🦅  It’s Pay-Up Monday Around the State. E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles.

🗞️  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
🌂 Pittsburgh | Afternoon Rain, 53
☁️ Harrisburg | Cloudy, 45
🌫️ Philadelphia | Patchy Fog, 51

PA Sports
🏈  Eagles (12-2) | Pittsburgh 27-13 | Sun vs. Washington
🏈  Steelers (10-4) | Philadelphia 13-27 | Sat vs. Baltimore
🏀  Sixers (7-16) | Indiana 107-121 | Mon vs. Charlotte
🏒  Flyers (14-13-4) | Minnesota 1-4 | Wed vs. Detroit
🏒  Penguins (13-14-5) | Ottawa 2-3 (OT) | Tue vs. Los Angeles

🎂  Happy Birthday. Cake and candles for Sen. Ryan Aument

📱  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. Bob Casey Looks Back On Two Decades In the Senate — And to a Future Without Trump on the Ballot

“Democratic Sen. Bob Casey is one of the longest-serving senators in Pennsylvania’s history. But his run of electoral success ended last month when he narrowly lost to Republican challenger Dave McCormick.

Now, with just weeks remaining in his 18-year Senate career, Casey is reflecting on what went wrong for him and his party in what was the most consequential battleground state on the map.” (NBC News)

• Bob Casey Jr. Prepares For Life After the Senate: ‘I’ll Miss Public Service’ (PennLive)

Elsewhere

Electoral College to Finalize Trump-Vance Victory on Tuesday. “Pennsylvania’s presidential electors are scheduled to meet in Harrisburg at noon tomorrow to cast their ballots for president and vice president. It’s a largely ceremonial affair, as the electors are handpicked by the winning presidential candidate.” (LNP | Lancaster Online)

Jeffries’ House Majority PAC Eyeing PA Seats For 2026. “The Keystone State apparently will be the key in 2026 as House Democrats chart a course back to the majority.” (PoliticsPA)

Biden’s Commutation In ‘Kids For Cash’ Scandal Angers Some Pennsylvania Families. “President Biden’s decision to commute the 17-year prison sentence of Michael Conahan angered many in northeastern Pennsylvania, from the governor to the families whose children were victimized by the disgraced former judge. Conahan had already served the vast majority of his sentence, which was handed down in 2011.” (AP)

• President Biden Commutes Prison Sentence of Former Latrobe Beverage Company CEO. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

State

2. Five Years After PA Changed Election Law, Workers Still Waiting For Small Fixes to Big Problems

“Pennsylvania’s 2024 election operated like a well-oiled machine this year with no major delays or snafus, but Lehigh County’s top election official warned there’s still trouble under the hood.

For years, state and county officials have requested tweaks to Pennsylvania’s election code: more time to pre-canvass mail-in ballots and an earlier voter registration deadline.

But thanks in part to political gridlock and the politicization of elections, none of the changes have gone on the books.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Elsewhere

Shapiro Says Biden Got It ‘Absolutely Wrong’ Commuting ‘Kids-For-Cash’ Judge’s Sentence. “Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Friday rebuked President Joe Biden’s decision to commute the remaining sentence of a former Luzerne County judge who had been sentenced to 17 ½ years in federal prison for sending children to jail while accepting millions of dollars in kickbacks.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Christian, Rothman Eye PA GOP Chairmanship. “There is about to be a change at the top of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania.” (PoliticsPA)

‘We Need To Reinvent How We Campaign,’ Democrat Susan Wild Reflects on 2024 Loss. “Wild told the Capital-Star that she worked to keep her campaign focused on her constituents as she faced Republican state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, who aligned himself with Trump and the GOP’s positions on inflation, immigration and abortion.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Legalized Recreational Marijuana Is On Pennsylvania’s Doorstep. “Recreational marijuana remains illegal in Pennsylvania. But lawmakers, advocates and even opponents who have spent countless hours debating the topic in Harrisburg say that likely will change soon.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

• Push For Marijuana Legalization In Pennsylvania Includes Calls For Social Equity. (WESA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Philly Council’s Vote to Green-Light the 76ers’ Arena Plan Revealed New Power Dynamics and Reaffirmed Old Truths

“City Council’s preliminary vote last week to approve the 76ers’ Center City arena plan was the most contentious legislative battle since Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Council President Kenyatta Johnson took office in January.

The wrangling over the vote revealed some new power dynamics in Philly politics and reaffirmed some old truths.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Elsewhere

Montco Commissioners Propose 9 Percent Tax Hike Over GOP Objections. “The Montgomery County commissioners are poised to hike taxes by nine percent when they adopt the $610.9 million 2025 budget on Dec. 19. At least one local Republican isn’t happy about it.” (DV Journal)

Lehigh County Commissioner For District 5 Will Not Run In 2025 Election, Endorses Potential Successor. “Single term commissioner Jeffrey Dutt says he will not be running for another term next year, but thanked the citizens of Lehigh for electing him to serve.” (CNHI News)

New Kids In Town

• State Rep.-elect Eric Weaknecht Wants to Help Small Businesses and the Agriculture Community. (Penn Capital-Star)
• State Rep.-elect Roman Kozak Calls RGGI ‘Ball and Chain’ on Pennsylvania’s Energy Industry. (Penn Capital-Star)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• America’s Future Depends On A Thriving Free Press, And It’s Time We Take It Back. (Christopher Baxter)
• In Pennsylvania, the Electoral System Worked. (Mark Schweiker and Lou Barletta)
• The Petty Tax Wars of Pittsburgh. (Adriana E. Ramírez)
• We Are Not Going Back. (Stephanie Renée)
• Becoming a Single-Issue Voter (Guy Ciarrocchi)

1 Thing

5. Luxury Firewood

“What do you buy the keeper of the flame who has it all? High-end logs, Axios Atlanta’s Thomas Wheatley writes.

Why it matters: There’s nothing wrong with using sticks and logs lying around the backyard. But premium, kiln-dried firewood allows people to tailor the mood and experience of their blazes.”

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