👋  Hello, February. Damn you Phil and your six more weeks of winter.

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PA Weather
☁️ Erie | Mostly Cloudy, 45
🌤️ State College | Partly Sunny, 51
☁️ Wilkes-Barre | Mostly Cloudy, 48

PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (19-29) | Denver 134-137 | Boston 110-118 | Tue vs. Dallas
🏒 Flyers (23-25-6) | Colorado 0-2 | Tue vs. Utah
🏒 Penguins (21-25-8) | Nashville 1-4 | Tue vs. New Jersey

🔊 What We’re Hearing. Sen. Chris Gebhard has been named cycle chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Republican Campaign Committee.

📱  Social Media. Are you socially active? Find @PoliticsPA on Twitter | Bluesky | Facebook | LinkedIn

Top Story

1. Governor’s Budget Expected to Seek More For Schools and Transit, Emphasize Frugality

“Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro will deliver his third budget proposal to lawmakers next week, a plan that’s expected to seek substantially more aid for the poorest public schools, emphasize frugality and press the politically fraught topics of bailing out public transit and legalizing marijuana.

The plan to be unveiled Tuesday also is expected to carry aid for rural hospitals, boost pay for workers who care for older adults and disabled people and introduce taxes on skill games that are seen as competitors to casinos and lottery contests.” (AP)

Elsewhere

Shapiro Budget to Star Schools, Transportation and Competitiveness, As GOP Seeks Restraint. “Looked at one way, Pennsylvania’s ship of state is doing OK financially. Because of generationally-high cash reserves, it’s on track to cover all of its bills, payments and other obligations this year with money left over. But looked at another way, something’s got to give.” (PennLive)

Legal Weed, More Money For PA’s Poorest Schools Will Likely Be in Shapiro’s Budget Pitch. “Gov. Josh Shapiro is expected to propose legalizing recreational marijuana, taxing popular gaming machines, and sending more money to Pennsylvania’s poorest schools when he unveils his budget pitch to state lawmakers Tuesday.” (Spotlight PA)

What’s At Stake For Cash-Strapped SEPTA in Gov. Shapiro’s Budget. “Despite SEPTA’s austerity measures, the transit agency will need to make drastic cuts if Harrisburg can’t provide more dollars.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Kenyatta Elected as DNC Vice Chair. “Pennsylvania State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a 2012 strategic communications alumnus, has been elected as a vice chair of the Democratic National Committee in the party’s Feb. 1 election, the DNC announced late Saturday night.” (Temple News)

State

2. Allegheny County Democrats, GOP Announce Nominees For Mon Valley House Seat Special Election

“Democrats and Republicans have selected their nominees to replace the late Matt Gergely in the 35th state House District: Democrat Dan Goughnour, a McKeesport police officer, will face Charles Davis, a Republican White Oak borough councilor.

The two will meet in a March 25 special election that will decide control of the state House, two months after Gergely’s untimely death left the 203-member chamber evenly split.” (WESA)

Elsewhere

2024 Turnout Was Highest Since 1988, State Says. “According to an analysis just released by the Department of State, voter turnout in the 2024 general election was the highest Pennsylvania has seen since at least 1988.” (Penn Capital-Star)

PA District Attorneys Call on Shapiro, Lawmakers to Address Safety Concerns. “The prosecutors’ association identifies seven issues that need action.” (Reading Eagle)

‘They’ve Gone Rogue’: Republicans Are Ready to Police Universities — By Taxing Them. “The nation’s most “elite” universities and colleges have been in the crosshairs of Republicans, who have most recently made pro-Palestinian activism on campuses a political rallying cry. Now, there is an appetite in Congress to translate that ire into much higher taxes for higher education institutions.” (NOTUS)

💰  Did You Know? The endowment at the University of Pennsylvania is $22.3 billion. The University of Pittsburgh’s is $5.68B, while Penn State’s comes in at $4.57B.

PA GOP Leadership Is Speaking Out About the Upcoming Chairman Election. “PAGOP committee members are speaking out, some on social media, some issuing statements strictly to their fellow state committee members; and some passing along their thoughts to Harrisburg100, regarding the integrity of the PAGOP Chairman’s election, and the endorsement votes.” (Harrisburg 100)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Gainey, O’Connor Spar on City Spending, Economic Development and Core Services at Debate

“Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey and Allegheny County Controller Corey O’Connor traded verbal blows on COVID-19 relief fund spending, how the city has administered core services, economic development and more at a mayoral debate at Eddy Theatre on Chatham University’s campus Sunday afternoon.

The two Democratic candidates for mayor and more than 300 people attended a half-hour long interview with both candidates before the candidates participated in a debate.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Elsewhere

Gainey and O’Connor Deadlocked in Campaign Fundraising For Pittsburgh Mayor Race. “The Democratic primary for Pittsburgh mayor is shaping up to be a close one, at least as far as finances go.” (Public Source)

Gainey’s Chief of Staff Resigns. “Jake Wheatley, chief of staff to Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, has resigned, the mayor’s office said Saturday. A statement sent to the media Saturday evening did not list a reason for the departure.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)

Krasner Says Local Officials Don’t Have to Comply With the Trump Administration’s Immigration Crackdown. “Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said Friday that local elected officials and law enforcement cannot be forced to comply with the Trump administration’s “Nazi stuff,” referring to the president’s planned crackdown on immigration.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

GOP Voter Registration Gains Continue in NEPA Counties, Early-Year Data Shows. “About a month into 2025 and a week into the second presidency of Donald Trump, the number of Democrats changing their voter registrations to Republican in Northeast Pennsylvania continued to exceed that of Republicans making the opposite switch, state voter registration statistics show.” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

Northampton Co. Controller Launches Campaign For County Executive With Valuable Endorsement. “Tara Zrinski formally announced her run for county executive Thursday, and landed an endorsement from the incumbent executive which will help fill her campaign coffers.” (LehighValley News.com)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• More Chaos, Corruption, and Incompetence. Welcome to Trump 2.0. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Getting the Facts More Vital Than Getting Political. (York Dispatch)
• When Democrats Chase the Middle, We Lose. (Rep. Ben Waxman)
• Now is the Time to Address the In-Home Care Crisis in Pennsylvania. (Rep. Jessica Benham)
• Trump Blames DEI After Tragic Plane Crash. This is Our President. (Chris Brennan)
• The State Budget Can Change the Lives of the Disabled, Or Not. (Gary Blumenthal)
• Attorney General Sunday is Compromising the Independence of the Consumer Advocate. (James H. Cawley)
• The Winds of Autocracy Are Blowing in America. (Mark S. Singel)
• The GOP’s Unreliable Cutter-in-Chief. (Rachael Bade)
• Pennsylvania Agency Ignores Trump’s Executive Order on Two Sexes. (Beth Ann Rosica)
• Bully in Chief Backs Down. (Chris Kelly)
• Is This What Lancaster County Trump Voters Envisioned Happening to Immigrants and Refugees? (LNP)

1 Thing

5. Six More Weeks of Winter: Phil Sees Shadow on Groundhog Day

“Bad news for those pining for an end to a long, cold Pennsylvania winter — we’re bound for at least six more weeks of it, as Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow Sunday morning, Groundhog Day.

The weekend holiday brought a record crowd to Gobbler’s Knob, as well as to the various festivities taking place all throughout town. The grounds were packed with Phil’s Phaithful braving the chilly night for a glimpse of the Seer of Seers and Prognosticator of Prognosticators. Guests included local dignitaries, the current Miss Pennsylvania and a past Miss America and New Jersey musicians Lights Out, among others — and Gov. Josh Shapiro, making another in-person Groundhog Day appearance and suggesting the festivities ought to be recognized as a state holiday.” (Punxsutawney Spirit)

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