Hey There, Wednesday. Let’s bring down the curtain on winter in style.

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Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. Badlands, Bruce Springsteen. Those opening chords!

PA Weather
Latrobe | Mostly Sunny, 80
Lancaster | Mostly Sunny, 68
Lansdale | Mostly Sunny, 67

PA Sports
Flyers (28-33-8) | Thu vs. Washington
Penguins (28-32-10) | NY Islanders 2-4 | Fri vs. Columbus
Sixers (23-45) | Wed vs. Oklahoma City
St. Francis | Alabama State 68-70

What’s Happening Today. The House is in session at 11 a.m.

What We’re Hearing. On the gossip side, Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, who recently separated from his wife, is reportedly now dating Fox News scoop machine Brooke Singman, according to Page Six. 

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

Top Story

1. Democrats to Hold ‘People’s Town Hall’ in Lehigh Valley, Calling on Ryan Mackenzie to Oppose Trump’s Agenda

“Local and national Democrats will hold a People’s Town Hall on Thursday in the Lehigh Valley, calling on Pennsylvania’s Republican elected officials to protect federal assistance programs and oppose President Donald Trump’s agenda.

The event is part of the national Democratic Party’s push targeting Republicans in competitive districts.

Similar People’s Town Hall events will take place across the country, including in Pennsylvania’s 8th District, represented by Republican Rep. Rob Bresnahan.” (Allentown Morning Call)

Elsewhere

Bresnahan Plans Telephone Town Hall Instead of In-Person Public Meeting. “U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan will host a town hall next week, but it won’t be in person. Instead, Bresnahan, a Luzerne County Republican who represents the 8th Congressional District, will host a telephone town hall Tuesday, March 25, at 5:30 p.m.” (WVIA)

Scott Perry Wants to Abolish Dept. of Education In Exchange For California Wildfire Relief Spending. “Congressman Scott Perry appeared on a right-wing podcast last week and proposed that Republicans should attach legislation abolishing the Department of Education to relief funding for those impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires. Advocates call this a line too far for Perry.” (The Keystone)

Canadian Official Tells PA Lawmakers His Country Is ‘Feeling Pretty Betrayed’ By Trump Policies. “A high-ranking Canadian official told Pennsylvania House members on Tuesday that his country is “feeling pretty betrayed” over President Donald Trump’s tariffs and threats of annexation but the state and its northern neighbor would continue working together.” (PennLive)

State

2. PRT to Propose Fare Hike, Service Cuts Due to Lack of State Funding

“With additional state funding not in the cards at the moment, Pittsburgh Regional Transit will begin the process for “devastating” service cuts and fare increases that could begin next February.

Chief Development Officer Amy Silbermann is scheduled Thursday to brief PRT board’s Planning & Stakeholder Relations Committee on the proposed service cuts and fare increase.

“These cuts will impact each and every rider in every community across Allegheny County,” Brandolph said. “We have to go with the funding we are likely to have.”” (Pittsburgh Union Progress)

Elsewhere

36th Senate District Special Election Preview. “The polls are open next week in northern Lancaster County as the 36th Senate District holds a special election to fill a vacant seat in Harrisburg.” (PoliticsPA)

Funds Pass $320,000 in 36th Senate District Race For Republican Josh Parsons, Democrat James Andrew Malone. “With one week until the March 25 special election, more than $320,000 has poured into northern Lancaster County’s 36th Senate District race. Lancaster County Commissioner Josh Parsons and East Petersburg Mayor James Andrew Malone have each pulled almost two-thirds of their funds from political action committees.” (LNP)

Sunday Nominates Darryl Lawrence as Pennsylvania’s Consumer Advocate. “Attorney General Dave Sunday announced his nomination of Darryl Lawrence to serve as Pennsylvania’s Consumer Advocate. If confirmed by the Pennsylvania State Senate, Lawrence will represent Commonwealth consumers in public utility service quality and pricing matters.” (PoliticsPA)

• Sunday’s Pick For PA Consumer Advocate Appeals to Some Who Worried About Office’s Direction. (WESA)

Freedom, Farming, and Free-Time Factor Into Latest Sunday Hunting Debate in PA. “The topic of Sunday hunting is not new in Pennsylvania. One thing that has shifted during the most recent debate are the faces and arguments surrounding Sunday hunting.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Election Officials Worry That Pennsylvania Court Rulings Could Compromise Ballot Secrecy

“Recent decisions from a Pennsylvania state court could create a new route to pierce the secrecy of some mail ballots and reveal the private choices made by thousands of voters.

While a very small percentage of cast ballots would be at risk, according to a pair of analyses, some state and county officials are concerned about the potential for any voter’s choices to be exposed.” (Votebeat Pennsylvania)

Elsewhere

Montco Republican Wants Constitutional Ban on Illegals Getting PA Drivers Licenses. “Republican state Rep. Donna Scheuren held a press conference Monday to announce a bill for a constitutional amendment to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining driver’s licenses.” (DV Journal)

Philadelphia Phillies File Lawsuit to Block MLB Rivals From Using Zelus Analytics Platform. “The Philadelphia Phillies have filed a lawsuit against two software companies alleging the firms are attempting to sell components of their baseball analytics platform to the Major League Baseball team’s division rivals in violation of a multimillion-dollar agreement.” (Philadelphia Business Journal)

Manheim Township Republicans Set to Lose Major Donors Ahead of Critical Municipal Election. “Republicans in Lancaster County’s second-most-populated municipality will likely lose two deep-pocketed donors in this year’s election, one in which the party’s majority on the board of commissioners is vulnerable and the terms of its three incumbent school board members expire.” (LNP)

Editorial

4. Speak Your Mind

• The Politics of Hate Has No Place In Our Schools. Nor Does the PA Economic Growth PAC. (York Dispatch)
• Now That Trump Has Silenced Voice of America, Could U.S. Public Media Outlets Be Next? (Jim Friedlich)
• There is a Bipartisan Bill to Abolish PA’s Death Penalty. It Must Be Passed. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• To Cut Opioid Overdoses, Save Medicaid. (Molly McGrath)
• Chuck Schumer and the Politics of Antisemitism. (Jason L. Riley)
• Political Attacks Are Shameful Slides to Gateway Violence. (Greensburg Tribune-Review)
• Sunshine Week Calls Attention to Darkening Skies Over PA Universities. (Amy Kristin Sanders)
• We Shouldn’t Have to Choose Between Excessive Republicans and Extreme Democrats. (David Mastio)

1 Mat Thing

5. Penn State’s Wrestling Team Might Be the Greatest Dynasty in Sports

“On a damp night in late January, one of college wrestling’s storied dynasties, a feared team that won two-dozen national championships under legendary coaches, rolled into the Bryce Jordan Center to prove a point.

By night’s end, however, the No. 2-ranked University of Iowa suffered one of its worst losses in decades and only proved how unstoppable the Penn State wrestling juggernaut is. There’s no “any given day” for No. 1-ranked Penn State, no chance for luck, mental mistakes, or officiating errors to throw a wrench in their matches, even against archrival Iowa.

No team stands a chance.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)