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Top Story

1. Balancing a National Profile and a New Trump Term, Shapiro’s Budget Pitch Toes Line

“Gov. Josh Shapiro’s third budget proposal was a balancing act.

On one hand, Shapiro, a Democrat in his first term and up for reelection next year, delivered a $51.5 billion budget pitch on Tuesday that incorporated Republican priorities like tax reforms and agricultural funding. On the other, Shapiro maintained a strong foundation of Democratic values, advocating to raise the state minimum wage and legalize recreational marijuana.

And through it all, the governor in his speech walked the bipartisan tightrope, preaching collaboration and unity, while repeating the refrain: “Pennsylvania is on the rise.”” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Elsewhere

With His Highly Anticipated Budget Address, Shapiro Staked a Claim to the Political Center. “Just months after voters delivered a devastating rebuke to his party in November, and as Democrats around the country are searching for someone to lead them out of the political wilderness, Gov. Josh Shapiro faced a deeply divided Legislature in the country’s largest swing state and made his pitch.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

For-Profit Medicine: Shapiro’s Budget Seeks to Rid Health Care of Private Money. “Ridding Pennsylvania’s health care system of private investors is part of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s new budget plan, which calls for additional regulatory muscle to review hospital and nursing home sales, mergers and acquisitions.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Trump Signs Executive Order Intended to Bar Transgender Athletes From Girls’ and Women’s Sports. “The order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” gives federal agencies wide latitude to ensure entities that receive federal funding abide by Title IX in alignment with the Trump administration’s view, which interprets “sex” as the gender someone was assigned at birth.” (AP)

In Pittsburgh, National Protest Against Trump Directs Anger At Fetterman. “The Democratic senator, who has sometimes crossed party lines to back parts of the president’s agenda, faced criticism from protestors outside of his Downtown Pittsburgh field office Wednesday.” (Public Source)

State

2. PA Has a $4.5 Billion Education Funding Shortfall. What Is Plan to Tackle It?

“Two years after the courts found Pennsylvania’s school funding system was inequitable and fundamentally broken, Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday called for putting more than $525 million toward a fix.

But some education advocates say help is still coming too slowly for kids in struggling schools.” (USA Today Network)

Elsewhere

Battle Over Pennsylvania’s Medicaid Abortion Restrictions Returns to Court. “A lawsuit that seeks to eliminate Pennsylvania’s Medicaid restrictions on abortion was back in Commonwealth Court this week. And a Wednesday hearing presented an unusual scene, especially for an issue as divisive as abortion: Both parties in the dispute were sitting on the same side of the courtroom — and taking the same side of the case.” (WESA)

The Race to Lead the PA GOP Is Getting Heated: ‘Full-Blown Cannibalism’. “A candidate for Pennsylvania GOP chair is accusing his opponent’s backers of intimidation tactics and calling for a secret paper ballot in Saturday’s election. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Negotiators Enter a Maze of Multibillion Dollar Challenges With PA Budget. “Legislative budget negotiators who got their 2025-26 starting template from Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday will need to find agreements within a maze of multibillion dollar financial challenges — and as they set out they appear far apart.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Grant Program For Rural Hospitals Advances In PA House. “One day after Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered his budget address, a pair of state House committees advanced legislation that aims to boost health care in rural Pennsylvania and prop up emergency medical services.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Skill Games Tax Riles Biggest Supporters. “Few legislators want to see games of skill regulated and taxed more than Pennsylvania Sen. Gene Yaw.” (The Center Square)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Allentown City Council Unanimously Passes ‘Welcoming City’ Ordinance on Immigration

“Allentown City Council on Wednesday night unanimously approved a “Welcoming City” ordinance that directs city officials, employees and police not to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement unless required to do so by law.

The unanimous vote came after hours of testimony from dozens of residents and advocates who called on council to pass the ordinance and ensure the city is protecting immigrants, regardless of their legal status in the United States.” (Morning Call)

Elsewhere

High-Speed Rail From Pittsburgh Is Possible, Says Rep. Deluzio. “Pittsburghers should set their sights on high-speed rail zooming out of the Steel City, said Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio. Along with Sen. Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts), Deluzio recently introduced the All Aboard Act, which would invest $200 billion to build high-speed rail, expand existing passenger rail service and electrify railyards and train corridors across the country.” (Axios Pittsburgh)

Hundreds Turn Out at PA Capitol to Protest Trump, Musk. “After several years of dormancy, the protest movement against Donald Trump came roaring back on Wednesday at the Pennsylvania Capitol – and this time, Trump isn’t the only public figure in the crosshairs.” (PennLive)

Trump Order Threatens Funding For Schools Over ‘Indoctrination.’ Can It Be Enforced? “Descriptions of how schools could lose federal aid appear to follow a number of culture war issues that have taken the spotlight at contentious school board meetings across Pennsylvania and the nation.” (Bucks County Courier Times)

Shapiro’s State Budget Falls Far Short of Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s Needs to Avoid Service Cuts, Fare Hikes and Layoffs. “Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s push for a hefty increase in state subsidy to avoid serious service cuts appears to have gotten off to a slow start.” (Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Can the Big Ambitions In Shapiro’s Latest PA Budget Surmount Opposition From GOP Lawmakers? (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Pennsylvania Politics Suddenly Seems Sane. Thanks, D.C. (John Baer)
• What John Fetterman Can Do to Protect America. (James Goodwin)
• Washington Is Stepping Back on Clean Energy, But Pennsylvania Can’t. (Molly Parzen)
• Notes to the American People — and Government Workers — on How to Stop Trump. (Brendan Ballou)
• Taxpayer Interests Missing From Shapiro Budget Proposal. (Emily Greene)
• Pennsylvania’s Approach to Literacy Needs to Change. (Rep. Jason Ortitay)

1 Thing

5. Eggs-traordinary Heist

“The heist of 100,000 eggs from the back of a trailer in Pennsylvania has become a whodunit that police have yet to crack.

Four days after the theft that law enforcement say could be tied to the sky-high cost of eggs, no leads have come in, Trooper First Class Megan Frazer, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania State Police, said Wednesday.

“In my career, I’ve never heard of a hundred thousand eggs being stolen. This is definitely unique,” said Frazer, who has a dozen years on the job.” (AP)

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