👋  Budget Day. Or, as others know it, Tuesday.

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🌤️ Pittsburgh | Gradual Clearing, 41 🔽
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PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (19-29) | Tue vs. Dallas
🏒 Flyers (23-25-6) | Tue vs. Utah
🏒 Penguins (21-25-8) | Tue vs. New Jersey

🔊  What We’re Hearing. The 127th Annual Dinner of the Pennsylvania Society will return to its historic home at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on December 13, 2025.

🔊  What We’re Hearing II. “Nobody wants to see a trade war, and the effects of retaliatory tariffs on Pennsylvania importers and exporters are a real concern,” said Luke Bernstein, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.

🎂  Happy Birthday. Cake and candles for Rep. Craig Staats.

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Top Story

1. Shapiro Expected to Seek More Money For Schools and Transit

“Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is expected to seek more money for public schools and public transit when he delivers his third budget proposal to lawmakers Tuesday. Shapiro is also expected to reprise his support for legalizing marijuana and introducing taxes on skill games viewed as competitors to casinos and lottery contests.

Shapiro’s budget proposal could approach $50 billion for the 2025-26 fiscal year beginning July 1. He was scheduled to address a joint session of the General Assembly at 11:30 a.m. in the House of Representatives as he delivered the document to lawmakers.” (AP)

Elsewhere

What to Expect From Shapiro’s Pennsylvania Budget Address As He Faces Financial Headwinds. “He faces several challenges for the budget plan, including a divided Legislature and Republicans who are wary of big spending.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

4 Things to Watch In Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Third Budget Address. “Governor is expected to focus his third budget address on energy policy and finding new revenue generators to address an upcoming $4.5 billion budget shortfall.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• Budget Bingo Cards (Commonwealth Foundation) | (Stephen Caruso, Spotlight PA)

U.S. Steel, Nippon Argue In Court For New Federal Merger Review. “U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel laid out their case Monday that then-President Joe Biden hamstrung a national security review to justify blocking the companies’ merger.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

Kenyatta Named DNC Vice Chair. “State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia) was elected as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Saturday night.” (PoliticsPA)

State

2. With Pause on Tariffs, PA Avoids Complications With Canada

“Pennsylvania was the 11th-largest exporter of goods in the U.S. in 2023, accounting for almost $53 billion.

The Keystone State’s biggest customer? Canada, receiving $14.3 billion in Pennsylvania products such as chemicals, metals, machinery and dairy products — more than a quarter of all exports from the state, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Pennsylvania also received more than $13 billion in Canadian imports in 2023, including $1.7 billion in crude petroleum and $600 million in iron and steel products.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Elsewhere

Bill to Protect Utility Customers, Including Those of Pittsburgh Water, Passes PA Senate. “Pittsburgh Water customers are a featured beneficiary in a bill passed by the state Senate on Monday that renews an expired package of utility customer protections related to shutoffs, customer illnesses and other challenges.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Bernstine Proposes Constitutional Carry Legislation For PA. “Could constitutional carry become a law in Pennsylvania? If Rep. Aaron Bernstine has his way, yes.” (PoliticsPA)

• Meuser Cosponsors Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. (Daily Item)

New Bill Proposes Abolishing All Property Taxes in Pennsylvania. “The bill, proposed by Rep. Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon) would “abolish all property taxes in the Commonwealth as of July 1, 2030. Article I Section 2 of the Constitution guarantees the right of the people to make such decisions, and this legislation will facilitate their ability to do so.”” (abc27)

Gebhard Appointed as 2025-26 PA SRCC Cycle Chair. “Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward has appointed Sen. Chris Gebhard as the new Cycle Chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Republican Campaign Committee (PA SRCC) for 2025-2026.” (PoliticsPA)

PA House Democrats Share Competing Visions For Legalizing Adult-Use Cannabis. “Pennsylvania House Democrats have begun circulating multiple cosponsor memos laying the groundwork for legalizing adult-use cannabis. Social equity, limits on potency and deciding who gets to sell it are still in the air.” (The Keystone)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Pennsylvania’s Varied ‘Curing’ Policies Affect Voters’ Chances of Getting Their Ballot Counted

“Counties that allow mail voters to fix errors that could otherwise get their ballots disqualified rejected fewer ballots during the 2024 general election, a Votebeat and Spotlight PA analysis has found.

Overall, just 0.57% of mail ballots statewide were rejected due to voter errors, such as an improper date, a missing signature on the return envelope, or failure to use the ballot secrecy envelope. That’s less than half the rejection rates of 1.22% in the primary election and 1.31% in the 2022 general election.

However, according to the analysis, the rate was even lower in counties that allow voters to fix, or “cure,” their mail ballots.” (Votebeat)

Elsewhere

Steelworkers Back Gainey in Mayoral Race. “Mayor Ed Gainey was endorsed Tuesday by the United Steelworkers, one of the biggest and most influential labor unions in Pittsburgh.” (Axios Pittsburgh)

How Patrick Dugan Raised More Money Than Larry Krasner Last Year and What It Means For the 2025 Philly DA’s Race. “Though both candidates’ coffers are expected to grow as the May Democratic primary election draws nearer, the early fundraising reports, filed Friday, are a sign that Dugan’s campaign, bolstered by the deep-pocketed trades unions, could rival Krasner’s in size.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

HD-35: Goughnour, Davis Selected as Nominees in Special Election. “The nominees have been selected for the special election to replace the late Matt Gergely in the 35th Legislative District.” (PoliticsPA)

23 States Require Cursive Instruction in Public Schools. Should Pennsylvania Be No. 24?. “A Republican lawmaker has renewed efforts to require public and private elementary schools to teach cursive handwriting in Pennsylvania.” (Erie Times-News)

State Senate Judiciary Committee Recommends Confirming Lackawanna County DA Mark Powell to a Vacant County Judgeship. “Powell, 60, of Moosic, first elected district attorney in 2017 and re-elected in 2021, faced re-election this year.” (WVIA)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Trump Blinks on North American Tariffs. (Wall Street Journal)
• A Homeowner Insurance Crisis Is Looming. Leaders Must Act Now. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Pennsylvania Senators, Do Not Vote to Confirm Tulsi Gabbard. (Tristan Irwin)
• This Mayoral Election is All About Ed Gainey. (Adriana E. Ramírez)
• How to Break Public Schools: A Republican Playbook. (Margaret Renkl)
• Pennsylvania is at an Energy Crossroads. (Carl Marrara)
• Let’s Unleash Pennsylvania’s Energy Potential. (Rep. Jim Struzzi)
• PA Universities Pay Lip Service to Campus Free Speech, Yet Self-Censorship Still Persists. (Michael B. Poliakoff and Justin D. Garrison)

1 Thing

5. New Meaning to ‘Eating In’

“About 43% of fast food orders in the US overall happen at the drive-thru window, and 27% of those meals are downed before exiting the vehicle, according to Circana. That’s probably why McDonald’s is testing out a new Sonic-esque restaurant, CosMc’s, while Chipotle and Shake Shack are adding more drive-up lanes, per WSJ.”

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