PA Capitol Report: Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week
Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else–
— New Voting Districts – Senate, House, Congressional
— Spotlight PA: What Makes A Voting District Map Fair? Here’s What We Learned During PA’s Redistricting Cycle
— WHYY: PA Latinos Want More Lawmakers From Their Communities, New Voting District Maps Offer That Chance
— WESA/AP: PA State House, Senate Races Take Shape After Redistricting Delay
— PennLive Guest Essay: It’s Time To Reform The Redistricting Process – Fmr Rep. Gene DiGirolamo
— TribLive Editorial: Redistricting Process Needs To Be Fixed Sooner Rather Than Later
— Governor’s Race
— AP: Four Republican Candidates For Governor Set Rules To Join A Debate
— WHYY: What’s Behind Republican Gubernatorial Candidates’ ‘Bizarre’ New Demand To Keep Debates Insular
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: 4 Republican Gubernatorial Candidates Set Unprecedented Rules For Their Participation In Debates
— Inquirer: PA Republicans Running For Governor Want A Safe Space For Their Debates
— PA Cap-Star: 4 Republican Candidates For Governor Demand Republican Moderator, No ‘Yes Or No’ Questions For Primary Debates
— AP: Abortion To Elections, Republican Candidates For Governor On The Issues
— PennLive – John Baer: PA’s Republican Primary For Governor Is The Incredible Shrinking Race
— TribLive Editorial: Republican Candidates For Governor Should Embrace Better Debates
— PG: Republican Candidates For Governor Take Magic Wand Approach To Fix One Thing In PA
— Inquirer: Fact-Checking Republican Bill McSwain’s Campaign Ads, Statements As He Runs For PA Governor
— PA Cap-Star: Two Republican Lt. Governor Hopefuls Ask Sen. Mastriano; Running Mate Daniels, To Be Civil In 2022 Primary
— City & State PA: Democratic Candidate For Lt. Governor Looks To Build Momentum
— Republican Herald: PA Republican, U.S. Senate, Gubernatorial Candidates All Vying For Fmr President’s Endorsement
— U.S. Senate Race
— Politics PA: Nearly $50 Million Spent So Far In PA U.S. Senate Race
— PA Cap-Star: Outside Group Flood PA’s U.S. Senate Race With Cash
— Republican Herald: PA Republican, U.S. Senate, Gubernatorial Candidates All Vying For Fmr President’s Endorsement
— Spotlight PA: Coalition To Host Debates For PA U.S. Senate With Republican, Democratic Candidates April 25-26 At Dickinson College
— PG: Republican Candidate For U.S. Senate Jeff Bartos Says Opponents Aren’t True Pennsylvanians
— TribLive: Democratic U.S. Senate Candidates Square Off In Forum At Carnegie Mellon
— PG: Democratic Contenders For U.S. Senate Split On Key Issues During Forum At Carnegie Mellon
— WESA: Democratic Candidates For U.S. Senate Spar Over Climate Crisis, U.S. Supreme Court In Debate
— PA Cap-Star: How PA Teachers’ Pensions Fit Into The Feud Between Oz, McCormick
— WBTimes: Dr. Oz Removed From Biden’s Sports Council
— PennLive: Fmr President May Still Make Endorsement In Republican Primary Races
— May 2022 Primary Election
— WESA/AP: PA State House, Senate Races Take Shape After Redistricting Delay
— MCall – Ford Turner: Open Lehigh Valley Senate, House Seats Draw Nearly A Dozen Candidates
— The Center Square: Democrats Outraised Republicans By 33% In PA House Races
— City & State PA: 5 PA Women To Watch During The Midterm Elections
— TribLive: Democrat Steve Irwin’s Congressional Campaign Admits Some Petition Signatures Were Forged
— Courier Times Guest Essay: Battle For Hispanic Voters Comes To Allentown
— November 2021 Election
— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout
— The Sentinel: Bill Changing PA Election Code To Be Considered In House Monday
— AP: Republican Push For State Election Reviews Mixed, But Sows Distrust [PA Included]
— MCall Guest Essay: Battles For Democracy Rage In Ukraine And State Capitols – Lehigh County Controller
— WLVR: Hate Group Propaganda Is Surging In Pennsylvania, Study Finds
— USA Today: Why Is There Support For Russia And Putin On America’s Far Right?
— PA’s Role In Assault On U.S. Capitol
— PG: Sharpsburg, Allegheny County Woman Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol
— TribLive: Allegheny County Woman Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol
— State Constitutional Amendments
— Spotlight PA: Complete Guide To More Than 70 Proposed Amendments To State Constitution
— PA Politics Of Russian Invasion
— WITF: Some Experts Want PA Lawmakers To Rethink Temporary Gasoline Tax Cuts
— MCall – Paul Muschick: Why It Would Be A Colossal Mistake For PA To Waive Its Gasoline Tax
— PennLive Guest Essay: Proposed Gasoline Tax Holiday Is A Bait-And-Switch As A Fiscal Crisis Looms – Commonwealth Foundation
— YorkDR: Where Is The Gasoline Tax Money Going In PA?
— TribLive Guest Essay: PA Should Take Lead In Hitting Russia In Its Budget By Unleashing Natural Gas Industry – House Republican Leader [See this week’s 6th Oil/Natural Gas Shock for the real story]
— AP: PA Police Agencies Sending Body Armor To Ukraine
— MCall: Air Products Plans To Pull Out Of Russia Because Of Ukraine War, CEO Announces
— USA Today: Why Is There Support For Russia And Putin On America’s Far Right?
— Harrisburg Politics Potpourri
— Politics PA: Special House Elections Just 2 Weeks Away
— LancasterOnline: Millions Of House Lawmakers’ Expenses Would Be Accessible Online Under New Bill
— LancasterOnline Editorial: Taxpayers Have The Right To See Expenses Claimed By House Members
— MCall – Ford Turner: Open Lehigh Valley Senate, House Seats Draw Nearly A Dozen Candidates
— WITF: Republican Rep. Cox Won’t Seek Another Term
— PennLive: Republican Rep. Helm Will Not Seek Reelection
— PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: Will PA Ever Get Serious About Property Tax Reform?
— TribLive Guest Essay: America Deserves A U.S. Supreme Court That Reflects The Diversity Of Our People – Rep. Joanna McClinton (D)
— PennLive Guest Essay: Staffing Crisis At PA State Prisons Is Creating Dangerous Conditions For Our Communities – Corrections Officers Union
— The Center Square: PA Bill Would Require Gun Locks With Gun Sales: ‘Bring Back Some Law And Order’
— PA Cap-Star: PA Lawmakers Unveil Bipartisan Plan To Prevent Abuse Within Guardianship System
— AP: PA Liquor Board Reverses Decision, Will Not Allow Beer, Wine Licensees To Seel Edible CBD Products
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Republican Lawmaker, Ex-Cop Explains His Support For Marijuana Legalization: ‘I Haven’t Lost My Mind’
— Inquirer: PA’s Top Marijuana Regulator Decries Stubbornly High Retail Prices For Medical Marijuana
— ScrantonT: Is The Push To Ban Smoking In PA Casinos Gaining Traction?
— TribLive: Mississippi Duo Scammed More Than $10,000 From Rivers Casino
— Inquirer: Hundreds Of Philly’s Elected Leaders Didn’t Vote Last Year, Others Don’t Live Where They Say They Do
— TribLive Editorial: A Nomination Isn’t A Political Promise
— Budget 2022
— Post-Gazette: PA State Government’s Bank Accounts Are Flush With Cash. Will It Last?
— Independent Fiscal Office Reports Gov. Wolf’s FY 2022-23 Budget Proposals Will Result In General Fund Deficits Of Over $1 Billion Starting In FY 2023-24
— The Center Square: Independent Fiscal Office Update Casts Doubt On Wolf’s Rosy Budget Outlook
— Gov. Wolf Calls On General Assembly To Provide Immediate Support To Small Businesses
— Gov. Wolf Calls On General Assembly To Invest In Older Pennsylvanians Thru Property Tax Relief Program
— MCall – Paul Muschick: Why It Would Be A Colossal Mistake For PA To Waive Its Gasoline Tax
— PennLive Guest Essay: Proposed Gasoline Tax Holiday Is A Bait-And-Switch As A Fiscal Crisis Looms – Commonwealth Foundation
— PA Cap-Star: PA Democrat Proposes Study Of 4 Day Work Week For State Employees
— PA Cap-Star: Turnpike Officials Say Prepare For Toll Sticker Shock This Year
— COVID Pandemic In PA
— MCall: COVID Updated: New Omicron Variant Up Tenfold In A Month; 4,224 Infections This Week
— WHYY: She Wanted To Vaccinate Their Kids, He Didn’t, A Judge Had To Decide
— WESA: Wastewater Offers Clues To COVID’s Next Move In Allegheny County
— WESA: Pittsburgh Transit Fired 4 People Over Vaccine Mandate, Disciplinary Hearings Continue
— WPSU: Penn State Lifts Indoor Mask Mandate, Pauses Required COVID Testing
— Dept. Of Health Announces Public Comment Period For Proposed Skilled Nursing Facility Care Regulations
— PG: Alzheimer’s Caregivers In PA Face Huge Burden
— AP: Two PA Workers Charged With Abusing Residents Of Beaver County Care Home
— TribLive: Highmark Reports $22 Billion In Revenue
— PG Editorial: Highmark’s Success Should Be Spread Around
— The Guardian: U.S. Likely To See COVID Cases Rise From Omicron Subvariant, Dr. Fauci Says
— COVID – Schools
— PG: No Matter How Schools Handled Pandemic, Standardized Test Scores Still Fell
— School Districts/Higher Education
— State Auditor General: Responsibility For School District Audits Will Return To Dept. Of Education, Closes School Audit Office
— PennLive: PA Legislative Black Caucus Accepting Applications For Roebuck Scholarship
— AP: PA Approves Stronger Private Charter School Regulations
— Gov. Wolf Applauds Independent Regulatory Review Commission Approval Of Updates To Minimum Wage Regulations
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Gov. Wolf’s Private Charter School Accountability Regulations Pass Regulatory Hurdle
— ScrantonT Editorial: Private Charter School Regs Further Necessary Reforms
— York Dispatch: Student Gunned Down Near York High School
— PA Cap-Star: Philly School District Launches Plan To Address Aging School Buildings
— TribLive: Fewer Applications For College Financial Aid Could Signal Continued Dip In Higher Ed Enrollments
— Post-Gazette: Parents, Alumni, Students Make Plea For Academic Freedom At Grove City College
— Erie Times: Lobbying Firm Withdraws From Erie Community College Contract Negotiations
— MCall: Alvernia University Receives $2 Million For Campus In Pottsville
— WHYY: Temple’s Public Safety Director Stepping Down Amid Wave Of Violence
— PG: Grove City College Awaits Committee’s Finding On Critical Race Theory
— Gun Violence/Law Enforcement
— AP: Two PA State Troopers, Civilian Killed In Crash On I-95
— TribLive: 5 Pittsburgh Police Officers Terminated After Investigation Into Death Of Jim Rogers
— Post-Gazette: Activists See Mixed Bag In Firing Of Five Cops In Jim Rogers Death
— York Dispatch: Student Gunned Down Near York High School
— Erie Times: Despite Mayor’s Order, Erie Police Officer Never Suspended For Kicking Protestor
— WHYY: Temple’s Public Safety Director Stepping Down Amid Wave Of Violence
— Spotlight PA: Judge Admonishes PA State Police For Response To Right-To-Know Request Seeking Email, Phone Records
— WHYY/BillyPenn: Solutions Bubble Up In Philadelphia Neighborhoods Most Impacted By Gun Violence
— PA Capital-Star: Philly City Council Members Sound Off On Gun Violence Efforts In Philadelphia
— PennLive: City Of Harrisburg Leaders Want Action After String Of Shootings: ‘It’s At A Point Where It’s Unstoppable’
— The Center Square: PA Bill Would Require Gun Locks With Gun Sales: ‘Bring Back Some Law And Order’
— MCall: Lehigh County DA Seeks To Remove Allentown Constable From Office, Alleges He’s A Resident Of NJ
— MCall: Scant Oversight Of PA Constables Allows Those With Troubled Histories To Be Elected
— PA Cap-Star: PA Lawmakers Unveil Bipartisan Plan To Prevent Abuse Within Guardianship System
— ScrantonT Editorial: End Wait For Juvenile Justice Reform
— ErieT: ‘Thwarted’ Erie Lawyer Sues 2 District Magistrates, Claims Racial Bias
— TribLive Guest Essay: Probation Reform A Solution To PA’s Workforce Crisis – PA Chamber Of Commerce
— TribLive Editorial: Is Probation Enough For Westmoreland Sheriff’s Dept. Guilty Pleas?
— AP: PA Police Agencies Sending Body Armor To Ukraine
— PA Economy
— Gov. Wolf Calls On General Assembly To Provide Immediate Support To Small Businesses
— WHYY: Why New PA Tip Threshold Doesn’t Impress Restaurant Workers; A ‘Meaningless’ Change
— TribLive Editorial: Tipped Minimum Wage Shows Wiggle Room On The Issue
— MCall: Air Products Plans To Pull Out Of Russia Because Of Ukraine War, CEO Announces
— WHYY: Why Aren’t People Applying For Thousands Of Open Manufacturing Jobs In Delaware Valley?
— TribLive Guest Essay: Probation Reform A Solution To PA’s Workforce Crisis – PA Chamber Of Commerce
— Dept. Of Labor & Industry Reports February Unemployment Fell 0.3% To 5.1%; Nonfarm Jobs Up 34,400
— The Center Square: Almost 1,200 PA Workers Quit AFSCME Union In 2021; 20,000 Members Statewide
— AP: In First Full Year Of Pandemic, Biggest Metros Lost Residents [Pittsburgh]
— WITF: PA Food Stamp Enrollment Climbing Toward Levels Not Seen Since The Early Pandemic
— PG: Amazon Eyes Other Allegheny County Locations For Distribution Warehouse
— PA Cap-Star: Turnpike Officials Say Prepare For Toll Sticker Shock This Year