The Capitol will likely be quiet for awhile, as many bills hover in limbo during summer break. But we’re going to keep busy, so don’t forget to check back later for this week’s Ups & Downs. Good morning, politicos, here’s the Playbook!
Gerrymandering Fix Unlikely Before Deadline
A deadline to change the way Pennsylvania draws its legislative maps in time for 2021 redistricting is fast approaching, but it seems school’s out for summer. The state House adjourned Monday, leaving in limbo a handful of important legislation — among them a Senate-approved bill to create an independent commission purported to eliminate gerrymandering.
Statewide
Capitolwire: SCOTUS union dues ruling will cause some changes for PA.
Capitolwire: Bonus depreciation allowance to make PA markets competitive again.
Capitolwire: PA first in the nation to enact Clean Slate legislation after Gov. Wolf’s signature.
AP: Governor boosts minimum wage again for state employees
AP: Ex-state representative sentenced for money-laundering plan
AP: Brexit leader to headline GOP U.S. Senate hopeful Barletta’s fundraiser
StateImpact PA: Study: Climate change will stress corn production, dairy industry in southern Pennsylvania
State House Sound Bites: Wolf signs law to seal certain criminal records
State House Sound Bites: State gradually laying out structure for legal sports betting
Philadelphia
Inquirer: How the Supreme Court ruling on labor unions in Janus vs. AFSCME could upend politics in Pennsylvania
Inquirer: After Janus decision, here’s one group that’s teaching Pa. government workers how to drop out of their unions
Inquirer: Boeing upgrades Chinooks at Delco plant in 100-year program
Inquirer: Caught in political-civility debate, Pa. bakery shares name with one that wouldn’t serve Joe Biden
KYW: Poll: Pennsylvania Voters’ Support For Gun Control At All-Time High
WHYY: Barletta plans to campaign for U.S. Senate on repeal of Roe v. Wade
SEPA
Delco Daily Times: How new Pa. budget boosts education funding
Daily Local: Parkesburg councilman, bank exec charged in $100K embezzlement scam
Daily Local: “I’m just a regular guy” says new U.S. attorney
Pittsburgh
AP: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette to stop publishing two days a week
Tribune Review: Pennsylvanians criticize, applaud Supreme Court union ruling
Tribune Review:Survey: Pennsylvanians among the most tolerant toward neighbors’ yard signs
Tribune Review: Protesters descend on home of East Pittsburgh Officer Michael Rosfeld
Post-Gazette: Democrats say Barletta should cancel fundraiser with Brexit leader Farage
KDKA: Clean Slate Law Bars Employers, Landlords From Seeing Long-Ago, Non-Violent Criminal Convictions
Southwest
Tribune-Democrat: Cambria County wipes out $2.3M deficit, audit finds
Observer-Reporter: Monessen planning to cease city operations over missing mayor, councilman
Indiana Gazette: Commissioners approve purchase of drone
Beaver County Times: Pennsylvania becomes first state with ‘clean slate’ law for nonviolent criminal records
Beaver County Times: Metcalfe challenger Dan Smith Jr. speaks to local NOW chapter
NEPA
Daily Item: State split on Supreme Court union fees ruling
Times Leader: Poll: Casey, Wolf leading in Pennsylvania statewide races
Times-Tribune: Commissioners award bid for sale of administration building
Citizens Voice: British Trump ally Farage to attend Barletta fundraiser
South Central
Patriot News: Pennsylvania casinos ask Wolf Administration to suspend iLottery games
Patriot News: Take a trip through Harrisburg’s crumbling sewer system
YDR: Taser use “of great concern,” Lancaster mayor says of Thursday incident involving police
YDR: ‘These are American bikes.’ Harley-Davidson riders weigh in on Trump tariffs
WITF:Report shows slowing in hospital admission rates for overdoses
Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Allentown Diocese removes monsignor, alerts authorities of sex abuse allegation
Morning Call: Pennsylvanians jeer, cheer Supreme Court union ruling
Morning Call: KidsPeace housing a dozen refugee children separated from their families
Reading Eagle: Former detainees urge Gov. Wolf to close Berks detention center
North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Videos show treatment of Erie County inmate in asthma case
Sun-Gazette: County OKs deputy sheriffs’ contract with pay increase
Opinion
Morning Call: Op-ed: Pennsylvania’s death penalty system should be strengthened, not abolished, amid newly raised concerns
Times-Tribune: Lackawanna County commissioners delinquent in transparency
Post-Gazette: The unasked question: Should presidential power be ever-expanding?
LNP: Not surprising, but still disappointing: Hopes for reform in the state House dashed yet again
Erie Times-News: Our view: Deal to end tax exemption is only fair
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One Response
Off year elections are generally favoring the party not occupying the White House and Trump has put this theory on steroids riling the Dem base and alienating independent voters, especially, women and now we have the Supreme Court choice. This has super charged the support of Dem candidates like Tom Wolf and Bob Casey and gives them a tremendous advantage. On top of that, Scott Wagner can’t help himself with his endless dumb political antics like wrestling a camera away from some poor tracker at a country club or the ultra dumb poll Scott Wagner takes when he asked people at the recent Republican statewide meeting if they didn’t have healthcare provided by an employer–which justifies his position to be against Obamacare. Walker, with his astounding personal wealth, only proves his detachment from the worker with such polls. Bottom line: the polls are showing this and will continue to do so that it is a bad year to be running as a Republican for US Senate and Pa Governor. Prediction: Wolf by 10 and Casey by 14 points.