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July 3rd Playbook

The former Mayor of Scranton pleads guilty to corruption charges a day after he resigns from office, while President Trump’s allies jump into the race for PAGOP chair as it heats up. Here is the Playbook. 

Trump Jr, POTUS Allies Jump Into Heated PAGOP Chair Race: The sudden resignation of Val DiGiorgio has triggered an open fight for the mantle of the PA Republican Party that pits President Trump’s team against longtime party stalwarts.

Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright Resigns Amid Federal Corruption Guilty Plea Deal: Courtright entered a plea agreement on federal charges that include bribery, extortion, and conspiracy.

Harrisburg & DC  
Inquirer: Battle lines drawn in race for Pa. GOP chair, and Trump allies pick sides 
Inquirer: Pa. Senate GOP to Lt. Gov. Fetterman: You ‘scarred the institution’
Inquirer: Pennsylvania to shift from healthcare.gov to state-based insurance exchange
AP: Pennsylvania’s own insurance exchange coming next year
AP: Ex-mayor pleads guilty to corruption day after resignation
AP: Former Democratic mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania, pleads guilty to shaking down businesses for bribes, campaign cash
AP: Wolf signs bill to clarify armed school security options
AP: Senate GOP warns Fetterman over sticking to chamber’s rules
Patriot News: Pa. Senate GOP not ready ‘to forgive and forget’ chaotic outburst; Fetterman ready to move on
Patriot News: So long, snow days: Gov. Wolf signs law enabling schools to schedule days for kids to work at home
Patriot News: Senate GOP to Lt. Gov. Fetterman after shouting match: Your dereliction of duty has ‘scarred the institution’
City Paper: Pennsylvania has the most ICE arrests in the country
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Senate Republicans issue stark rebuke of Fetterman one week after shouting match 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Wolf says school security bill won’t allow teachers to carry guns in the classroom
PLSReporter: Amid national media attention, Senate Democrats set to push for restarting General Assistance
PLSReporter: Senate GOP sends blistering letter to Fetterman, says he ‘scarred the institution’ during General Assistance dispute
PLSReporter: With the budget done, lawmakers look to the fall for key policy objectives
PLSReporter: Wolf signs bill that creates a Pennsylvania based healthcare insurance exchange
PLSReporter: PHARE Fund gets boost from budget
Daily Local News: Toomey introduces measure recognizing Sept. 11 National Memorial Trail
Post-Gazette: Pa. woman marks success of tougher abuse law in Tennessee    
Post-Gazette: Business is booming for fireworks stores under new state regulations

Philadelphia
PlanPhilly: Why Philadelphia punted on tax abatement reform…again
Billy Penn: Philadelphia will fire some Facebook cops. Here’s why they’ll get their jobs back.  
Inquirer: Philadelphia congressman calls for federal grants to fund small cannabis businesses 
Inquirer: SEPTA and Philly officials at odds over how riders are charged for transit rides 
Inquirer: Philly’s Public Space Fellows say the future of public space is about people
Inquirer: An end to transfer fees? City says yes, but SEPTA’s wary
Inquirer: 30th Street Station renamed to honor late Congressman, pastor William Gray    
WHYY Newsworks: Analysts say Philadelphia refinery, shut down after fire, unlikely to find a willing buyer
KYW Newsradio: As bankruptcy proceedings for Hahnemann begin, officials challenge closure plan 
KYW Newsradio: Union workers wait in limbo amid refinery shutdown, seek political pull for help
KYW Newsradio: Philly residents gather to call an end to city’s gun violence epidemic

SEPA 
Delco Daily Times: Workers, politicians look for new owner for South Philly refinery
Bucks County Courier Times: U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean: Conditions at migrant detention center ‘monstrous’ 
Daily Local News: Sappey’s trauma-informed education signed into law 
Daily Local News: Lawrence bill on responsible debt repayment awaits governor’s signature
Daily Local News: Commissioners: Bunny, law, tied county’s hands  
Daily Local News: East Marlborough officials enact ban on open burning, but not for brush and wood
Daily Local News: West Chester mayor awards citations for clean and green effort
Montgomery Media: Rep. DeLissio Town Hall to focus on Pa. budget
Philadelphia Magazine: Elizabeth Warren Just Gave This Montco State Senator a Shout-Out

Pittsburgh  
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh joins collaborative to purchase electric vehicles 
City Paper: Greenfield neighborhood advocate arrested on assault charges of a 13-year-old boy
KDKA: With New Fireworks Law Comes Additional Danger
Post-Gazette: City to join 127 cities across U.S. to collectively purchase electric vehicles   
Post-Gazette: Gov. Wolf commutes sentence for Allegheny County man convicted in 1975 murder    
Tribune Review: Gov. Tom Wolf signs law that protects regional DUI checkpoints as ‘fix’ to Supreme Court ruling 

SWPA
Altoona Mirror: Bill eliminates straight-party voting 
Beaver County Times: State Rep. Josh Kail’s first bill signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf 
Beaver County Times: Beaver County debt continues to drop 
Beaver County Times: National Guard families can now receive free in-state college tuition
Observer-Reporter: Records on summaries, nonviolent crimes to be sealed under state’s ‘Clean Slate’ law  
Observer-Reporter: North Strabane gives nod to authority bond issue
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Cyber snow days approved statewide

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Federal investigators detail former Scranton mayor’s pay-to-play scheme 
Times-Tribune: Reaction to resignation of Scranton mayor laying bare culture of corruption in City Hall 
Times-Tribune: Who will become next Scranton mayor?
The Times Leader: UPDATED: Courtright pleads guilty, sentencing set for Nov. 7
The Times Leader: Luzerne County tax claim vendor among Scranton mayor’s bribery targets
The Times Leader: New funding for job creation at Hanover Township company

South Central  
Patriot News: This spur-wearing senator is hoping to prod Pa. forward through lawmaking that makes a difference
Patriot News: Computers with key financial records missing from Harrisburg School District: officials
Patriot News: Wolf administration says Washington not Pa. can shut down Berks County immigrant detention center
Patriot News: Protesters demand closure of border detention camps as Trump warns of massive ICE raids
LNP | LancasterOnline: Lancaster County jobless rate stays at 3.0% for 3rd straight month 
LNP | LancasterOnline: Sunday hunting compromise not enough for Farm Bureau, sportsmen

Lehigh Valley    
Morning Call: Donald Trump Jr. and Trump advisers weigh in on who should be the next chairman of Pennsylvania’s Republican Party
Morning Call: Congresswoman Susan Wild touts bipartisanship, avoids impeachment talk at town hall
Reading Eagle: Womelsdorf council member resigns due to employer’s regulations 

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Erie County Council approves LERTA changes 
Erie Times-News: Erie County Council tables college pact
Erie Times-News: Erie Coke: Plant closure would cause ‘irreparable damage’ 
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Block grant funding approved for Montoursville municipal building entrance 
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Former Scranton mayor pleads guilty in ‘pay to play’ scheme

Opinion  
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Hitting the mark: State Senate devises sensible Sunday hunting plan 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: A survey worth taking: Allegheny County asks residents’ views on health, safety
Delco Daily Times Editorial: It’s deja vu for a way of life for refinery workers
Mike Folmer: Real election reform is difficult and painful. No wonder it’s been tough to get
Leanne Krueger and Maria Collett: It’s time for Harrisburg to deal with the sexual harassment problem 
Maria Panaritis: She said, he shouted: The viral Pa. Senate video and how Democrats are done playing nice 
Chris Kelly: All the Karate Instructor’s Men
John L. Micek: On ‘Hardball,’ Sen. Katie Muth rolls out her plan to save cash assistance | Tuesday Morning Coffee
Bruce Ledewitz: SCOTUS Gerrymandering case: Roberts didn’t defend constitutional democracy 
John L. Micek: Kamala Harris was right: Biden was wrong about busing. Here’s why 
Stu Bykofsky: Philly cops are cheating him out of a reward 
Carmina Hachenburg: When did you feel the most patriotic? Philadelphians from age 19 to 93 share stories | Perspective
Brian O’Neill: Pulling the recycling business out of the dumps
Karen Baker: We need to change warped thinking on sexual assault, ‘she’s not my type’ mentality

3 Responses

  1. The Republicans are showing their true colors – they are all Trumpsters who have many skeletons in their closet. It’s time they seek help for their emotional problems. Loved it when Hardball featured Mr. Cormann acting like a mad man. Centre County this is who you elect all the time.

  2. I have to wonder who is advising the Republicans to keep stoking this. Regardless of your opinion of what Fetterman did, one has to recognize utter insanity and inappropriateness of the Republicans. Any scarring was caused by them. They should keep their heads down and seek anger management counseling.

    It reminds me of an abusive husband who beats his wife for burning his shirt with an iron then yells “look what you made me do!!” Get a grip angry white dudes.

  3. The Senate Republicans are making a huge mistake glossing over the behavior of Senator Corman toward Senator Katie Muth in reading the constituent letter during Senator Corman’s disrespectful repeated “bellowing” as she read the letter. Senator Corman..please reread the Senate Rules and you will find that all you had to do was make an objection and sit down. You will not see a passage that encourages Senators to bellow loudly at each other their objections. It was not a good idea for the Senate Republicans to endorse Senator Corman’s behavior as two wrongs don’t make a right.

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