🥱  Monday, Monday. Can’t trust that day.

🗞️  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
🌤️  Allison Park | Decreasing Clouds, 32
🌤️  Landisburg | Decreasing Clouds, 40
🌤️  Wakefield | Partly Sunny, 42

PA Sports
🏈  Eagles (15-3) | Green Bay 22-10 | Sun vs. Minnesota/LA Rams
🏈  Steelers (10-8) | Baltimore 14-28
🏒  Penguins (18-19-8) | Ottawa 0-5 | Tampa Bay 2-5 | Tue vs. Seattle
🏒  Flyers (18-20-5) | Anaheim 6-0 | Mon vs. Florida
🏀  Sixers (15-22) | New Orleans 115-123 | Orlando 99-104 | Tue vs. Oklahoma City

📱  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. Biden Administration Delays Deadline For U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel to Kill Merger

“The Biden administration has given U.S. Steel and Japan’s Nippon Steel an extra six months to ditch their merger, keeping the deal alive as litigation unfolds over whether a national security panel’s review of it was tainted by political considerations.

Under the watch of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, the parties originally had 30 days to unwind the transaction following a Jan. 3 order from President Joe Biden.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

Elsewhere

New PA Sen. McCormick Tours Farm Show, Talks Immigration, Fetterman. “McCormick — who defeated Bob Casey after 18 years as a senator in Pennsylvania — presented a prize to a winning sheep and made stops at various sections of the Farm Show, including hardwoods, Christmas trees, poultry, pork, wine, cheese and — of course — milkshakes.” (PennLive)

John Fetterman, Dave McCormick Eye Bipartisanship As ‘Shotgun Marriage’ U.S. Senate Duo. “PA one of only three states with a split Senate delegation, with both pledging to work together for Pennsylvanians.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Trump Calls Fetterman Impressive After Mar-a-Lago Meeting. “Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) did not emerge from his meeting with President-elect Donald Trump with a promise that the Braddock Democrat would be named the “Pope of Greenland,” but Trump said Fetterman did earn his admiration for his commonsense approach to governing.” (Washington Examiner)

Casey Discusses His Time In Public Life and What’s Next. “Bob Casey spent last week as a private citizen for the first time in 28 years, marking the beginning of his journey away from the political spotlight.” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

State

2. Allegiance: A Tale of Two Threatened Pennsylvania Steel Companies

“Federal interference threatened operations for two Pennsylvania steel companies this year.

When the Biden administration’s energy efficiency regulation for distribution transformers threatened to shutter a Cleveland Cliffs plant in Butler County, lawmakers from both parties, the United Steel Workers union and Gov. Josh Shapiro fought back.

The story for U.S. Steel has been markedly different.” (The Center Square)

Elsewhere

PA Treasurer Garrity Warns State Should Not ‘Squander’ Its Savings. “While Pennsylvania has more than $7 billion in its so-called Rainy Day Fund, recently re-elected state Treasurer Stacy Garrity warned last week that could be depleted in the next few years unless things change.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

New Pennsylvania Laws In 2025 Expand Access to Health Care and Set New Rules of the Road. “Gov. Josh Shapiro signed more than 150 new laws last year and some of them are now taking effect or will in the first few months of the new year.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Mayor Cherelle Parker Knows Her Way Around Harrisburg. She Has Some Requests For the New Legislative Session. “The former state representative returned to Harrisburg for the start of the legislative session to make early requests to lawmakers to improve the city’s housing, public transit, and public education.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Pennsylvania Program Helps Overturn 50% of Health Insurance Denials In First Year, New Data Shows. “In 259 cases, expert reviewers determined that insurers wrongly denied or limited coverage for medical care. Under program rules, insurers must reinstate or apply coverage for pending procedures, medications and health visits, or retroactively for patients who’ve already been billed for the full cost of care.” (WHYY)

Around The Commonwealth

3. 76ers Have Struck a Deal With Comcast Spectacor to Stay in South Philly

“The 76ers are going to stay in South Philly after all, according to City Council members and a key labor leader.

The team has struck a deal with Comcast Spectacor to remain in the South Philadelphia sports complex, after more than two years of heated debate over moving to a potential new arena on East Market Street.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Elsewhere

Departure of Veteran Lawmakers Could Cost Lancaster County in PA Legislature. “In terms of clout inside the corridors of power in Harrisburg, Lancaster County was sitting in a good spot last year, boasting three Republicans in powerful leadership roles in the General Assembly. A year later, only one Lancaster County Republican holds a senior leadership post.” (LNP | Lancaster Online)

Four Ways Trump Could Bring Changes For Pittsburgh Residents. “From deportations to abortion access, environmental policy to infrastructure funding, the switch from Biden to Trump could bring big change for Southwestern Pennsylvania.” (Public Source)

Federal Transit Agency Tells PA City It Has 30 Days to Repay $1.4M in Misused Funds. “The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) says Williamsport owes it $1.4 million for misuse of funds and it must pay up within 30 days.” (PennLive)

700K PA Residents To See Medical Debt Barred From Credit Scores Under Biden Rule. “Millions of Americans with medical debt, including nearly 700,000 Pennsylvanians, will no longer have to fear their debt will tarnish their credit scores.” (PennLive)

Krista Rogers, Lycoming County’s Longtime Fiscal Chief, Resigns After 20 Years and a Statewide Legal Battle. “The resignation ended her longtime hold on the office after a successful legal battle ended last year that kept the status quo and maintained the rule of law for countywide row officers across Pennsylvania. ” (CNHI News)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• What’s Up With Fetterman/Trump Meeting? (Greensburg Tribune-Review)
• The Supreme Court’s Majority Is Beginning to Think More Clearly. (Bruce Ledewitz)
• Running to Run Elections. (Seth Bluestein) 
• To Improve Early Literacy, Pennsylvania Should Follow Mississippi’s Lead. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• When Democracy Dies in Broad Daylight. (Tony Norman)

1 Thing

5. Girl Scouts Plan To Retire 2 Cookies. Where To Get Your Cookie Fix This Year

“A couple of flavors will be missing from next year’s iconic Girl Scout Cookie lineup, so you’ll want to make sure to stock up now.

Both Toast-Yay! and Girl Scout S’mores will be retired at the end of the 2025 season, which kicked off Tuesday, said Girl Scouts of the USA.” (USA Today)

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