PA Capitol Report: Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week
Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else–
— Governor’s Transition
— AP: Gov.-Elect Shapiro Opens Transition, To Stay AG Until January
— WITF: Gov.-Elect Shapiro Lays Out Transition Plans, Policy Goals In First Press Appearance
— PA Capital-Star: Shapiro, Davis Vow To Build An Administration That ‘Looks Like Pennsylvania’
— City & State PA: Shapiro Begins Gubernatorial Transition
— PennLive Guest Essay: Shapiro’s Campaign Promises Offer Blueprint For Bipartisanship – Commonwealth Foundation
— U.S. Senate Race
— WHYY/BillyPenn: PA U.S. Senate Race Was Most Expensive In History, What Else Could You Get For $375 Million?
— November Election
— TribLive: Lawsuits By Conservative Groups Request Hand Recounts Of Votes For Governor, U.S. Senator [Republicans Lost Governor’s Race By Over 769,546 Votes]
— WITF: Pennsylvania’s Risk-Limiting Election Audit Explained
— PennLive: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Mastriano Concedes PA Governor’s Race In Sunday Evening Statement
— MCall – Paul Muschick: How Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Can Back Up His Pledge To Work With Gov. Shapiro
— Post-Gazette Editorial: Republican Gubernatorial Candidate’s Concession Should End 2020 Drama
— TribLive Editorial: No Time For Election Victory Laps
— TribLive Editorial: Competence Versus Rhetoric In Pennsylvania Elections
— TribLive Guest Essay: Midterm Election Reveals Trouble For Republicans In PA’s Suburbs
— Warren Times Editorial: Republicans Must Change Or Risk Irrelevancy
— Spotlight PA: Luzerne DA Investigating Why County Rain Out Of Paper Ballots On Election Day
— Citizens Voice Editorial: Voters Adjust, Reject Chaos
— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout
— Scranton Times Editorial: Republican Candidate For Governor Makes Case For Open Primaries
— PA’s Role In Assault On U.S. Capitol
— PennLive: Federal Prosecutors: Cumberland County Woman Directed Rioters, Laptop Thieves During Assault On U.S. Capitol
— State Constitutional Amendments
— Altoona Mirror: Republican Defeat In State House Dooms Their Plans To Change State Constitution
— Spotlight PA: Complete Guide To More Than 70 Proposed Amendments To State Constitution
— PA Politics Of Russian Invasion
— PennLive: High Prices, Volatile Markets Make For Uncertain Heating Season Across Central PA
— TribLive: Falling Gasoline Prices In Great Lakes States, Oil Prices Drive National Average Decline
— Canary Media: Charts: Winter Heating Bills To Rise Thanks To High Natural Gas Prices
— Reuters: U.S. Natural Gas Prices Up Only 1% After Paring 8% Gains On Texas Freeport LNG Delay Rumors
— Reuters: Texas LNG Natural Gas Terminal Targets Mid-December For Restart
— Baker Hughes PA Natural Gas Drilling Rig Count Same As Last Week – 22
— Modern Diplomacy: EU Leaders Accuse U.S. Natural Gas Producers Of Profiteering
— Financial Times: U.S. Oil Prices Fall 10% In The Week As Demand Worries Rise
— PA/Harrisburg Politics Potpourri
— Spotlight PA: Democratic Takeover Of State House Will Be A Little Messy To Start, Here’s Why
— Spotlight PA: Democrats Win Control Of State House After Picking Up 12 Seats
— AP: PA Democrats Win Enough For Narrow State House Majority
— PA Capital-Star: PA House Democrats Secure Majority With Rep. Stephens’ Concession In Close Rac
— PennLive Guest Essay: Even Slim Majorities Can Cause Legislative Mayhem – By Mark Singel
— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Democrats Get Nominal Control Of State House With Win In Montgomery County Seat
— MCall – Paul Muschick: How Democrats Winning State House Could Get PA Government Back To Normal
— Altoona Mirror: Republican Defeat In State House Dooms Their Plans To Change State Constitution
— PA Capital-Star: Republicans, Democrats Challenge Ballots As Counties Keep Counting Votes In Pivotal State House Races
— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Montgomery County State House Race Hinges On 334 Pending Votes
— PA Senate Republicans Announce Leadership Team For New Session: Sen. Kim Ward Makes History As First Woman Elected Senate President Pro Tempore [PaEN]
— AP: PA Senate Picks First Woman As President Pro Tempore
— PA Capital-Star: With New PA Senate Leadership, What Are Lawmakers Prioritizing When They Return To Session?
— TribLive Editorial: A Real Way For Sen. Kim Ward To Make History – Just Make Things Work
— PA Senate Democratic Caucus Elects New Leadership Team [PaEN]
— MCall: New Democratic State Senator From Lehigh Valley To Become Youngest Member In 135 Years
— PennLive – John Baer: Psst! Want A Peek At A Political Reform That Insiders Don’t Want To Talk About? [Spoiler – Changing House Terms To 4 Years]
— TribLive Editorial: Politics Should Include A Little More Parental Guidance
— TribLive: PA Republicans Give Ex-President’s Campaign Announcement Mixed Reaction
— PennLive: Will Ex-President’s 3rd Presidential Run Mean A Primary Fight In PA?
— TribLive: Announcement Of 2024 Run By Ex-President Sparks Excitement Among Local Democrats
— WESA: Toomey Steers Republicans Away From Ex-President
— AP: Daniel McCaffery To Run For Open Seat On PA Supreme Court
— TribLive: Westmoreland Judge Announces Candidacy For Opening On Commonwealth Court
— Budget 2023
— Independent Fiscal Office: PA Economic & Budget Outlook For FY 2022-23 To 2027-28
— The Center Square – Anthony Hennen: Shrinking PA Workforce Endangers Budget Surplus, Reserves
— Dept. Of Labor & Industry Reports PA Unemployment Rate Down To Record-Breaking 4% In October
— PA Capital-Star: PA’s Unemployment Rate Drops To Record Low Of 4 Percent
— Post-Gazette Guest Essay: PA’s Corporate Welfare For Selected Businesses Keeps State Down – Commonwealth Foundation
— PA Gaming Control Board: October Gaming Revenue Increases 5.71% Over Last Year
— Inquirer – Andrew Maykuth: After Surge In Kids Left Alone In Casino Parking Lots, PA Launches Crackdown On Errant Parents
— MCall – Paul Muschick: Here How A Plan To Stop Gamblers From Leaving Kids Alone In Casino Parking Garages Could Be Stronger
— COVID Pandemic/Health
— Centre Daily Times: PA COVID Cases Continue Decline Ahead Of Thanksgiving
— The Center Square – Anthony Hennen: Clarity Sought On PA Medicaid Spending Rates For Addiction Services
— TribLive: Western PA Medical Experts Keep Watch On Amoxicillin Shortage
— WPSU: PA Schools Join Lawsuit Against E-Cigarette Company JUUL
— Opioid Deaths
— WITF/AP: PA Reports Sizable Decline In Overdose Deaths, But Experts Wary
— School Districts/Higher Education
— MCall: Allentown Police Charge Juveniles With Making Threats, Giving False Information To Safe2Say
— WHYY: PA Releases Anti-Racist Guidelines As Part Of Teacher-Prep Overhaul
— Altoona Mirror Editorial: ‘Gender Queer’ Has No Place In Classroom
— MCall: Nearly 20% Of Lehigh, Northampton County Students ‘Seriously’ Considered Suicide, Study
— TribLive: Penn State President Asks For ‘Time And Grace’ To Meet Diversity, Inclusion Goals
— TribLive: After Pandemic Plunge, International Enrollment On College Campuses Rebounds
— TribLive Editorial: Will PA Pay The Price For Colleges’ Tuition Border Wars?
— Gun Violence/Law Enforcement
— Inquirer Editorial: A Mass Shooting Must Never Be Business As Usual
— Inquirer: As Shootings, Carjackings Climb At Philly Gas Stations, Victims, Grieving Families File Lawsuits
— MCall: Allentown Police Charge Juveniles With Making Threats, Giving False Information To Safe2Say
— WHYY: Introducing ‘Stop And Frisk: Revisit Or Resist’
— WITF: Jails Fail To Accommodate People With Mental Illness, In Some Case It’s A Civil Rights Violation
— AP: State House Votes To Impeach Philly DA Over Policies, Now Moves To Senate Trial
— LancasterOnline – Brad Bumsted: Analysis: House Republicans Score Political Points With Impeachment Of Philly DA, But Effort Faces Long Odds
— Post-Gazette Editorial: State House Impeachment Of Philly DA A Shameful Attack On Democracy
— TribLive: Pittsburgh Officials Blame Relentless Flow Of Guns On Violence In Pennsylvania
— TribLive: Allegheny County Priest Acquitted In 1998 Child Sex Abuse Charges
— Post-Gazette Editorial: Pittsburgh Police Lapses Require Thorough Review
— PA Economy
— Dept. Of Labor & Industry Reports PA Unemployment Rate Down To Record-Breaking 4% In October
— PA Capital-Star: PA’s Unemployment Rate Drops To Record Low Of 4 Percent
— The Center Square – Anthony Hennen: Shrinking PA Workforce Endangers Budget Surplus, Reserves
— PennLive: Thousands Of Seasonal Jobs Available For Upcoming Holiday Shopping Season
— Erie Times: Proactive Inclusion: Erie’s Hispanic/Latino Community ‘Making Our Presence Known’
— AG Shapiro Announces $391 Million Settlement With Google Over Location Tracking Practices
— MCall: PA Road, Bridges, Parks Infrastructure Got A C-Minus, Find Out Why It’s Not An A
— Other
— AP: Texas Republican Governor Sends Next Busload Of Migrants To Philadelphia
— WHYY: Philly Says It’s Ready To Welcome Migrants Sent By Bus By Texas Republican Governor With ‘Open Arms’
— Inquirer Guest Essay: Federal Law Has Been Destroying Families For 25 Years, Let’s Get Rid Of It
— TribLive Editorial: Time Is Running Out For Congress To Save Local News