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🏀 Sixers (20-34) | Thu vs. Boston
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🗓️  What’s Happening Today. Budget hearings begin in Harrisburg. First up, DCED at 10 a.m., followed by Revenue at 1 p.m.

🔊  What We’re Hearing. “There’s too much hate in politics right now, and it just makes you scared to vote honestly.” “I almost feel like things can only get bad so long. I almost feel like we’re at the bottom.”

🔊  What We’re Hearing II. “Gov. Josh Shapiro will provide commentary for the 93.7 The Fan live radio broadcast of the Pitt-Syracuse men’s basketball game Tuesday night at Petersen Events Center.” Gee, Governor, I thought I asked first?

📱  Social Media. Join us on Twitter and Bluesky at @PoliticsPA

Top Story

1. Some of the Country’s Most Coveted Voters Are Fed Up With American Democracy

“President Donald Trump declared upon taking office that the U.S. had entered a “new golden age,” but it doesn’t feel that way to a select group of voters from a state that helped deliver his victory.

The voters — men and women, young and old — were part of a 15-person focus group that came together on a frigid mid-January night in the battleground town of Nazareth, to dissect the state of the country’s democracy following one of the most divisive elections in American history.

Their outlook would prove to be a far cry from Trump’s triumphalism. Members of the focus group instead spelled out their anxieties about the fragile nature of the country’s increasingly polarized, anger-riddled and online experiment in self-governance.” (POLITICO)

Elsewhere

From Philly to Bucks, Protesters Rally Against Trump and Musk on Presidents’ Day: ‘Not A King!’ “Activists in Philadelphia and Bucks County spent Presidents’ Day demonstrating against President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, who is attempting a significant overhaul of the federal government.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• ‘We Have to Stand Up and Say Something’: Presidents Day Protest In Pittsburgh Takes Aim at Trump Policies. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Harrisburg March Part of National Protest Against Donald Trump’s Presidency. (WITF)

Farm Bill For Pennsylvania Would Impact ‘Everyone,’ Not Just Farmers. “Two years late and counting, that’s how long it’s been since an all-important farm bill expired and congress, while extending it, has not found a permanent solution. Pennsylvania Republican congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson chairs the House Ag. Committee and he is a key player in the negotiations.” (WHTM)

GOP’s Bresnahan Vows to Buck Party, Vote Against Deep Cuts to Benefits. “Northeast Pennsylvania’s new congressman U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan is at odds with party leadership just weeks into the job. And he vows not to back down.” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

State

2. Budget Hearings Begin This Week

“The state legislature will have its chance to question Gov. Josh Shapiro’s cabinet secretaries on his $51.5 billion budget proposal in a series of hearings starting Tuesday and continuing over the next three weeks.

During the hearings, state agency heads flesh out details of the governor’s spending priorities, while House and Senate lawmakers grill them on proposed spending hikes or cuts.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Elsewhere

State Leaders Say It Will Be ‘Tough’ Year to Provide Extra Money For Agencies Such as Pittsburgh Regional Transit. “The proposed budget calls for the same increase that the state Senate refused to approve last year — increasing the percentage of state sales tax funds earmarked for the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Trust Fund by 1.75% for the next five years. That would raise the subsidy for PRT by just over $40 million, far less than the agency says it needs.” (Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Gov’t Waste Targeted in 2 PA Senate Bills, One Seeks State-Based DOGE. “Two proposals planned for introduction in the Pennsylvania state Senate aim to uncover fraud, waste and abuse of government funds with one measure directly inspired by the ongoing work in Washington of the Department of Government Efficiency.” (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat)

PA’s Roads Would Get More Gas Tax Money in Next Budget, But a Highway Funding Gap Remains. “When Pennsylvania lawmakers talk about how taxpayers should foot the bill for getting around the Keystone State, debate generally centers on a dichotomy between mass transit and everything else under PennDOT’s umbrella.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Proposed PA Minimum Wage Hike Is Bitter Pill For Many Business Owners. “Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposal to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage by more than 100% — from $7.25 to $15 an hour — is being panned by area business owners. Most say they already pay workers more than the minimum wage, and the rate should be set by the market, not by the government.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Everything You Need to Know About Running For Local Public Office

“As DuBois and neighboring Sandy Township prepare to consolidate into a new city in January 2026, all of the seats on its fresh seven-person council are up for election this year.

This rare occurrence is highly anticipated by residents and driving more interest than usual in running for local office, Clearfield County Commissioner Dave Glass told Spotlight PA.

It’s good to see competition in municipal races, rather than empty ballots, Glass added.” (Spotlight PA)

Elsewhere

Amish Voters for Trump? The Amish and the Religion Factor in Republican Electoral Politics. ““The Amish may very well save America! Thank goodness for them. And let’s keep the government out of their lives.” (Elon) Musk’s tweets underscore the growing prominence of religion in US politics and the Republican party’s efforts to integrate the Amish into its electorate.” (The Conversation)

Jacqueline C. Romero, Philly’s Top Federal Prosecutor, Leaves Office Amid Trump Makeover of the Federal Justice System. “Romero, who was appointed by then-President Joe Biden in 2022, was the first woman of color to serve as the region’s top federal prosecutor.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Philly DA Larry Krasner to Announce He’s Running For a Third Term. “Krasner will face Democratic challenger Patrick Dugan, a former municipal court judge who is presenting himself as a more pragmatic alternative to the progressive Krasner.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Pittsburgh Unions Prepare For Life With Gutted NLRB Under Trump. “Union petitioning fell during Trump’s first term, and he started his second by firing a National Labor Relations Board member, leaving the panel unable to fully operate.” (Public Source)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Reason For Hope In Turbulent Times: When The Public Demands Better, Change Can Happen. (Kartik Amarnath)
• RFK Jr. and the Measles Outbreak. (Wall Street Journal)
• Welcome to the Cherelle Parker Hiring Hall For Disgraced Dems. (Stu Bykofsky)
• How to Politically Engage When You Feel Like Shutting Down. (Sam Daley-Harris)
• A Minimum Wage Hike Would Tank Opportunity for Those Who Need It the Most. (Kevin J. McNamara)
• Birthright Citizenship Helps Make America Great. (Bloomberg)
• Reasonable Skill Game Tax Rate Would Generate Needed PA Revenue. (Peter Zaleski)

1 Thing

5. What Makes Pennsylvania Potato Chips So Special?

“I have relatives in several parts of the country who lived in the commonwealth at one point in time, or have visited me here, and I am frequently asked to send them some Pennsylvania-specific food goodies. The most frequently requested item is potato chips.

Just recently I sent four bags of a particular brand to my daughter’s workplace along with several boxes of grilled stickies.

When I asked her what the reaction of her boss was (who had tasted the chips before and really loved them), she indicated that he “acted like a kid in a candy store!”

Do we even know how good we have it?” (Lancaster Farming)

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