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🗓️  What’s Happening Today. Budget hearings continue in Harrisburg. Next up, State, Transportation, PASSHE, State-Related Universities

🔊  What We’re Hearing. “He’s smiling like a butcher’s dog!” – Mike Lange

🔊  What We’re Hearing II. House Majority Forward released a survey of PA-08 constituents that says 35% have an unfavorable opinion of Rep. Rob Bresnahan and one-third disapprove of his job performance to date.

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

Top Story

1. State Officials Say They’re Shut Out of Billions of Dollars for Energy Programs

“States across the country are unable to access hundreds of millions of federal dollars for energy upgrades, disaster resilience, infrastructure and environmental cleanup, officials told NOTUS.

President Donald Trump has pledged to undo the last administration’s justice and equity policies, which are deeply embedded in the money states get for energy and environmental programs. The continued blockade reflects a month of deep uncertainty over how far Trump can go to undo existing agreements in order to meet that promise.

Pennsylvania’s abandoned-mine-cleanup grant, which is $244 million a year, also remains frozen.” (NOTUS)

Elsewhere

Trump to Cut 6,700 IRS Employees. Here’s Why That May Be Bad News For You. “The agency said the workers losing their jobs are probationary status, meaning they have been on the job for less than one to two years. The concern is that it comes during the busy season for the IRS, with the tax filing deadline slated for April 15.” (PennLive)

Two More Staffers Quit John Fetterman’s Office as the Senator Carves His Own Lane With Trump. “Charlie Hills, Fetterman’s communications director, and Tré Easton, his legislative director, are set to soon depart the Pennsylvania Democrat’s office.” (NBC News)

Trump, Elon Musk, and Philly Unions Are the Wild Cards in This Year’s DA Race. “The race is one of the marquee political contests in Pennsylvania this year and is pitting some of the city’s most influential groups against one another. Here are six things to watch as the campaigns heat up.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

State

2. PennDOT Secretary Says Federal Funding For Amtrak Harrisburg-Pittsburgh Expansion ‘In Question’

“Federal funding uncertainty has hit the proposed expansion of Amtrak train service connecting Pittsburgh, Altoona, and Harrisburg, with state Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll saying on Wednesday $143 million in discretionary federal money for it is “sort of in question right now.”

Mr. Carroll said some federal money was considered a lock. Other funding streams involved in discretionary grants could no longer be considered certain, he said.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Elsewhere

Bridges, Car Chargers, Vaccines and More: PA Lawmakers Nervous About Feds Reducing Funding. “Pennsylvania is reliant on the federal government for many crucial state functions and programs, state lawmakers heard Wednesday, as agency heads sought to reassure them that in most cases the funds at issue haven’t yet been cut by President Donald Trump.” (PennLive)

DeFoor: DCNR Ignored its Internal Policies and Procedures When Awarding Grants for Conservation Projects. “Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor recently released an audit of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) that showed it did not award all Community Conservation Partnerships Program (C2P2) grants competitively.” (PoliticsPA)

PA Women’s Health Caucus Push For Maternal Health Care, Childcare Access As Legislature Reconvenes. “The Pennsylvania Women’s Health Caucus laid out their priorities for the budget, which include funding for Black maternal health, expanding childcare access and expanding access to menstrual products for lower-income residents.” (The Keystone)

Tuition Freeze a Hot Topic at Higher-Ed Budget Hearing. “As inflation rose the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education maintained a tuition freeze and the state-owned university system looks to prevent a thaw for at least one more school year.” (New Castle News)

Around The Commonwealth

3. How The New Frontier For College Athletics Could Affect Pennsylvania

nsylvania

“If you follow college football, you are obviously aware that Ohio State won the College Football Playoff over Notre Dame. You also know that Penn State was ousted by the Fighting Irish in the semifinals.

According to available information, Nittany Lion quarterback Drew Allar is making around $1.9 million in NIL deals, while running back Nick Singleton is making between $100,000 and $200,000.

This ain’t your father’s college football any more. And it could affect Pennsylvania more than you might know.” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

Philly Judge Says Krasner Wouldn’t Know Justice If It ‘Slapped Him In The Face’ After DA Criticizes His Track Record. “District Attorney Larry Krasner initially said Municipal Court Judge William Austin Meehan Jr. had a “disturbing pattern” of throwing out cases against police following a Pa. Supreme Court ruling.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Jason Richey Is Likely the Next Chair of Allegheny County GOP. “Former gubernatorial candidate is the lone candidate after two other candidates dropped out.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Post-Pandemic Labor Actions Are Reshaping Hospital Pay and Staffing. “As Southwestern Pennsylvania’s economic heart is transplanted from mills to health care, some of the region’s fiercest organizing battles are now being fought between hospital workers, notably including nurses, and health systems.” (Public Source)

McGloin Leaves Lackawanna County Commissioners Meeting Early Amid Rumors of Impending Resignation. “Democratic Lackawanna County Commissioner Matt McGloin left Wednesday’s meeting early amid rumors he plans to resign for a job in college football.” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• More Needed From Parker to Address Philly’s Housing Shortage. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• I Have 5 New Questions About Trump’s ‘Golden Age of America’ (John Baer)
• Democrats Let the Government Get Too Big and Too Inefficient. (Matthew Yglesias)
• Why Christians Cheer Donald Trump and His Destructive Crusade. (David Mills)
• Trump Can Issue Orders. But He Can’t Make Us Obey Them. (Tom Moran)
• How Trump Is Undermining His Own Constitutional Crusade. (Ankush Khardori)
• They’re Still Failing Our Kids — And Taxpayers, Too. (Guy Ciarrocchi)

Appreciation

5. Mike Lange 1948-2025

“Mike Lange, the legendary Pittsburgh Penguins broadcaster and Hockey Hall of Famer, died Wednesday. He was 76.

The Penguins confirmed his passing in a statement Wednesday night, calling Lange a “wordsmith,” a “magician behind the mic” and a “quintessential Pittsburgher.”

Lange took fans inside the game with an uncanny ability to anticipate plays, his quick wit, vivid imagery and — of course — his signature phrases.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

A Top 10 of Mike Lange calls. RIP to a legend pic.twitter.com/gaSgvysUcm

— Jeff Hartman (@JHartman_PIT) February 20, 2025

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