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Category: Playbook

September 1: Holiday Weekend

😎 The unofficial last Friday of summer. Thanks for being a subscriber to the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’re off on Monday and back on Tuesday. See

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August 31: Here We Go Again

😀 Thursday, the last day of August. Thanks for reading the PoliticsPA Playbook. We appreciate ya. PA Weather☀️ Warren | Becoming Sunny, 74☀️ Lock Haven

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August 30: Partners

😀 Welcome, Wednesday. Thanks for following the PoliticsPA Playbook PA Weather🌤️ Washington | Partly Sunny, 72☀️ Middletown | Mostly Sunny, 82☀️ Lansdale | Early showers,

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Pennsylvania Supreme Court

August 29: Supreme Facts

😀 Hi There, Tuesday. Thanks for being a subscriber to the PoliticsPA Playbook PA Weather🌥️ Clarion | Decreasing Clouds, 79☁️ Muncy | Mostly Cloudy, 79☁️

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PA Supreme Court candidates Dan McCaffery, Carolyn Carluccio

August 28: Battleground PA

🍀 Good morning, It’s Monday. Thanks for being a subscriber to the PoliticsPA Playbook PA Weather🌤️ Pittsburgh | Mostly Sunny, 81☁️ Harrisburg | Cloudy, 79☁️

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Mug shot of former President Donald Trump

August 25: Booked

🎉 Friday, Friday, Friday! Thanks for being a subscriber to the PoliticsPA Playbook PA Weather☁️ Erie | Mostly Cloudy, 74⛈️ Williamsport | Morning Showers, T-storms,

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August 23: Debate Night

☑️ It’s Wednesday. Happy National Poll Worker Recruitment Day. PA Weather☔ Bradford | Showers Likely, 71🌥️ Shippensburg | Partly Sunny, 80☀️ Doylestown | Mostly Sunny,

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Gov. Josh Shapiro

August 22: And So It Begins

🌻 Hello and Welcome to Tuesday. Thanks for joining us. PA Weather☀️ Kittanning | Mostly Sunny, 80☀️ Saxton | Mostly Sunny, 79☀️ Aston | Mostly Sunny,

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2024 Bucks County Commissioner Race

August 21: Pivotal

👋  Hi, Monday. Let’s Do This. PA Weather🌤️ New Kensington | Partly Sunny, 86🌤️ Montoursville | Partly Sunny, 85🌤️ Pennsburg | Partly Sunny, 89 PA

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😎 The unofficial last Friday of summer. Thanks for being a subscriber to the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’re off on Monday and back on Tuesday. See ya then.

PA Weather
☀️ Seven Springs | Sunny, 73
☀️ Lake Raystown | Sunny, 79
☀️ Mt. Pocono | Sunny, 71

PA Sports
⚾ Phillies (74-59) | Fri-Sun vs. Milwaukee
⚾ Pirates (61-73) | Fri-Sun vs. St. Louis
🏈 Penn State | Sat vs. West Virginia
🏈 Pitt | Sat vs. Wofford
🏈 Temple | Sat vs. Akron
⚽ Union (13-4-8) | Sun vs. NY Red Bulls

What We’re Hearing
President Joe Biden will travel to Philadelphia on Monday to celebrate Labor Day. His previous schedule also had him in Montgomery County on Wednesday.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Sen. Kim Ward (Sat.) and Rep. Torren Ecker (Sat.).

Subscribe Today
Get your Pennsylvania political news emailed to you at the start of every day. It’s free. Sign up for your free subscription to the PoliticsPA Playbook.

Follow Us
On the platform formerly known as Twitter | On Facebook | On LinkedIn

 

Top Story

1. Lawsuit Seeking to Prevent Trump From Appearing On 2024 PA Ballot Filed in Commonwealth Court

Donald Trump speaking on January 6, 2021

Could former President Donald Trump be barred from appearing on Pennsylvania’s 2024 presidential primary and/or general election ballot?

Yes, if John A. Castro has his way.

Castro, a little-known candidate for the GOP presidential nomination from Texas, has filed a complaint against Trump and Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt to block Trump’s name from being placed on the ballot. He claims that the former president “provided aid or comfort to insurrectionists” who stormed the Capitol, thus disqualifying him from holding or even pursuing any public office. (PoliticsPA)

  • Groups Want To Use Constitution’s Insurrection Clause To Block Trump From 2024 Ballots (AP)
  • State Election Officials Studying Whether 14th Amendment Disqualifies ‘Insurrectionist’ Trump From Ballot. (CNN)

 

Related

‘It’s Amateur Hour’: Democrats Panic About State Of The Pennsylvania Party. “With a little more than a year to go until the 2024 election, the state Democratic Party is reeling from financial problems and a lack of trust across the party, according to interviews with 20 Democratic officials and operatives throughout Pennsylvania. They include elected officials, county chairs, state committee members, former state party employees and strategists.” (POLITICO)

Phillips-Hill Pushes For Earlier PA Presidential Primary. “A York County lawmaker is one of several behind a bipartisan effort to move Pennsylvania’s 2024 presidential primary up by five weeks — something they hope will increase the state’s voters’ influence on national politics.” (York Dispatch)

Bill To Move PA’s Spring Primary Earlier Would Put Time Crunch On Election Officials. “A bill aiming to move up Pennsylvania’s position in the 2024 presidential primary calendar advanced out of a key committee in the state Senate Wednesday, but officials say changing the date less than eight months before the election would present a host of logistical problems.” (VoteBeat)

Could A Familiar Face From Television Challenge U.S. Rep. Scott Perry’s Bid For A Sixth Term? “Clout hears Janelle Stelson, a news anchor at NBC affiliate WGAL in Lancaster, is considering a run in the Democratic primary for the 10th Congressional District as Perry seeks a sixth term.” (Philadelphia Inquirer Clout)

Election Workers Have Gotten Death Threats And Warnings They Will Be Lynched, The US Government Says. “More than a dozen people nationally have been charged with threatening election workers by a Justice Department unit trying to stem the tide of violent and graphic threats against people who count and secure the vote.” (AP)

 

State

2. Abortion Rights Will Play Key Role In 2023 PA Supreme Court Election

PA Supreme Court candidates Dan McCaffery, Carolyn Carluccio

“Life would probably be easier for Pennsylvania Republicans this fall if Donald Trump, and contentious issues such as abortion, just disappeared until after November. It’s not going to happen, but based on developments in the upcoming state Supreme Court race, it probably won’t be for lack of trying.” (WESA Politics)

Related

Gun-Control Advocates Push Back On PA Bill On Armed School Guards. “​​A state lawmaker’s proposal to require armed guards in every Pennsylvania public school was swiftly blasted by a gun control advocacy group.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

PA Senate’s Call For Two-Year Tuition Freeze At State Universities Sets Off Alarm Bells. “Students attending Pennsylvania’s 10 state universities have not seen a tuition hike in six years. Now senators would like to see those tuitions remain frozen for another year.” (PennLive)

Republican Rep. Paul Schemel Reflects On Political Career After Announcing He Won’t Seek Re-Election. “The Republican representative has been in office since 2015 but is stepping aside so new blood can join the state legislature.” (WESA)

PA Republican Strategist Steps Down As Vice President Of CPAC Board. “Prominent Pennsylvania Republican strategist Charlie Gerow has resigned from his position as vice chair of the American Conservative Union, which organizes the marquee annual GOP conference, the Conservative Political Action Convention, commonly known as CPAC.” (WITF)

Gov. Shapiro Visits Fayette County To Promote Spending On Parks And Outdoor Recreation. “Of all places to announce the largest infusion of money in decades for state parks and forests, Gov. Josh Shapiro and state officials decided Thursday to visit Connellsville in Fayette County.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

  • Shapiro Launches PA Office of Outdoor Recreation. (PoliticsPA)

 

Ups and Downs. “August is now behind us and we enter the final third of 2023. The real fun still awaits in Harrisburg and Washington so as the unofficial end of summer approaches, we present our Ups and Downs for the week ending September 1.” (PoliticsPA)

 

Around The Commonwealth

3. Inside The Fight To Unseal Lobbyist Communications With The Legislature

Touring the Pennsylvania State Capitol: America's Handsomest Building - Uncovering PA

“​​Deep within Pennsylvania’s 36-page Right-to-Know Law, a clause says that correspondence between a state lawmaker and a person seeking their help is off-limits to the public — unless that person is a lobbyist.

For years, the legislature has seemingly treated the language as if it doesn’t exist, summarily rejecting all requests for its emails, letters, or other forms of communications regardless of who was on the sending or receiving end.

This past summer, Spotlight PA decided to put the law’s lobbyist clause to the test by requesting from both the state House and Senate copies of communications between legislators and a narrow group of well-known lobbyists.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Former Philly Proud Boys President Zach Rehl Sentenced To 15 Years For His Role In Jan. 6 Capitol Attack. “The punishment — handed down by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly — fell just shy of the longest prison term imposed against any of the hundreds of people sentenced in connection with the riot so far.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Councilman Calls For Outside Probe Of Racism Allegations In Allentown Government. “Councilman Ed Zucal said he will introduce a resolution at Wednesday’s city council meeting that would allow council to hire an outside agency to review hiring, terminations and discipline related to complaints of racism and discrimination by the Allentown NAACP and the city’s ousted human resources director.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Times-Shamrock Selling Newspaper Group, Including The Times-Tribune. “Times-Shamrock Communications sold its newspaper group, including The Times-Tribune, to publishing giant MediaNews Group effective Thursday, CEO Jim Lewandowski announced. The sale, revealed during an all-staff Zoom meeting, includes the company’s four daily newspapers — The Times-Tribune, The Citizens’ Voice, the Republican Herald and The Standard-Speaker.” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

 

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

 

1 Thing

5. A Dying Breed

Alden Global Capital moves to buy Lee Enterprises, owner of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch • Missouri Independent

“We feel it is important to express our personal dissatisfaction with the sale of Times-Shamrock newspapers to MediaNewsGroup, a subsidiary of Alden Capital. This was a transaction that we do not support or endorse. Alden does not reflect the business principles we feel are consistent with the stewardship of any newspaper.

Newspapers are a tough business. That’s undeniable. But a newspaper is much more than just a business. It is the only business explicitly protected by the Constitution. It is a local institution and expected to track government spending, keep an eye on politicians, advocate for the voiceless, ask tough questions, cover local sports and businesses, and record the milestones in readers’ lives.” (WNEP)

 

Thanks for starting your day with us.
What did you think of today’s newsletter?
Please invite your colleagues
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook

😎 The unofficial last Friday of summer. Thanks for being a subscriber to the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’re off on Monday and back on Tuesday. See ya then.

PA Weather
☀️ Seven Springs | Sunny, 73
☀️ Lake Raystown | Sunny, 79
☀️ Mt. Pocono | Sunny, 71

PA Sports
⚾ Phillies (74-59) | Fri-Sun vs. Milwaukee
⚾ Pirates (61-73) | Fri-Sun vs. St. Louis
🏈 Penn State | Sat vs. West Virginia
🏈 Pitt | Sat vs. Wofford
🏈 Temple | Sat vs. Akron
⚽ Union (13-4-8) | Sun vs. NY Red Bulls

What We’re Hearing
President Joe Biden will travel to Philadelphia on Monday to celebrate Labor Day. His previous schedule also had him in Montgomery County on Wednesday.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Sen. Kim Ward (Sat.) and Rep. Torren Ecker (Sat.).

Subscribe Today
Get your Pennsylvania political news emailed to you at the start of every day. It’s free. Sign up for your free subscription to the PoliticsPA Playbook.

Follow Us
On the platform formerly known as Twitter | On Facebook | On LinkedIn

 

Top Story

1. Lawsuit Seeking to Prevent Trump From Appearing On 2024 PA Ballot Filed in Commonwealth Court

Donald Trump speaking on January 6, 2021

Could former President Donald Trump be barred from appearing on Pennsylvania’s 2024 presidential primary and/or general election ballot?

Yes, if John A. Castro has his way.

Castro, a little-known candidate for the GOP presidential nomination from Texas, has filed a complaint against Trump and Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt to block Trump’s name from being placed on the ballot. He claims that the former president “provided aid or comfort to insurrectionists” who stormed the Capitol, thus disqualifying him from holding or even pursuing any public office. (PoliticsPA)

  • Groups Want To Use Constitution’s Insurrection Clause To Block Trump From 2024 Ballots (AP)
  • State Election Officials Studying Whether 14th Amendment Disqualifies ‘Insurrectionist’ Trump From Ballot. (CNN)

 

Related

‘It’s Amateur Hour’: Democrats Panic About State Of The Pennsylvania Party. “With a little more than a year to go until the 2024 election, the state Democratic Party is reeling from financial problems and a lack of trust across the party, according to interviews with 20 Democratic officials and operatives throughout Pennsylvania. They include elected officials, county chairs, state committee members, former state party employees and strategists.” (POLITICO)

Phillips-Hill Pushes For Earlier PA Presidential Primary. “A York County lawmaker is one of several behind a bipartisan effort to move Pennsylvania’s 2024 presidential primary up by five weeks — something they hope will increase the state’s voters’ influence on national politics.” (York Dispatch)

Bill To Move PA’s Spring Primary Earlier Would Put Time Crunch On Election Officials. “A bill aiming to move up Pennsylvania’s position in the 2024 presidential primary calendar advanced out of a key committee in the state Senate Wednesday, but officials say changing the date less than eight months before the election would present a host of logistical problems.” (VoteBeat)

Could A Familiar Face From Television Challenge U.S. Rep. Scott Perry’s Bid For A Sixth Term? “Clout hears Janelle Stelson, a news anchor at NBC affiliate WGAL in Lancaster, is considering a run in the Democratic primary for the 10th Congressional District as Perry seeks a sixth term.” (Philadelphia Inquirer Clout)

Election Workers Have Gotten Death Threats And Warnings They Will Be Lynched, The US Government Says. “More than a dozen people nationally have been charged with threatening election workers by a Justice Department unit trying to stem the tide of violent and graphic threats against people who count and secure the vote.” (AP)

 

State

2. Abortion Rights Will Play Key Role In 2023 PA Supreme Court Election

PA Supreme Court candidates Dan McCaffery, Carolyn Carluccio

“Life would probably be easier for Pennsylvania Republicans this fall if Donald Trump, and contentious issues such as abortion, just disappeared until after November. It’s not going to happen, but based on developments in the upcoming state Supreme Court race, it probably won’t be for lack of trying.” (WESA Politics)

Related

Gun-Control Advocates Push Back On PA Bill On Armed School Guards. “​​A state lawmaker’s proposal to require armed guards in every Pennsylvania public school was swiftly blasted by a gun control advocacy group.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

PA Senate’s Call For Two-Year Tuition Freeze At State Universities Sets Off Alarm Bells. “Students attending Pennsylvania’s 10 state universities have not seen a tuition hike in six years. Now senators would like to see those tuitions remain frozen for another year.” (PennLive)

Republican Rep. Paul Schemel Reflects On Political Career After Announcing He Won’t Seek Re-Election. “The Republican representative has been in office since 2015 but is stepping aside so new blood can join the state legislature.” (WESA)

PA Republican Strategist Steps Down As Vice President Of CPAC Board. “Prominent Pennsylvania Republican strategist Charlie Gerow has resigned from his position as vice chair of the American Conservative Union, which organizes the marquee annual GOP conference, the Conservative Political Action Convention, commonly known as CPAC.” (WITF)

Gov. Shapiro Visits Fayette County To Promote Spending On Parks And Outdoor Recreation. “Of all places to announce the largest infusion of money in decades for state parks and forests, Gov. Josh Shapiro and state officials decided Thursday to visit Connellsville in Fayette County.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

  • Shapiro Launches PA Office of Outdoor Recreation. (PoliticsPA)

 

Ups and Downs. “August is now behind us and we enter the final third of 2023. The real fun still awaits in Harrisburg and Washington so as the unofficial end of summer approaches, we present our Ups and Downs for the week ending September 1.” (PoliticsPA)

 

Around The Commonwealth

3. Inside The Fight To Unseal Lobbyist Communications With The Legislature

Touring the Pennsylvania State Capitol: America's Handsomest Building - Uncovering PA

“​​Deep within Pennsylvania’s 36-page Right-to-Know Law, a clause says that correspondence between a state lawmaker and a person seeking their help is off-limits to the public — unless that person is a lobbyist.

For years, the legislature has seemingly treated the language as if it doesn’t exist, summarily rejecting all requests for its emails, letters, or other forms of communications regardless of who was on the sending or receiving end.

This past summer, Spotlight PA decided to put the law’s lobbyist clause to the test by requesting from both the state House and Senate copies of communications between legislators and a narrow group of well-known lobbyists.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Former Philly Proud Boys President Zach Rehl Sentenced To 15 Years For His Role In Jan. 6 Capitol Attack. “The punishment — handed down by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly — fell just shy of the longest prison term imposed against any of the hundreds of people sentenced in connection with the riot so far.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Councilman Calls For Outside Probe Of Racism Allegations In Allentown Government. “Councilman Ed Zucal said he will introduce a resolution at Wednesday’s city council meeting that would allow council to hire an outside agency to review hiring, terminations and discipline related to complaints of racism and discrimination by the Allentown NAACP and the city’s ousted human resources director.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Times-Shamrock Selling Newspaper Group, Including The Times-Tribune. “Times-Shamrock Communications sold its newspaper group, including The Times-Tribune, to publishing giant MediaNews Group effective Thursday, CEO Jim Lewandowski announced. The sale, revealed during an all-staff Zoom meeting, includes the company’s four daily newspapers — The Times-Tribune, The Citizens’ Voice, the Republican Herald and The Standard-Speaker.” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

 

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

 

1 Thing

5. A Dying Breed

Alden Global Capital moves to buy Lee Enterprises, owner of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch • Missouri Independent

“We feel it is important to express our personal dissatisfaction with the sale of Times-Shamrock newspapers to MediaNewsGroup, a subsidiary of Alden Capital. This was a transaction that we do not support or endorse. Alden does not reflect the business principles we feel are consistent with the stewardship of any newspaper.

Newspapers are a tough business. That’s undeniable. But a newspaper is much more than just a business. It is the only business explicitly protected by the Constitution. It is a local institution and expected to track government spending, keep an eye on politicians, advocate for the voiceless, ask tough questions, cover local sports and businesses, and record the milestones in readers’ lives.” (WNEP)

 

Thanks for starting your day with us.
What did you think of today’s newsletter?
Please invite your colleagues
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook

Email:

😎 The unofficial last Friday of summer. Thanks for being a subscriber to the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’re off on Monday and back on Tuesday. See ya then.

PA Weather
☀️ Seven Springs | Sunny, 73
☀️ Lake Raystown | Sunny, 79
☀️ Mt. Pocono | Sunny, 71

PA Sports
⚾ Phillies (74-59) | Fri-Sun vs. Milwaukee
⚾ Pirates (61-73) | Fri-Sun vs. St. Louis
🏈 Penn State | Sat vs. West Virginia
🏈 Pitt | Sat vs. Wofford
🏈 Temple | Sat vs. Akron
⚽ Union (13-4-8) | Sun vs. NY Red Bulls

What We’re Hearing
President Joe Biden will travel to Philadelphia on Monday to celebrate Labor Day. His previous schedule also had him in Montgomery County on Wednesday.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Sen. Kim Ward (Sat.) and Rep. Torren Ecker (Sat.).

Subscribe Today
Get your Pennsylvania political news emailed to you at the start of every day. It’s free. Sign up for your free subscription to the PoliticsPA Playbook.

Follow Us
On the platform formerly known as Twitter | On Facebook | On LinkedIn

 

Top Story

1. Lawsuit Seeking to Prevent Trump From Appearing On 2024 PA Ballot Filed in Commonwealth Court

Donald Trump speaking on January 6, 2021

Could former President Donald Trump be barred from appearing on Pennsylvania’s 2024 presidential primary and/or general election ballot?

Yes, if John A. Castro has his way.

Castro, a little-known candidate for the GOP presidential nomination from Texas, has filed a complaint against Trump and Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt to block Trump’s name from being placed on the ballot. He claims that the former president “provided aid or comfort to insurrectionists” who stormed the Capitol, thus disqualifying him from holding or even pursuing any public office. (PoliticsPA)

  • Groups Want To Use Constitution’s Insurrection Clause To Block Trump From 2024 Ballots (AP)
  • State Election Officials Studying Whether 14th Amendment Disqualifies ‘Insurrectionist’ Trump From Ballot. (CNN)

 

Related

‘It’s Amateur Hour’: Democrats Panic About State Of The Pennsylvania Party. “With a little more than a year to go until the 2024 election, the state Democratic Party is reeling from financial problems and a lack of trust across the party, according to interviews with 20 Democratic officials and operatives throughout Pennsylvania. They include elected officials, county chairs, state committee members, former state party employees and strategists.” (POLITICO)

Phillips-Hill Pushes For Earlier PA Presidential Primary. “A York County lawmaker is one of several behind a bipartisan effort to move Pennsylvania’s 2024 presidential primary up by five weeks — something they hope will increase the state’s voters’ influence on national politics.” (York Dispatch)

Bill To Move PA’s Spring Primary Earlier Would Put Time Crunch On Election Officials. “A bill aiming to move up Pennsylvania’s position in the 2024 presidential primary calendar advanced out of a key committee in the state Senate Wednesday, but officials say changing the date less than eight months before the election would present a host of logistical problems.” (VoteBeat)

Could A Familiar Face From Television Challenge U.S. Rep. Scott Perry’s Bid For A Sixth Term? “Clout hears Janelle Stelson, a news anchor at NBC affiliate WGAL in Lancaster, is considering a run in the Democratic primary for the 10th Congressional District as Perry seeks a sixth term.” (Philadelphia Inquirer Clout)

Election Workers Have Gotten Death Threats And Warnings They Will Be Lynched, The US Government Says. “More than a dozen people nationally have been charged with threatening election workers by a Justice Department unit trying to stem the tide of violent and graphic threats against people who count and secure the vote.” (AP)

 

State

2. Abortion Rights Will Play Key Role In 2023 PA Supreme Court Election

PA Supreme Court candidates Dan McCaffery, Carolyn Carluccio

“Life would probably be easier for Pennsylvania Republicans this fall if Donald Trump, and contentious issues such as abortion, just disappeared until after November. It’s not going to happen, but based on developments in the upcoming state Supreme Court race, it probably won’t be for lack of trying.” (WESA Politics)

Related

Gun-Control Advocates Push Back On PA Bill On Armed School Guards. “​​A state lawmaker’s proposal to require armed guards in every Pennsylvania public school was swiftly blasted by a gun control advocacy group.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

PA Senate’s Call For Two-Year Tuition Freeze At State Universities Sets Off Alarm Bells. “Students attending Pennsylvania’s 10 state universities have not seen a tuition hike in six years. Now senators would like to see those tuitions remain frozen for another year.” (PennLive)

Republican Rep. Paul Schemel Reflects On Political Career After Announcing He Won’t Seek Re-Election. “The Republican representative has been in office since 2015 but is stepping aside so new blood can join the state legislature.” (WESA)

PA Republican Strategist Steps Down As Vice President Of CPAC Board. “Prominent Pennsylvania Republican strategist Charlie Gerow has resigned from his position as vice chair of the American Conservative Union, which organizes the marquee annual GOP conference, the Conservative Political Action Convention, commonly known as CPAC.” (WITF)

Gov. Shapiro Visits Fayette County To Promote Spending On Parks And Outdoor Recreation. “Of all places to announce the largest infusion of money in decades for state parks and forests, Gov. Josh Shapiro and state officials decided Thursday to visit Connellsville in Fayette County.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

  • Shapiro Launches PA Office of Outdoor Recreation. (PoliticsPA)

 

Ups and Downs. “August is now behind us and we enter the final third of 2023. The real fun still awaits in Harrisburg and Washington so as the unofficial end of summer approaches, we present our Ups and Downs for the week ending September 1.” (PoliticsPA)

 

Around The Commonwealth

3. Inside The Fight To Unseal Lobbyist Communications With The Legislature

Touring the Pennsylvania State Capitol: America's Handsomest Building - Uncovering PA

“​​Deep within Pennsylvania’s 36-page Right-to-Know Law, a clause says that correspondence between a state lawmaker and a person seeking their help is off-limits to the public — unless that person is a lobbyist.

For years, the legislature has seemingly treated the language as if it doesn’t exist, summarily rejecting all requests for its emails, letters, or other forms of communications regardless of who was on the sending or receiving end.

This past summer, Spotlight PA decided to put the law’s lobbyist clause to the test by requesting from both the state House and Senate copies of communications between legislators and a narrow group of well-known lobbyists.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Former Philly Proud Boys President Zach Rehl Sentenced To 15 Years For His Role In Jan. 6 Capitol Attack. “The punishment — handed down by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly — fell just shy of the longest prison term imposed against any of the hundreds of people sentenced in connection with the riot so far.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Councilman Calls For Outside Probe Of Racism Allegations In Allentown Government. “Councilman Ed Zucal said he will introduce a resolution at Wednesday’s city council meeting that would allow council to hire an outside agency to review hiring, terminations and discipline related to complaints of racism and discrimination by the Allentown NAACP and the city’s ousted human resources director.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Times-Shamrock Selling Newspaper Group, Including The Times-Tribune. “Times-Shamrock Communications sold its newspaper group, including The Times-Tribune, to publishing giant MediaNews Group effective Thursday, CEO Jim Lewandowski announced. The sale, revealed during an all-staff Zoom meeting, includes the company’s four daily newspapers — The Times-Tribune, The Citizens’ Voice, the Republican Herald and The Standard-Speaker.” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

 

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

 

1 Thing

5. A Dying Breed

Alden Global Capital moves to buy Lee Enterprises, owner of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch • Missouri Independent

“We feel it is important to express our personal dissatisfaction with the sale of Times-Shamrock newspapers to MediaNewsGroup, a subsidiary of Alden Capital. This was a transaction that we do not support or endorse. Alden does not reflect the business principles we feel are consistent with the stewardship of any newspaper.

Newspapers are a tough business. That’s undeniable. But a newspaper is much more than just a business. It is the only business explicitly protected by the Constitution. It is a local institution and expected to track government spending, keep an eye on politicians, advocate for the voiceless, ask tough questions, cover local sports and businesses, and record the milestones in readers’ lives.” (WNEP)

 

Thanks for starting your day with us.
What did you think of today’s newsletter?
Please invite your colleagues
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook

😎 The unofficial last Friday of summer. Thanks for being a subscriber to the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’re off on Monday and back on Tuesday. See ya then.

PA Weather
☀️ Seven Springs | Sunny, 73
☀️ Lake Raystown | Sunny, 79
☀️ Mt. Pocono | Sunny, 71

PA Sports
⚾ Phillies (74-59) | Fri-Sun vs. Milwaukee
⚾ Pirates (61-73) | Fri-Sun vs. St. Louis
🏈 Penn State | Sat vs. West Virginia
🏈 Pitt | Sat vs. Wofford
🏈 Temple | Sat vs. Akron
⚽ Union (13-4-8) | Sun vs. NY Red Bulls

What We’re Hearing
President Joe Biden will travel to Philadelphia on Monday to celebrate Labor Day. His previous schedule also had him in Montgomery County on Wednesday.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Sen. Kim Ward (Sat.) and Rep. Torren Ecker (Sat.).

Subscribe Today
Get your Pennsylvania political news emailed to you at the start of every day. It’s free. Sign up for your free subscription to the PoliticsPA Playbook.

Follow Us
On the platform formerly known as Twitter | On Facebook | On LinkedIn

 

Top Story

1. Lawsuit Seeking to Prevent Trump From Appearing On 2024 PA Ballot Filed in Commonwealth Court

Donald Trump speaking on January 6, 2021

Could former President Donald Trump be barred from appearing on Pennsylvania’s 2024 presidential primary and/or general election ballot?

Yes, if John A. Castro has his way.

Castro, a little-known candidate for the GOP presidential nomination from Texas, has filed a complaint against Trump and Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt to block Trump’s name from being placed on the ballot. He claims that the former president “provided aid or comfort to insurrectionists” who stormed the Capitol, thus disqualifying him from holding or even pursuing any public office. (PoliticsPA)

  • Groups Want To Use Constitution’s Insurrection Clause To Block Trump From 2024 Ballots (AP)
  • State Election Officials Studying Whether 14th Amendment Disqualifies ‘Insurrectionist’ Trump From Ballot. (CNN)

 

Related

‘It’s Amateur Hour’: Democrats Panic About State Of The Pennsylvania Party. “With a little more than a year to go until the 2024 election, the state Democratic Party is reeling from financial problems and a lack of trust across the party, according to interviews with 20 Democratic officials and operatives throughout Pennsylvania. They include elected officials, county chairs, state committee members, former state party employees and strategists.” (POLITICO)

Phillips-Hill Pushes For Earlier PA Presidential Primary. “A York County lawmaker is one of several behind a bipartisan effort to move Pennsylvania’s 2024 presidential primary up by five weeks — something they hope will increase the state’s voters’ influence on national politics.” (York Dispatch)

Bill To Move PA’s Spring Primary Earlier Would Put Time Crunch On Election Officials. “A bill aiming to move up Pennsylvania’s position in the 2024 presidential primary calendar advanced out of a key committee in the state Senate Wednesday, but officials say changing the date less than eight months before the election would present a host of logistical problems.” (VoteBeat)

Could A Familiar Face From Television Challenge U.S. Rep. Scott Perry’s Bid For A Sixth Term? “Clout hears Janelle Stelson, a news anchor at NBC affiliate WGAL in Lancaster, is considering a run in the Democratic primary for the 10th Congressional District as Perry seeks a sixth term.” (Philadelphia Inquirer Clout)

Election Workers Have Gotten Death Threats And Warnings They Will Be Lynched, The US Government Says. “More than a dozen people nationally have been charged with threatening election workers by a Justice Department unit trying to stem the tide of violent and graphic threats against people who count and secure the vote.” (AP)

 

State

2. Abortion Rights Will Play Key Role In 2023 PA Supreme Court Election

PA Supreme Court candidates Dan McCaffery, Carolyn Carluccio

“Life would probably be easier for Pennsylvania Republicans this fall if Donald Trump, and contentious issues such as abortion, just disappeared until after November. It’s not going to happen, but based on developments in the upcoming state Supreme Court race, it probably won’t be for lack of trying.” (WESA Politics)

Related

Gun-Control Advocates Push Back On PA Bill On Armed School Guards. “​​A state lawmaker’s proposal to require armed guards in every Pennsylvania public school was swiftly blasted by a gun control advocacy group.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

PA Senate’s Call For Two-Year Tuition Freeze At State Universities Sets Off Alarm Bells. “Students attending Pennsylvania’s 10 state universities have not seen a tuition hike in six years. Now senators would like to see those tuitions remain frozen for another year.” (PennLive)

Republican Rep. Paul Schemel Reflects On Political Career After Announcing He Won’t Seek Re-Election. “The Republican representative has been in office since 2015 but is stepping aside so new blood can join the state legislature.” (WESA)

PA Republican Strategist Steps Down As Vice President Of CPAC Board. “Prominent Pennsylvania Republican strategist Charlie Gerow has resigned from his position as vice chair of the American Conservative Union, which organizes the marquee annual GOP conference, the Conservative Political Action Convention, commonly known as CPAC.” (WITF)

Gov. Shapiro Visits Fayette County To Promote Spending On Parks And Outdoor Recreation. “Of all places to announce the largest infusion of money in decades for state parks and forests, Gov. Josh Shapiro and state officials decided Thursday to visit Connellsville in Fayette County.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

  • Shapiro Launches PA Office of Outdoor Recreation. (PoliticsPA)

 

Ups and Downs. “August is now behind us and we enter the final third of 2023. The real fun still awaits in Harrisburg and Washington so as the unofficial end of summer approaches, we present our Ups and Downs for the week ending September 1.” (PoliticsPA)

 

Around The Commonwealth

3. Inside The Fight To Unseal Lobbyist Communications With The Legislature

Touring the Pennsylvania State Capitol: America's Handsomest Building - Uncovering PA

“​​Deep within Pennsylvania’s 36-page Right-to-Know Law, a clause says that correspondence between a state lawmaker and a person seeking their help is off-limits to the public — unless that person is a lobbyist.

For years, the legislature has seemingly treated the language as if it doesn’t exist, summarily rejecting all requests for its emails, letters, or other forms of communications regardless of who was on the sending or receiving end.

This past summer, Spotlight PA decided to put the law’s lobbyist clause to the test by requesting from both the state House and Senate copies of communications between legislators and a narrow group of well-known lobbyists.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Former Philly Proud Boys President Zach Rehl Sentenced To 15 Years For His Role In Jan. 6 Capitol Attack. “The punishment — handed down by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly — fell just shy of the longest prison term imposed against any of the hundreds of people sentenced in connection with the riot so far.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Councilman Calls For Outside Probe Of Racism Allegations In Allentown Government. “Councilman Ed Zucal said he will introduce a resolution at Wednesday’s city council meeting that would allow council to hire an outside agency to review hiring, terminations and discipline related to complaints of racism and discrimination by the Allentown NAACP and the city’s ousted human resources director.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Times-Shamrock Selling Newspaper Group, Including The Times-Tribune. “Times-Shamrock Communications sold its newspaper group, including The Times-Tribune, to publishing giant MediaNews Group effective Thursday, CEO Jim Lewandowski announced. The sale, revealed during an all-staff Zoom meeting, includes the company’s four daily newspapers — The Times-Tribune, The Citizens’ Voice, the Republican Herald and The Standard-Speaker.” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

 

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

 

1 Thing

5. A Dying Breed

Alden Global Capital moves to buy Lee Enterprises, owner of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch • Missouri Independent

“We feel it is important to express our personal dissatisfaction with the sale of Times-Shamrock newspapers to MediaNewsGroup, a subsidiary of Alden Capital. This was a transaction that we do not support or endorse. Alden does not reflect the business principles we feel are consistent with the stewardship of any newspaper.

Newspapers are a tough business. That’s undeniable. But a newspaper is much more than just a business. It is the only business explicitly protected by the Constitution. It is a local institution and expected to track government spending, keep an eye on politicians, advocate for the voiceless, ask tough questions, cover local sports and businesses, and record the milestones in readers’ lives.” (WNEP)

 

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