Rick & Newt get the boot (and Frank too?)

    Fox News has suspended former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich from their contributor duties at the network because the boys are looking too much like presidential candidates.

    The move was announced by Fox News anchor Bret Baier, who said the “suspension is effective for 60 days, then on May 1st their contracts will be terminated unless they notify Fox that they are not running for president.”

    On the local front, West Philadelphia Republican Ward leader Matt Wolfe plans to sue to try and knock GOP City Councilman Frank Rizzo off the ballot because of his enrollment in the controversial DROP retirement program.

    Yesterday Wolfe released copies of a suit he plans to file next week when nominating petitions for the May 17th primary are due.

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    Rizzo is scheduled to take a $194,000 lump sum payment and then, assuming he’s re-elected, return to office after his one-day retirement to serve another term.

    Wolfe’s suit argues the candidate’s affidavit Rizzo must file will contain “a false statement in saying that the candidate is eligible for the office of City Council At Large.”

    The Deferred Retirement Option Program requires applicants to “make an irrevocable commitment to separate from City service,” Wolfe argues, and thus Rizzo can’t legally return for another term.

    Rizzo hopes City Council enacts legislation allowing him to withdraw from the retirement program.

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