👋 Hi, July. Promises to be an eventful holiday week.

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⚾ Phillies (55-29) | Miami 7-6 | Tue-Thu vs. Chicago Cubs
⚾ Pirates (40-43) | Atlanta 4-2 | Tue-Thu vs. St. Louis
⚽ Union (4-8-8) | Montreal 2-4 | Wed vs. Chicago

🗓️ What’s Happening Today. The Supreme Court announces its final decisions of the term at 10 AM. The State House convenes at noon, while the Senate gavels in at 3 PM.

🗞️ Today’s Headlines >> Your Inbox. Where can you find all the latest news on what’s happening in Keystone State politics? Sign up for the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’ll deliver all the latest headlines in an easy-to-read format every weekday at 8 AM. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and subscribe now.

Top Story

1. U.S. Supreme Court Flips Precedent That Empowered Federal Agencies

“The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts.

The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration rule and overturned the principle known as Chevron deference.

That precedent gave federal agencies broad discretion to use their judgment to resolve any ambiguity Congress left in a federal statute.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Related

Democrats Seek Solace Or A Substitute As They Ponder Biden’s Future. Republicans Say The Choice Is Clear. “The debate was a chance for the Democratic candidate to assuage concerns that mentally, he was up to the job, an issue that dogged his campaign. It didn’t work.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

John Fetterman’s Fitness For Office Was Questioned After His 2022 Senate Debate. He Wants Democrats To ‘Chill’ After Biden’s Poor Performance. “For Fetterman, the second-guessing and outright panic from some Democratic quarters toward Biden is reminiscent of the criticism he faced following a rocky 2022 Senate debate against his then-opponent, GOP nominee and celebrity surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz.” (Business Insider)

McCormick Hints Cabinet Should Consider 25th Amendment For Biden. “In a Friday morning conversation on KDKA Radio, U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick suggested that after Joe Biden’s performance during his debate with Donald Trump that Americans should be worried about their current president.” (PoliticsPA)

State

2. Panicked Pennsylvania Democrats Launch Into Cleanup Mode After Biden’s Bad Debate Night

“Thirty minutes into the debate Thursday night, some Democrats in Pennsylvania were already panicking over President Joe Biden’s debate performance against former President Donald Trump.

One Democratic consultant got a text from an operative asking her what the rules would be to nominate Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to replace Biden at the convention in Chicago in August. (Biden would have to decline the nomination to jump-start that highly theoretical process).

Others were quieting the alarm, noting that debates generally aren’t game-changers.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

Shapiro Stands Behind President Biden. “The governor of the country’s biggest swing state forcefully defended the 46th president, admitting that Biden had a poor night but reminding voters of the “chaos” of the administration of former President Donald Trump.” (PoliticsPA)

• Josh Shapiro Emerges As A Potential Candidate As Democrats Debate Replacing Joe Biden. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Reader Poll: 51% of PoliticsPA Readers Say Joe Biden Will Continue On.

Scott Perry Campaign Shares, Then Deletes, Antisemitic Meme On Social Media. “The meme post, reported by Jewish Insider, with the comment “Says it all” shows a group of Jewish bankers with exaggerated hooked noses sitting at a Monopoly board perched atop hunched naked figures.” (PennLive)

With Little Opposition, Senate Advances Bogen As Health Secretary. “After serving as acting secretary of health for 18 months, Debra Bogen is one step closer to getting confirmed.” (The Center Square)

More Funding Could Be Coming to a PA Affordable Housing Program. “State legislators are haggling over what to do with Pennsylvania’s $14 billion budget surplus. A funding increase for an affordable housing program is a prime contender for a piece of the pie.” (Spotlight PA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Elected Dauphin County Clerk Resigns After 6 Months From Office Mired In Chaos

“Dauphin County’s elected Clerk of Courts resigned Friday after months of chaos under her leadership and one business day before a hearing was set to determine if she was meeting deadlines set by the president judge earlier this year.

Her first deputy clerk also resigned and the second deputy was fired on Friday, according to President Judge Scott Evans. It’s unclear who will be put in place to lead the office in the short-term going forward. The county commissioners will likely choose an acting clerk. The governor chooses a replacement, according to Pa. law.” (PennLive)

Related

How a Lancaster Mother Convinced Gov. Josh Shapiro To Increase Funding For Adults With Disabilities. “The state system that offers home- and community-based services has a 13,000-person waiting list, leaving many families unable to work or take breaks from caregiving.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Former Philadelphia Labor Union President Sentenced To 4 Years In Embezzlement Case. “Brian Burrows has been sentenced to four years in prison for his role in what federal prosecutors said was embezzlement of more than $600,000 of union funds.” (Philadelphia Tribune)

Williamsport’s 2020 Audit Second Straight With Auditors Unable To Comment On Financial Statements. “An auditing firm can’t comment on the accuracy of Williamsport’s 2020 financial statements because of the city’s messy finances, the firm says in audit of that year’s finances. ” (WVIA)

Joan L. Specter 1934-2024. “Joan L. Specter, 90, a former Philadelphia City Council member, entrepreneur, gourmet baker, and wife of the late U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, died Saturday, June 29.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• To Serve His Country, Donald Trump Should Leave The Race. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Debate Debacle Suggests A Needed Reform: Age Limits For High Office. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Biden Was Set Up To Fail At The Debate. He Should Not Be Allowed To Fail In November. (Kyle Sammin)
• Biden Is A Patriot. He Should Do The Patriotic Thing, And Step Aside. (Jonathan Zimmerman)
• The Empire Has No Clothes: The Debate Where America Bared All. (Brandon McGinley)
• He Is Who We Thought He Was – Joe Biden Fails The Test. (Andy Bloom)
• Was Presidential Debate The Worst Ever? (Tribune-Review)
• Making a Final Pitch For Truly Equitable Funding For Pennsylvania’s Public Schools. (LNP)

1 Thing

5. Bobby Bonilla Day

“The calendar has turned to July 1, and that means one thing: It’s time for Mets fans everywhere to wish each other a Happy Bobby Bonilla Day! Why? On Monday, 61-year-old Bobby Bonilla will collect a check for $1,193,248.20 from the New York Mets, as he has and will every July 1 from 2011 through 2035.

In 2000, the Mets agreed to buy out the remaining $5.9 million on Bonilla’s contract. However, instead of paying Bonilla the $5.9 million at the time, the Mets agreed to make annual payments of nearly $1.2 million for 25 years starting July 1, 2011, including a negotiated 8% interest.

Bonilla last played for the Mets in 1999 and last played in the majors for the Cardinals in 2001, but he will be paid through 2035 (when he’ll be 72). (ESPN)

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