Katniss Everdeen was nowhere in sight, that didn’t stop U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., from envisioning “The Hunger Games” on the Senate floor this afternoon.

He used imagery from the popular book-turned-movie in order to blast an amendment by Republican Senate colleague Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania.

The amendment, which was brought to the floor and then immediately tabled on a 53-45 vote, would have ensure payments to active military, Social Security recipients and national debt holders even if Congress hasn’t raised the debt ceiling. 

Mr. Toomey introduced the amendment into a bill already approved by the House that suspends the debt ceiling through May 18 and prevents lawmakers from collecting paychecks unless they have passed a budget.

“My amendment is about minimizing the risk of disruption in the event that the debt ceiling is not raised by the moment it expires,” Mr. Toomey said during brief floor debate this afternoon. It would authorize the treasury secretary to raise the debt ceiling if necessary to cover interest on the national debt, Social Security checks and pay for active duty military, he said.

Mr. Baucus compared the idea to “The Hunger Games,” in which children were forced to fight to the death until only one survived.

"Under this amendment there are three categories that would be protected,” Mr. Baucus said. “Everybody else is out for him or herself. … It would be total chaos.”

     Dan Gilman, a candidate for Pittsburgh City Council District 8, is showing some financial muscle in his bid for the Democratic nomination to succeed his boss, Bill Peduto, in the East End seat.
        His campaign said his annual campaign finance report will show that he raised $57,031 from the time he opened his campaign committee in October through the end of the 2012 reporting period.  The campaign said  he had raised an additional $28,000 this year for a total of more than $85,000.
        Mr. Gilman, a longtime council aide, is competing for the seat against Sam Hens-Greco and Jean Clarke.  Mr. Hens-Greco said his fund-raising was just getting underway and that his year-end report would show that he had raised only a few thousand dollars so far.  Ms. Clark said he had not formed a fund-rising committee until 2013, and thus would not be required to file a contribution report by the Thursday deadline.

Gov. Tom Corbett announced plans today to privatize liquor sales in the state -- allowing supermarkets and other outlets to sell beer and wine -- which he said would generate $1 billion to fund public education.

Under the proposal private sellers could buy licences to sell alcohol products, with the state using the proceeds to pay for school safety, early learning, individualized learning, and science and technology programs.

Grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies, large retailers and beer distributors can file an application to sell beer and wine. Some beer distributors will be able to become "one-stop shops" where they can by spirits along with beer and wine, as consumers do in other states.

The governor's office will introduce the package in the state House, where Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, said there is "a lot of energy and a lot of enthusiasm" for the changes. Senate leaders have been skeptical of full-scale changes however.

Pennsylvania's current alcohol laws are among the strictest in the nation, with only state-owned stores allowed to sell wine and spirits, taverns and restaurants selling six-packs of beer, and distributors selling beer by the case. Only Utah is stricter, and the governor said the laws stamp Pennsylvania as being old-fashioned and out of step with most other states in the nation.

"You people in Pennsylvania do not deserve to be treated like that in the 21st century," Mr. Corbett said.

Graphic: Governor's office

News release after the jump:

State Sen. Jim Ferlo, D-Highland Park, went on the Senate floor today to blast Gov. Tom Corbett's liquor privatization plans, saying they will hurt middle class (ie, union) jobs; lead to alcohol proliferation; hurt existing licensees like bars; and affect the state's bottom line.

"So what's the alternative? The alternative is to follow the path that my esteemed colleague on the other side of the aisle, the President Pro Tem, has publicly embraced. Let's use the asset and the system that we have today, which has provided good jobs, protected the public health, and helped us fund state programs for decades and continue to improve upon it. We have seen enormous enhancement in the Wine and Spirits Stores in the past 15 years and I believe that we have options on the table to offer an even better product to consumers, while continuing its core mission, and not sacrifice consistent funding and family-sustaining jobs."

Full text of his remarks below: