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PA Weather
☁️ Connellsville | Increasing Clouds, 37
☁️ Grantville | Increasing Clouds, 35
🌤️ Drexel Hill | Mostly Sunny, 36

PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (12-5) | Wed vs. New Orleans
🏒 Penguins (10-11-0) | Nashville 2-3 (OT) | Thu vs. Tampa Bay
🏒 Flyers (11-10-1) | Carolina 1-4 | Thu vs. New Jersey

Pennsylvania Society Calendar of Events
Is your event on our calendar? We will be updating the calendar regularly as we approach this weekend’s gathering in New York City.

What We’re Hearing
“Pennsylvania’s large and diverse economy provides a solid, but slowly growing, base for potential revenue growth to help manage ongoing expenditure pressures. Below-average demographics, including population growth that has lagged the nation’s for several decades, represent a long-term drag on economic growth.” – Fitch Ratings

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Top Story

1. Why Casey and McCormick Are Talking About China As The Senate Race Heats Up

“The opening act of Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race is all about China.

As Republican Dave McCormick looks to unseat Democratic Sen. Bob Casey next year, both have been talking a lot about China and the threat they say the superpower poses to national and state economic interests.

The issue will be a central theme in a critical Senate race in 2024 that could determine control of the U.S. Senate and who is in a position to push international policy that impacts Pennsylvania on issues like manufacturing jobs, the fentanyl crisis and national security.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

Activists Wanted A Middle East Cease-Fire. They Got Something Else From Dems. “Former aides to Sen. John Fetterman delivered a similar plea for him to back a cease-fire — and he didn’t budge from staunch support of Israel. Instead, Fetterman told POLITICO that pro-Palestinian demonstrators “should be protesting Hamas, and they should be demanding that the hostages are back home.” (POLITICO)

Many Signers Of Letter Calling For Ceasefire, And Thanking Summer Lee, Are Anonymous. “The letter, which was circulated in a press release from a group calling itself “Pittsburgh Jewish Community,” and also in a press release from Rep. Summer Lee, thanked Lee for “leading the calls in Congress for a ceasefire and the safe return of hostages.” (Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle)

Fitch Raises PA’s Credit Rating. “Governor Josh Shapiro announced that Fitch Ratings has upgraded Pennsylvania’s credit rating to ‘AA’ from ‘AA-,’ building on positive credit rating outlooks from Moody’s and S&P’s Global Ratings in September.” (PoliticsPA)

Election 2024: What’s On The Ballot? “Pennsylvania will elect a U.S. Senator, Attorney General, Auditor General, State Treasurer, 17 representatives in Congress, 25 senators and 203 representatives in the General Assembly.” (PoliticsPA)

State

2. GOP Impeachment Effort Against Philadelphia Prosecutor Lands Before Democratic-Majority Court

“Pennsylvania’s highest court on Tuesday weighed whether the Legislature can proceed with an impeachment trial against Philadelphia’s elected progressive prosecutor and whether the court or lawmakers should determine what qualifies as misbehavior in office.

What the justices decide after oral arguments in the Supreme Court chambers in Harrisburg will determine the future of efforts to remove District Attorney Larry Krasner, a Democrat, on claims he should have prosecuted some minor crimes, his bail policies and how he has managed his office.” (AP)

Related

Lawmaker Helping Lead Impeachment Of Philadelphia’s Prosecutor Will Run For State Attorney General. “A state lawmaker who is helping lead the effort to impeach Philadelphia’s elected prosecutor on Tuesday became the newest candidate for Pennsylvania attorney general, an office that played a critical role in court defending Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in the presidential battleground.” (AP)

Williams Makes It Official For Attorney General. “In a long-expected announcement, Rep. Craig Williams has announced that he is a candidate for Pennsylvania Attorney General.” (PoliticsPA)

Election 2024: DeFoor Launches Reelection Campaign for Auditor General. “Pennsylvania Auditor General Tim DeFoor has announced that he plans to run for reelection for the position in 2024.” (PoliticsPA)

Pennsylvania Lawmaker Received $154K In Travel Reimbursements, Thousands Beyond Colleagues. “Pennsylvania state lawmakers get an automatic pay raise next week that pushes their salary to $106,000 a year. But that’s not the only taxpayer money they can receive. There are also per diem and mileage reimbursements, which can give them tens of thousands of dollars more each year. ” (abc27)

House Democrats Plan Bills To Protect Transgender Students. Here’s What It Might Mean To PA Schools. “As a number of area school districts have banned transgender students from using bathrooms and playing on sports teams aligned with their gender identity, Democrats are pushing for statewide rules.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Around The Commonwealth

3. State AG’s Office Steps Aside In Favor Of Federal Prosecution Of Suplizio

“Now that the U.S. Department of Justice is pursuing charges against embattled — and suspended — DuBois City Manager John “Herm” Suplizio for fraud and conspiracy, the state Attorney General’s Office is stepping aside and has withdrawn all of its charges against him.

On Nov. 16, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that a federal grand jury has indicted Suplizio on charges of conspiracy and federal program fraud.” (DuBois Courier Express)

Related

PA County Election Officials React To Mail-In Ballot Decision. “Prior to Act 77, which included the mail-in ballots, Dauphin County would have counted ballots that were just signed, you know, the envelope for the voter’s signature,” Jerry Feaser said. “That was it. If they didn’t date it, we still counted it.” (WITF)

Canada’s Cannabis Lessons Could Instruct Pennsylvania’s Process. “It’s not just Pennsylvania’s nearby states that have greenlit recreational marijuana and offered a glimpse at the challenges that could lie ahead for the commonwealth.” (The Center Square)

Kaufer, Ryncavage Visit India For Business, Cultural Development. “Two state legislators from Luzerne County recently visited India as part of a delegation looking to strengthen business and cultural links with Pennsylvania, placing special emphasis on recruiting medical professionals.” (Times Leader)

‘Devastating Loss’: Lehigh Valley Federal Judge Edward Smith Dies At Age 62. “The U.S. District Court judge, just 62 years old, was known for his tough sentencing, well-preparedness and gentlemanly manner both on the county and federal benches, according to those who knew him.” (Allentown Morning Call)

Pennsylvanians Tell Us What They Think Is Missing In The School Curriculum. “The school curriculum is decided at both the state and local level, yet some think more needs to be done to teach Pennsylvania students basic life skills.” (The Keystone)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• What American Jews Fear Most. (Sen. Chuck Schumer)
• Why Arab Americans Don’t Want To Vote For Biden In 2024. (Shadi Hamid)
• Don’t Take Away One Of Our Most Effective Tools For Fighting Election Fraud. (Lauren Cristella and Jeff Greenburg)
• The 3 Fantasies That Keep Congress Dysfunctional. (Steven Pearlstein)
• Police, Not Politics, Needed To End The Opioid Crisis. (Becky Corbin)
• Will Franklin County Republicans Listen To Voters Or Let Power Dwindle? Time To Decide. (Bill Gindlesperger)
• In Lancaster County, Where Partisanship Trumps Voter Rights, Federal Ruling On Undated Or Misdated Ballots Was A Relief. (LNP)

1 Thing

5. Oh, Christmas Tree

The National Christmas Tree near the White House was knocked over Tuesday when strong winds roared through the Washington area.

The National Park Service said the 40-foot tree from Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia fell over during a strong wind gust. A cable securing the Norway spruce has since been replaced. (NBC News)

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