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: PA Republicans Eye Greater Control Over Redistricting Thru Another Constitutional Amendment

— AP: Republican Challenge To PA Congressional Districts Map Lawsuit Ends Quietly

— MCall – Ford Turner: Redrawn Districts, Incumbent Battle Highlight Primary Lehigh Valley Races For PA House, Senate Seats

— Governor’s Race

— Inquirer: YouTube Takes Down Video Of PA Republican Gubernatorial Forum, Citing Misinformation Policy 

— Inquirer: YouTube Apologizes For Yanking PA Republican Governor Forum Video As Misinformation

–WJET/WFXP: Emerson College/The Bill Poll: Voters Largely Undecided In Critical PA U.S. Senate, Governor Races

— PennLive – John Baer: Here’s The PA Governor’s Race Debate Some Republican Candidates Want – Never Ask Any Republican Candidate A Question That Would Make Them Think

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Republican Candidates For Governor, U.S. Senate To Participate In Conservative Forum

— PA Capital-Star: Republican Candidates For Governor – The Platforms Are The Same, But Their Strategies Differ

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Republican Governor Hopefuls Share View At Conservative Gathering

— Post-Gazette: Bill McSwain Picks Up Endorsement From Sean Parnell In Gubernatorial Race

— PA Capital-Star: Now A Defender Of Personal Freedom, Republican Candidate For Governor Sen. Mastriano Proposed To Lift Patient Privacy Rules In Pandemic’s Early Days

— Erie Times: PA Should Be More Like Saudi Arabia On Energy, Republican Candidate For Governor Barletta Says

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Getting To Know Major Party Candidates For Governor

— TribLive/Spotlight PA: A Guide To The Primary Race Few Voters Are Paying Attention To – Lt. Governor

— U.S. Senate Race

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Republican Candidates For Governor, U.S. Senate To Participate In Conservative Forum

–WJET/WFXP: Emerson College/The Bill Poll: Voters Largely Undecided In Critical PA U.S. Senate, Governor Races

— AP: Cong. Lamb Revives Gun Incident To Attack Fetterman In U.S. Senate Race

— Post-Gazette: For Republican U.S. Senate Candidate, PA Is A ‘Border State’

— AP: Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Forum Gets Tense, Sharp-Elbowed

— TribLive: Dr. Oz Talks Fracking At Washington County Event

— TribLive: Cong. Lamb Votes For Federal Marijuana Decriminalization, After Opposing It

— The Hill: PA’s U.S. Senate Race A Bellwether For Democrats In 2022 And Beyond

— May 2022 Primary Election

— MCall: Candidates Running For State House, Senate

— Politics PA: Candidates For PA House

— Politics PA: Candidates For PA Senate

— PennLive – Charles Thompson/Jan Murphy: House, Senate Candidates File For Primary

— MCall – Ford Turner: Redrawn Districts, Incumbent Battle Highlight Primary Lehigh Valley Races For PA House, Senate Seats

— PA Capital-Star: Senate, House Set For A Makeover Amid Retirement Wave, Busy Primary Season

— Post-Gazette: Allegheny County Democrats Play Defense In PA Legislative Races

— LancasterOnline: House Speaker, Sen. Aument Draw Challengers From Republicans Further Right

— York Daily Record: Will Fmr Republican President’s Endorsement Of PA Candidate For Governor Be A Deciding Factor?

— The Guardian: Fmr Republican President Again Praises Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un At Georgia Rally

— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

— PA Capital-Star: Democrats Walk Out Of Senate Committee Hearing On Ballot Drop Boxes After Republican Chairman Refused To Have Witnesses Swear Their Remarks Were Truthful 

— City & State PA: Sen. Costa: ‘Enough Is Enough’ With Senate Republican Election Investigation

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Senate Panel’s Exploration Of Security Of Ballot Drop Boxes Leads To Democrats Walking Out

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Increase Trust In Future Elections, Don’t Obsess Over Past Ones

— NPR:  Private Funding Saved The 2020 Election, Now Some Republican-led States Are Trying To Ban It [Including PA which does not provide any state money to cover local election costs.]

— PA Capital-Star: PA Leads On Acts Of Hate, Will Lawmakers Act Before Time Runs Out?

— Scranton Times Editorial: Hate Thrives – Lawmakers Refuse To Consider Anti-Hate Crime Legislation

— MCall: Antisemitic, White Supremacists Propaganda Found In Northampton County Yards, Driveways

— LancasterOnline: Man Facing Charges After Posting Anti-Biden Sticker On Gas Pumps, Yelling At Police; Man Treated For Injuries Banging Around The Back Of A Patrol Car

— PA’s Role In Assault On U.S. Capitol

— Post-Gazette: Accused State College Man Charged With Crimes During Assault On U.S. Capitol Asks For More Time To Work Out Plea Deal

–AP: Federal Judge Rules Fmr Republican President’s Efforts To Overturn Election More Likely Than Not, Criminal

— State Constitutional Amendments

— Spotlight PA: Complete Guide To More Than 70 Proposed Amendments To State Constitution

— PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

— 6th Oil/Natural Gas Shock: ‘Drillers Continue To Return Cash To Shareholders… Rather Than Boost Production’ [PaEN]

— York Dispatch Editorial: Suspending PA’s Gasoline Tax Not A Solution To Our Money Woes

— Republicans On House Committee Move Bills To Unleash Natural Gas Industry In Pennsylvania, Kill RGGI  [PaEN]

— Republican Chair Of House Environmental Committee Believes Opponents Of Natural Gas Infrastructure Projects ‘Just Need To Be Ignored And Politically Ran Over’  [PaEN]

— StateImpactPA – Jon Hurdle: PA Republican Measures To Boost Natural Gas Output Unlikely To Succeed, Analysts Say

— StateImpactPA – Rachel McDevitt: PA Lawmakers Push Pro-Fossil Fuel Bills, Citing Russia’s War, Need For Energy Security

— MCall – Ford Turner: House Republican Lawmakers Advance Energy Bills Amid Concern Over Prices, Russia-Ukraine War

— Bay Journal: Ukraine War Triggers Push For More Fracking In Pennsylvania  – By Ad Crable  [PaEN]

— New Castle News: PA Conventional Oil Industry, House Republicans Say Domestic Investments Needed To Increase Natural Gas Production [Conventional industry produces less than 1% Of PA’s natural gas.  Click Here to get the real story]

— Harrisburg Politics Potpourri

— Post-Gazette: Elections Set For April 5 To Decide House Seats In Pittsburgh

— Special Elections April 5: In Allegheny County (2), Luzerne County

— PA Capital-Star Editorial Cartoon: PA Republicans – Bravely Conquering One Solution In Search Of A Problem At A Time

— PA Capital-Star: Advocates Ask For Rewrite Of Senate, House Rules To Prioritize Bipartisan Bills

— WITF: Groups Seeks To Keep Senate, House Lawmakers From Ignoring Popular Bills

— Spotlight PA: Public Could Gain Easier Access To Info About PA Lawmaker Expenses

— TribLive Editorial: Law Doesn’t Demand Transparency, People Should

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Shine A Light On Senate, House Lawmaker Expenses

— Scranton Times Editorial: House Might Finally Post Member Expenses

— PA Capital-Star: PA Leads On Acts Of Hate, Will Lawmakers Act Before Time Runs Out?

— PennLive Editorial: Thanks For Writing Memos, But Lawmakers Need To Pass Laws To Protect Children In State Custody

— Post-Gazette: Western PA Lawmakers Lament Lack Of Action On Education Issues In Harrisburg

— PA Capital-Star: General Assembly Extends Pittsburgh Bridge Collapse Disaster Declaration; 24 House Republicans Voted No

— AP: Republican Lawmakers Push Bill Targeting Transgender Girl Athletes

— Post-Gazette: House Committee Advances Bill Requiring Transgender Youth To Play Sports Based On Sex Assigned At Birth

— Scranton Times Editorial: U.S. House Action Decriminalizing Marijuana Cues Pot Bill In PA

— Budget 2022

— Dept. Of Revenue Reports March State Revenues Were $659.1 Million, 13.5% More Than Anticipated; Year-To-Date Revenue Up $2.7 Billion

— Independent Fiscal Office Reports March State Revenues Were $579.2 Million, 11.6% Above Its Estimates; Up $3.04 Billion For Fiscal Year

— PennLive Guest Essay: A Mom’s Request Lawmakers, Gov. Wolf: Please Do The Right Thing For My Son With Disabilities

— TribLive: Booming Sports Gambling Industry Brings Increased Calls For Gambling Help Across PA 

— COVID Pandemic In PA

— PennLive: Wolf Signs Bill Extending Pandemic-Related Waivers

— Inquirer: Why COVID Hit Mifflin County Worse Than Almost Any Other In The U.S.

— MCall: Muhlenberg Poll: Most Pennsylvanians Believe Worst Of COVID Is Behind Us; Disapprove Of Biden, Wolf’s Handling  [Click Here for Poll Results]

— WESA: FEMA Spent $104 Million In PA Paying For COVID-Related Funerals

— USA Today: Aided By Many States, Nursing Homes Fend Off Lawsuits Filed By Families Over COVID Deaths [PA Example]

— Erie Times: Patient Fights $9,000 Bill From Erie County-Owned Nursing Home For COVID He Got At The Nursing Home

— USA Today: Caregiver Fatigue Left Millions Suffering In Silence During COVID: ‘It Was All Me’ [PA Doctor]

— PA Capital-Star: [Republican] Targeting Of Vulnerable Transgender Kids?  A Cruel And Dangerous Waste Of Time

— WHYY/NPR: New Study Says Ivermectin Does Not Prevent COVID Hospitalization

— Post-Gazette Guest Essay: How To Fight The Superbug Crisis In PA – Dr. Clancy

— Centre Daily Times: Why A Spike In Centre County Syphilis Cases Is ‘Cause For Concern’ And What To Know About Testing

— COVID – Schools

— WHYY: Dispute Over Masks At Chester County School Culminated With A County Judge Ordering All Five Democrats On School Board To Be Removed From Office

— WHYY: Chester County Judge Reinstates 5 West Chester School Board Members In Mask Case – For Now

— Inquirer: The Pandemic Upended Education, 2 Years Later, What Changes Are Here To Stay?

— Opioid Deaths

— MCall – Ford Turner: Fentanyl Involved In About 700 Drug Deaths In Lehigh Valley In 2021, Why Isn’t More Being Done?

— TribLive Editorial: Opioid Prevention Critical in Cutting Overdose Deaths

— School Districts/Higher Education

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: House Panel Acts On Resolution Opposing PA’s Private Charter School Accountability Regulations

— Courier Times: How PA Law Made It Easy For Schools To Avoid Reporting Abuse Allegations

— PA Capital-Star: [Republican] Targeting Of Vulnerable Transgender Kids?  A Cruel And Dangerous Waste Of Time

— Post-Gazette: Western PA Lawmakers Lament Lack Of Action On Education Issues In Harrisburg

— Inquirer: The Pandemic Upended Education, 2 Years Later, What Changes Are Here To Stay?

— PennLive: Lawsuit Accuses Lycoming County School District Of Deliberate Indifference To Racial Discrimination, Harassment, Bullying

— Inquirer: Philly School System Needs To Hire 900 Teachers For The Fall

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Pittsburgh School Board Can’t Afford To Blow It Again

— MCall – Paul Muschick: What School Boards Should Tell Parent  Picking Ridiculous Fights

— Post-Gazette: Groups Criticize Auditor General’s Decision To Transfer School Audit Duties

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Only One Agency Is Qualified To Audit PA’s Schools – The Auditor General [He Said He Doesn’t Have The Resources To Do The Job]

— Scranton Times Editorial: Court Rejects PA School Employees Pension Secrecy

— PennLive Guest Essay: Community Colleges Can Deliver A Vibrant Future For PA – Harrisburg Area Community College

— WESA: Pitt Students Lobby For More Funding For State-Related Universities

— TribLive: Pittsburgh Promise Scholarship Program Removes Attendance Requirement For 2022

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Too Much College Financial Aid Remains Unused

— WHYY: West Chester University Police Trained On Social Media Surveillance Using Controversial Group’s Course

— WLVR: First Lady Frances Wolf Joins Students, Legislators In Call To End Hunger On Campus

— Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

— Courier Times: State Troopers’ Funeral: ‘They Laid Down Their Lives And Gave All They Possible Could Give’

— Lebanon Daily News: Lebanon Officer, Suspect Dead, 2 Officers Injured In Domestic Incident

— AP: Police Officer Killed In Lebanon Was 1 Month From Retirement

— MCall: Thousands Line Street To Honor Lebanon Police Officer Killed In Line Of Duty

— Inquirer: Delaware County Man Trying To Unload His Gun At A Red Light Shot And Killed The Driver Next To Him, Police Say

— Post-Gazette: Spencer Family’s Attorney Responds To Findings In Venango County Killing, Anticipates Federal Indictment

— Reading Eagle: 7 Killings In 5 Weeks In Reading Raising Concern, Frustration

— Spotlight PA: Parents Of Chinese American Teen Shot By State Policy Sue Troopers, Monroe County DA

— Post-Gazette: Classmates Mourn Slain 15-Year-Old As Officials Condemn Streak Of Violence In Pittsburgh

— York Dispatch: York City High School Arrested For Illegal Gun Possession

— Inquirer: 8-Year-Old Accidentally Discharges Gun In West Philly Schoolyard

— TribLive: Lawsuit Settled Against Fayette County, State Police In Wrongful Conviction Of Man Imprisoned For 26 Years

— Spotlight PA: Broken ‘Compassionate Release’ Rules Strand PA’s Sickest Prisoners As Costs To Taxpayers Soar

— PA Capital-Star: Philly Diversion Program Offers Option To Clear Criminal Records

— TribLive Editorial: Less Recidivism Requires More Preparation For Inmates

— WHYY: West Chester University Police Trained On Social Media Surveillance Using Controversial Group’s Course

— TribLive: Payments To Begin For UPMC Employees Who Fell Victim To Data Breach

— AP: Defense: Maybe AG’s Office Shouldn’t Handle Case Against Somerset County DA

— PA Economy

— WESA: Part Of PA’s Persistent Unemployment Compensation Backlog?  Not Enough Workers

— Insurance Department: Approves Filing Lowering Premiums For Workers’ Comp Insurance

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Private Companies Lead The Charge On Raising Minimum Wage

— PennLive: Meet PA’s 17 Richest People And How They Made Their Money

— WITF: PA Has Truck Driver Shortage, New Apprenticeship In Carlisle Hopes To Tackle The Problem

— PennDOT Accepting Public-Private Partnership Proposals Until April 30

— TribLive Editorial: Natural Decline In Population Demands Shift In Priorities

— Reuters: U.S. Warned Firms About Russia’s Kaspersky Software Day After Invasion

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