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


Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else–

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

— LancasterOnline: Ex-Ephrata Lawyers’ Statement He Would Kill Democratic U.S. Senators Allowed By Judge

— ScrantonT: Lackawanna County Man Charged With Crimes Related To Assault On U.S. Capitol Rejects Plea Deal, Plans For Trial

— New Voting Districts – Senate, House, Congressional

— AP: PA Supreme Court Puts Hold On Gathering Names For Primary Candidates Petitions 

— PA Cap-Star: PA Supreme Court Suspends Candidate Petitions Pending Redistricting Lawsuits

— YorkD Editorial: Redistricting Reform Is Dead, Long Live Redistricting Reform  [Pending Lawsuit Outcomes]

— Spotlight PA: See How Final House Voting District Map Scores

— Spotlight PA: See How Final Senate Voting District Map Scores

— PG: Nordenberg Says Commission’s Final Voting District Maps Prove He Succeeded In Chairman’s Role

— PA Cap-Star: Latino Advocate Promises Lawsuit Against New PA Voting District Maps

— MCall – Ford Turner: Allentown Latino Leaders Plot Strategy After New PA Legislative Maps Scramble Political Plans

— AP: Republican Commonwealth Court Judge Recommends Congressional Voting Districts Map Favored By Republicans

— SpotlightPA: Republican Judge Sided With Republicans On Congressional Voting Districts Map, Here’s What’s Next

— PennLive – Charles Thompson: PA Judge’s Republican Congressional Map Would Blow Up Capitol Region District

— PA Cap-Star: Ex-House Republican Leader Reed: PA Supreme Court Needs To Do Redistricting In Public

— Governor’s Race

— Inquirer: Barletta Best-Known Republican Candidate For Governor, Is That Enough?  [He Supported Efforts To Overturn Nov. 2020 Election]

— Inquirer: Republican Candidate For Governor Sen. Mastriano Spent A Day Claiming Facebook Was Censoring Him – On Facebook

— AP: Sen. Martin Suspends Campaign For Republican Nomination For Governor Due To Leg-Related Medical Issues

— U.S. Senate Race

— Inquirer: Follow The Money – PA U.S. Senate Race In 8 Charts

— AP: Dr. Oz Gets Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star As His Republican Rival For PA U.S. Senate Seat Says He’s Too ‘Hollywood’

— Inquirer: Conor Lamb’s U.S. Senate Campaign Getting Super PAC Boost

— Inquirer: McCormick’s Longtime Praise For China And Trade Could Be Liability In U.S. Senate Run

— TribLive: Fetterman Noncommittal On Western PA Democratic Candidate Event

— Inquirer: Fetterman Got A Lot Of Cash From Snail Mail

— PG Guest Essay: Mask Mandates Harm Children And America’s Future – Dr. Oz, Republican For U.S. Senate

– November 2021 Election

— May 2022 Election

— WHYY: Mail-In Ballot Applications Are Available For May Primary [Yes, You Can Still Request One]

— Election Reform/2020 Election Fallout

— PA Cap-Star: Republican Lawmakers Celebrate Court Decision Temporarily Declaring Mail-In Voting Illegal [That Decision Was Stayed By PA Supreme Court]

— MCall – Paul Muschick: Sick And Disabled Would Not Be Forgotten If PA Gets Rid of its Mail Balloting Law

— YorkD Editorial: The Reality Is Mail-In Voting Benefits Voters

— PA Cap-Star: Republicans On Senate Committee Approve Bill Calling For U.S. Constitutional Convention

— LancasterOnline: Elections Group Claims Fraud In Lancaster County, Won’t Supply Evidence

— LancasterOnline Editorial: Don’t Buy Nonsense About Election ‘Anomalies’ In Lancaster County

— MCall Guest Essay: Let’s Show The Nation What True Nonpartisanship Cooperation Can Do – Lehigh County Executive

— LancasterOnline: New White Nationalist Club Behind Millersville ‘Never ‘Apologise’ For Being White,’ Antisemitic  Stickers, Other Propaganda In Central PA

— MCall: Family That Sued Lehigh Valley School District Saying Lessons On White Privilege, Systemic Racism Were Anti-Christian Could Get $45,000 Under Settlement

— MCall: Feds Say Anti-Government Podcaster Who Fantasized About State Police Killer Eric Frein Had An Arsenal Of Illegal Machine Guns In His Bethlehem Township Home

— PennLive: Fmr Centre County Citizens Militia ‘Commander’ Again Indicted On Federal Firearms Charges

–WHYY: Delaware County Fire Company Shut Down After Racist Remarks Caught On Video Call

— PG: Winchester Thurston Students In Pittsburgh Angered By School’s Response To Racist Snapchat Post

— State Constitutional Amendments

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

— Harrisburg Potpourri

— PA Cap-Star: Activists Call For House Floor Vote On Bill Banning Gifts To Lawmakers

— MCall – Paul Muschik: It’s Disgraceful That Sen. Browne Went To Such Great Lengths To hide Allentown NIZ Tax Data

— PA Cap-Star: Updated PA Incumbent Retirement And Primary Tracker

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Republican Rep. Rothman Eyes Open Senate Seat

Rep. Longietti (D) Will Not Seek Reelection

— Rep. Pam Snyder (D) Not Running For Reelection

— Inquirer: Progressives Pick Candidates, Fights In Philly State House Races

— Legislative Audit Commission: Senate/House Now Have Record Cash Operating Surplus Of $233.6 Million As Of June 30, 2021 [$33.6 million more than 2020]

— AP: Senate, House Have Record Cash Operating Surplus Of $233.6 Million Just Sitting Around

— City & State PA: Southwest Republicans Outline Wish List Ahead Of Budget Address

— PG: Republican Lawmakers In Western PA Take Shot At Wolf Before Last Budget Speech

— PG Guest Essay: Let’s Escape Budgetary Groundhog Day By Restricting Wasteful Spending Thru A Constitutional Amendment – Sen. Bartolotta (Republican)

— WilliamsportS: PA Republican State Lawmakers, Members Of Congress Propose Capping Health Care Facility Workers’ Pay To Save Facilities Money

— PA Cap-Star: PA Residents Drinking Better Not More Helping To Drive Alcohol Sales Growth

— Inquirer: Republican Push To Legalize Weed In PA Gets Underway With Hearing

— YorkDR Guest Essay: Police Chiefs Oppose Push To Legalize Marijuana In PA

— PA Cap-Star: Will PA Lawmakers Barter Away Our Public Health And Safety In Marijuana Legislation?

— PA Cap-Star: Marijuana Legalization: PA Should Lead, Not Follow On Cannabis Convictions

— WHYY: IBEW Local 98 Union In Philadelphia Has More Campaign Cash Than Ever

— Rep. Innamorato: Welcoming PA Caucus Introduces Bill To Create Office Of New Pennsylvanians

— PA Cap-Star: 10 Weird Laws Still On The Books In PA: Hunting Big Game To Barring Bingo

— Budget 2022

— Gov. Wolf Proposes New Investments To Building Successful Future For Pennsylvania Families

— Gov. Wolf’s In-Depth Summary Of FY 2022-23 Budget Proposal

— Gov. Wolf’s FY 2022-23 Budget Proposal Spreadsheet

— Gov. Wolf’s 2022 Budget Address Text As Prepared 

— AP: Wolf’s Final Budget, Like His First, Features Public Schools

— Spotlight PA: Wolf Asks Republican-Led Legislature To Spend PA’s Federal Aid Dollars As He Pitches $1.8 Billion Boost For Public Education

— PennLive: Wolf’s Final Budget Plan Gives Bills More To Education While Helping Businesses

— PA Cap-Star: Wolf Announces $43.7 Billion Spending Proposal

— AP: What To Watch For In Gov. Wolf’s Budget Proposal

— PA Cap-Star: 3 Things To Watch For In Wolf’s Legacy Burnishing Budget

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: Surpluses And Electioneering Set Stage For Wolf’s Final Budget

— Inquirer: Wolf Wants To Release $1.7 Billion In American Rescue Plan Funding To Help Small Business Owners, Conservation, Others

— PennLive: Here’s A Roadmap To The Major Pieces Of Wolf’s 2022 Budget Plan

— Senate Republicans: Governor’s Budget Less About Pennsylvania, More About Legacy

— House Republicans: Wolf’s Spending Proposal Not A Serious Plan To Move PA Forward

— PA Cap-Star: How PA Politicians Reacted To Wolf’s 2022-23 Budget Proposal

— PennLive: Wolf, Legislative Foes Speak To Different Pennsylvanians And Realities On Budget Day

— PA Cap-Star: How PA’s Advocacy Community Reacted To Wolf’s Budget Plan

— City & State PA: Wolf, Lawmakers Can Coalesce Around A Corporate Tax Cut

— PennLive – John Baer: PA’s 2022 Budget Address Is Deja Vu All Over Again, Here’s Why That’s A Bad Thing

— MCall – Paul Muschick: What Was Missing From Wolf’s Final State Budget Address

— TribLive Editorial: Wolf’s Last Budget Address Leans on Familiar Ideas

— WBTimes Editorial: Wolf’s Budget Priorities Solid, Both Parties Need To Work On Numbers

— Gov. Wolf: PA Congressional Delegation Supports Plan To Assist Pennsylvanians In Need With Federal American Rescue Plan Funds

— WITF: Proposed Wolf Budget Would Help Nurses Provide Mental Health Services

— Legislative Audit Commission: Senate/House Now Have Record Cash Operating Surplus Of $233.6 Million As Of June 30, 2021 [$33.6 million more than 2020]

— AP: Senate, House Have Record Cash Operating Surplus Of $233.6 Million Just Sitting Around

— City & State PA: Southwest Republicans Outline Wish List Ahead Of Budget Address

— PG: Republican Lawmakers In Western PA Take Shot At Wolf Before Last Budget Speech

— PG Guest Essay: Let’s Escape Budgetary Groundhog Day By Restricting Wasteful Spending Thru A Constitutional Amendment – Sen. Bartolotta (Republican)

— American Rescue Plan Funding

— Inquirer: Wolf Wants To Release $1.7 Billion In American Rescue Plan Funding To Help Small Business Owners, Conservation, Others

— Gov. Wolf: PA Congressional Delegation Supports Plan To Assist Pennsylvanians In Need With Federal American Rescue Plan Funds

— COVID Pandemic In PA

— Dept. Of Health: Weekly Update On COVID Cases, Vaccinations, Hospitalizations

— PG: COVID Cases Drop Sharply In Allegheny County, Across Pennsylvania

— Independent Fiscal Office Reports 38,656 Excess Deaths Caused By COVID In 2020 & 2021

— City & State PA: IFO Report – Seniors Bore Brunt Of COVID Deaths

— PG: Allegheny County Reaches Grim Milestone: 3,000 Deaths From COVID

— TribLive: Hospital Leaders In Western PA Hopeful As COVID Cases Decline; But Staffing Remains An Issue

— Inquirer: Why Philly Is Keeping Its Mask Mandate As States Drop Them

— MCall – Ford Turner: Republican Lawmakers Advance Bill Supporting Off-Label Treatments For COVID

— WilliamsportS: PA Republican State Lawmakers, Members Of Congress Propose Capping Health Care Facility Workers’ Pay To Save Facilities Money

— PG: Ex-Pitt Official Admits To Stealing 13,000 Masks From University To Sell On eBay

— PG: Pitt Prof Compares Discomfort Of Cloth Mask To Being In A Gas Chamber At Auschwitz

— PG Guest Essay: Mask Mandates Harm Children And America’s Future – Dr. Oz, Republican For U.S. Senate

— ErieT: Few Erie-Area Hospital Workers Fired, Resign Due To COVID Vaccine Mandate

— PG: Pitt Terminating 9 Employees For Failing To Comply With Vaccine Mandate

— WarrenT: Warren County Group To Offer Cash Prizes For Newly Vaccinated

— PA Cap-Star: Buffalo Bound Anti-COVID Mandate Protesters Stop In Scranton

— WHYY: Philly Fighting COVID  CEO Banned From Working In PA

— WITF: Proposed Wolf Budget Would Help Nurses Provide Mental Health Services

— WHYY: Telemedicine Eliminated Racial Health Gap During Pandemic, Study Says

— Inquirer: Delaware’s Biggest Health System Moves Into PA To Buy Crozer Health

— COVID – Schools

— CourierT: Are Central Bucks, Other School Districts Underreporting COVID Cases?

— CourierT: Bucks County Middle School Cancels DC Field Trip Over City’s Pandemic Rules

— Opioid Epidemic

— PG: Feds Say PA Courts Discriminate Against Some With Opioid Dependency

— PA Cap-Star: Justice Dept. Finds PA Courts In Violation Of Americans With Disabilities Act

— AP: U.S. Justice Dept. Signals It May Allow Safe Injection Sites

— YorkD: Falls Surpass Overdoses As Leading Cause Of Death In York County As Population Ages 

School Funding/Administration

— Inquirer: 4 Takeaways From PA’s School Funding Trial, 2 Weeks Into Republican Witnesses

— LancasterOnline: Republican Leaders Withdraw Witness In School Funding Trial Accused Of Plagiarism

— Inquirer Guest Essay: Schoolhouse Crumbling?  That’s What You Deserve, PA Republicans Say

— ScrantonT Editorial: No Defense For Adequately Funded Public Schools, So Republicans Change The Subject

— PG: Wolf Pushes ‘Giant Step Forward’ For PA’s K-12 Education During Budget Address

— AP: Poorer Cities, Growing Suburbs Get Most Out Of Wolf’s School Funding Plan

— PA Cap-Star Guest Essay: Fair School Funding For Every PA Student, Not Just A Few – Pottstown School District

— ReadingE Editorial: State Has Money To Boost Public School Funding

— WESA/AP: Amid Scrambles For Teachers, Some Fear Worse Shortages Ahead

— PG Editorial: Adressing The Teacher Shortage [Yes, They Spelled Addressing Wrong]

— ScrantonT: Private Scranton Cyber Academy Enrollment Surpasses High Schools

— PG Editorial: Transparency For Tax Breaks To Support Private Schools

— PG: State-Owned Universities Would Get Historic Funding Boost Under Wolf’s Budget Proposal

— PennLive – Jan Murphy: State Universities’ Leader Promises Tuition Freeze If It Receives $550 Million In Governor’s Budget

— PG Editorial: Funding Can Stabilize State Universities’ System

— ErieT: Northern PA Regional College Excluded From Wolf Budget Because They Haven’t Used $14 Million In State Money For 2 Years

— ErieT: Erie County Executive Wants To Cut Federal Funds To Community College, Diversity Board, Here’s Why

— PG: Allegheny County Community College, Schell Games Offering Gaming Apprenticeship Program

— AP: Temple Prof Seeks Reinstatement Of Damage Claims Against FBI

— Gun Violence/Law Enforcement

— PennLive: 2 People Killed In Harrisburg Shooting, Suspect Fled And Crashed Into School Bus

— Inquirer Guest Essay: Gun Control Schemes Do Nothing More Than Disarm People Who Need Protection Most

— PennLive: Most Deaths In PA County Jails Went Unreported: ‘It Is Appalling’

— Inquirer: An Amish Farmer’s 600 Guns Were Seized In Lancaster County, But It’s Unclear If He Broke The Law

— PennLive Editorial: Wolf, Lawmakers Pledged To Stop Sending Kids To Adult Prisons, But They Haven’t Changed The Law

— AP: Bulletproof Vest Saves Philadelphia Police Officer Serving A Warrant

— TribLive Editorial: Constables Have To Follow Law To Enforce It

— TribLive: Fayette County Priest Resigns After ‘Inappropriate Behavior’ With 19-Year-Old

— CentreDT: Community Voices Concerns Following Assault Tied To Racist Photo At State College H.S.

— WHYY: Berks County Immigrant Detention Center Reopens As Women-Only Facility

— PA Economy

— The Center Square: Labor & Industry Addresses Unemployment Fraud For House Committee

— TribLive: Western PA Motorists’ Concerns Mount Over Potential Bridge Disasters

— CourierT: Can Companies Follow Parx Casino’s Lead In Diversifying Their Workforce?

— Inquirer Guest Essay: Sports Betting Making It Harder To Enjoy The Game

— WESA: In The Age Of Work From Home, PA Factories Struggle With Staffing

— TribLive: Supply Chain Issues, Rising Costs Causing Fish Fry Cancellations, Higher Prices

— WESA/NPR: Why Buying A Car Is Such A Miserable Experience

— Other

— TribLive: Pittsburgh Council Members Give Themselves 6.3% Pay Raise

— WHYY: Philly Voters May Be Asked To Place Term Limits On City Council

— ErieT: Greene Twp. Officials Dodge Legal, Ethical Questions Over $10,000 Bonuses For Themselves

— WESA: Funk Legend And Longtime Pittsburgh Resident Betty Davis Dies At 77

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