Good Morning. And welcome to Thursday.

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76ers (23-14) | Indiana, W 129-126 (OT) | FRI vs. Chicago
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What We’re Hearing
‘This town is broken, and I want to fix it. Well how are you going to fix it if you come to this town and just step right in line and keep doing the same things that everybody has done before you?” – Scott Perry

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Sen. John Gordner and former governor Ed Rendell. Know of someone with an upcoming birthday that deserves a shoutout? Let us know.

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Top Story

1. Perry Holds Big Stick In Speaker’s Vote

“Love him or hate him, voters in Pennsylvania’s 10th District have got themselves a Congressman who gets attention and now, with a new Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, is flexing his newfound clout.

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry is one of the leaders of the conservative rebellion against Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become Speaker of the House, a story that was still evolving through Wednesday evening with a new round of closed-door negotiations in Washington.” (PennLive)

Related

‘Washington Is Broken’: Perry Nominated a GOP Alternative For Speaker. “As the Republican standoff over selecting a House speaker dragged through a second day Wednesday, Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry continued to play a leading role among a small group of GOP hard-liners opposed to Rep. Kevin McCarthy, delivering a speech calling for the party to get behind Florida Rep. Byron Donalds as its leader.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• With Perry At The Fore, U.S. House Paralyzed As GOP’s Speaker Fight Continues. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

What Can’t The House Do Without A Speaker? “Frustrations are running high on both sides, as members say the stalemate is keeping Congress from performing basic functions. Below are just a few of those operations.” (The Hill)

• The U.S. House Last Struggled To Elect A Speaker 100 Years Ago. Here’s What Happened. (WHYY)

Rep. Susan Wild Isn’t Laughing Over The Gridlock In The House. “It’s the second day of the 118th Congress, and Rep. Susan Wild is worried about the next two years.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Smucker: House Speaker Impasse Stopping GOP From Acting On Agenda That Voters Backed. “The small group of Republicans who have blocked California’s Kevin McCarthy from becoming the next Speaker of the U.S. House are preventing the majority party from doing what the American people elected them to do in November, according to Congressman Lloyd Smucker, whose 11th District includes all of Lancaster County and half of York County.” (LNP)

Harrisburg

2. Surprise In PA: Republicans Back A (Former?) Democrat For Speaker

photo by Matt Smith

“Representative Mark Rozzi, long a moderate Democrat, pledged not to caucus with either party as speaker of the closely divided state House of Representatives. Many questions remain.” (New York Times)

Related

Speaker Rozzi’s Sweet Sixteen. “Rep. Mark Rozzi was elected Speaker of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives on Tuesday, receiving 115 of 200 votes in an outcome that surprised many long-time Harrisburg watchers. All 99 seated Democrats cast their vote for Rozzi, while 16 GOP members voted “yes” as well.” (PoliticsPA)

Will Surprise Speaker Pick Make The PA House Less Partisan? “A surprising pick for speaker of the Pennsylvania House has some lawmakers and good-government groups hopeful the chamber might finally adopt less partisan rules.” (Spotlight PA)

New PA House Speaker Key Player In Push To Support Abuse Victims. “Back in 2016, state Rep. Mark Rozzi, then a relatively new member of the state House of Representatives, delivered an impassioned speech at the Cambria County Courthouse in support of victims of child sexual abuse.” (Tribune-Democrat)

New House Speaker Affirms Disputed Date For Two Special Elections. “Pennsylvania’s new House speaker issued a pair of election writs, formal written orders, affirming special legislative elections are to be held Feb. 7 in Allegheny County.” (New Castle News)

Shapiro Names Hossain, Vereb To Executive Staff. “Governor-elect Josh Shapiro has announced two more appointments to his executive team, selecting Akbar Hossain and Mike Vereb to the positions of Secretary of Policy and Planning and Secretary of Legislative Affairs, respectively.” (PoliticsPA)

Yaw ‘Excited’ About New Session. “State Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Loyalsock Township, on Tuesday presided over the beginning of a new, two-year session of the state Senate, which included the formal election of state Sen. Kim Ward, R-Greensburg, as Senate president pro tempore.” (Williamsport Sun-Gazette)

Around The Commonwealth

3. How Allegheny County’s Next Executive Could Reshape The Local Power Structure

illustration: Lucy Chen

“The next Allegheny County executive will not only have sway over the county’s billions of dollars in spending and become one of the most prominent public figures in the region. They will also have a big impact on the composition of dozens of appointed boards and commissions that form the county’s vast unelected power structure.” (Pittsburgh City Paper)

Related

4 Democrats Enter Allegheny County Council Races. “Two of the candidates will be challenging incumbent Democrats, while the other two are facing off against one another in the South Hills.” (Tribune-Review)

Rep. Summer Lee Will Make Sure That She Is Not The Last Like Her. “After winning a tough race, Representative Summer Lee became the first Black woman elected to Congress from Pennsylvania. Although she ran in the solidly blue 12th District, the former state representative faced stiff headwinds as conservatives poured millions into their fight.” (The Cut)

• PA’s First Black Congresswoman Wants To Act On Issues Of Equity, Environment. (WESA)

From The Top Of The Political World To A Basement Office: How John Fetterman Will Fit In The U.S. Senate. “For close to two years, John Fetterman was a political celebrity starring in one of the nation’s most closely watched — and well-funded — Senate races. Now, he’s a newly sworn-in senator with a temporary office in a colorless conference room in the basement of a Senate office building. You can find him across from the stationery shop.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Erie County’s State Representatives Were Sworn In This Week. What Are Their Priorities? “Court of Common Pleas Judge John McNally administered the oath of office to Jake Banta, of Waterford, who won office for the first time in November’s election, as well as four representatives who were re-elected: Ryan Bizzarro, Pat Harkins, Bob Merski and Brad Roae.” (Erie News-Times)

Mayoral Candidate Allan Domb Has Triggered The ‘Millionaire’s Amendment’ For Campaign Fund-Raising. “Mayoral candidate and real estate magnate Allan Domb has triggered the “millionaire’s amendment” of Philadelphia’s political fund-raising rules, which doubles the annual limits on how much money campaigns can raise from donors if any candidates give their campaign $250,000 or more out of their own pocket.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

An Interview With Philly City Commissioner Seth Bluestein On Election Integrity. “Commissioner Bluestein talks voting and clarifies some common misconceptions about mail-in ballots and drop boxes.” (Broad + Liberty)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

• How Kim Ward Helped PA GOP Hold Senate. (Athan Koutsiouroumbas, Tribune-Review)
• Success Of Harrisburg Compromise Will Depend On Cross-Aisle Trust (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• The PA Turnpike Costs Too Much, Because It Owes Too Much. (Eileen Anderson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Imagine What This ‘Independent’ Speaker Could Mean For PA. (John Baer, PennLive)
• The Surprising Resolution Of PA’s House Leadership Vote. (Tribune-Review)
• State Judge Impeaches Political Hubris. (Times-Tribune)
• No Rest For The Wicked: Another Election Is Right Around The Corner. (Dwight Weidman, Chambersburg Public Opinion)

1 Thing

5. Going Up, Again

It will cost a bit more to drive on the Pennsylvania Turnpike beginning next week.

On Jan. 8, tolls will increase by 5% for both E-ZPass and Toll-By-Plate drivers. This is the 15th consecutive year that tolls have increased.

The most common passenger car toll will increase from $1.70 to $1.80 for E-ZPass drivers and from $4.10 to $4.40 for Toll-By-Plate drivers, according to the Turnpike Commission. E-ZPass drivers save nearly 60% on tolls. (Tribune-Review)

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