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What’s Happening Today
The House and Senate will convene at 11a.

What We’re Hearing
“An African proverb says, ‘When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.’” – Rep. Patty Kim

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. Rick Krajewski and former Rep. Marjorie Margolies.

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Top Story

1. House Passes Minimum Wage Hike

The Pennsylvania House passed HB 1500 by a 103-100 count that calls for the state’s minimum wage to rise to $11 by the start of 2024, $13 in 2025, and $15 by January 1, 2026.

The bill also calls for the minimum wage in the Keystone State to be tied to inflation thereafter. It also includes language to set the tipped wage in the state to 60 percent of the minimum wage.

The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration where state Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie) already has a similar bill (SB 743) in motion. (PoliticsPA)

Related

PA House Passes $15 Minimum Wage Bill. “Pennsylvania’s Democratic-controlled House of Representatives approved a measure by a close vote Tuesday that would raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2026, fulfilling a long-held party campaign plank that has run up against Republican legislative majorities for years.” (AP)

PA House Votes To Raise Minimum Wage To $15 An Hour By 2026. “The state House, with its one-seat Democratic majority, voted to increase the state minimum wage from $7.25 to $11 at the start of 2024 and increase it by $2 until it reaches $15 per hour in 2026, with two southeast Republican lawmakers joining Democrats.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Rep. Mike Kelly Will Seek Reelection In 2024. “In a Tuesday press release, Rep. Mike Kelly (R-16) announced his intention to run for an eighth term in Congress. “I have fought hard for the people and values of Western Pennsylvania, and I am asking for their support for another term.” (PoliticsPA)

Nuestro + Biden. “Nuestro PAC is back in 2024 with a $37 million backing for President Joe Biden’s 2024 reelection campaign. Expect to see us on the air in AZ, GA, MI, NV, PA, and WI!” the super PAC announced in a tweet.” (Al Día News)

Justice Samuel Alito Took Luxury Fishing Vacation With GOP Billionaire Who Later Had Cases Before The Court. “In the years after the undisclosed trip to Alaska, Republican megadonor Paul Singer’s hedge fund has repeatedly had business before the Supreme Court. Alito has never recused himself.” (ProPublica)

SCOTUS Could Rule On Lancaster County Postal Worker’s Lawsuit This Week. “The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to release a ruling as early as Thursday on a religious rights and labor case involving Gerald Groff, a former mail carrier from Providence Township.” (LNP)

State

2. Shapiro: “Traffic Will Be Flowing On I-95 This Weekend”

In a stunning development, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced that “traffic will be flowing on I-95 this weekend.”

“We have worked around the clock to get this done, and we’ve completed each phase safely and ahead of schedule,” said Shapiro, who is celebrating his 50th birthday. “That’s all due to the incredible coordination with our local, state, and federal partners – and thanks to the hard-working men and women of the Philadelphia Building Trades who are making this happen.

“This is what it looks like when the ingenuity of Delco meets the grit of Philly. This is what happens when we all come together.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Tax Credits For PA Families Worth Billions Of Dollars Are On The Table This Budget Season. “Pennsylvania families across the income spectrum could receive more than $2.5 billion in tax breaks by 2028 under two bills that passed the state House last week.” (Spotlight PA)

PA House Passes New Tax Credit For Police Officers, Teachers And Nurses. “A proposed tax credit to recruit new teachers, nurses and police officers passed through the Pennsylvania House of Representatives with bipartisan support on Tuesday, but leaders of the Republican-controlled Senate have suggested it lacks support in the caucus.” (AP)

PA Supreme Court: McCaffery Holds 4:1 Fundraising Lead Entering Summer Months. “If funds available are one of the key indicators of the direction a political race will take, then Democrats should be feeling good at this stage of the chase for the open Pennsylvania Supreme Court seat.” (PoliticsPA)

More Withdrawals From Voter Data Group ERIC Likely. “The hottest issue in election administration this summer is whether states should join, leave or remain in ERIC, the Electronic Registration Information Center.” (NCSL)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Bradford-Grey Announces Run For Attorney General

“Pennsylvania’s Democratic Party primary field for attorney general is filling up as the former head of Philadelphia’s public defense lawyers kicked off her campaign Wednesday for the state’s top law enforcement office.

If elected, Keir Bradford-Grey, 48, would become the first Black attorney general in Pennsylvania. She also would become the first attorney general whose legal experience was primarily as a public defender.” (AP)

Related

Allegheny County Council Overrides Fitzgerald’s Veto Of A Minimum Wage Bill. “Broadly speaking, those who supported the override said that the pay increases were needed in order to pay all county workers a salary that was closer to a living wage in Allegheny County.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Council Overrides Fitzgerald, Creates Pay Floor For County Workers. “Brushing aside the executive branch’s objections, 10 Allegheny County Council members voted Tuesday to override County Executive Rich Fitzgerald’s veto and enact a minimum wage for county employees.” (Public Source)

Erin Wachter Joins Penn State As Director of State Relations. “As director of state relations, Wachter will aid advocacy efforts in Harrisburg to increase state appropriations for Penn State while also engaging with the Pennsylvania General Assembly to advance state-related policies that benefit Penn State’s students, faculty and staff.” (Penn State)

Philadelphia Signals Financial Support For More Police Officers. “Philadelphia officials say they want to hire 300 more police officers over the coming year. The city council’s Committee of the Whole recently granted preliminary approval for a $6.2 billion budget for fiscal 2024, which starts on July 1.” (The Center Square)

Pannella Outspends Aaroe 2-1 In Norco Judge Primary. “In the May 16 primary for Northampton County judge, Brian Panella outspent his opponent, Nancy Aaroe, by a 2-1 margin, $117,800 to $55,680, according to the candidates’ campaign finance reports.” (Armchair Lehigh Valley)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• Classify 911 Operators As First Responders. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Harrisburg Ethics Shouldn’t Be A Game Of Chance – Or Skill. (Tribune-Review)
• Trump Wants To Break The American System. (Thomas Friedman)
• A Practical Answer To The Political Divisions That Split Americans. (Kurt Gray, Dustin Siggins)
• Proposed ‘Skill Games’ Legislation Gives Older Pennsylvanians The Cold Shoulder. (Dave Henderson)
• Shapiro, Lawmakers Can Change The Future For PA’s Kids. They Can’t Miss It. (Susan Spicka)
• ProPublica Misleads Its Readers. (Justice Samuel Alito)
• Of Protests And Name Calling. (Lowman Henry)
• Changing Hearts And Minds In Coal Country. (Kelly Forest)
• The Evidence On Charter Schools Is In. (Mark Gleason)
• Pennsylvania Needs To Be Friendlier. (Gina Pope)
• Being Anti-Woke Is Nothing New. Nixon’s White House Did It With The War On Drugs. (Bill Gindlesperger)
• Troopers, Toddler Shot; Legislators Shrug. (Citizens Voice)

1 Thing

5. “An Historic Event” or “A Historic Event”?

“When the 37-count federal indictment against Donald Trump landed, the country immediately divided into two fervent, irreconcilable camps:

Those who thought it was “a historic” event, and those who thought it was “an historic” event.

And the battle lines were drawn.

The New York Times called it “a historic development,” while the National Review called it “an historic indictment.” NPR: “A historic indictment.” The Mirror: “An historic indictment.” CNN was a house divided against itself, using both “a historic and unprecedented court appearance” and “an historic indictment” at different times.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

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