PA Capitol Report: Top 10 Stories On Harrisburg/PA Politics Last Week
Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else–
— 2022 Priorities
— Spotlight PA: Gov. Wolf’s Final Budget Address Will Seek To Cement His Legacy
— AP: What To Watch For In Gov. Wolf’s Budget Proposal
— Gov. Wolf Announces $1.7 Billion Spending Plan For Federal American Rescue Plan Money
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Senate Democrats Call For A $3.75 Billion Investment In Public Education
— WHYY: PA Democrats Set Budget Priorities With ‘Historic’ Education Spending Proposal
— TribLive Guest Essay: Helping Pennsylvanians Means Putting Taxpayers First – Republican House Speaker, Majority Leader
— Governor’s Budget Address Feb. 8
— PA’s Role In Assault On U.S. Capitol
— PA Cap-Star: Here’s The Full List of PA’s Fake Republican Electors – Gubernatorial Candidates Barletta, Gerow, More
— CitizensV: Barletta Campaign Responds To Probe Of Fake Electors
— TribLive: McKean County Man Gets Fine For His Role In Assault On U.S. Capitol
— Inquirer: Delaware County Man Pleads Guilty To Charges Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol
— NYT: National Republican Committee Declares Assault On U.S. Capitol ‘Legitimate Political Discourse’
— The Guardian: Republican Party Calls Jan. 6 Attack On U.S. Capitol ‘Legitimate Political Discourse’
— The Guardian: Fmr Republican VP Pence Says It Would Have Been ‘Un-American’ To Overturn 2020 Election Results
— New Voting Districts – Senate, House, Congressional
— PA Cap-Star: Panel Approves Final House, Senate Voting Districts Maps In Bipartisan Vote; House Republican Opposes
— Spotlight PA: Final Legislative District Maps Approved, But Legal Challenges Likely
— MCall – Ford Turner: Lehigh Valley A Flashpoint As Commission Approves Final Legislative District Maps
— CitizensV: Luzerne County’s Political Landscape Is Changing
— WBTimes: Sen. Yudichak (I) ‘Profoundly Disappointed’ In Redistricting Process
— PennLive – Charles Thompson: Final Legislative Maps Introduce More Competitive Districts In Capital Region
— AP: PA Supreme Court To Decide On Congressional Voting Districts Map
— Spotlight PA: PA Supreme Court Takes Control Of Redrawing State’s Congressional Voting Districts Map
— AP: PA Supreme Court May Step In To Congressional Voting Districts Case
— AP: Commonwealth Court Judge Says She’ll Soon Rule On Congressional Voting Districts Map
— PA Cap-Star: PA Supreme Court Taking A Look At Congressional Voting Map Case, Orders Stay On Lower Court
— MCall: Will Allentown’s Chances Of Electing A Latino Representative Improve?
— Governor’s Race
— AP: Gubernatorial Candidate Josh Shapiro Sets Campaign Cash Record To Start Election Year
— PA Cap-Star: PA Candidates For Governor Raising Big Money For A Big Race
— Inquirer: First Fund-Raising Reports In PA Governor’s Race Show It’s Up For Grabs
— WITF: Millions Pouring Into PA Governor, U.S. Senate Races
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Last Of Republican Regional Straw Polls Hand Victories To Bartos, White For U.S. Senate, Governor
— TribLive: Republican Rep. DelRosso Announces Run For Lt. Governor
— TribLive: Fmr Republican Rep. Coleman Running For Lt. Governor
— U.S. Senate Race
— AP: Millions Follow Rich Candidates In PA U.S. Senate Race
— Inquirer: How Much Money Oz, Fetterman Other PA U.S. Senate Candidates Raised So Far
— WITF: Millions Pouring Into PA Governor, U.S. Senate Races
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Last Of Republican Regional Straw Polls Hand Victories To Bartos, White For U.S. Senate, Governor
— PennLive – John Baer: Fetterman’s U.S. Senate Campaign Is As Unconventional As He Is
— WPost: Conor Lamb, Leading Democratic Candidate For U.S. Senate In PA Opposes Fracking Ban
— AP: Val Arkoosh Dropping Out Of Democratic U.S. Senate Race
–– November 2021 Election
— MCall: Lehigh County Judge Race Remains In Limbo After Elections Board Delays Certification
— MCall: Lehigh County Voters Sue To Delay Nov. Election Certification Over Undated Mail-In Ballots
— May 2022 Election
— WHYY: PA Voters Can Still Apply For Mail-In Ballots Despite The Court Battle
— CourierT: Bucks County Officials Sound Alarm On Impact Of PA Redistricting Delays On Primary Election
— ErieT: PA County Election Officials Demand Help From Lawmakers: ‘We’re Still Being Attacked’
— PA Cap-Star: PA Has Some Big Races In 2022, But Political Parties Are Mostly Staying Silent, Why?
— City & State: Republican Poll Says Republican State Candidates Have The Advantage This Year
— PoliticsPA: Will Anyone Receive Endorsements At This Weekend’s Republican Meeting?
— LancasterOnline: Sen. Augment To Face Primary Challenge From Ephrata Man Who Led Local Protests, Unapproved ‘Audit’ Of 2020 Election
— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout
— AP: Republican’s PA Election Inquiry: Courts, Conspiracies And More Costs
— AP: PA Supreme Court Sets March Argument On PA’s Mail-In Voting Law
— ErieT: PA County Election Officials Demand Help From Lawmakers: ‘We’re Still Being Attacked’
— WITF Smart Talk: PA Republicans Gaining In Voter Registrations, Partisan Identification
— ErieT Guest Essay: PA Republicans Are Stealing Your Right To Vote – PA Senate/House Democratic Leaders
— ErieT Guest Essay: We Face An Apocalypse Of Our Own Making If We Let Voting Rights Falter In The U.S. – Erie Teacher
— PA Cap-Star: Here’s The Full List of PA’s Fake Republican Electors – Gubernatorial Candidates Barletta, Gerow, More
— CitizensV: Barletta Campaign Responds To Probe Of Fake Electors
— WBTimes: AG Shapiro’s Office: 2020 Fake Republican Elector Plan Not Illegal, But Misleading
— LancasterOnline: Sen. Augment To Face Primary Challenge From Ephrata Man Who Led Local Protests, Unapproved ‘Audit’ Of 2020 Election
— CourierT: America First Candidate To Change Republican Cong. Fitzpatrick
— CourierT Guest Essay: For Our ‘Great Experiment’ To Survive, Politicians Must Observe The Rules – Fmr Rep. Kate Harper
— LancasterOnline: Lancaster Twp. Republican Chair Resigns As Committee Prepared To Remove Him For Denouncing FreePA, A Conservative Disinformation Group
— LancasterOnline Editorial: Republican Twp. Chair’s Forced Exit Illustrates Lancaster County Republicans’ Shift Toward Extremism
— TribLive: Etna Rallies Against Swastika Flag In Allegheny County
— TribLive: Pittsburgh Out Of Running For 2024 Republican Convention
— State Constitutional Amendments
— Spotlight PA: Complete Guide To More Than 70 Proposed Amendments To State Constitution
— Inquirer Pro/Con: Is It Time For PA To Get Out Of The Booze Business?
— ReadingE Editorial: Constitutional Amendment On Alcohol Sales Concerning
— Harrisburg Potpourri
— PA Cap-Star: Updated PA Incumbent Retirement And Primary Tracker
— TribLive Guest Essay: Coming Together For A Brighter Future For PA – PA House Democratic Leadership
— TribLive: Special Election To Fill Rep. Wheatley Set For April 5
— WESA: 6 Hopefuls To Seek Democratic Party Nomination In House District Special Election
— Inquirer: Philly Democrats Pick Rep. Mike Drescoll As Nominee For City Council
— WBTimes: Rep. Carroll Not Seeking Reelection
— Inquirer: Sheryl Lee Ralph On ‘Abbott Elementary,’ Her Marriage To Sen. Hughes
— CourierT: America First Candidate To Change Republican Cong. Fitzpatrick
— WESA: Candidates To Replace Cong. Doyle Post Healthy Fundraising Totals
— Inquirer: PA Members Of Congress Traded Millions In Stocks, Some Lawmakers Trying To Ban The Practice
— ScrantonT Editorial: Barbara Hafer’s PAC Illuminates Absurd Law
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Legislature Takes First Steps Toward Recreational Marijuana – Holding A Hearing
— ScrantonT Editorial: Legal Pot ‘Inevitable’, Fire Up Bill
— Inquirer Pro/Con: Is It Time For PA To Get Out Of The Booze Business?
— ScrantonT Editorial: Horse Racing Reforms Long Overdue
— Spotlight PA: Report Says Fmr PA School Pension Fund CEO Withheld Information From Board
— AP: Report Flags Consultant Error In PA School Pension Fund Data
— ErieT: Gov. Tom Ridge To Be Honored By The Intelligence And National Security Alliance
— Budget 2022
— Spotlight PA: Gov. Wolf’s Final Budget Address Will Seek To Cement His Legacy
— AP: What To Watch For In Gov. Wolf’s Budget Proposal
— Gov. Wolf Announces $1.7 Billion Spending Plan For Federal American Rescue Plan Money
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Wolf Proposes $1.7 Bill Relief Program For Families, Small Businesses, Health Care, Conservation
— PA Cap-Star: ‘We Should Not Do Nothing:’ Wolf Unveils $1.7 Billion Spending Plan For Federal Relief Money
— AP: Wolf, Democrats Outline Propose For Investing $1.7 Billion In American Rescue Plan Funds
— The Center Square: Republican House Speaker Pans Wolf’s Federal Relief Spending Plan
— Gov. Wolf Launches Nonprofit Security Grant Program With $5 Million In American Rescue Plan Funding
— TribLive Editorial: Nursing Shortage Can Use American Rescue Plan Funds
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Senate Democrats Call For A $3.75 Billion Investment In Public Education
— WHYY: PA Democrats Set Budget Priorities With ‘Historic’ Education Spending Proposal
— WHYY: General Assembly Diverts $4.2 Billion In State Funding Meant To Pay For Highways & Bridges To Pay State Police Instead [2019] [Is There A Pattern Here?]
— PG: As Wolf Readies Final Budget, State University System Waits To See If They Will Get More Funding
— Dept. Of Revenue: January State Revenue Collections $376.8 Million Over Estimate; $1.8 Billion Over Estimates Fiscal Year-To-Date
— Independent Fiscal Office: January Revenue Collections $440.6 Million Over Its Estimate; $2.2 Billion Over Fiscal Year-To-Date
— The Center Square: IFO: Revised Economic Forecast Shows Higher Revenue Estimate For PA [State Revenue Estimate Increases $3.3 Billion]
— PennLive: PA Casinos Hit Jackpot With Record Year In 2021
— WHYY: Philly Moves Closer To ‘Epicenter For Sports Betting’ Prediction
— Inquirer: Ex-Bookkeeper For Delaware River Waterfront Agency Admitted Stealing $2.6 Million To Gamble
— American Rescue Plan Funding
— Gov. Wolf Announces $1.7 Billion Spending Plan For Federal American Rescue Plan Money
— TribLive Editorial: Nursing Shortage Can Use American Rescue Plan Funds
— PA Cap-Star: These PA Congressional Republicans Opposed The Biden American Rescue Plan Funding, Then Touted It Back Home
— COVID Pandemic In PA
— PA Cap-Star: COVID Still A ‘Serious’ Situation In PA, Health Secretary Says
— WHYY: Philly COVID Cases Continue To Drop, But ‘We’re Not Out Of The Woods Yet’
— PennLive: UPMC Doctor Warns Against Danger Of Pandemic Fatigue
— PG: January Was Allegheny County’s Deadliest Month Since COVID Vaccine Rollout
— PG: COVID Continues To Decline In Allegheny County, Across PA
— CitizensV: Holidays Produced Huge, Larger COVID Case Surge This Year And A Lot Of Deaths In NE PA
— MCall: PA COVID Cases Fall To 12-Week Low As Northampton Records 1,000th Death
— AP: PA Adding Long-Term Care Beds To Ease COVID Crunch
— TribLive Editorial: Nursing Shortage Can Use American Rescue Plan Funds
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: COVID Policies At The Capitol In Harrisburg Are All Over The Map
— ABC6: 5,000 Blank Vaccine Cars, N95 Masks Stolen From Philadelphia Hospital
— TribLive: Western PA Health Care Facilities In Compliance With Federal Vaccine Mandate
— PennLive: ‘Small Number’ Of Unvaccinated Employees Lose Jobs At Hershey Company
— PennLive: PA Republicans Push Bill To Protect Doctors Prescribing Unproven Treatments For COVID
–WITF/PennLive: Tower Health Doctor Fired For Prescribing Unproven COVID Treatments To Patients
— WHYY: Down 2 Hospitals In One Month, New Efforts To Restore Health Services In Chester County
— WHYY: Blood Donation Shortage A ‘Major Concern’ In Pennsylvania
— PA Cap-Star: On The Job In D.C.: ‘You Have To Do The Work’: PA’s Rachel Levine Says
— COVID – Schools
— Courier: Central Bucks School District Parents Come Together To Donate Masks To Teachers, Staff
— TribLive: New Kensington-Arnold Teachers To Highlight Educators’ Efforts During COVID
— Inquirer: Less Than One-Third Of PA Elementary Students Vaccinated Against COVID
— ErieT: Warren County School District Paid $28,000 In Winner’s Legal Fees In Challenge To Its Mask Policy
— Opioid Epidemic
— AP: Allegheny, Philadelphia DAs Lose Round In Challenge To Opioid Settlement Lawsuit
— WHYY: Philly Unveils First-Of-Its Kind Vending Machine For Opioid Overdose Drug Narcan
— School Funding/Administration
— PG: Private Christian School Leader First Witness For Republicans In Public School Funding Trial
— WHYY: Republicans Make Case For School Choice, Not Money In PA School Funding Trial
— CitizensV: Fair Funding Trial Exposing Inequities In PA Schools
— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Senate Democrats Call For A $3.75 Billion Investment In Public Education
— WHYY: PA Democrats Set Budget Priorities With ‘Historic’ Education Spending Proposal
— PA Cap-Star: ‘This Is Not Sustainable’: PA Educators Detail Staffing Shortages, Urge Legislative Relief
— TribLive: Greensburg Diocese Excited By 20% Bump In Catholic School Enrollment
— MCall – Paul Muschick: Why Is PA’s Private Cyber Charter School Boom During Pandemic Crushing Taxpayers
— TribLive Guest Essay: Legislative Action On Private Charter School Reform Long Overdue – Fmr Rep. Bernie O’Neill (R) & Fmr Auditor General Eugene DePasquale (D)
— ErieT: How Unfounded Threats To Erie-Area Schools Add Stress, Work
— LancasterOnline Editorial: Parents: Urge Lancaster County School Boards To Resist Efforts To Ban Books
— Spotlight PA: Report Says Fmr PA School Pension Fund CEO Withheld Information From Board
— AP: Report Flags Consultant Error In PA School Pension Fund Data
— Spotlight PA: Key Consultant Refused To Cooperate With Probe Into PA School Pension Fund
— Inquirer: Penn State Students Want To Be Heard, So They’re Running Candidates For Board Of Trustees
— Inquirer: PA State University System Launches First Diversity Survey
— PG: As Wolf Readies Final Budget, State University System Waits To See If They Will Get More Funding
— Gun Violence/Law Enforcement
— Gov. Wolf Vetoes Bill Preempting Local Gun Ordinances
— AP: Wolf Vetoes Bill To Prevent Local Firearms Restrictions
— PA Cap-Star: Vetoed Republican Gun Preemption Bill Part Of Larger Local Preemption Strategy
— TribLive: Man Accused In Wilkinsburg Massacre With Handgun Sues Allegheny County Over ‘Malicious Prosecution’
— WITF: NAACP Files Complaint Against Lebanon County DA Over Handling Of Shootings By State Police
— WHYY: Philly DA: Murders Are Down Compared To This Time Last Year
— Inquirer: Carjackings In Philly Are On A Record Pace, Officials Aren’t Sure Why
— Inquirer: Philly DA Hoping New Unit Can Steer Young Adults To Rehabilitation Over Punishment
— PG Guest Essay: Time For Criminal Justice Overhaul – Rep. Kinkead (D)
— Inquirer Editorial: Domestic Violence Homicides Were Up 240% Last Year, Why Is Philly Taking Guns From So Few Accused Abusers?
— Inquirer Editorial: Philly Officials Collaborated On Gun Violence Report, But Can They Implement Their Own Recommendations?
— YorkDR: Teens Now Can’t Be Jailed Unless It’s In The Interest Of Justice, In PA There Are Issues
— ErieT: How Unfounded Threats To Erie-Area Schools Add Stress, Work
— CourierT: Bucks County Community Settles Lawsuit In Police Shooting Where Officer Confused Gun With Taser For $750,000
— Inquirer: 650+ Philly Cops Say They’re Too Hurt To Work, But Some Are Holding Down 2nd Jobs
— PG Editorial: Alma Speed Fox, A Matriarch Of The Civil Rights Movement, Inspired Pittsburgh
— PA Economy
— MCall: PA To Launch List Of Employers That Violate State Labor And Workplace Safety Laws
— Inquirer: Restaurant Workers Are Quitting In Droves, Here’s How They’re Being Lured Back
— WHYY: Philly To Pilot A Guaranteed Income Experiment, Giving Cash To Some Needy Residents
— Inquirer Guest Essay: Rental Assistance Is A Lifeline For Philadelphia Families, Don’t Let It Disappear
— WHYY: Philly To Guarantee Lawyers For Some Renters Facing Eviction
— PG: Class Of 2022 Starting Salaries Could See Sizable Gains, But Some May Lose Ground
— CitizensV: Report: NE PA Leads State In New Job Creation
— ErieT: Unemployment Rates Improve In Erie County Falls From 6.2% To 5.9%
— TribLive: Western PA Region’s Labor Force Shrinks Again, Jobless Rate Falls
— CentreDT: Centre County Couple Made, Sold Moonshine For More Than 30 Years, Investigators Say
TAP HERE for all articles in February 7 EXPRESS Update
