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

— AP: PA Lawmakers Navigate Primary Election With Unfamiliar Voting District Maps 

— Governor’s Race

— Washington Examiner – Salena Zito: In PA, Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sen. Mastriano Win Would Cost Republicans House, Senate In That State

— AP: Abortion Rights May Rest On Governor’s Races In Some States [PA Included]

— Inquirer: Republican Sen. Mastriano Embodies A Christian Nationalist Movement As He Runs For Governor: ‘We Have The Power Of God’

— City & State PA: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sen. Mastriano Wrote A Paper Saying The U.S. Military’s ‘Hypersensitivity’ To Civilian Deaths Is An ‘Enormous Weakness

— PennLive: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Sen. Mastriano Ends Interview Over QAnon Questions, 2020 Election Claims

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Republican Gubernatorial Candidates Need To Unite Against Sen. Mastriano

— WPSU: Conversation With Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Jake Corman

— WITF/AP: Protective Order Against Republican Lt. Governor Candidate Tossed

— Warren Times: Republican Candidate For Lt. Gov. Jeff Coleman Highlights Need For ‘No Drama’ In Harrisburg

— Inquirer: Democrat Josh Shapiro Just Made It Clear Which Republican He Wants To Run Against For PA Governor – Sen. Mastriano

— The Center Square: Governor’s Election Will Decide PA’s Membership In RGGI

— PennLive: F&M Poll: Fetterman Enjoys Big Lead Over Lamb; Republican Candidates Battling In U.S. Senate, Governor Races

— Politics PA: F&M Poll: Fetterman, Mastriano Expand Leads

— LancasterOnline Editorial: Shakedown Of Republican Gubernatorial Candidates By Local Republican Committees Unethical, Bad For Democracy

— U.S. Senate Race

— AP: Attacks Dominate PA’s U.S. Senate Republican Primary Debate

— Inquirer: 4 Takeaways From Latest Republican U.S. Senate Debate

— WLVR: Only Woman In Democratic Race For U.S. Senate Used To Uphill Battles

— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Carla Sands Works Home Turf In Closing Stretch Of Republican U.S. Senate Race

— Post-Gazette: Democratic U.S. Senate Candidates Want To Legalize Pot, But Appetite Not As Strong In Washington

— PennLive: F&M Poll: Fetterman Enjoys Big Lead Over Lamb; Republican Candidates Battling In U.S. Senate, Governor Races

— Politics PA: F&M Poll: Fetterman, Mastriano Expand Leads

— TribLive: Fans Flock To Westmoreland Fairgrounds To See Ex-President, Hear More About Dr. Oz

— Post-Gazette: Ex-President Takes The Stage In Greensburg With A Mixed Review Of Dr. Oz

— TribLive: Westmoreland Sheriff’s Deputies Pull Out Of Helping Secret Service At Friday’s Dr. Oz Rally With Ex-President Due To Liability Concerns

— AP: Dr. Oz’s Ties To Turkey Attacked In PA Republican U.S. Senate Race

U.S. Supreme Court Abortion Opinion Leak

— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Abortion Just Moved To Center Stage In PA’s Election

— AP: Abortion Rights May Rest On Governor’s Races In Some States [PA Included]

— PA Capital-Star: U.S. Supreme Court Abortion Opinion Could Put General Assembly In Driver’s Seat On Abortion Rights

— WITF: PA Already Has Some Abortion Restrictions, But New Governor, General Assembly Could Change That

— Gov. Wolf ‘Abortion Access In PA Will Remain Legal And Safe As Long As I Am Governor’

— TribLive: Western PA Legal Experts Shocked By U.S. Supreme Court Leak: ‘It’s An Absolutely Seismic Event’

— WHYY: How Philly, PA Officials Reacting To Court Abortion Leak

— WESA: PA Politicians Responding To Leaked Draft Opinion Overturning Roe v. Wade

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: PA Reaction Divided Over Leaked U.S. Supreme Court’s Draft Decision Overturning Abortion Rights

— Post-Gazette: Abortion Rights Advocates Concerned About PA Referendum Proposal, Looking Past 2022 Election

— WESA: What Overturning Roe v. Wade Will Mean For Abortion Access In PA

— Erie Times: Bill Could Make Fathers Liable For Unwanted Pregnancies In PA

— Inquirer: Bob Casey Is One Of The Last ‘Pro-Life’ Democrats, The Supreme Court Decision Is Going To Test His Views

— PA Capital-Star – John Micek: The Republican Anti-Abortion Crusade Is Not Pro-Family At All

— Inquirer Guest Essay: Once Roe Is Reversed, Pennsylvanians Must Elect A Governor Who Will Abolish Abortion

— Scranton Times Editorial: State Must Be Pro-Life Beyond Birth

— TribLive Editorial: The Decision That Matters On Roe v. Wade

— Post-Gazette Editorial: U.S. Supreme Court Leak Further Undermines Crumbling Legitimacy

— May 2022 Primary Election

— Post-Gazette: PA’s Gubernatorial Race Has High Stakes When It Comes To How We Vote

— AP: PA Lawmakers Navigate Primary Election With Unfamiliar Voting District Maps 

— PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Trends To Watch For Among Older Voters In PA Primary

— TribLive – Column: Opposition Picks Matter In PA Races – Joseph Sabino Mistick

— Inquirer: PA’s Biggest Primaries Could Get Called On Election Night, But Don’t Get Used To It

— Franklin & Marshall May 2022 Poll Results

— PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Supporting Local Election Officials Will Help Protect Our Democracy

— PA Capital-Star: Pro-Private Charter Schools Billionaire Jumps Into Key PA House, Senate Races

— MCall Guest Essay: How Harrisburg’s Delays Have Injected Chaos Into May Primary

— MCall – Ford Turner: Top State Election Official ‘Very Concerned’ About Lehigh County Plan To Have Detectives Watch Ballot Drop Boxes

— AP: Top State Voting Official Pushes Back On Ballot Drop  Box Warning

— MCall: Lehigh Valley Ballot Drop Box Monitoring Could Keep Disabled Residents From Voting

— MCall: ACLU, Disability Advocates, Other Groups Demand End To Plan To Monitor Ballot Drop Boxes In Lehigh County

— MCall – Paul Muschick: Everyone Should Get Off Lehigh County DA’s Back About Ballot Box Detectives

— Scranton Times Editorial: No Need To Eliminate Ballot Drop Boxes

— PennLive – John Baer: Don’t Let The Devil, Gun-Toting Candidates Or Kathleen Kane District You From PA Primary Election

— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

— Inquirer: Dozens Of Mail-In Ballots Going To Republican Ward Leader’s PO Box In Philly Raising ‘Ballot Harvesting’ Concerns

— Post-Gazette: PA’s Gubernatorial Race Has High Stakes When It Comes To How We Vote

— AP: Baseless Election Fraud Claims Thrive On PA Republican Campaign Trail

— WITF: Republican Cong. Scott Perry’s Baseless Election Fraud Theories Have Real-Life Consequences, Election Experts Say

— PA Capital-Star: Poll: PA Voters Call For Voter ID, End To Mail-In Ballots

— Erie Times: Republican National Committee, Erie Republicans Conduct Poll Watcher Training

— PennLive Guest Essay: Election Year Has Become A Case Study Of The Left-Right Divide – State Treasurer Stacy Garrity

— LancasterOnline – Brad Busted: PA Voters, Buffeted By Election Fraud Claims, Aren’t Happy With How Elections Are Run, New F&M Poll Finds

— PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Supporting Local Election Officials Will Help Protect Our Democracy

— MCall – Paul Muschick: Political Signs On Lawns: Free Speech Or Litter?

— Scranton Times Editorial: No Need To Eliminate Ballot Drop Boxes

— Reading Eagle Editorial: Time For PA To Allow Independents To Vote In Primaries

— Scranton Times Editorial: Independent Voters Can Improve State Primaries

— AP: New Design, Mission For Site of Pittsburgh Synagogue Attack

— TribLive: Accusations Of Russian Spying, Vandalism, Ethnic Intimidation Rattle Shadyside Neighborhood

— Inquirer: PA Ranks Near The Top Nationally In Book-Banning Activity, Report Finds; Here’s Why

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

— PennLive: Cumberland County Man Pleads Guilty To Criminal Charges Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol

— State Constitutional Amendments

— TribLive Column: PA’s Constitutional Amendment Conundrum – Michael Torres

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

— PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

— Republican Senators Introduce Bill To Deregulate Oil & Gas Industry, Coal-Fired Power Plants, Open State Forests To Drilling, Withdrawn From RGGI  [PaEN]

— Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Gasoline Prices Hit Another Record High, AAA Says

— MCall – Ford Turner: PA Gasoline Price Hits New Record $4.46/Gallon

— Inquirer: Gasoline In Philadelphia Hits All-Time High, Tops $4.50

— TribLive: Gasoline Prices Jump 18 Cents In Pittsburgh Area Since Last Week

— MCall: PA Diesel Fuel Price Spikes To Record $6/Gallon: ‘It’s Obviously Going To Affect Pricing Of Everything’

— Altoona Mirror: Heating Oil Prices Skyrocketing

— WGAL: PPL To Increase Electricity Cost 38% June 1 Due To Increased Natural Gas, Energy Costs

— MCall: PPL To Increase Default Electricity Cost 38% June 1

— Pittsburgh Business Times: Marcellus Shale Coalition Urges Use Of Butane, A Natural Gas Byproduct, In Gasoline To Stretch Supplies

— Bloomberg: Big Oil Spends On Investors, Not Output, Prolonging Crude Oil Crunch

— Harrisburg Politics Potpourri

— LancasterOnline Editorial: Senate, House Need To Make Lawmakers’ Expenses Searchable Online

— AP: How The Constitution Teaches Students To Disagree Civilly

— MCall – Paul Muschick: What Today’s Politicians Can Learn From John Stoffa, The Late Northampton County Executive

— TribLive: Pittsburgh Mayor, Other Democrats Call Out Attack Ads Against Summer Lee In Congressional Race

— MCall: Why Republicans Should Pick Kevin Dellicker To Oppose Democrat Susan Wild For Congress

— MCall: Why Republicans Should Pick Lisa Scheller To Oppose Democrat Susan Wild For Congress

— Scranton Times Editorial: Republican Cong. Meuser Leaks Own Blind Partisanship

— PennLive: Racehorses Continue To Die At ‘Staggering’ Rate, PA Redoubles Efforts To Protect Them

— Budget 2022

— Gov. Wolf: April State Revenues Highest Ever Collected, Time To Make Historic Investments In Pennsylvanians

— Independent Fiscal Office: April State Revenue Exceeded Its Estimate By 44.4% – $2 Billion; Exceeds Year-To-Date Estimate By $5.04 Billion 

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: April State Revenues Set High-Water Mark For A Single Month

— PA Capital-Star: With Record Tax Collections, Not Spending Would Be ‘Irresponsible’ Wolf Says

— The Center Square: Strong PA Tax Collection Revenue; Partisan Divide On The Economy

— WESA: Advocates Push For More State Funding For Disability Services, Higher Wages For Workers

— Scranton Times Editorial: Fix Business Tax Structure, Not Just Rate

— Post-Gazette: PA Taking Baby Steps Away From Gasoline Tax, Toward Fee For Miles Driven

— COVID Pandemic/Health

— Dept. Of Health Provides Monthly Update On COVID Trends

— MCall: PA COVID Update: 12,364 Cases, 92 Deaths Last Week

— TribLive: PA Health Dept. Transitions To Weekly COVID Updates

— Post-Gazette: COVID Levels Double In Allegheny County Wastewater

— WHYY: Philly Counts Knocks On 100,000 Doors In 6 Months To Encourage Adult COVID Vaccinations

— Dept. Of State To Roll Back Remaining Professional Licensing Waivers Issued During COVID Emergency

— PennLive: State To Roll Back Remaining Professional Licensing Waivers Issued During Pandemic

— PA Capital-Star: PA’s K-12 School Nurses Asking Lawmakers For Help

— WHYY: Healthcare Workers Rally Against Crozer Health Cuts

— Opioid Deaths

— PA Capital-Star: With Months Left, Secretary Of Drug & Alcohol Programs Looking To Make Most Of The Time

— Citizens Voice: Spiked Drugs Lead To Record Number Of Overdoses In Luzerne County

— MCall – Ford Turner: Lawmakers Told Of Tragic Lack Of Access To Drug Abuse Treatment Medicine

— Citizen Voice: Lawmakers Seek To Legalize Fentanyl Test Strips As Overdoses Surge

— PA Capital-Star: State Officials Launch $10 Million Program To Help Substance Use Disorder Treatment Professionals Repay Their Student Loans

— WITF: As 988 Hotline Goes Live In PA, Crisis Centers Need Workers

School Districts/Higher Education

— Inquirer: PA Ranks Near The Top Nationally In Book-Banning Activity, Report Finds; Here’s Why

— Erie Times: Erie School District Mulls Tax Hike To Keep COVID-Era Programs

— PA Capital-Star: PA’s K-12 School Nurses Asking Lawmakers For Help

— LancasterOnline: What We Know And Don’t Know About Hempfield H.S. Gay Sexuality Alliance Club’s ‘Drag’ Event

— PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: Let’s Hear It For Our Local School Board Members, Thanks For Your Service

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Let Students Learn Extra Material Online

— TribLive Editorial: Bullying Is More Than A School Problem

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Auditor General’s Closure Of School Audit Bureau Draw Criticism During House Hearing

— Inquirer: Wolf Announces $5 Million Investment In Cheyney University’s ThinkUbator Project

— TribLive: University Of Pittsburgh Says ‘Thousands’ Have Supported University Funding

WITF Smart Talk: Is More Funding For Low And Middle Income College Students The Answer To PA’s Labor Shortage?

— Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

— AP: Fired Philadelphia Police Officer Charged With Murder In Shooting Of Boy, 12

— Erie Times: After Shooting Rattled School, Erie High Students Return To More Security

— KYW: Philly School District To Begin Periodic Weapons Screenings At Middle Schools

— Scranton Times Editorial: State Moves On Ghost Gun Enforcement

— USA Today: More Than 100 Gun Deaths A Day In U.S.: Gun Violence Reached ‘Staggering’ Record In 2020, Report Says

— Gov. Wolf Announces New Violence Intervention, Prevention Technical Assistance Project

— WHYY: Everyone’s Trying To Solve Philly’s Gun Violence Crisis, Is More Collaboration The Answer?

— WITF: Reading Youth Arts Group Regains Nonprofit Status, Continues Anti-Violence Work

— AP: Suspended Somerset County DA Confined On House Arrest Awaiting Trial

— The Center Square: Police Chiefs Call Attention To Hiring Problems Across PA

— Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Our Death By Incarceration State – Sandra L. Strauss, PA Council Of Churches

— TribLive Editorial: Does Bail Work The Way It Should?

— Inquirer Editorial: Sealing The Criminal Records Of More Former Offenders Is Right Move For PA

— TribLive Editorial: Can Algorithms Help Or Hurt Child Protective Services?

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Pennsylvania’s McJustice [Public Defender Funding]

— PA Economy

— Wilkes-Barre Times: State, Small Business Owners Call For Legislature To Raise Minimum Wage

WITF Smart Talk: Is More Funding For Low And Middle Income College Students The Answer To PA’s Labor Shortage?

— TribLive: Available Jobs Still Outpacing Job Seekers In Pittsburgh Region

— Dept. Of State To Roll Back Remaining Professional Licensing Waivers Issued During COVID Emergency

— PennLive: State To Roll Back Remaining Professional Licensing Waivers Issued During Pandemic

— Post-Gazette Editorial: State Retirement Plan Would Save Taxpayers By Helping Workers Save

— PennDOT: Federal REAL ID Enforcement Begins May 3, 2023

— TribLive: Countdown Begins For PA REAL ID Requirement

— Inquirer Guest Essay: App Store Owners Push Security Claims To Stifle Competition – Fmr Gov. Tom Ridge

— Inquirer: Philly Delayed Property Assessments For 3 Years, Now Residential Values Are Jumping 31%

— WHYY: With Property Values Up 21%, Philly Mayor Proposes Relief For Growing Real Estate Taxes

— WHYY: Philly Rents Grew 6% During Pandemic, But Twice As Fast In Suburbs

— MCall: Why The Lehigh Valley Will Soon See A Flood Of Home Foreclosures

— Post-Gazette: Black Homeownership In Pittsburgh Falls As City House Prices Rise

— WHYY: Philly Relaunches $10,000 First-Time Home Buyer Assistance Program

Your Feedback Always Welcome!

Please contact Ted Harristharris@papetroleum.org— or John Kulikjoviku@aol.com—  if you have any questions or need clarification.

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