😎  Hello, Tuesday

PA Weather
Erie | Mostly Sunny, 75
Camp Hill | Mostly Sunny, showers late afternoon, 87
Scranton | Partly Sunny, 88

PA Sports
Phillies (51-42) | Tue-Thu vs. Milwaukee
Pirates (41-53) | Cleveland 0-11 | Tue-Wed vs. Cleveland

What We’re Hearing
Dan Horning, a former staff assistant to Sen. Pat Toomey and associate director in the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, was named a legislative assistant for Congressman Lloyd Smucker.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler.

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Top Story

1. By The Numbers: Voter Registration

The latest voter registration numbers are in from the Department of State and Democrats still hold a 480,000 advantage over Republicans throughout the Commonwealth.

Democrats have outregistered Republicans in new or change applications by just over 9,000, while the GOP has seen about 32,000 Democrats or others switch to the Republican party, versus just 21,000 switching to the Dem side.

Here is an interactive map of current voter registration numbers in the Commonwealth. (PoliticsPA)

Related

Students In Short-Changed PA School Districts Plug Away While Lawmakers Dither Over Funding. “By pursuing funding equity in court, the financially challenged Pennsylvania districts were following a well-traveled school reform path. For decades, school districts around the country that have found themselves on the short end of a resource imbalance have gone to court to force states to give them a fair shake.” (AP)

House GOP Well-Funded For ‘24 But Schiff Censure Opens Cash Spigot. “Indicted New York Rep. George Santos aside, House Republicans facing competitive races next year had a better spring fundraising than Democratic colleagues in similar positions, new disclosures show.” (Roll Call)

State

2. Perry, Freedom Caucus Push Defense Authorization Bill Amid Abortion Fight

“Democrats are rejecting a defense authorization bill pushed by Midstate Congressmen Scott Perry.

The bill would eliminate paid leave for soldiers seeking abortions when they live in states that have banned abortion. It would also eliminate medical care for transgender soldiers and do away with programs meant to increase diversity in the ranks.

Perry is the head of the Conservative Freedom Caucus, which is now being blasted by critics for forcing culture war issues into America’s readiness to fight a war.” (abc27)

Related

Casey, Fetterman Introduce Legislation To Ensure Health Care For Veterans Exposed To PFAS Chemicals. “U.S. Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman introduced the Veterans Exposed to Toxic (VET) PFAS Act to require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to provide health care services and disability benefits to veterans exposed to forever chemicals like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at military installations.” (press release)

Deluzio Saw Sluggish Spring Fundraising In Western PA’s Only Competitive Congressional Race. “U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio raised about $350,000 this spring, leaving him with significantly less campaign cash than other Pennsylvania Democrats facing competitive reelection campaigns, but giving him a big financial lead against his only Republican challenger so far.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Biden Will Visit Philly, Again

“President Joe Biden is due back in Philadelphia on Thursday, less than a month since his last visit here. It will be the sixth time Biden has come to the city this year and at least the 13th since he took office in January 2021.

The White House hasn’t released details about the event except that Biden will talk about “Bidenomics,” his term for his economic agenda. He argues his approach will bolster the economy and the middle class.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

Mayor Ed Gainey Made His First Picks For An Infrastructure Group That Was Empty For More Than A Year. “The Commission on Infrastructure Asset Reporting and Investment was created by City Council and Mr. Gainey after the collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge in January 2022. The commission is meant to identify infrastructure projects that need immediate repairs and to lobby state and federal officials for funding.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Former Westmoreland Commissioner Kopas Tapped To Fill Cerilli Thrasher’s Seat. “Former Westmoreland County Commissioner Ted Kopas will return to the job he held for more than a decade. The county’s 11 Common Pleas Court judges on Monday appointed Kopas to complete the remaining five months of the unexpired term of Commissioner Gina Cerilli Thrasher.” (Tribune-Review)

From Implosion’s Dust, Competing Visions For Allegheny Valley’s Future Emerging. “What happens at the site will change the future of the [Allegheny] Valley. It’s all-or-nothing,” said state Rep. Mandy Steele, D-Fox Chapel. (Public Source)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• Politics, Abortion And The False Consensus Effect. Why it Matters. (Berwood Yost)
• Mr. Success Finally Confronts Failure. (Brandon McGinley)
• In Allegheny County, Progressives Are Now The Establishment. (Zack Kennedy)
• Pay Attention To Shapiro’s ‘Get S– Done’ I-95 Pledge In PA. (Christina M. Hartman)
• PA Principals Are Quitting In Record Numbers, And I Know Why. (Sharif El-Mekki)
• Public Safety Mergers Are A Good Trend That Should Accelerate. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• This Country Was Built On Respecting Basic Human Rights And Personal Freedom For All. (Joanne M. Carroll)
• Over-The-Counter Birth Control Would Be A Game Changer. (Sonali Kolhatkar)
• Changing The Rules (Lowman Henry)
• Shapiro Sold Out Students. (Sen. Jarrett Coleman)
• Are Legacy Admissions The Real Problem For Colleges? (Tribune-Review)
• Clock Ticks On Legal Marijuana Sales. (Times-Tribune)

1 Thing

5. Young Americans Blame GOP, SCOTUS For Unforgiven Student Debt

“Young Americans are piling the blame for their student debt balances on conservatives.

Why it matters: The high court’s recent decisions on education, including student loans and affirmative action, could drive young voters to the polls, Axios’ April Rubin reports.

The Supreme Court’s six conservative justices recently shot down President Biden’s loan forgiveness plan — and the coming payment resumption carries significant economic and political implications.

By the numbers: 47% of respondents say the Supreme Court is responsible for their loans not being forgiven, according to a new Generation Lab poll of college students around the country. 38% blame Republicans, 10% blame Biden, 5% blame Democrats.” (Axios)

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