PA Capitol Report: Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week
Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else–
— Governor’s Race
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: F&M Poll Shows Mastriano Leading PA’s Packed Republican Gubernatorial Primary
— PennLive – Charles Thompson: F&M Poll Shows Republican Governor’s Race Still Unsettled
— Inquirer: Republican Sen. Corman Staying In Republican Race For Governor After Moving To Drop Out
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Ex-President Encourages Republican Sen. Corman To Remain In Governor’s Race – And So He Is
— WHYY: Republican Sen. Corman Was Getting Out Of The Race For Governor, Then Ex-President Called
— Politics PA: Corman Reverses Course, Stays In Governor Race
— Erie Times: Republican Sen. Mastriano Could Ride 2020 Election Denial Into PA Governor’s Mansion
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Gubernatorial Candidates Offer Their Take On Career Politicians, Term Limits
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: PA Republican Gubernatorial Candidates To Hold Debate Tuesday
— City & State PA: White, McSwain Trade Barbs In Republican Race For Governor
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Ex-President Does Not Endorse Republican McSwain For Governor
— PennLive – John Baer: Ex-President Is Sticking His Nose Into Already Odd PA Republican Primaries For U.S. Senate, Governor
— Inquirer: Ex-President Sowing Chaos In PA Republican Governor’s Race
— AP: Ex-President Intervenes In PA Republican Gubernatorial Primary
— Spotlight PA: See How Much Money Republican Candidates For Governor Have Raised
— AP: Shapiro: Democratic Candidate’s Ad For Lt. Governor Wrongly Implies Endorsement
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Getting To Know The Candidates Who Want To Be Lt. Governor
— U.S. Senate Race
— WFMZ: At $80 Million And Counting, PA U.S. Senate Race Most Expensive In Country
— Post-Gazette: New Franklin & Marshall Poll Has Fetterman Pulling Ahead, Republican U.S. Senate Race Wide Open
— PennLive – Charles Thompson: PA U.S. Senate Democratic Primary Has Everything, Differences In Style, Substance, Strategy
— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Fetterman, McCormick Win First Quarter ‘Money Primaries’ In PA U.S. Senate Race
— Inquirer: Democratic U.S. Senate Candidates Came To Philly To Talk About Gun Violence, 3 Takeaways
— City & State PA: Democratic Candidate Conor Lamb’s Mission To Remake U.S. Senate Primary
— Erie Times: Lamb Says Legislative Accomplishments Separate Him From Democratic Primary Crowd
— Post-Gazette Editorial: Lamb Should Disavow His Super PAC’s Deceptive Ad
— Erie Times: Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Jeff Bartos: Opponents Are ‘Political Tourists” Who Don’t Understand Pennsylvania
— MCall – Paul Mushick: Is PA Republican U.S. Senate Primary Over Because Ex-President Endorsed Dr. Oz?
— PennLive – John Baer: Ex-President Is Sticking His Nose Into Already Odd PA Republican Primaries For U.S. Senate, Governor
— Inquirer: What Ex-President’s Endorsement Means For Dr. Oz And PA U.S. Senate Race
— NPR: PA U.S. Senate Race Tops The List Of State Races Most Likely To Flip To The Other Party
— May 2022 Primary Election
— PA Capital-Star: These PA Lawmakers Have Primary Challengers
— PA Capital-Star: PA’s 2022 Primary Is A Race For The Base Of The Base
— TribLive Guest Essay: High Stakes In PA’s Primary Races – David Thornburgh
— Post-Gazette: Western PA Candidates Removed From Primary Ballot After Challenges
— MCall – Ford Turner: Primary Rematch Back On With Rep. Schweyer After Judge’s Ruling
— MCall – Ford Turner: Several Lehigh Valley House Candidates Ruled Off Primary Ballots
— Post-Gazette: Democrat Steve Irwin Raises $600,000 In Congressional Race
— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout
— Post-Gazette: After Failed Election Reform Negotiations, PA Republicans Turn To New Piecemeal Approach
— AP: Senate Republicans Vote To End Mail-In Ballot Drop Boxes, Outside Money For Elections
— PA Capital-Star: PA Senate Approves Bill Eliminating Drop Boxes: ‘The Ballots Are Called Mail-In Ballots’
— PA Capital-Star: More Than 664,000 PA Voters Have Applied For Primary Mail-In Ballots
— PennLive Guest Essay: PA’s No Excuses Mail-In Ballot Law Is Unconstitutional – Fmr Republican Candidate For Attorney General Heather Heidelbaugh
— LancasterOnline Editorial: Lancaster, State Republicans Make Partisan Moves To Eliminate Ballot Drop Boxes
— PA Capital-Star: PA Senate Approves Legislation Prohibiting Third Parties From Funding Elections
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Legislative Fix Proposed To Improve Removal Of Deceased From PA’s Voter Rolls
— WESA: Why Voting Options In Allegheny County Have Changed Since 2020
— Williamsport Sun: Lycoming County Commissioners Float Possible 2020 Election Audit
— WITF Smart Talk: Should PA Primaries Be Open To All Registered Voters?
— PA Capital-Star: Eight PA Republican Members Of Congress Help Kill Bill Honoring Iconic Black Judge
— WHYY/ABC6: Delaware County Fire Company Will Disband After Racist Remarks Caught On Video
— TribLive: Saint Vincent College Responds To Racism Claims Following Weekend Lecture
— MCall: Video Shows Leader Of Allentown Nonprofit Using Racial Slur, Mayor Removes Him From Council Of Youth
— PA’s Role In Assault On U.S. Capitol
— Post-Gazette: Allegheny County Man Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol To Plead Guilty In June
— State Constitutional Amendments
— Scranton Times Editorial: Here Are Constitutional Amendments Republicans Should Try
— Spotlight PA: Complete Guide To More Than 70 Proposed Amendments To State Constitution
— PA Politics Of Russian Invasion
— StateImpactPA – Jon Hurdle: In Pennsylvania, Ukraine Invasion And Urgent Climate Report Drive New Interest In Renewables, Efficiency
— TribLive Guest Essay: Energy Freedom In PA Would Help Support Our European Allies – Boost Solar Energy & Micro Hydro – By Rep. Mike Puskaric (R-Allegheny) & Rep. Frank Burns (D-Cambria) [PaEN]
— PennLive Guest Essay: Dear Republican Cong. Smucker – Proliferation Of Natural Gas Production Has Resulted In More Methane Emissions – Michael Wright, Climate Psychology Alliance Of North America
— Scranton Times Editorial: Clean Energy Boosts Security
— WNEP: PA Natural Gas Industry Facing Labor Shortages – Programs Not Attracting Enough Students
— Charleston Gazette-Mail Guest Essay: Natural Gas Is Energy Future – PA, OH, WV Shale Gas Coalitions
— Altoona Mirror: Russia Slaps Sanctions On PA Republican Cong. Joyce, Other Legislators
— Post-Gazette: Multiple Western PA Members Of Congress Among Lawmakers Sanctioned By Russia
— Harrisburg Politics Potpourri
— WITF Smart Talk: #FixHarrisburg Aims To Change How PA Legislature Works (Or Doesn’t)
— Spotlight PA: Draft Bills, Late-Night Emails Reveal Cozy Ties Between Sen. Tomlinson, Casino Lobbyists [Why the surprise? This is the way it works now. Add campaign contributions, talking points, whole speeches. Industry politicians are literally scripted by them.]
— Scranton Times Editorial: Ghost Writers Of Legislation Secretly Shape Policy In General Assembly
— Williamsport Sun Editorial: Lobbyists’ Influence Only Part Of Problem In General Assembly
— LancasterOnline: New F&M Poll Shows Support For Biden, Wolf Falling, Republican Races Competitive
— Franklin & Marshall College April 2022 Poll Results
— PennLive: PA House Republican Twitter Account Back After Several Hour Suspension
— TribLive Editorial: Elected Officials Need To Work Civilly
— PA Capital-Star: House Votes To Ban Leasing Of Vehicles For Member Use, But Will Reimburse Vehicle Costs
— Scranton Times Editorial: Legislators Lose Patience With Car Leasing
— Spotlight PA: What Are Skill Games, And Why Are They At The Center Of A Multimillion-Dollar Gambling Fight
— PA Capital-Star: Report: Tavern Gaming Licenses A Bust For PA
— The Center Square: PA Inheritance Tax: A $1.2 Billion Burden
— Inquirer – The Grammarian: New PA Book Banning Bill Gets An F For Its Proposal And Its Grammar
— TribLive: PA House Passes Bill To Bring Back Whole Milk To School Lunches
— TribLive: Bill Proposal Would Allow Medical Marijuana Edibles In PA Dispensaries
— The Center Square: Marijuana Legalization Bills Make Progress In General Assembly
–Inquirer/TNS: PA Republican Senator’s Hearing Show Depth Of Opposition To Adult-Use Pot Legalization In The State
— LancasterOnline – Brad Busted: Bill Would Give Senate, House Faster Access To Public Records
— AP: Bill Would Change Plans For Fmr Lt. Governor’s Residence
— Inquirer Guest Essay: Teen Vote Is Powerful, Here’s How To Harness It In PA
— Budget 2022
— Gov. Wolf Highlights Budget Plan To Improve Business Opportunities In PA
— Gov. Wolf Continues To Push For $500 Million Cash Support To Pennsylvanians Using American Rescue Plan Funding
— MCall – Ford Turner: Gov. Wolf Promotes Cash-For-Pennsylvanians Plan In Monroe County; Republicans Say Not So Fast
— Gov. Wolf Urges General Assembly To Equitably Fund Education Thru Level Up Initiative
— Guest Essay: Skill Games Present A Golden Opportunity For PA – Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming)
— LancasterOnline Editorial: Use Slot Machine Revenue For College Scholarships, Not To Prop Up Horse Racing Industry
— The Center Square: PA Inheritance Tax: A $1.2 Billion Burden
— COVID Pandemic/Health
— MCall: COVID Cases Rising 7,852 This Week
— Inquirer: BA.2 COVID Variant Spreads In PA, NJ Cases Rising Again
— Post-Gazette/Kaiser Health News: As U.S. Nears 1 Million COVID Deaths, On Hard-Hit PA Town In Mifflin County Grapples With Unthinkable Loss
— Inquirer: COVID Cases Rising Across Northeast, Mid-Atlantic As Philly Brings Back Masks
— Inquirer: Philadelphia Again Imposes Mask Mandate Starting April 18 As COVID Cases Rise
— AP: Lawsuit Seeks To Overturn Renewed Philadelphia Mask Mandate
— Inquirer: COVID Killed More Than 5,000 In Philadelphia, These Neighborhoods Lost The Most
— WESA: Unlike Philly, Allegheny County Has No Current Plans For A Mask Mandate
— Post-Gazette: Allegheny County COVID Cases Nearly Double In A Week
— Post-Gazette: Allegheny County Executive, Pittsburgh Mayor Test Positive For COVID
— Post-Gazette: COVID Omicron Was Far Worse For Allegheny County’s Black Residents
— Erie Times: Erie County Could Be Entering Endemic Phase Of COVID
— WESA: Pennsylvanians Will Now Get A Full Year Of Medicaid Coverage After Giving Birth
— WHYY: Delaware County’s New Health Dept. Fully Operational
— COVID – Schools
— Inquirer: Radnor Schools Go Virtual Amid Rise In COVID Cases
— Opioid Deaths/Addiction
— PA Capital-Star: PA Counties To Receive First Payments From $26 Billion Opioid Settlement This Summer
— Inquirer: Oversight Of PA Addiction Recovery Homes Will Begin Soon, But Operators Slow To Opt-In
— Post-Gazette Editorial: PA’s Addiction Recovery Homes Need Oversight; Underfunded Licensing Program Won’t Provide It
— MCall: PA, Lehigh Valley Residents Can Get Recreational Marijuana In NJ Next Week, Here’s What They Risk
— School Districts/Higher Education
— Gov. Wolf Urges General Assembly To Equitably Fund Education Thru Level Up Initiative
— Inquirer – The Grammarian: New PA Book Banning Bill Gets An F For Its Proposal And Its Grammar
— Erie Times: Call-Ins, Metal Detectors Highlight Erie High Shooting Recovery Plan
— Erie Times: Albion School District Parents Challenge Elementary Social-Emotional Learning Plan
— AP: Bill Against Trans Girls In Girls’ Sports Passes State House
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Republican Lawmakers Advance Bills Banning Transgender Athletes From Playing Women’s Sports
— Post-Gazette Editorial: PIAA, Not Legislators, Should Craft Policies For Transgender Student Athletes
— TribLive: PA House Passes Bill To Bring Back Whole Milk To School Lunches
— AP: State-Owned Universities’ Board Passes Tuition Freeze For 4th Year
— Post-Gazette: PA State University System Asks To Sell Off Part Of Its Housing Inventory
–PennLive – Jan Murphy: Mansfield University Receives $7 Million Loan To Sustain Operations Thru Current School Year
— LancasterOnline Editorial: Use Slot Machine Revenue For College Scholarships, Not To Prop Up Horse Racing Industry
— Centre Daily Times: Fmr Penn State All-American Fencer Sues Coach And University, Alleges Years Of Abuse
— PennLive – Charles Thompson: ESPN Report Shines Light On Little-Known Story Of Serial Rapist At Penn State
— Post-Gazette: Which PA Colleges Struggle The Most With Spelling? You May Be Surprised
— Gun Violence/Law Enforcement
— Inquirer: 24 People Shot In Philadelphia In 24 Hours, Police Say
— York Daily Record: Three Die In Shootings In York This Week
— Erie Times: Call-Ins, Metal Detectors Highlight Erie High Shooting Recovery Plan
— Erie Times Editorial: Defeating Erie’s Gun Violence Starts With Love
— AP: Feds: Hundreds Of Guns Illegally Trafficked To Philadelphia
— AG Shapiro On Biden Announcement To Close Ghost Gun Loophole
— Post-Gazette Editorial: Biden, Shapiro Right To Target Ghost Guns
— Inquirer: Gun Rights Groups Target AG Shapiro For Impeachment After ‘Ghost Guns’ Story
— WHYY: Philly Man Accused Of Using 3D Printer To Make ‘Ghost Guns’ Faces Charges
— WHYY: Philadelphia Rolls Out Summer Programs In Hopes Of Preventing Gun Violence
— Post-Gazette: Program Dispatching Social Workers Rather Than Police Gains Traction In Pittsburgh
— WITF: Reading Group Loses $225,000 Anti-Gun Violence Grant Because It’s Not A Nonprofit
— TribLive: 3 Shot In Pittsburgh’s Hill District
— AP: Police: 2 Dead, Several Injured In Pittsburgh Party Shooting
— TribLive: Man, Teen Accused Of Shooting ‘Water Beads’ At People In Washington County
— Inquirer: Democratic U.S. Senate Candidates Came To Philly To Talk About Gun Violence, 3 Takeaways
— Inquirer Editorial: Compassion Hard To Come By In PA’s Broken Prison System
— Post-Gazette: Study Shows Automated Speed Controls Around PA Road Construction Sites Reduce Speeding, Accidents
— PA Economy
— Gov. Wolf Highlights Budget Plan To Improve Business Opportunities In PA
— Gov. Wolf Continues To Push For $500 Million Cash Support To Pennsylvanians Using American Rescue Plan Funding
— PA Capital-Star: Wolf Administration To Study Public Sector Workplace Protections
— PA Capital-Star: AFL-CIO Requests Investigation Into Workplace Harassment Allegations
— TribLive: Google Says It Will Invest $15 Million In PA This Year, Including Pittsburgh Expansion
— Post-Gazette: PA Could See Huge Benefits If It Goes All In On Semiconductor Chip Production
— TribLive: A Safe Bet: If You Want A Casino Job, Odds Are On Your Side
— NextPittsburgh: Lawsuit Challenging Allegheny County Property Assessments Could Lower Thousands Of Tax Bills
— MCall: Hellertown Restaurant Closes Indefinitely Due To ‘Extreme Understaffing’
— WESA: Thousands Of Pennsylvanians Applied For Mortgage Aid, But Few Have Received Help So Far
— Dept. Of Labor & Industry: Unemployment Falls Two-Tenths To 4.9% In March, Labor Force Increased 17,000
— AP: PA’s Unemployment Rate Drops Two-Tenths To 4.9% In March
TAP HERE for all articles in April 18 EXPRESS Update
