



































COMMONWEALTH

A JOURNAL
OF POLITICAL
SCIENCE

PUBLISHED BY

THE PENNSYLVANIA

POLITICAL SCIENCE

ASSOCIATION

VOL. 17, NO. 1, 2015



© Copyright 2015 by the Pennsylvania Political Science Association ISSN 0890-2410. 



i

COMMONWEALTH
A Journal of Political Science

EDITOR IN CHIEF 
J. Wesley Leckrone, Widener University

BOOK REVIEW EDITOR/ASSOCIATE EDITOR 
Thomas J. Baldino, Wilkes University

ASSOCIATE EDITORS 
Michelle Atherton, Temple University

Christopher Borick, Muhlenberg College
Paula Holoviak, Kutztown University

Joseph McLaughlin, Temple University

MANAGING EDITOR 
Michael E. Cassidy, Temple University

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD 
Bruce Caswell, Rowan University

Beverly Cigler, Pennsylvania State University Harrisburg
Richardson Dilworth, Drexel University
John Kennedy, West Chester University

John Kincaid, Lafayette College
David Y. Miller, University of Pittsburgh

Joseph Marbach, Georgian Court University
Megan Mullin, Duke University

Richard Stafford, Carnegie Mellon University

COPY EDITOR 
Barbara Crawford

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT 
Nicole Crossey, Widener University

FOUNDING EDITOR EMERITUS 
Donald G. Tannenbaum, Gettysburg College 

EDITORS EMERITUS 
Thomas J. Baldino, Wilkes University

Gerard J. Fitzpatrick, Ursinus College



ii

PENNSYLVANIA POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION
Officers and Executive Council 

2015–16

PRESIDENT
Christopher Borick 
Muhlenberg College

 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT SECOND VICE PRESIDENT 
 Steven Peterson Lanethea Mathews-Schultz 
 Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg Muhlenberg College

 TREASURER SECRETARY 
 Steven B. Lem Paula Holoviak 
 Kutztown University Kutztown University

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL 
2013–16 Term

 Joseph McLaughlin Ayesha Ray 
 Temple University Kings College

2014–17 Term

 Michelle DeMary Kyle Kreider 
 Susquehanna University Wilkes University

2015–18 Term

 Michelle Atherton Michael Greenberg 
 Temple University Shippensburg University

EX OFFICIO MEMBERS

 PAST PRESIDENT PAST PRESIDENT 
 Brooke Harlowe Stanley Berard 
 Lock Haven University Lock Haven University

EDITORIAL STAFF OF 
COMMONWEALTH: A Journal of Political Science

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 
J. Wesley Leckrone 
Widener University

 ASSOCIATE EDITOR & ASSOCIATE EDITOR & 
 BOOK REVIEW EDITOR SPECIAL ISSUE EDITOR 
 Thomas J. Baldino Donald Tannenbaum 
 Wilkes University Gettysburg College

EDITOR EMERITUS 
Gerard J. Fitzpatrick 

Ursinus College



iii

Advertising, reprint information, and rates are available from the 
PPSA Treasurer, Dr. Steve Lem (Dept. of Political Science and Public 
Administration, P.O. Box 730, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA  19530). 
Changes of address should be sent to Dr. Lem.

POSTMASTER:  send notification of undelivered journals to: Dr. Steve 
Lem,  Dept. of Political Science and Public Administration, P.O. Box 730, 
Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA  19530. Second class postage paid at 
Harrisburg, PA and at additional mailing offices.

Copyright 2015 by the Pennsylvania Political Science Association. 
Back issues are available online for viewing and private individual use at 
http://www.papolisci.org/journal-commonwealth/. All rights reserved.



iv

CONTENTS
Volume 17, Number 1 2015
 ISBN 0890-2410

About the Authors ...................................................................................... vi

COMMONWEALTH Matters by J. Wesley Leckrone, Editor-in-Chief .......... vii

COMMONWEALTH: Genesis by Donald Tannenbaum, Editor Emeritus  ..... ix

Articles

Local Government Mandates in Pennsylvania: How 
‘Burdensome’ Are They?

Paula A. Duda Holoviak ............................................................... 1

FMLA in PA: Analysis of Family and Medical Leave Policy 
in the State

Jennie Sweet-Cushman ............................................................... 14

The Rise and Fall of Pennsylvania’s Voter Identification Law
Max Guirguis .............................................................................. 35

Electoral Vote Allocation and Pennsylvania: How and Why 
We Should Embrace the Status Quo

Heather Frederick and Terrance Kibble ..................................... 58



v

Book Reviews
Adams, Carolyn T.  From the Outside In: Suburban Elites, 

Third-Sector Organizations, and the Reshaping of 
Philadelphia.  
Review by Michelle J. Atherton ...................................................... 82

Tarr, Joel A., ed. Devastation and Renewal: An 
Environmental History of Pittsburgh and its 
Region
Review by Brian Whitman .............................................................. 83

Bumsted, Brad. Keystone Corruption:  A Pennsylvania Insiders 
View of A State Government Gone Wrong.  
Review by Christopher P. Borick ..................................................... 85

Baer, John. On the Front Lines of Pennsylvania Politics: 
Twenty-Five Years of Keystone Reporting. 
Review by Kalen M.A. Churcher .................................................... 86

Ecenbarger, William. Kids for Cash: Two Judges, Thousands of 
Children, and a $2.6 Million Kickback Scheme.  
Review by Joseph Sabino Mistick ................................................... 88   

Gullan, Harold I. Toomey’s Triumph: Inside a Key Senate 
Campaign.  
Review by Nathan R. Shrader ......................................................... 89



vi

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Heather Frederick, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Political Science 
at Slippery Rock University. She received her doctorate in political science 
from West Virginia University and her BA from Hollins University where 
she majored in Philosophy and Communications with a minor in women’s 
studies.  She regularly teaches courses in American Government, including 
The Presidency and American National Government.  Dr. Frederick also 
serves as the pre-law coordinator for the university and offers courses in The 
Courts, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights and Constitutional Law.  

Max Guirguis, Ph.D., is a Professor of Political Science at Shepherd 
University in West Virginia, where he teaches courses in constitutional law 
and international affairs. His research focuses primarily on constitutional 
law topics in which he has published several articles in academic journals, 
including Stetson Law Review and Journal of Technology Law and Policy.

Paula A. Duda Holoviak, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of 
Political Science and Public Administration at Kutztown University where 
she also serves as the Program Coordinator for the Master of Public 
Administration program.  She specializes in Pennsylvania politics, state and 
local government and rural economic and community development.

Terrance Kibble, is a senior at Slippery Rock University majoring in 
political science.  He intends to pursue a career in law and hails from 
Pittsburgh, PA.

Jennie Sweet-Cushman, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of Political Science 
and Assistant Director of the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics 
at Chatham University. She received her doctoral degree from Wayne State 
University and her research focuses on women, politics, and public policy 
with a particular emphasis on political ambition and candidate emergence.




