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🗞️  The PoliticsPA Playbook is compiled by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser, click here. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe for free.

PA Weather
☁️  Clarion | Mostly Cloudy, 25
⛅  Lock Haven | Partly Sunny, 26
⛅  East Stroudsburg | Partly Sunny, 30

PA Sports
🏀  Sixers (14-20) | Phoenix 99-109 | Wed vs. Washington
🏒  Penguins (17-17-7) | Tue vs. Columbus
🏒  Flyers (17-19-4) | Tue vs. Toronto

🗓️  What’s Happening Today. The House and Senate return for swearing-in day at noon.

🔊  What We’re Hearing. “No reason or need to give up on the bid. This is not just the most important matter for our company’s business strategy. I am firmly convinced this is something extremely beneficial for both Japan and the United States.” – Eiji Hashimoto, chairman and chief executive of Nippon Steel

📱  Social Media. PoliticsPA has a number of social media outlets for you to get the latest political news from around the Commonwealth: Twitter | Bluesky | Facebook | LinkedIn

Top Story

1. Lawmaker’s Health Issue Could Complicate Swearing-In Day For Pennsylvania House

“A Democratic state representative’s health problems could complicate the vote for Pennsylvania House speaker on Tuesday as the chamber’s Democrats begin a new two-year session with the same one-seat margin that they had before the November election.

Rep. Matthew Gergely had a “medical emergency over the holidays requiring hospitalization,” according to Beth Rementer, the House Democratic caucus spokesperson.” (AP)

Elsewhere

The PA House Is Tied 101-101 For the First Day of the Legislative Session After a Democratic State Rep Suffered a Health Emergency. “Rep. Matt Gergely suffered a medical emergency over the holiday season and is not expected to attend session for the foreseeable future, said House Majority Leader Matt Bradford.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• Republican Lawmaker Says Hospitalization of a Mon Valley House Democrat Won’t Erase Democratic Majority. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Malcolm Kenyatta Wants to Be DNC Vice Chair After Losing His Race in November. “State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta is running to be vice chair of the Democratic National Committee, a role that would make him a key player in the party’s internal conversations as it reckons with November’s losses.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Bachenberg Challenges Rothman For GOP Chair Post. “The race to succeed Lawrence Tabas as chair of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania has a new contender.” (PoliticsPA)

The Very Real, Very Dangerous Coming Assault on Birthright Citizenship. “A politically powerful opponent of birthright citizenship railed that the United States cannot “give up the right” to “expel” dangerous “trespassers” who “invade [our] borders,” “wander in gangs,” and “infest society.” Was this Donald Trump speaking in 2024? No, the quote is from an 1866 speech on the Senate floor by Senator Edgar Cowan of Pennsylvania, a leading opponent of adding a provision to the U.S. Constitution granting citizenship based solely on birth on U.S. soil.” (The Atlantic)

State

2. A New PA Legislative Session Starts Today. Here’s What You Need to Know

“A new legislative session starts today in Harrisburg, kicking off a two-year period that will likely feature debates over transit funding, the size of the budget, marijuana legalization, and more.

But first, state House and Senate lawmakers must elect chamber leaders and pass key rules that govern their behavior and influence how power is wielded in the commonwealth.” (Spotlight PA)

Elsewhere

Pennsylvania “Ripe” to Legalize Weed, Advocates Say. “Pennsylvania is facing a looming budget crisis, and legalization advocates are pushing recreational cannabis revenues as a way to fill state coffers.” (Axios Philadelphia)

Lawmakers Tease Their Plans to Address High Child Care Costs, Low Pre-K Attendance in PA. “The General Assembly reconvenes this week, kicking off another session of drafting, debating, and voting on legislation that could affect people across the commonwealth.” (Spotlight PA)

SD-36: Republican Committee Members Gather To Gauge Support For Aument’s Replacement. “We could have a “leader in the clubhouse” for the 36th Senatorial District seat by the end of the day Tuesday.” (PoliticsPA)

Could Funding Snag Derail Return of Lehigh Valley Passenger Service? “Does anyone have a spare $450,000? For those wanting to bring back passenger rail to the Lehigh Valley, that’s the cost of a vital phase in the 10-to-12-year plan to begin service from Allentown to either New York, Philadelphia or Reading.” (Allentown Morning Call)

Around The Commonwealth

3. U.S. Steel, Nippon File Lawsuit Over Biden Order Blocking Acquisition

“U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel on Monday filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government over President Joe Biden’s order blocking the sale of the Pittsburgh-based steel company to the Japanese firm.

The lawsuit filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. asks the court to set aside the review process of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. (CFIUS) and Biden’s order blocking the deal over security concerns. ” (Penn Capital-Star)

Elsewhere

US Steel Sale and Future in Limbo After Biden Block. “The fate of the Edgar Thomson Works, a massive steel plant that has hugged the same spot along the Monongahela River since 1875, became even more uncertain Friday morning when President Joe Biden announced he would block the sale of United States Steel to Nippon Steel as one of his last acts as president.” (Salena Zito)

Bob Macey, Longest Serving Current Member of Allegheny County Council, Won’t Run Again in 2025. “He has served on council since 2006, representing Mon Valley.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

As One Northampton County Commissioner Announces He Will Not Seek Re-Election, Another Plans to Run. “Northampton County Commissioner Ron Heckman will not seek another term on the board, while Commissioner John Goffredo will run to keep his seat, each announced Monday.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

York City Council to Take Up Possible Override Of Mayor’s Veto Of Immigrant Protections. “The Trust Act would prohibit city employees from inquiring about immigration status and bar city resources from being used in nonemergency federal immigration investigations.” (York Dispatch)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• A Peaceful Election Certification Stands In Sharp Contrast to the Trump-Fueled Chaos of Jan. 6, 2021. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• What Donald Trump Could Have Learned From Jimmy Carter. (David Mills)
• Lower Taxes? Legal Weed? Saving SEPTA? (Joanna McClinton)
• Let the Kids Have Their Snow Days. (Daniel Pearson)
• McCormick’s Win Means an Opportunity for Bold Leadership in Senate. (Steve Rosenberg)
• Nippon Steel and US Steel: One Last Chance, Mr Trump. (Grant Newsham)

1 Mullet Thing

5. The ‘Best in Grow’

“Several inches of snow could not deter nearly 90 competitors from showcasing their prized mullets at the Pennsylvania Farm Show’s second annual Mullet Competition on Monday afternoon, Jan. 6.

The debut of the competition last year brought scores of mullets, from shaggy and long to tight and short, and this year only expanded on the distinctive cuts from participants. 

This year’s “Best in Show” grand prize winner, 9-year-old Romeo Valadez, journeyed all the way from Ocean City, Maryland, to take not just the prize basket of hair care products, but also the grand prize of a custom front bumper of a blue 1985 Chevy Camaro” (LNP | Lancaster Online)

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