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PA Weather
🌧️ Berlin | Rain, 38
☔ Blossburg | Rain, 38
🌂 Blue Bell | PM Rain, 51

PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (8-16) | Fri vs. Charlotte
🏒 Penguins (14-14-5) | Los Angeles 3-2 (OT) | Thu vs. Nashville
🏒 Flyers (14-13-4) | Wed vs. Detroit

🔉 What We’re Hearing. Rep. Susan Wild and Sen. Bob Casey will give addresses to the House and Senate today.

📱  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. Pennsylvania’s 60th Electoral College Chooses Trump and Vance

“Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt presided over the 60th Pennsylvania Electoral College meeting at noon today, during which the 19 electors unanimously voted for Donald J. Trump for president and JD Vance for vice president of the United States, in accordance with Pennsylvania’s popular vote results in the Nov. 5 election.” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

PA’s GOP Electors Cite Role of Mail-In Ballots While Formally Casting Votes For Trump, Vance. “Pennsylvania’s electoral college met Tuesday to formalize Donald Trump’s November victory in the commonwealth — reflecting an abrupt turnaround from the GOP’s stance on mail-in ballots and allegations of fraud four years ago.” (PennLive)

U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans Still Hasn’t Voted Since His May Stroke, But Says He’ll Be Back in January. “Democrats will need Evans when a new Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3, as Republicans aim to push through legislation with the narrowest majority in modern history.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Pennsylvania Case Shows Why Courts Shouldn’t Dismiss Controversies When The Election Ends. “Voting in the 2024 presidential election may have ended more than a month ago, but a recent court decision that arose in Pennsylvania over electioneering at polling places will prohibit such unlawful behavior for years to come.” (The Federalist)

State

2. Campaign Funds, Secretive Nonprofit Pay For Josh Shapiro’s Sports Tickets

“Gov. Josh Shapiro viewed a Villanova University basketball game last week alongside a coach who’s won two national championships.

A few days later, he talked to tailgaters outside Lincoln Financial Field before heading inside to watch the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Shapiro paid for neither ticket out of pocket.” (Spotlight PA)

Elsewhere

State Rep Announces Bid For County Executive With ‘One Lehigh’ Platform. “Campaign season is in full swing in Lehigh County. A day after a small-business owner opened up the race for Allentown City Council, state Rep. Josh Siegel kicked off the battle for Lehigh County executive.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Gaming Control Board Reports Record Monthly Haul in November. “The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) reported today that the combined total revenue generated from all forms of gaming, along with fantasy contests, during November 2024 was a record $562,368,782.” (PoliticsPA)

Amid Contract Controversies, 2 Dauphin County Political Insiders Leave Law Firm. “Two political power brokers — one of whom was involved in questionable contracts with Dauphin County — have split from the well-established law firm McNees, Wallace & Nurick.” (PennLive)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Officials Still Examining Voting Issues in Cambria County

“The effort to determine what caused problems with the voting process in Cambria County during the recent general election and how to prevent the issues from arising again in the future is continuing.

A printing error resulted in there being ballots that could not be read by voting machines.

The problems required counting thousands of ballots by hand, a process that took several days.” (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat)

Elsewhere

Allegheny County Council Punts On Air Quality Fee Increase. “Allegheny County Council punted again Tuesday on voting for increased fees on polluters to help run a clean air program, along with higher fees for asbestos removal and related permits and services.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker Launches a New Website To Show the City’s Progress On Her Campaign Promises. “The website, called Philly Stat 360, shows the city’s progress on more than 30 indicators that fall under categories including: Safer, Cleaner, Greener, and Economic Opportunity.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Chester County to Hike Taxes by More Than 13 Percent. “Chester County commissioners are poised to raise residents’ real estate taxes by 13.47 percent at a Dec. 18 meeting.” (DV Journal)

New Kids in Town

• State Rep.-elect Scott Barger Wants to Find Common Ground on Public Education. (Penn Capital-Star)
• State Rep.-elect Brian Rasel Wants to Stop the ‘Population Bleed’. (Penn Capital-Star)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Biden’s ‘Kids For Cash’ Clemency Is Offensive to Victims, and to Justice. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• LGBTQ Rights in PA Must Be Protected Before the Trump Presidency. (Josh Blakesley, Corinne Goodwin, and Jason Landau Goodman)
• Murder Will Not Solve Our Healthcare Crisis. (Rev. Sandra L. Strauss)
• Pittsburgh Would Gain By Losing Mayor Ed Gainey. (Oliver Bateman)
• Two Leadership Lessons For McCormick As Casey Departs. (Seth Higgins)

1 Thing

5. What Was the Biggest Political Lie of 2024?

“A top fact-checking group has released its biggest political lie of the year as chosen by its readers.

The nonpartisan group PoltiFact on Tuesday crowned “they’re eating the pets” as the whopper of 2024.” (PennLive)

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