How's this for timing? U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa. ... Oops! Make that D-Pa. ... is coming to our newsroom on Monday.
Obviously, in light of yesterday's announcement that he's switching parties, we've got a lot to talk about.
I'm talking to one of my editors about the logistics of this, but we're trying to get some video of that talk on the York Daily Record Website. If so, I'll try to post it here as well.
This whole affair may carry a note of bitter irony for state Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-West Manchester.
Last week, the state House of Representatives narrowly defeated an amendment that would have banned texting and using hand-held cell phones while driving.
DePasquale sponsored the texting part. After the defeat, he said he suspects it had to do with state Rep. Josh Shapiro, R-Montgomery, who sponsored the celll phone ban.
Shapiro was talking about running for governor. And DePasquale believes that Republicans killed the amendment solely because they wanted to deny Shapiro a political victory that might count in his favor next year.
If so, it availed them nothing. Shapiro officially took himself out of the race within hours of Specter's announcement, wisely deciding he wouldn't stand a cance against the long-time incumbent in the Democratic primaries.
So if DePasquale's right, his texting-while-driving ban died for no reason.
I suppose it's possible that killing the amendment wasn't a political move. But I doubt it, in light of the fact that 14 Republicans who were former co-sponsors voted against it.
Somehow, it doesn't seem very likely that 14 lawmakers suddenly said to themselves: "Hey! I just decided that texting while driving is a good idea!"
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