A few days ago, I posted a poll asking for opinions about where I should spend my political dollars this year. I live in Pittsburgh, PA and while I am planning to vote for Casey (while holding my nose), I can't bring myself to send him money. So instead, I am giving between 10-20% of what I have to give away to Ned Lamont, and the rest to Planned Parenthood's Pledges for Pickets here in my town.

I'm happier about Ned Lamont's win than I have been about anything political in a long time, perhaps even since Clinton was elected in '92. I'm not allowing myself to get euphoric, but I'm a little less cautiously optimistic.

I don't have tons of money to give away, unfortunately, but I  am thinking about how to spend my political contributions this election cycle. I just got a letter in the mail asking for support to my local planned parenthood's pledges for pickets campaign, which greatly appeals to me, and I'm definitely going to give them some money. The question is how much.

I voted for Pennachio in the primary, and I'll be holding my nose to vote for Casey. I just read that he turned down Dan Savage's contribution, which makes me even less inclined to send him a penny. But I do want to do my part to defeat Santorum.

Opinions, please!

An ordinance introduced by Councilmen Bill Peduto and Doug Sheilds to protect women's access to abortion clinics by keeping increasingly aggressive protesters 15 feet away from patients and their families has been passed in a preliminary vote.  The council members who voted in support of the new law still need to hear from us. The final vote is scheduled for Tuesday.  

If you live in the City of Pittsburgh, please send a note or make a call of thanks tonight or tomorrow to:

Dan Deasy, 412-255-8963 dan.deasy@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

Jim Motznick, 412-255-2131 jim.motznik@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

Doug Sheilds, 412-255-8965 doug.shields@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

Bill Peduto, 412-255-2133  william.peduto@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

Twanda Carlisle, 412-255-2137 twanda.carlisle@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

Read the Post-Gazette story here

I just recieved an email from Planned Parenthood saying that on September 30 a Target pharmacist refused to fill a valid prescription for emergency contraception. Target has repeatedly refused to responed to Planned Parenthood's request for information regarding their policy on filling all prescriptions.

Let Target know you care about this. Click here to sign PP's petition. Call and bother them at 1-800-440-0680. Be warned, however, you will go through voice mail hell, and I was passed on to a "superior" and put on permanant hold.

I shop at Target. I probably spend about $1000 a year there. Until now. I won't go back until they answer the question: Does Target support a woman's right to have all her valid prescriptions filled?

I'm hoping all Kossacks in Allegheny County have already heard of Kathryn Hens-Greco , but just in case, I wanted to bring her candidacy to your attention.

I've met Kathryn twice, and am incredibly impressed. She has promised to stay in Family Court, which is often seen as merely a stepping stone to more "prestigious" judgeships. She was instrumental in the legal victory of second parent adoptions in PA, which protects children of all kinds of families. She's the kind of progressive we need in government here in western PA.

Whatever you do, please discuss with your friends and acquaintances the importance of only voting for candidates you believe will make good judges and not just pick blindly because you have 7 choices. That's how we get judges like David Wecht or (hopefully not) Tom Flarety.  

(This is my first diary, so please be kind. :) )