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What’s Happening Today
The Senate Appropriations Committee meets at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., while the House Appropriations Committee meets at 10 a.m.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for former Rep. Jason Altmire.

Pennsylvania Political Headlines In Your Inbox Daily
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Top Story

1. Philly is Center Stage For President Joe Biden’s High-Stakes State Of The Union Address

“President Joe Biden’s speech will be in Washington but there will be signs of Philadelphia all around.

When Biden delivers his State of the Union address Thursday night, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker will be in attendance. And Philadelphia City Councilmember Nicholas O’Rourke will give a progressive rebuttal for the Working Families Party.

And hours after leaving the podium, Biden will travel Friday to the Philadelphia suburbs, a key region for his reelection prospects.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

McCormick Endorses Trump, Who Spurned Him In 2022. “David McCormick, the former hedge fund CEO trying to unseat U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, has endorsed former President Donald Trump, a previous McCormick critic who all but locked up the Republican presidential nomination on Super Tuesday.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

PA GOP Prepares For Trump-Biden Rematch As Nikki Haley Drops Out. “For Philadelphia GOP chairman Vince Fenerty, former President Donald Trump’s primary victory was a foregone conclusion long before Super Tuesday.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Pennsylvania Senators Split Over LGBTQ Center As Congress Races To Avoid A Shutdown. “An unusual clash over money for a Philadelphia LGBTQ community center and a pro-gun provision has created turmoil over a government funding bill as Congress seeks to pass it days before the deadline to avert a partial shutdown.” (NBC News)

State

2. PA-10: Democratic Hopefuls Meet In “Civil” Debate

“At least one observer described it as “the most civil debate I’ve ever seen.”

There were not many fireworks during Wednesday night’s debate among the six candidates for the Democratic nomination in the 10th Congressional District. But the group was unanimous on the fact that the District, comprising Dauphin, Cumberland and York counties, deserves better representation than what it is receiving from incumbent Republican Scott Perry.” (PoliticsPA)

• Democrats Stress Electability In Debate Among Candidates Seeking Scott Perry’s Seat. (PennLive)
• Watch The Debate. (abc27.com)

Related

PA-07: Lehigh Valley GOP Congressional Hopefuls Focus on Policy in Debates. “The three Republican candidates for the Lehigh Valley’s PA-07 congressional seat met in a pair of debates over the last week.” (PoliticsPA)

• WFMZ To Air Forum With GOP Candidates For The 7th Congressional District. (Armchair Lehigh Valley)
• Watch the 2nd Debate. (BRC13)

Socialist Congresswoman Faces Tough Fight in Pennsylvania. “The Pittsburgh chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America is seeing its power decline. The group has had its grip on Western Pennsylvania Democratic politics for several years, but Tuesday night, it failed in an attempt to force Allegheny County Council to adopt a resolution to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.” (Washington Examiner)

Democrats Talk Raising The Minimum Wage At Hearing in Philadelphia. “At a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on Wednesday, workers testified about the challenges of working in a state where the minimum wage hasn’t budged since 2009.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Shapiro’s Money-Back Guarantee For PA Permits, Licenses Is Working. “Gov. Josh Shapiro’s novel money-back guarantee that ensures an application for a state permit, license or certification would be processed within a specified timeframe or the application fee would be returned seems to be working in at least one state agency.” (PennLive)

HD-100: Cutler Faces Pressure From Right-Wing Groups, Volleys Criticism At Primary Opponent. “The groups’ complaints about Bryan Cutler range from his support for Act 77, the 2019 law that created no-excuse mail-in voting in the state, to his votes for budget bills negotiated with Democratic governors.” (LNP)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Pennsylvania ACLU Files Suit Against York County Board of Elections

“The Pennsylvania American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed a lawsuit in the Court of Common Pleas in York over the York County Board of Elections’ refusal to allow nonpartisan observers to witness the official canvass of the vote during the 2023 election cycle.

The lawsuit alleges that York County’s refusal to admit public observers during its canvass procedure is a violation of the Pennsylvania Election Code, which mandates public access to the canvassing of election results.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Elections 101: What to Know About Electronic Pollbooks, Which PA Counties Use Them, And More. “As Pennsylvania prepares for the 2024 presidential election, voters may start hearing about a new piece of technology rolling out in more and more counties: electronic pollbooks.” (Spotlight PA)

NTSB: East Palestine Explosion Unnecessary. “The head of the National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday the controlled chemical explosion following the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment more than a year ago was unnecessary.” (The Center Square)

GOP Commissioners Reject Call For Drop Box Use in Westmoreland County. “Westmoreland County’s Republican commissioners said they will not consider installation of drop boxes for mail-in ballots at the courthouse or at remote locations around the county for this spring’s presidential primary or the fall general election.” (Tribune-Review)

HD-136: Freeman, Sultana Face Off Ahead Of Democratic Primary For Easton-Area House Seat. “The first face-off of candidates for the 136th state House District Democratic primary ruffled some feathers among both candidates and their constituents Tuesday night.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• A Rescue Plan For American Energy And The Environment. (Dave McCormick)
• PA Legislature Plays Tug Of War With State Election Issues. (John Baer)
• There Is Manifest Danger In Gov. Shapiro’s Budget. (Colin McNickle)
• Voters Would Rather Afford Groceries than Save Democracy. (Matthew Brouillette)
• Does The Presidential Primary Matter In Pennsylvania? (Tribune-Review)
• It’s Time To Make It Easier To Vote In The Birthplace Of Democracy. (Salewa Ogunmefun)

1 Pizza Thing

5. Pennsylvania’s Quirky Altoona Pizza Tastes Better Than It Looks

“Some people see a slice of Altoona-style pizza and believe a crime has been committed.

Don’t call it Sicilian, they say, call the police.

They recoil at the list of ingredients first cooked up, according to legend, in a local hotel in the Blair County railroad town over a half-century ago. There are layers of salami, tomato sauce, and green peppers piled atop a thick slice of dough, with a suspicious layer of yellow stuff blanketing everything.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

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