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What We’re Hearing
“There’s a lot of posturing going on, a lot of politics. I’m focused on common sense solutions for the good people of Pennsylvania.” – Gov. Josh Shapiro

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Sen. Lisa Baker.

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Top Story

1. Education Fighting For Scraps In PA

“Pennsylvania has a numbers problem.

With nearly 250 colleges and universities, including over 40 public institutions, Pennsylvania has the fourth most higher education institutions of any state, after California, Texas and New York. It is home to four public multicampus institutions—Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE)—in addition to Lincoln University, an HBCU, and a sprawling, decentralized network of community colleges. That’s not even counting the 129 private colleges.

But while there’s no shortage of suppliers, demand for higher education in the Keystone State is nowhere near what it used to be.” (Inside Higher Ed)

Related

Impasse For Funding For PA Universities Could Mean Higher Tuition. “A partisan dispute about funding for three of Pennsylvania’s state-related universities may mean higher tuition for in-state students as a budget impasse continues further into the summer.” (AP)

Temple Raises Tuition More Than 4% For PA And Out-Of-State Residents. “With another enrollment drop expected this fall, Temple University’s board of trustees Tuesday voted to raise tuition by more than 4%.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

A Saudi-Linked Businessman Is The Key To The GOP’s 2024 Senate Plan. “As the Senate investigates Saudi Arabia’s business interest in professional golf, one possible future senator is revealing little about his own financial ties to the Saudis: David McCormick, the Republican businessman who is widely expected to challenge Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in Pennsylvania.” (HuffPost)

Supreme Court Justices And Donors Mingle At Campus Visits. These Documents Show The Ethical Dilemma. “The Associated Press obtained tens of thousands of pages of emails and other documents that reveal the extent to which public colleges and universities have seen visits by justices as opportunities.” (AP)

Who Is Running For The U.S. House? “As we enter the third quarter of the year, it is time for candidates to announce their intention to run for elected office in 2024.” (PoliticsPA)

Explaining The Candidate Announcement Rush. “Was it the start of a new week? A new month? A return from summer vacation? Or something else?” (PoliticsPA)

No Labels Wants To Raise $70 Million For Its Third-Party Effort. Its Momentum Is Unclear. “Top officials with No Labels have given a range of figures for months when asked publicly about their fundraising. And the group only has to reveal a sliver of information on their incoming funds.” (The Messenger) 

State

2. GOP, Dems Show No Relent In Ongoing PA Budget Impasse

“The Republican floor leader in Pennsylvania’s Senate challenged Democrats in the House to complete work necessary to finalize a $45.5 billion state budget left to languish amid a stalemate centered on funding school vouchers.

The bicameral General Assembly adopted a budget but lawmakers left Harrisburg last week without any movement on corresponding code bills that authorizes certain spending.

As it stands, the State Capitol will be relatively dormant for the rest of the summer.” (CNHI News)

Related

The PA Budget Standoff Deepened As Senate Republicans Signaled No Intent To Return To Harrisburg. “In a starkly worded letter that gave no hint of an end to the state’s 11-day-old budget impasse, the Senate’s Republican leader on Tuesday said he saw no reason to call the chamber back to session just to send a disputed spending bill to Gov. Josh Shapiro.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

What You Need To Know About The PA Budget Impasse. “The state Senate and the House have both approved a spending plan, but the state will likely stay in a budget standstill for the summer.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Pittman: Hundreds Of Millions In State Funding Could Be At Risk Without More Budget Bills. “Amid an ongoing budget impasse in Harrisburg, the leader of the Senate Republican Caucus is warning his Democratic counterpart in the state House that hundreds of millions of dollars in funding could be at risk if lawmakers don’t fully finalize a state budget.” (City & State)

PA’s U-Turn On School Choice. “Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro sinks his own school voucher program.” (The Dispatch)

Wagner Tabbed To Head Dems PA Senate Campaign Committee. “Tim Wagner, who most recently served as the Political Director for Florida Senate Victory, was named to head the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Campaign Committee (SDCC).” (PoliticsPA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Allegheny County Council Votes Against Term Limits Bill For County Elected Officials

“The Allegheny County Council voted against placing a referendum on November’s general election ballot that would have asked voters whether all elected offices in the county should be limited to three four-year terms.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Related

Casey, PA Reps Introduce Bill To Lower Renewable Energy Compliance Costs For Refineries. “Congressional lawmakers from the Mid-Atlantic region announced new legislation on Tuesday that they say will protect union refinery jobs while also supporting the ongoing transition to renewable energy by lowering federal fuel compliance costs.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star) 

Rep. Susan Wild Grows Her War Chest As The Lehigh Valley’s 2024 Congressional Starts Heating Up. “Wild, a three-term Democratic incumbent, announced in a news release Tuesday that she raised more than $600,000 for her re-election campaign over the past three months.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

PA Covers Lawmakers’ Expenses But Doesn’t Ask For A Receipt. “Pennsylvania’s legislators have one of the highest salaries in the nation, and generous reimbursement rules for expenses can send more taxpayer money into their pockets.” (The Center Square)

Why Some Say An Effort To Fix PA’s Outdated Probation Law Does More Harm Than Good. “This latest effort to fix the state’s outdated probation system has prompted local civil rights advocates to come out against the bill. They argue it does not address pressing issues and could make things worse.” (Spotlight PA)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• Shapiro Can Get Justice For PA Survivors Of Child Sex Abuse. Here’s How. (Patrick Beaty)
• Could 14th Amendment Disqualify Trump? Yes. (Gene Collier)
• The Case Against Legacy Admissions. (Adriana E. Ramírez)
• Ending Or Changing The Tipped Wage Is A Blow To Service Industry Employees. (Emily Cummins)
• John Roberts Lives In A Colorblind Fantasyland. (Marshall H. Tanick)
• Justice Alito: States Don’t Always Know What’s Best For Children. (Steven Lubet)
• Ethics Hypocrisy Of The Supreme Court. (Joseph Mistick Sabino)
• Republican Presidential Primary: More At Stake Than Just The White House. (David Winston)
• Shapiro’s Lifeline Scholarship Betrayal Puts State General Fund Budget In Limbo. (Carl Mazzara)
• The Death Of A Budget Negotiation. (Rep. Joshua Kail)
• Once We Had ‘Ugly Laws.’ Now People Call John Fetterman A Vegetable. (Robert A. Slayton)

1 Thing

5. Your Guide To The Central PA Festival Of The Arts

The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts celebrates its 57th year when it returns this week.

The annual event, which typically draws 125,000 people to downtown State College and the Penn State campus, kicks off on Wednesday with Children and Youth Day and continues through Sunday with more than 300 artists at the Sidewalk Sale and Exhibition, entertainment at indoor and outdoor venues, festival food vendors and more.

Following is a guide to what’s happening, from new features to traditional favorites, parking, food and everything else you need to know. (StateCollege.com)

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