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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is urging the Senate to pass a roughly $741 billion defense bill that President Donald Trump has vowed to veto.

"This [National Defense Authorization Act] will unlock more than $740 billion for the training, tools and cutting-edge equipment that our service members and civilian employees need to defend American lives and American interests, McConnell said during a Senate speech on Thursday. "It will give our troops the 3% pay raise they deserve. It'll keep our forces ready to deter China and stand strong in the Indo-Pacific."

The National Defense Authorization Act or NDAA, which authorizes appropriations for the Defense Department and defense-related activities at other federal agencies, has passed without much fanfare on an annual basis for nearly 60 years.

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Trump and other conservatives have frequently accused social media giants like Twitter and Facebook of bias against the political right. But the issue is unrelated to national defense and the overarching aim of the NDAA, and Trump's demands regarding Section 230 have baffled some Republicans in the conversation over the defense bill.

Republicans, who have repeatedly bowed to pressure from the president on other matters and legislation, are largely moving forward in support of the bill despite Trump's demands.

The legislation "does not contain every policy that either side would like to pass," McConnell said, adding that a "huge number of crucial policies are included and a lot of bad ideas were kept out."

Trump has issued eight vetoes during his presidency and none have been overturned.

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Mitch McConnell urges Senate to pass the $741 billion defense bill Trump has vowed to veto - Business Insider India

Rea and Yafes Barkat moved into a Hells Kitchen rental shortly before their wedding three years ago, then relocated a bit closer to Central Park.

The area was congested, with no good place to walk their chihuahua, Monkey. We had Central Park, but no dog park, Mrs. Barkat said. I had to keep him on a tight leash. It was cars, tourists, pedestrians. There was always construction happening.

The couple, who are both 30 and met in high school in New Jersey, were interested in buying a home in a less frenetic area. A friend lived in CityLights, the first residential high-rise in Long Island City, Queens, a co-op known for its low sale prices and high maintenance fees.

The Barkats werent keen on spending so much on monthly maintenance and thought an apartment there would be hard to resell something they figured they would want to do in a few years, as they planned to move back to New Jersey. But they loved Long Island City, with all of its new condominium high-rises.

[Did you recently buy or rent a home in the New York metro area? We want to hear from you. Email: thehunt@nytimes.com]

A lot of people are, like, I dont want to live in Queens, but I feel Long Island City is New Yorks greatest-kept secret, said Mrs. Barkat, who works as head of sales at Luminary NYC, a tech company that promotes womens careers. (Mr. Barkat works at a hedge fund, and both are currently working from home.)

The couple, helped by their agent, Shan Chowdhury, an associate broker then at Halstead Property and now at Compass, sought a sunny one- or two-bedroom with an open floor plan in an amenity-filled doorman building, preferably for $800,000 to $1.2 million.

They knew they would get a washer-dryer, a dishwasher and the many conveniences common in new high-rises. In every place, however, something or the other was not fitting for me, Mrs. Barkat said, whether it was location, view or floor plan.

Among their options:

Find out what happened next by answering these two questions:

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A Couple Explore the Towers of Long Island City. Which of These Apartments Would You Choose? - The New York Times

ADDISON, TX - KWA Construction, a leading general contractor specializing in multifamily developments throughout Texas, has topped out on 880 LYN, a luxury waterfront community sprawling over 3.38 acres on Lake Carolyn in the Las Colinas area of Irving, Texas. The nearly $46-million, five-story community developed by Legacy Partners and HGC Investment Management will offer 293 units ranging from 580-square foot studios to 1,945-square foot two-bedrooms.

880 LYN is an example of perfectly blending quality construction with top-tier luxury. As a coveted area for businesses relocating or establishing headquarters in the area, this property will offer everything working professionals and young families desire in a home, said Brian Webster, President of KWA Construction.

Designed by REES Associates, 880 LYNs stunning lakeside views are further enhanced with a variety of vacation-like amenities including a resort-style pool and spa with grilling stations and private cabanas, and a two-story, high-grade cardio and strength fitness center with floor-to-ceiling glass walls. Other amenities include a demonstration kitchen, wine grotto, sports bar and lounge, card room, business center, video conference room and private party suite with a kitchen, living area and dining room seating 14. In addition, this community will have direct access to a new docking facility with water taxi service, paddle boards and kayaks for resident use.

Scheduled for completion in October 2021, the property is located near public transit including the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and the Las Colinas Area Personal Transit System (APT), allowing easy access for commuters. Situated 15 miles from Dallas, the apartment complex is one of the latest projects in the rapidly growing area of Las Colinas that continues to lure companies from across Texas and out of state.

880 LYN marks KWA Constructions first project with the nationwide multifamily developer and property manager Legacy Partners, which has a regional hub in Dallas.

About KWA Construction:KWA Construction is a Dallas-based construction firm specializing in multifamily developments throughout Texas. As general contractors, our team of experts remains dedicated to passionately developing our people, building great places and creating better futures. Founded in 2004, KWA has been recognized as one of the fastest growing mid-sized companies in North Texas by the Dallas Business Journal and recognized by the Better Business Bureau for our exemplary ethical conduct. For more information about KWA Construction, visit http://www.kwaconstruction.com

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KWA Construction Tops Out 293-Unit Upscale Waterfront Apartment Community in Las Colinas Area of Irving, Texas - MultifamilyBiz.com

WEST BEND The Common Council gave unanimous approval to the developers agreement for Trails Edge Apartments, a 120-unit project planned for just outside downtown West Bend on South Forest Avenue.

The developers agreement and specific details of what it requires are not yet available, as it was approved with technical corrections that must be made to the document before it is finalized. Generally, developers agreements lay out and define the specific rules, requirements and commitments of a project, which the developer has to meet and perform within the project timeline.

The council voted on the matter at its meeting Monday, but did not discuss the terms of the agreement in open session. There was a closed session to discuss the document right before the vote.

The Trails Edge Apartment project is a three-story, 120-unit apartment building planned for South Forest Avenue, according to West Bend Plan Commission documents. The 4.4-acre parcel for the apartments is on the west side of South Forest Avenue, south of Water Street. The project will be built just south of the Marriott TownePlace Suites hotel and office building currently being constructed at the Forest Avenue and Water Street intersection.

Plan documents show the development proposal was brought to the city by David Decker, through Trails Edge WB LLC, with agent Adam Hertel of the American Architectural Group, Inc.

According to City Administrator Jay Shambeau, the next step for the developer is to close on the property sale, which is expected to occur later this month. Construction is expected to begin during the spring of 2021, and the timetable has the apartment building completed during the third quarter of 2022.

The site plan for the Trails Edge Apartments was approved by the Plan Commission in October. Information presented then showed that the site is zoned for mixed-use development, and stated that the apartment project conformed to West Bends zoning requirements.

The 120-apartment building will have 108 standard parking stalls and four barrier- free stalls in a surface lot, as well as 124 underground parking stalls. Pedestrian access to and from the property is provided by public sidewalks at that location.

City information also stated that the property is within the citys tax incremental finance district 12, and will therefor benefit that district. TIF districts are areas of property that are removed from normal tax rolls for a period, with the money normally collected for taxes going instead to fund improvements within the district. The TIF districts are used to promote and assist redevelopment.

The site is part of the former Gehl property.

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Trails Edge apartment project moves forward in West Bend - Greater Milwaukee Today

Lone Tree's first affordable housing development is planned to begin construction in March, pending approval from the city's planning commission and city council in the coming months.

The Koelbel & Co. affordable housing development at RidgeGate Station will be built adjacent to the newly opened light rail station east of I-25 and south of RidgeGate Parkway. A second RidgeGate Station apartment complex of 540 market-rate units is expected to break ground before the end of the year, catty-corner from the affordable development site.

Jennifer Drybread, the city's planning manager, called the project a milestone accomplishment for Lone Tree. The city has invested heavily in the growth of the region. In May 2019, the city cut the ribbon on three new light rail stations extending south to serve RidgeGate East before any new housing was built in RidgeGate East.

Drybread said providing mobility alternatives was integral to the whole design of the east side.

We're just starting to see the fruits of all that planning and forethought, Drybread said.

The complex is scheduled to open July 1, 2022, according to a site plan submitted by Coventry Development, the master developer of RidgeGate.

The four-story building will contain 67 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments available at prorated rents based on an applicant's household income.

The building will be steps from the RidgeGate Light Rail Station, the southernmost stop on the E, F and R routes for the Regional Transportation District light rail system.

The RidgeGate Station affordable housing building will have 39 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments and 10 three-bedroom apartments. There will be no studio apartments.

To qualify for funding assistance from the state, developers must provide a percentage of units in a proposed housing complex at rental rates determined on area median income (AMI) by county. Maximum rent rates for 2020 Section 8 Housing projects are provided in a price table provided from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) on its website, http://www.chfainfo.com/arh/asset/rent-income-limits.

More than half the RidgeGate affordable apartments will be available for a two-person household income making $40,000 per year or less, including 21 one-bedroom units ranging in rent from $562-$937 per month. An additional 11 two-bedroom apartments will be available between $675-$1,125 per month. Five three-bedroom apartments will be available for $780-$1,300 per month.

Close to 40% of the apartments (26) will be eligible for a two-person household income between $56,000-$64,000, or a four-person household making $70,000-$80,000 per year. Maximum rates for those units range from $1,200-$1,400 per month for a one-bedroom; $1,600-$1,800 for a two-bedroom; and $1,800-$2,000 for a three-bedroom apartment.

The five-building RidgeGate Apartments development a stone's throw away from the site of the affordable housing site received the green light from city council this fall. Both facilities are expected to welcome their first residents in 2022.

It really is a quality development, and it will fit in well the community, Drybread said. I think it's a good fit for Lone Tree.

Coventry Development agreed to provide 350 total affordable housing units in RidgeGate East, and Drybread expects the developer will exceed that number.

It's a start, Drybread said.

The 3,500-acre, master-planned RidgeGate East community was designed around the promise of light rail expansion through Lone Tree. The Southwest Village subdivision, a 2,200 single-family home development south of RidgeGate Station, is also currently in the planning process. When complete, planners estimate RidgeGate East will be home to more than 5,000 people.

The city and Coventry Development made mobility a priority in their conjunctive planning, aiming to give residents alternative transportation options, Drybread said. The city introduced the Link On Demand shuttle service, hired a new mobility manager, installed electric vehicle charging stations and cut the ribbon on the Leaf Pedestrian Bridge all within the past two years. RidgeGate East has intricate plans for trail systems leading to the East-West Trail, which connects Chatfield Reservoir with the Town of Parker.

It began with a vision for this area that I think was shared by the developer, Ridgegate, and Lone Tree in the comprehensive plan, which is to have compact, pedestrian-friendly, transit-friendly development, Drybread said.

The Lone Tree City Center is planned to develop north of the RidgeGate apartments. No formalized plans for that area have been submitted to city council yet.

For information or documents about development projects in the city, visit cityoflonetree.com/projects.

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Lone Tree affordable apartments to break ground in March - parkerchronicle.net

For Sale/Rent

Walk across the radiant heated floors and plunge into the heated pool all year long.

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

9 Drumhack Road, GloucesterPrice: $9,000,000Size: 10,400 square feetBedrooms: 3Baths: 6

Depending on your perspective, a compound comprising two-and-a-half acres, five structures, 10,400 square feet of indoor space, and 14 rooms in the main residence alone can either sound like a dream come true or a massive chore. Luckily, this Gloucester property takes care of all the mundanities so that its owners can fully relish the privilege of living on such a glorious estate.

Lets talk about the grounds: The Arts and Crafts-style home is stationed between lush woodlands and a rocky shoreline, with perennial gardens and pristine grass stretching out around it. How does it stay so green? A 24-zone irrigation system automatically waters the 1.5 acres of lawn. Outside the home, a curving heated pool looks almost like a natural pond. In keeping with its organic look, it contains no chlorineinstead, a computer controls the pools pH and water levels and antibacterial treatment. Since the heated pool can be entered from the inside of the building with its radiant heated floor, it can be used year-round, explains listing agent Keith Shirleyeven below freezing and in a snowstorm.

Bordering the swimming hole is a pool house, which sports a full wet bar, built-in grill, indoor-outdoor fireplace, a dining and separate lounge area, and an eight-person whirlpool spa. Before taking a dip, you can suit up in the dressing room, and before toweling off, you can rinse off in the multi-head shower and steam room. For those quarantining in Massachusetts this winter, the best news of all may be that the entire pavilion closes off with electric glass sliding doors at the push of a button.

Inside the granite and cedar-shingled primary home, the circumstances are not any less opulent. Softly burnished oak and pine woodwork appoint the library, where a wide bank of windows lets you get lost in the ocean and a great book at the same time. A plush, carpeted living room; a spacious, paneled study (which can double as a guest bedroom); and a grand drawing room furnished with a fireplace, balcony, and porthole-like windows distinguish the home. Though it contains three bedrooms, any guests seeking extra privacy can settle into the separate guest cottage. Covered in ivy, the storybook-style building offers a kitchenette, living room, bathroom, bedroom, and, says Shirley, some of the most spectacular views on the property.

For information, contact the Post Shirley Team, Engel & Vlkers Boston, killybrackenestate.com.

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

Photo via Engel & Vlkers Boston

The Boston Home team has curated a list of the best home design and home remodeling professionals in Boston, including architects, builders, kitchen and bath experts, lighting designers, and more. Get the help you need with FindIt/Boston's guide to home renovation pros.

Originally posted here:
On the Market: A Glorious Gloucester Compound on the Oceanfront - Boston magazine

It is a multigenerational home where East Lyme High School boys' cross country coach Sam Harfenist lives with his parents Marilyn and Michael and his soon-to-be 2-year-old daughter Anna, who accounts for a great deal of liveliness in the Glastonbury residence.

Like Sam and his parents did when he was growing up in Congers, N.Y., the family eats dinner together every night.

"I like my life. It's good," Harfenist said. "I can't ask for anything more."

In April, however, things became more complicated. Marilyn, then 70, wasn't feeling well, ultimately diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism and advanced ovarian cancer.

The Harfenists were advised that the hospitals with the lowest rate of COVID-19 infections at that time were William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich and Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London, but the local ambulance service would only be willing to transport Marilyn to Hartford, Sam said. So Sam Harfenist drove his car across the front lawn to the door, loaded his mother in the car and drove her to the hospital himself.

She remained hospitalized at Backus for 22 days, with no visitors allowed due to the coronavirus. The first night, a doctor told Sam and his father by telephone that Marilyn's life was in danger. Neither slept. By the next morning, things were more optimistic. Doctors began to break up the clot in Marilyn's lung. Throughout her hospital stay, first in the intensive care unit, she was able to speak to her family by FaceTime, although she would still need surgery and the ensuing chemotherapy to treat the ovarian cancer.

And suddenly Sam Harfenist realized that his everyday routine of teaching science and coaching cross country at East Lyme needed to change, at least temporarily, with Harfenist unwilling to take the chance of being exposed to the coronavirus and then transmitting it to his parents.

"Harf," as he became known to his runners over his 12 seasons as head coach, took the fall off from coaching, replaced on an interim basis by successful East Lyme girls' cross country coach Mike Flynn, who coached both teams. The Vikings had won three consecutive Class MM state championships headed into the 2020 season.

"It was the right decision," said Harfenist, 38, in a recent telephone conversation. "It still didn't make it any easier.

"As we moved closer to fall, it didn't appear the season was going to happen (due to COVID). Everything kept on changing. When everything was going to start, we found out the kids could be without masks while running. The school was very nice to me; I have an air filter and purifier and I have lots of plexiglass in the classroom. But unless I was going to coach from the top row of the bleachers ... I felt my family is very important. I don't want to be the person to bring it home.

"It was just a very, very difficult decision. We are very familial on our team. Steve (Hargis, East Lyme athletic director) was phenomenal in granting me leave."

Sam became a regular at his mother's chemo appointments at Hartford Hospital, allowing his 74-year-old father to stay at home and away from potential exposure to COVID.

He learned the specifics of ovarian cancer, which is difficult to detect in its early stages and easy to metastasize or spread to other organs.

And he wound up cooking the family's dinners.

"I treat it like a chemistry experiment," Harfenist said with a laugh of his time in the kitchen. "Generally, I don't succeed at the cooking piece. I can make eggs, pasta, I can make chicken. I cannot do really high-tech meals. Some forms of hamburgers. One thing I'm really looking forward to when the pandemic is over is going to a restaurant."

***

On a given day during past seasons, until COVID-19 altered the logistics this year, Sam Harfenist would have seven or eight cross country runners eating lunch in his classroom, covering various topics of conversation or using his printer.

"I like to think one of the things about our team, we have a good environment that kids want to perform," Harfenist said. "We're better than we look on paper."

In 2017, the Vikings began their run of Class MM state championships, first ending Norwich Free Academy's 60-meet winning streak during the regular season, then tacking on a victory at the Eastern Connecticut Conference championship behind individual winner Sam Whittaker. It was East Lyme's first state championship since 1970.

A repeat came the following year. Whittaker was the Class MM individual champion and Chris Abbey was second, leading the Vikings to the team title by an overwhelming 53-118 margin over runner-up E.O. Smith. Harfenist, at the time, called the title "equal, if not better than the first one."

Then came the 2019 season, without Whittaker, who graduated and went to run at Division I Bucknell. East Lyme placed three runners in the top 10, led by then-sophomore Luke Anthony in second, on the way to a third straight title.

The state championship meets were not conducted this year due to the coronavirus.

"Coach Harf played a large role within the team in and outside of practice," said Anthony, who helped fill the void left by Whittaker. "From reading out our splits on the track to team lunches, coach Harf was there to help us secure our three state championships."

Funny that Harfenist, a graduate of Clarkstown High School North in New York and Connecticut College where he majored in biochemistry, never ran growing up or thought of himself as coaching.

"I never intended to coach," Harfenist said. "I was (longtime East Lyme girls' track coach) Carl Reichard's student teacher a long time ago. He told me it was my civic duty to help the kids and he roped me into something I knew nothing about. I played basketball but I was not in the running game.

"I've done so many things from running. I made a bet with the kids once, if they accomplished something I would get into shape. I ended up running a marathon. ... When (former coach) Doug Sharples retired, I ended up taking (the cross country job).

"It wasn't necessarily something at the time I wanted. It's kind of a strange thing how it works out. It became very important."

***

For the first few months after his mother was diagnosed and began treatment she underwent four rounds of chemotherapy even before her surgery in July Harfenist told barely a soul about Marilyn's fight with ovarian cancer.

Then he thought, what if talking about it could help someone else?

"It's one of the silent killers," Harfenist said of what he's learned. "Even regular GYN appointments don't necessarily catch it. It's so hard to detect unless you're using sonograms and ultrasounds. If (this story) could help somebody get more regular testing, I would be happy.

"My mom did regular checkups. She's a breast cancer survivor. She would go to regular GYN appointments. Nothing like this ran in our family. Most ovarian cancers are not detected until stage three or four because the symptoms mask themselves as abdominal or gastrointestinal issues. Even though it's a lot less common, it's a lot more deadly."

Still, Harfenist remains grateful ... for the doctors at Backus Hospital who saved Marilyn's life, for the seemingly endless supply of food provided to the family by his colleagues in East Lyme, for the athletes who continued to check in with him and for his daughter Anna's endless chatter, which, he said, provides a diversion around the house.

"She's very inquisitive about the world around her. She likes to explore. She is a very happy kid," Harfenist said. "She knows how to wrap me around her finger, I think. She's pretty good at convincing me that she should get what she wants. She loves blocks and Elmo and Cookie Monster and our cocker spaniel, Jack.

"Having Anna in our family at this time is so incredibly valuable. She doesn't know anything is different. She'll still throw a tantrum when she wants. It's a good piece of normalcy."

Now, Marilyn has finished her chemotherapy treatments. Having resumed in-person learning this fall after teaching virtually due to COVID during the spring, Sam, who looks forward to coaching his runners once again next year, heads down Route 2 each morning from Glastonbury to East Lyme with Anna in the car headed for day care.

He calls the family's outlook "cautiously optimistic."

Said Harfenist: "Things are good and we should be happy. We're hoping for a long period of remission. Each day is important. We're taking it one day at a time. Hopefully, good things will continue to happen."

v.fulkerson@theday.com

Continued here:
East Lyme's Harfenist took a step back from coaching in a pandemic ... for good reason - theday.com

Biden and his allies have noted that Congress granted a similar waiver to James Mattis four years ago when Trump nominated him for the same job. But that comparison is awkward at best. Mattis drew broad bipartisan support because lawmakers at the time expected that he would serve as a potential check on Trumps worst impulses, and because Mattis would have the stature to defy an illegal order if Trump gave one. For obvious reasons, members of Congress didnt quite say this out loud at the time, and those factors arent at play for Biden or Austin. Biden may yet see Austin confirmed, but hell have to expend some political capital to get it done.

Some in Bidenworld have argued that the president-elect is prioritizing experience over other factors. But Bidens hiring moves on Thursday seem to undercut those claims. Denis McDonough, who is reportedly his pick to run the Department of Veterans Affairs, is a former White House chief of staff who also served as a member of the National Security Council in the Obama years. Its unclear how that background will translate to the massive health care bureaucracy that is the V.A. (Most V.A. leaders were also veterans; McDonough is not.) Bidens announcement that Susan Rice, Obamas former national security adviser, will lead the White House Domestic Policy Council is equally puzzling. Rice is one of the most prominent foreign policy experts in Democratic circles and was once considered for secretary of state; her experience with domestic policy issues appears to be minimal at best.

And then theres Rahm Emanuel. The controversial mayor of Chicagos name keeps coming up as a potential contender for Cabinet slots, including secretary of transportation or other prominent administration roles. Emanuel, like many other Biden picks, is a familiar face from the Obama years. But he brings no apparent qualifications for running the Department of Transportation. His own handling of transit and environmental justice issues in Chicago is middling at best, and his role in covering up the Chicago Police Departments killing of Laquan McDonald in 2014 makes him radioactive for progressives and civil rights activists.

I dont want to give short shrift to the challenges Biden is facing. He could be the first Democratic president since 1885 to enter the White House without full control of Congress. The House Democratic majority hinges on fewer than a dozen seats, and any members who resign might not be replaced for months. To capture the Senate, Democrats would also need to win both of Georgias Senate seats in the runoff elections next month to secure a 50-member majority with Vice Presidentelect Kamala Harriss tie-breaking vote. This outcome isnt impossible, of course. But Biden would be foolish to assume that it will happen when building his Cabinet.

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Biden Is Finding New and Inexplicable Ways to Screw Up His Cabinet Picks - The New Republic

When the White House welcomes a new first family it gets a thorough cleaning in the five hours allotted for the turnover. But with a global pandemic raging and an outgoing President whose orbit is rife with people shunning public health guidelines and coming down with Covid-19 this Jan. 20 is expected to include a deeper, more exhaustive cleaning, according to a White House official.

It's one of many changes expected around how the White House operates when President-elect Joe Biden takes over. His campaign has diligently modeled public health guidelines with mask wearing and social distancing even as he campaigned against outgoing President Trump, who instead held large rallies packed with people, many of whom did not wear masks.

While there are not "firm plans" for execution, the agency in charge of things, the General Services Administration, is handling what will be a "thorough disinfecting and cleansing" of every surface in the 55,000 square foot mansion.

Here's what else to expect:

In November, after at least two outbreaks of Covid-19 occurred in the White House, one affecting the first family, GSA contracted a company to regularly "mist" disinfectant cleaner throughout the interior.

Press have witnessed some of the current cleaning, which involve staff in full hazmat-looking suits misting widely used areas such as the briefing room.

These misters are now a frequent and welcome presence to those who work in the building, as science has determined the highly contagious coronavirus can linger on surfaces, as well as be passed through air.

The misters and the cleaners will have to tackle the White House's 132 rooms, which consist of 16 bedrooms, 35 bathrooms, six levels of the residence, 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases and at least three elevators.

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Latest news on the Trump-Biden transition: Live updates - CNN

By John Baer

This is more of a political stretch than a likelihood, but modern American politics teaches us that all things are possible.

And yes, U.S. Senator Bob Casey Jr., Scranton-born hometown pal and ally of President-Elect Joe Biden, says he wants to stay in the Senate. But he also says if Biden offers an administration post, hed be honored to talk about it.

So its at least worth some political fun to consider just in case being honored turns in to being hired who Gov. Tom Wolf would choose as Caseys replacement. Because thats how it works: the governor fills a Senate vacancy.

Would Wolf look to make history by naming a Black, Latino or woman? Boost a political pal who wants to be a senator? Or pick a placeholder who wont seek the job come next election?

For starters, Wolf could name himself, but that would never happen. Hes made clear his current office is his last. And Im reliably told he wants to remain in his 45-year marriage to wife Frances. Which is to say, she wouldnt like it.

Then who?

An obvious pick is Lt. Gov. John Fetterman. He ran for Senate in the 2016 Democratic primary (won by Katie McGinty) and is expected to run for Senate or governor in 2022.

Whoever Wolf would pick serves until the next general election in November 2021. The winner of that election serves out Caseys term through 2024.

But Fetterman might take a pass. He could be leaning more toward a run for governor. Still, there are Sheetz stores in the D.C. area. And certainly Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a likely 2022 gubernatorial candidate himself, would happily help Fetterman out with any move.

Or Wolf could tap state Treasurer Joe Torsella.

The Berwick-born, Ivy-educated Rhodes scholar already has a senator-like resume, and a karmic case for his selection.

Hes a former U.S. Representative to the United Nations, a former president and CEO of the National Constitution Center and a former chairman of the state Board of Education.

Torsella narrowly lost reelection as Treasurer to Republican Stacy Garrity last month in a race all but invisible compared to the presidential race.

A case could be made, with no disrespect to Garrity, that Torsellas loss was due to the state no longer having straight-party voting. It went away as part of 2019 legislation backed and signed by Gov. Wolf giving us mail-in voting.

Did that hurt down-ballot Dems? Well, in Torsellas case, the drop-off between Biden and Torsella was more than 200,000 votes. Torsella lost to Garrity by 52,500 votes. Would he have lost with straight-party voting? Maybe. Maybe not. And maybe the political fates will make his loss up to him.

Meanwhile, the state never has had a woman senator, or a Black senator, or a Latino senator. Wolf could tilt in that direction.

And if he leans to gender, you might think the aforementioned McGinty, who lost the 2016 Senate race to incumbent Republican Pat Toomey by just 1.5% of the vote, would be a logical choice. Dont. She was briefly Wolfs chief of staff. Didnt work out. No reward is in the offing.

How about University of Pennsylvania Prez Amy Gutman? Pals with Biden. Great fundraiser. And while she takes some flak for her reported $3.6 million salary, she and her husband, Columbia University Prof Michael Doyle, donated $2 million this fall to Penns nursing school. Theres speculation Biden might ask her to serve in his cabinet. There was similar speculation in 2016, if Hillary Clinton was elected.

Or Wolf could tap Pedro Rivera, his former secretary of education, now president of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, whos currently working on Bidens transition team.

Or Dwight Evans, a Philadelphia political force, a former long-time state House power, elected to Congress in 2016. Evans, who is Black, was among the first name Democrats to endorse then-little-known Wolf for governor in 2014.

Of course, many others could be considered. And, as noted, the likelihood of the need arising is, at best, slim.

Yet its still 2020. So almost any political musing enters the realm of the possible.

John Baer may be reached at baer.columnist@gmail.com

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If Bob Casey joins the Biden cabinet, who replaces him in the Senate? | Opinion - lehighvalleylive.com