“Washington has rigged the system against us. Beginning tomorrow, with your help, I’m going to punch back — and fight for people here at home,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

Another Democrat, Tom Brier, is also seeking the Democratic nomination for the 10th District.

Pennsylvania Republicans, naturally, wasted little time pouncing on DePasquale’s emerging candidacy. They’ve been hammering him for weeksfor using his state job to advance his political ambitions.

DePasquale is currently serving his second, and final, term as the state’s elected fiscal watchdog.

“Egregiously, DePasquale has been a fraud and a failure as auditor general, holding himself out as an independent fiscal watchdog, all the while jet-setting across Pennsylvania while expensing taxpayers for nearly $100,000 as he used his official office to boost his personal political profile in advance of this Congressional announcement,” Jason Gottesman, a spokesman for the state party, said.

National Democrats have both the 10th District, and the Bucks County-based 1st Congressional District, held by GOP U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, in their sights for 2020.

In a statement released to the York Dispatch, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said the D-Trip was supporting*  DePasquale’s candidacy.

“Middle-class families in Pennsylvania have been ignored and neglected by congressman Perry and his partisan, special-interest driven agenda for too long,” the spokesman, Mike Gwin, told the newspaper. said. “Eugene DePasquale has already proven himself to be an effective watchdog of taxpayer money as auditor, and he will be an effective fighter in Washington for hard-working Pennsylvanians.”

Our Stuff.
Washington Bureau Chief Robin Bravender sat down with U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-4th District, who says it’s her ‘patriotic duty’ to be a thorn in President Donald Trump’s side.

Sarah Anne Hughes looks at how the SCOTUS’ gerrymandering decision late last week will impact Pennsylvania (it won’t). And on our Commentary Page, a University of Maryland, Baltimore County scholar says it’s now up to the voters to find a fix to partisan gerrymandering.

If you’re looking for the view from 30,000 feet on Budget Week 2019, this collection of all our coverage will get you where you need to be — fast.

Also on our Commentary Page, regular contributor Dick Polman explains why Elizabeth Warren’s proposal to get rid of private health coverage could end up being an Election Year albatross for the Massachusetts Democrat.

Elsewhere.
The Inquirer looks at divisions among Democrats over the #PaBudget deal.
Pittsburgh will make its bike lane ‘master plan’ public by year’s end, the Post-Gazette reports.
Charges filed against a sheriff’s deputy in the wake of the Parkland shooting should ‘give pause’ to school officials in the Tamaqua school district who are eyeing arming teachers, the Morning Call reports.
Two communities in western Pennsylvania have been ‘rattled’ by six shootings in six weeks, the Tribune-Review reports.

Here’s your #Harrisburg Instagram of the Day.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzLTbHMHWM9/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Homeowners whose private wells are contaminated by PFAS are awaiting help,WHYY-FM reports.  
Pa. sheriffs are taking possession of more guns because of a new state law, WITF-FM reports.
PoliticsPA has the winners and losers from the past week in Pa. politics.

What Goes On.
11 a.m., Main Rotunda: Homecare workers are scheduled to rally for the minimum wage. They might find the building conspicuously devoid of lawmakers.

WolfWatch.
It’s BillSigningPaLooza for Gov. Tom Wolf, who signs a trio of bills this Monday.
10 a.m., Soldiers & Sailors Grove: Bill signing for PA GI Bill.
11:30 a.m., Reception Room: PA Farm bill signing.
2 p.m., Reception Room: Occupational Licensure Reform bill signing.

You Say It’s Your Birthday Dept.
Best wishes go out this morning to our old pal, Eric Heyl, who celebrates today. Congrats and enjoy the day, sir.

Heavy Rotation.
Here’s one from Prof. Green (feat. Lily Allen) from a few years back. It’s ‘Just be Good to Green.’

Monday’s Gratuitous Baseball Link.
After a huge win on Saturday, Baltimore returned to business as usual,dropping a 2-0 decision to Cleveland on Sunday.

And now you’re up to date.