🌅 Hey There, Wednesday. Sending get well wishes to U.S. Rep. GT Thompson.

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☁️ Tarentum | Mostly Cloudy, 39
☁️ Mansfield | Cloudy, 32
🌨️ Hatfield | Slight Chance Rain/Snow, 41

PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (12-6) | Wed vs. Washington
🏒 Penguins (11-10-3) | Wed. vs. Tampa Bay
🏒 Flyers (13-10-2) | Thu vs. Arizona

What We’re Hearing
PennWest University interim President Lorraine “Laurie” Bernotsky is one vote away from being named the next president of West Chester University in suburban Philadelphia

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Top Story

1. Court Filing Gives Rare Look Inside FBI Seizure Of Scott Perry’s Phone In 2020 Election Probe

“Just how hard did some Republican members of Congress work to keep Donald Trump in office after his 2020 election loss? A court case is providing a few tantalizing clues.

Snippets and short summaries of texts and emails sent by Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, a top Trump ally, have emerged publicly for the first time as part of a court filing that was unsealed — perhaps inadvertently — by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., as part of a legal battle with federal prosecutors.

The messages reveal more about what investigators want to know, what actions Perry took in the weeks after the election and where Perry may fit in the web of Trump loyalists who were central to his bid to remain in power.” (AP)

Related

Dems See Jan. 6 as Lever to Oust House Freedom Caucus Chair in 2024. “Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Scott Perry’s central role in attempting to overturn the 2020 election for former President Donald Trump has made him a prime target for Democrats in 2024, with several progressive candidates vying to oust the arch-conservative.” (The Messenger)

Thompson Announces Prostate Cancer Diagnosis. “In a surprise announcement on Tuesday, Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-15) shared news of his diagnosis of prostate cancer.” (PoliticsPA)

A Scranton-to-NYC Amtrak Line Might Actually Be Coming To Northeast PA — And The 2024 Campaign. “It’s been 53 years since a Scrantonian could take a train to New York City, but that could be changing in the next four years.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis Named Vice Chair of Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association. “The DLGA is an organization solely focused on electing Democratic lieutenant governors and candidates each year across the United States.” (PoliticsPA)

State

2. New Report Details ‘Discriminatory’ Policies At PA Religious, Private Schools

“Private and religious schools in Pennsylvania that participate in a multi-million dollar corporate tax break often have discriminatory policies and statements against LGBTQ+ students, those with disabilities and pregnant people, according to a new report released Tuesday by a Philadelphia-based nonprofit advocacy group.

The report titled “Pennsylvania Voucher Schools Use Tax Dollars to Advance Discrimination” was compiled by Education Voters of PA, which aims to ensure elected officials implement a pro-public education agenda.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Related

Democratic Group Rolls Out First Major Investments For Statehouse Battlegrounds. “The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee rolled out its first investments of 2024 on Wednesday, targeting six battleground states. The group is investing close to $300,000 in Michigan, Arizona, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.” (The Hill)

PA Supreme Court Will Consider Whether Officials’ Facebook Posts Are Public Records. “The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether homophobic Facebook posts shared by two northwest Pennsylvania school board members are public records under the state’s Right-to-Know Law.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Roof Damage Delays 2024 Legislative Work. “A leaky roof at the Pennsylvania Capitol building means House lawmakers won’t cast their first votes of 2024 until March 18.” (The Center Square)

Pennsylvania Lawmaker Endorses Ex-Wife To Replace Him. “State Rep. Mark Rozzi has had an unusual year. He was the Speaker of the House for a brief time and then announced he won’t seek re-election to that seat so he can run for Auditor General. He’s also endorsing the woman he’d like to see replace him in Berks County. ” (abc27)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Shapiro, Davis Kick Off Christmas Season at 2023 Annual Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony

“Governor Josh Shapiro, Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, and Department of General Services Secretary Reggie McNeil kicked off the 2023 holiday season at the Capitol in Harrisburg with the 2023 Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony.

The tree is a 20-foot Douglas Fir from Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Lehighton, Carbon County. It is decorated with 1,250 LED lights and more than 700 handmade ornaments donated by Pre-K for PA students and Pennsylvania Department of Aging seniors from across the Commonwealth.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Moms For Liberty Chapter Splits Off Over Response To Rape Allegation Against Co-Founder’s Husband. “A Pennsylvania chapter of the conservative activist group Moms for Liberty split from the organization Monday over the national leadership’s response to a rape allegation against a co-founder’s husband.” (NBC News)

Parker Unveils A ‘Roundtable’ Of Top Democrats From Philly, Harrisburg, and Washington. “Philadelphia Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker on Tuesday unveiled what she’s calling her “intergovernmental roundtable,” an advisory board made up of top Democrats in local, state, and federal government.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

County Council Approves Rich Fitzgerald’s Final Proposed Operating Budget, With Amendments. “In 10-5 vote, Bethany Hallam and others keep jail-related changes intact; it’s unclear if the county executive will veto any items.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

PA Society Squabble: Nikil Saval, Duane Morris, And The Rainbow Room Party Guest List. “State Sen. Nikil Saval claims he was briefly blocked from entering a Pennsylvania Society party because of his stance on Gaza. The law firm throwing the party said he just failed to RSVP.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Philly GOP’s ‘Rock Bottom’ 2023 Election Isn’t Party’s End, Supporters Say. “Republican “vote whisperer” Scott Presler came to Philadelphia on Saturday to do training for Republicans and bring hope to a demoralized city party.” (DV Journal)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• State Government Officials Must End The Secrecy Around Sexual Harassment — And Other — Settlements. (LNP)
• After The Goldie Protest, One Patron Hears A Haunting Historical Echo. (Lydia Kulina-Washburn)
• Senate: Pass Keystone Saves. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Our Academic Freedom Is At Stake. (Allison Santa-Cruz)
• Prohibit Funding to Radical Left American Libraries Association. (PA Freedom Caucus)
• How To Lose Elections. (Andy Bloom)
• Santos Types Less Likely In News-Filled PA. (York Dispatch)

1 Thing

5. We’re A Judicial Hellhole

The verdict is in: Pennsylvania has the dubious honor of being No. 1 worst Judicial Hellhole in the nation.

This designation from the American Tort Reform Foundation’s 2023-2024 report reflects a landscape rife with excessive, “nuclear” verdicts, expanded premises liability, and questionable decisions by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, as well as the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

The 2023-2024 Judicial Hellholes® report shines its brightest spotlight on nine jurisdictions that have earned reputations as Judicial Hellholes®. Some are known for allowing innovative lawsuits to proceed or for welcoming litigation tourism, and in all of them state leadership seems eager to expand civil liability at every given opportunity.

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