Happy Thursday Morning. It’s National S’mores Day, celebrate responsibly. 

PA Weather 
Johnstown | Showers, 72
Mansfield | Showers, 71
Jim Thorpe | Chance of Showers, 74

PA Sports
⚾ Phillies (63-52) |  Washington 7-0 | Thu vs. Washington
⚾ Pirates (51-63) | Atlanta 5-6 | Thu vs. Atlanta

What We’re Hearing
“If people want money to get to homeowners and tenants in need across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and they feel fiscal code is necessary to do that, …  then we should do so immediately,” said state Sen. Nikil Saval.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Sen. Patrick Stefano and Rep. Martin Causer. 

All The PA Political News You Need To Start Your Day
Get your political news emailed to you at the start of every day. Sign up for your free subscription to the PoliticsPA Playbook.

Top Story

1. Shapiro touts expansion of state rebate program during West Shore Senior Center visit.

“Gov. Josh Shapiro visited the West Shore Senior Center in New Cumberland on Wednesday to promote Pennsylvania’s just-enacted property tax and rent rebate expansion – one key piece of Shapiro’s fiscal agenda that is now firmly in place amid uncertainty over some other parts of the budget deal.” (PennLive)

Related

Several key holes still remain in state budget process. “Nearly a week after the signing of the state budget, still much work needs to be done. The Governor, House Democrats and Senate Republicans are still battling over programs, even though the money is allocated.” (CBS21)

Pennsylvania public school associations react to budget passage. “With the school year starting later this month, passage of the state budget could not have come soon enough for some public education groups.” (WITF)

Pa.’s Whole-Home Repairs money is in limbo despite Shapiro’s budget signature. “Money for a popular program to fund basic repairs and energy efficiency upgrades in homes across much of Pennsylvania is still not free to flow to counties, despite Gov. Josh Shapiro signing the budget last week.” (WHYY)

State

2. Pennsylvania taxpayers face multi-million dollar bill for Krasner impeachment.

“Pennsylvania taxpayers have spent millions of dollars on the impeachment of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, according to a Right to Know request filed by abc27.” (ABC27)

Related

After 7 months without a PUC executive director, a senator asks if one is actually needed. “The top job at the state Public Utility Commission has been vacant since early January, and while the PUC said a hire may be imminent, one state senator this week raised the question of whether an agency that can function for seven months without a permanent executive director actually needs one.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

U.S. Senate prospect McCormick, GOP operative tied to fake elector scheme to share stage. “Dave McCormick, who is widely expected to make a repeat bid for the GOP nomination to run for U.S. Senate next year, is set to share a stage Thursday with a prominent Pennsylvania Republican with a connection to former President Donald Trump’s effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Pennsylvania’s ‘fake electors’ are unlikely to face consequences. Here’s what they’re up to. “Several weeks after the November 2020 election, a group of Pennsylvania Republicans designated themselves as electoral college voters on behalf of President Donald Trump.” (Billy Penn)

Will Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro run for president? “Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sat down with Tom Lehman at WGAL, our sister station based in Lancaster, for a one-on-one interview that covered a variety of topics, including Shapiro’s political future.” (WTAE)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Rep. Jamie Flick aims to end emissions inspections for Lycoming County with newly proposed legislation.

“A state lawmaker has just introduced legislation that ends Lycoming County’s participation in the vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program.” (Williamsport Sun-Gazette)

Related

Berks commissioner elected president of statewide association. “Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera has been elected president of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania for 2024.” (Reading Eagle)

Pittsburgh, other municipalities yet to request rail bridge inspection reports. “Pittsburgh and five other municipalities from southwestern Pennsylvania appear to have not requested inspection reports on local rail infrastructure, after leaders promised they’d do so as part of a wave of increased scrutiny following the derailment earlier this year of a Norfolk Southern train just over the Ohio border.” (Pittsburgh Union Progress)

‘I don’t know anything else’: Local cargo ship workers describe life on the region’s rivers. “Waterways in the Pittsburgh area support more than 76,000 jobs and generate $11.3 billion in gross state product.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Court date set to hear arguments on DuBois’ preliminary objections to consolidation lawsuit. “In response to the City of DuBois filing preliminary objections to Sandy Township’s complaint to seek a stay in the consolidation process with the city and dismiss the complaint, the township has disputed the city’s legal position and is urging the Clearfield County Court of Common Pleas to overrule the city’s preliminary objections and allow the case to proceed.” (Courier-Express)

Lawrence County added to Pittsburgh metro area. “Lawrence County, the birthplace of Donnie Iris, Chuck Tanner and Zambelli Fireworks, is now part of the Pittsburgh metro area thanks to a revised designation from the White House.” (Tribune-Review)

Pennsylvania Trans Man Wins Court Case Over Name Change. “A Pennsylvania court has granted a legal name change to a transgender man in a case challenging the state’s restrictions on name changes for people with felony convictions.” (The Advocate)

Three Democrats Seek to Fill Erie County Council Vacancy. “Erie County Council is one step closer towards filling the seat left vacant by former Erie County Councilwoman Mary Rennie.” (Erie News Now)

Scranton City Council candidate and his fiancée waive hearings on forgery case. “A Republican candidate for Scranton City Council and his fiancée waived their rights to a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Lackawanna County Court on criminal charges they forged signatures on his nominating petitions.” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

Sixers say a $250M tower could help solve Market East’s woes. Chinatown advocates call it a ‘PR gambit.’ “The Sixers’ plans for a $1.3 billion Center City arena got even bigger Wednesday when the team announced that it wants to extend the project skyward with a $250 million, 395-unit apartment tower.” (Philadelphia Business Journal)

Made in America cancellation wasn’t due to a conflict with city officials. “In the day after it announced the abrupt cancellation of this year’s Made in America music festival, music mogul Jay-Z’s production company has maintained its silence over why the annual event was called off three weeks before it was scheduled to take over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. But it appears one potential explanation — conflict with Philadelphia City Hall — can be ruled out.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Archdiocese of Philadelphia settles child sex abuse case against a deceased priest for $3.5 million. “The Archdiocese of Philadelphia will pay $3.5 million to settle a civil case alleging a now-deceased priest sexually assaulted a teenage boy nearly two decades ago, and church officials knew of similar reports about the priest dating back to the 1970s, attorneys for the victim announced Wednesday.” (Associated Press)

York County mourns Judge Penny Blackwell, an orphan-turned-innovator who created mental health court. “York County’s legal and social services communities mourned the loss of Judge Penny Blackwell, an orphan-turned-innovator who — among many other achievements — helped establish the county’s mental health court.” (York Dispatch)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• The Pennsylvania Legislature needs to pass sensible gun laws, instead of pandering to pro-gun interests (LNP | LancasterOnline)
• A roadmap to a practical state budget deal (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Newly revealed Matrix proposal raises further questions about police study (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Cherelle Parker Should Keep Leading Quietly (Jemille Q. Duncan)
• South Philly parking solutions exist. What’s missing is the political will to implement them. (Daniel Pearson)
• The Alabama boat brawl video, Black self-defense, and America’s long legacy of racial violence (Solomon Jones)

1 Thing

5. Michael Lorenzen throws first Phillies no-hitter since 2015 in 7-0 win over Nationals.

“Lorenzen, in his first start at home for the Phillies, tossed the 14th no-no in franchise history.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Thanks for starting your day with us.
What did you think of today’s newsletter?

Please invite your colleagues
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook