PA Capitol Report: Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week


Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else–

— Governor’s Race

— AP: COVID Nursing Home Deaths Baseless Claim A Campaign Mainstay Of Republican Candidate For Governor Mastriano

— Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano The Movie!  The Return Of The American Patriot

— LancasterOnline: Penn Cinema Cancels Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano’s Film Premiere; Producer Threatens Lawsuit

— Inquirer Guest Essay: PA Voting System Primed To Produce Candidates Like Republican Mastriano

— Wilkes-Barre Times Guest Essay: We Can Secure Our Schools Without Trading Away Constitutional Right – Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano  [School Employees Should Carry Firearms]

— Post-Gazette – Julian Routh: Group Of PA Republican Leaders Bucking Part To Endorse Democrat Josh Shapiro For Governor

— PennLive: 9 Top PA Republicans Endorse Shapiro For PA Governor, Call Mastriano ‘Extreme,’ ‘Dangerous’

— Courier Times: PA Republican Leaders Back Shapiro Over Mastriano In Race For Governor

— Inquirer: ‘Mastriano Is Unacceptable’: A Group Of PA Republicans Is Organizing To Support Shapiro

— MCall: Why Republican Charlie Dent Is Endorsing Democrat Shapiro For Governor Against ‘Extremist’ Mastriano

— Post-Gazette – Julian Routh: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano’s Facebook Page Calls Republicans Supporting Shapiro RINOS

— PennLive: Galvanized By Gun Violence, PA Lt. Governor Candidate Poised To Make History

— Inquirer: Records Of Candidates For PA Governor On Abortion Are Long And Drastically Different

— U.S. Senate Race

— PennLive: Fetterman Calls For Ban On ‘Military-Grade Assault Weapons’ After July 4 Parade Massacre

— Post-Gazette – Julian Routh: Fetterman To Attack Dr. Oz’s Residency In Ads, Including With Airplane Banner Over New Jersey Beaches

— Politico: Where In The World Is Dr. Oz?

— November 2022 Election

— Inquirer: Democrats Hope Abortion Can Help Them Keep Suburban Voters, Republicans Say It’s Still All About Inflation

— WESA: Republicans Looking Ahead To November, But Allegheny County Chair Has To Survive The Weekend First

— MCall Guest Essay: Elections Have Consequences, Other Things U.S. Supreme Court Made Clear – Kutztown University Professor

— PennLive Guest Essay: There’s Reason For Optimism In Electing More Diverse Candidates To PA’s Legislature – PA Voice

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Encourage Prisoners To Exercise Their Right To Vote

— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

— Williamsport Sun: Getting Rid Of Voting Machines, Mail-In Ballots On List Of Demands By Lycoming County Group Challenging Integrity Of 2020 Election

— Inquirer Guest Essay: 3 Ways To Make PA Elections More Secure And Accessible – Fmr Republican Elections Commissioner In Philadelphia

— Scranton Times Editorial: Reregistering Voters Illegal, Also Unnecessary

— AP: Wolf Vetoes Bills On Poll Watchers, Transgender Athletes

— Inquirer Guest Essay: PA Voting System Primed To Produce Candidates Like Republican Mastriano

— Spotlight PA: What Is The Independent State Legislature Doctrine, Why It Matters To PA Elections

— PennLive Guest Essay: Buying Into Conspiracy Theories Can Be Exciting – That’s What Makes Them Dangerous – University Of Pennsylvania Professor

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

— LancasterOnline: Lancaster County Man Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol Dead At 58

— LancasterOnline: 3rd Proud Boy Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol Shows Link To PA Members

— Inquirer: Seven PA Lawyers Involved In Ex-President’s Legal Fight To Overturn 2020 Election Hit With Ethics Complaints

— LancasterOnline Editorial: House Speaker Shows Some Courage In Overturning 2020 Election, Other Elected Officials Should Take Note

— Inquirer Editorial: U.S. Supreme Court Makes Hard Right Turn And The Nation Lurches Backward

— Spotlight PA: What Is The Independent State Legislature Doctrine, Why It Matters To PA Elections

— PennLive Guest Essay: Buying Into Conspiracy Theories Can Be Exciting – That’s What Makes Them Dangerous – University Of Pennsylvania Professor

— State Constitutional Amendments

— AP: Republican Lawmakers Move State Abortion Amendment Closer To 2023 Vote

— Post-Gazette: Legislature Approves Constitutional Amendments On Abortion, To Require Voter ID

— Spotlight PA: Senate Republicans Seek To Declare State Constitution Provides No Right To An Abortion

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Abortion Rights Would Be Banned Under Proposed PA Constitutional Amendment

— Post-Gazette: Senate Republicans Advance Late-Night Amendment To Restrict Abortion, Require Voter ID

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

— PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

— TribLive: Pittsburgh-Area Gasoline Prices Remain High As State, National Averages Come Down 

— TribLive: Monroeville Gasoline Station Offering Deep Discounts On July 4

— WSJ: Gasoline Prices Have Fallen For 3 Weeks, Relief May Be Temporary

— PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: The Political Cost Of Rising Gasoline Prices Is Mitigated By Republican Success And Denial – Mansfield University Professor

— Reuters: U.S. Natural Gas Futures Prices Jump 14% On Small Storage Build, Hot Weather

— Baker Hughes: Pennsylvania Natural Gas Rig Count Unchanged From Last Week (24)

— Harrisburg Politics Potpourri

— AP: Republican Lawmakers Move State Abortion Amendment Closer To 2023 Vote

— Post-Gazette: Legislature Approves Constitutional Amendments On Abortion, To Require Voter ID

— Spotlight PA: Senate Republicans Seek To Declare State Constitution Provides No Right To An Abortion

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Abortion Rights Would Be Banned Under Proposed PA Constitutional Amendment

— Post-Gazette: Senate Republicans Advance Late-Night Amendment To Restrict Abortion, Require Voter ID

— TribLive: ‘Tidal Wave’: Pittsburgh Abortion Clinics See Influx Of Out-Of-State Patients

— MCall: PA Abortion Providers See Record Donations, Surge In Volunteers, Lots Of Phone Calls

— AP: Wolf Vetoes Bills On Poll Watchers, Transgender Athletes

— Gov. Wolf Vetoes Discriminatory Transphobic Legislation

— PA Capital-Star: Rep. Grove To Propose Truck Stop Video Gambling Expansion

— Budget 2022

— AP: Senate Signs Off On Pennsylvania’s Delayed Main Budget Bill

— Spotlight PA: Lawmakers Agree To Boost Education Funding, Spend Billions In Federal Stimulus Money As Part Of Budget

— Gov. Wolf Highlights Historic Investments In FY 2022-23 State Budget

— Spotlight PA: How PA Plans To Spend Its Billions In Federal Stimulus Money

— Post-Gazette: State Budget Includes Phase Out Of Corporate Net Income Tax

— PennLive: PA Budget Winners: Libraries, Nursing Homes, Schools, State Parks, Environment

— MCall – Ford Turner: PA Budget Includes One Time $140 Million Boost For Property Tax, Rent Relief Program

— MCall – Ford Turner: Massive Boost In PA Education Spending Would Include Record Increases For Allentown, Bethlehem Schools

— PennLive: Nursing Homes Get ‘Historic’ Boost From New PA Budget

— PennLive – John Baer: PA Budget Process Serves Politics More Than People

— Inquirer: State-Owned Universities Get Historic Boost In Funding In State Budget Deal

— AP: University Of Pittsburgh Gets State Funds Despite Fetal Tissue Research Dispute

— Scranton Times Editorial: Right-Wing Social Warriors In Legislature Backed Off Their Effort To Hold Thousands Of PA College Students Hostage To Their Ideology

— Centre Daily Times: Penn State’s Funding Will Mostly Remain Flat

— Post-Gazette: Pitt Survives House Republican Attempt To Block Funding Over Fetal Tissue Research

— TribLive: House Approves Pitt Funding After Months Of Debate Over Fetal Tissue Research

— PA Capital-Star: House Passes Bill Tying Funding For Pitt, State-Related Universities To Discontinuing Fetal Tissue Research, Bill Faces Likely Veto

— WESA: After Months Of Tension, Pitt Funding Clears Critical Hurdle In House

— COVID Pandemic/Health

— Inquirer: COVID Cases Keep Rising, So Does Risk Of Long COVID

— WESA: COVID Hospitalizations, Case Numbers Increase In Allegheny County

— Erie Times: Erie County Sees Dip In COVID Cases But Uptick Expected

— Erie Times: How To Counter Misinformation About COVID Shots For Young Children

— WHYY: Some Philadelphia Parents Scramble To Find COVID Vaccine Appointments For Their Young Kids

— WESA: Enrolled In Medicaid In PA?  You Might Need To Choose New Health Plan

— Inquirer Guest Essay: Delaware County Relied On Pharmacists For Essential Care During Pandemic

— Post-Gazette: New PA Marijuana Law Could Shield Banks From Prosecution

— MCall – Paul Muschick: PA Medical Marijuana Users Can End Up In Big Trouble Under State’s DUI Law

— Opioid Deaths

— TribLive: Overdose Deaths In Allegheny, Westmoreland Counties Hit Highest Level Since 2017 Peak

— Post-Gazette: Allegheny County Sues Chain Pharmacies, Alleges They Aided Opioid Epidemic

School Districts/Higher Education

— MCall – Ford Turner: Massive Boost In PA Education Spending Would Include Record Increases For Allentown, Bethlehem Schools

— MCall – Ford Turner: PA School Districts Eye Extra Money As Legislature Prepares For Budget Action: ‘We Just Cannot Keep Up’

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Remarkable Duquesne City Schools Turnaround Needs One Last Push

— Inquirer: State-Owned Universities Get Historic Boost In Funding In State Budget Deal

— AP: University Of Pittsburgh Gets State Funds Despite Fetal Tissue Research Dispute

— Scranton Times Editorial: Right-Wing Social Warriors In Legislature Backed Off Their Effort To Hold Thousands Of PA College Students Hostage To Their Ideology

— Centre Daily Times: Penn State’s Funding Will Mostly Remain Flat

— Post-Gazette: Pitt Survives House Republican Attempt To Block Funding Over Fetal Tissue Research

— TribLive: House Approves Pitt Funding After Months Of Debate Over Fetal Tissue Research

— PA Capital-Star: House Passes Bill Tying Funding For Pitt, State-Related Universities To Discontinuing Fetal Tissue Research, Bill Faces Likely Veto

— WESA: After Months Of Tension, Pitt Funding Clears Critical Hurdle In House

— Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

— Inquirer: After Police Officers Shot, Philly Major Says He’ll ‘Be Happy’ When He’s Not Major Anymore

— WHYY: Philly Residents And Politicians To Philly Major – You Can Resign If You Don’t Want To Be Mayor

— Inquirer: Risk Of Gunfire, Threats And Stampedes – The Future Of big Outdoor Festivals In Philadelphia And Elsewhere

— WITF: Child Psychiatry Groups Condemn Efforts To Link Mass Shootings With Mental Health Issues Calling Them ‘False And Harmful’

— KYW: 73-Year-Old Man Dies After Group Of 7 Teens Brutally Attacked Him In Philadelphia

— KYW: 2 Men Fatally Shot In Ambush During Funeral Procession In Delaware County

— Inquirer Guest Essay: Impeaching Philly DA Will Not Reduce Gun Violence

— AP: Cop Who Killed Tamir Rice In Cleveland Leaves New Police Job In PA Town Amid Backlash

— Post-Gazette: Protests Against Police Killing Of Ohio Man Sweeps Downtown Pittsburgh

— Scranton Times: Catholic Monsignor Delaney Placed On Leave Over Allegations Of Sexual Misconduct

— PA Capital-Star: Law Firm Accuses Allegheny County Judge Of Misconduct In 62 Complaints

— PA Economy

— TribLive Editorial: PennDOT Needs To Find Real Alternative To Tolling

— Post-Gazette Editorial: The Flip Side Of Nation’s ‘Most Livable City’ – Pay Equity

— Post-Gazette Editorial: Strengthen ‘Say On Pay’ To Rein In Executive Salaries

— PennLive: Tioga County Man Who Owns Well Versed Oilfield Services Accused Of Using $400,000 Of Federal COVID Relief Money To Buy Alabama Home

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