Good Monday Morning. Congratulations to the PIAA state football championship teams.
PA Weather
Gibsonia (Pine-Richland HS) | Mostly Cloudy, 37
Harrisburg (Bishop McDevitt HS) | Partly Sunny, 41
Philadelphia (St. Joseph’s Prep) | Partly Sunny, 43
PA Sports
Eagles (12-1) | NY Giants, W 48-22
Steelers (5-8) | Baltimore, L 16-14
76ers (14-12) | Charlotte, W 131-113
Flyers (9-13-7) | Arizona, L 5-4 (OT)
Penguins (16-8-4) | MON vs. Minnesota
What We’re Hearing
“I got here because I worked hard, not because I’m a woman, but I do hope it shows young women, including my grandchildren … there’s nothing beyond their reach, and I’m hoping I’m an example of that because my reach is not that high.” – Kim Ward who stands 5’
Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. Susan C. Helm and Joe Sestak.
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Top Story
1. With Majority At Stake, PA House Republicans Sue To Block Democratic-Scheduled Special Elections
“Pennsylvania House Republicans have filed a lawsuit to block three legislative special elections from taking place in February, potentially delaying a clear-cut majority for Democrats and allowing the GOP to maintain some measure of power into spring.
The suit, filed Friday night in Commonwealth Court by House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster), argues that House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia) did not have the authority to schedule the elections Wednesday after she had herself sworn in early in an unpublicized ceremony.” (Spotlight PA)
Related
GOP Sues Over Special Elections In PA House Majority Battle. “The top-ranking Republican in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives asked a court late Friday to prevent voters from filling three vacant seats in February that will determine majority control of the chamber.” (Associated Press)
With Control Of House In Dispute, Republicans Go To Court As Tensions Rise. “With a lawsuit to halt special elections and talk of a “paperwork insurrection,” little is certain about Jan. 3, when the General Assembly is set to convene to organize itself for the next session.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
Despite Midterm Losses, PA Republicans Appear Unlikely To Abandon Combative Agenda. “Republicans inside and outside Pennsylvania government say that despite a disastrous midterm election, they don’t see signs that the party is shifting its electoral or governing strategies away from contentious social issues like restricting abortion.” (Spotlight PA)
Sen. Kim Ward Talks Chaos In Harrisburg, Beating Breast Cancer And Becoming The First Female Senate President. “Sen. Kim Ward made history when the GOP-controlled state Senate elected her to serve as interim Senate president pro tempore last month. She’s the first woman to hold the position, which is expected to become permanent when she’s appointed Jan. 3 to the new two-year session.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Candidates
2. Democrats Choose McAndrew As Nominee In 32nd House District
“Using a new ranked-choice voting process, Allegheny County Democratic Party leaders selected Penn Hills resident Joe McAndrew to be their nominee to replace the late Anthony DeLuca in state House District 32.
McAndrew was chosen from among eight candidates by elected Democratic committee people who live in the district. The state party’s top leadership must ratify the selection, although that is typically a foregone conclusion.” (WESA)
Related
Robatin Announces Candidacy For Gordner’s Senate Seat. “Todd Robatin, a former Snyder County GOP chairman, has indicated his interest in the seat vacated by Gordner, who will join Sen. Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) as legal counsel in the president pro tempore’s office.” (PoliticsPA)
Democrats Select Nominee For Gordner’s State Senate Seat. “Democratic Party leaders have selected Patricia Lawton, a speech language pathologist from Columbia County, as the nominee for Pennsylvania’s 27th Senatorial District.” (Times-Tribune)
- Schlegel-Culver, Lawton Vying For Senate Seat. (Daily Item)
Around The Commonwealth
3. Governor’s Race Broke PA Campaign Spending Record
“Spending in Pennsylvania’s 2022 gubernatorial race blew past the record set eight years ago, topping $110 million largely because of Democrat Josh Shapiro’s powerhouse fundraising in a race that took on national significance.” (Associated Press)
Related
Josh Shapiro’s Successor For Attorney General Is No Stranger To The Big Stage. “Currently the state’s first deputy attorney general, she will automatically assume the top job when her boss, Josh Shapiro, is sworn in as governor on Jan. 17.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
GOP Members Who Rebuffed Jan. 6 Panel May Face Referral To Ethics Panel. “The five GOP members of the House who flouted subpoenas from the Jan. 6 committee may not be included in the panel’s criminal referrals but could see the matter punted to the Ethics Committee.” Included in the quintet is Pennsylvania’s Scott Perry. (The Hill)
Thompson Named Chair of House Agriculture Committee. “The House GOP steering committee elected Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-15) on Wednesday to lead the House Agriculture Committee. He will be the first Chairman from Pennsylvania since John L. Dawson held the post from 1853-55.” (PoliticsPA)
With PA Legislative Salaries Up A Lot Again, Some Say It’s Time For A New Approach. “With inflation drastically raising legislative salaries the last two years, several local state legislators are open to ending their automatic inflation-based pay raises or limiting their size.” (Times-Tribune)
Latino Voter Turnout Dropped Sharply In PA’s Midterm Election. “Three months before the midterm elections, Rafael Collazo saw something foreboding: More than half of Latino voters in Pennsylvania said they hadn’t received any outreach from any political candidate or party.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Young Voters Enthusiasm For Democrats Waned During Midterms. “Young voters who have been critical to Democratic successes in recent elections showed signs in November’s midterms that their enthusiasm may be waning, a potential warning sign for a party that will need their strong backing heading into the 2024 presidential race.” (Associated Press)
Phiel, Martin Announce Reelection Bid. “Incumbent Adams County Commissioners Randy Phiel and Jim Martin will seek re-election next year.” (Gettysburg Times)
Phillips Will Run With Bering Jr. In Bid For Commissioner. “Lebanon County Commissioner Chairman Robert Phillips, who announced on Nov. 23 his intention to seek a fourth term in office, announced Wednesday that he’s running a joint election campaign with a local businessman.” (LebTown)
Editorial
4. Opinion
- As Governor, Shapiro Should Give PA Students A Lifeline. (Stephen Bloom, LNP | Lancaster Online)
- Republicans In The Political Wilderness. (David Shribman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
- Dumping Trump Won’t Solve The GOP’s Leadership Problem. (Darrell Ehrlick, Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
- The Battle Over ‘Naked Ballots’ In PA. (Lowman S. Henry, Delco Times)
- What Does Sinema’s Switch Mean For Pennsylvanians? (Tribune-Review)
- PA Republicans Need Leadership And Purpose. (Guy Ciarrocchi, Broad + Liberty)
- A Shady Election Theory. (Bill Ketter, Tribune-Democrat)
1 Thing
5. Saying Goodbye To AM Radio?
AM radio could become a casualty of the electric vehicle future.
- What’s happening: “An increasing number of electric models have dropped AM radio … Carmakers say that electric vehicles generate more electromagnetic interference than gas-powered cars, which can disrupt the reception of AM signals and cause static, noise and a high-frequency hum,” says the New York Times.
Why it matters: Nearly 50 million Americans listen to AM radio, per Nielsen numbers.
- Doing away with it could also strip drivers of a crucial source of news and information during emergencies when WiFi and phones don’t work.
2 Responses
Pennsylvania is looking for true leadership not gotcha nonsense that appears all Speaker Cutler has left in his stage act. Have the special elections and seat the winners and if for some miracle Cutler holds on to his “holy grail” let him be Speaker. As for “naked ballots” if some unthinking person doesn’t date the ballot it is obvious a postmark suffices or the drop box suffices. Politicians are playing games with the issue.
Reality is exposed as PA MAGA GOP sues to stop special elections to fill legislative vacancies. GOP opposes elections!!!!