September 15: Drawing A Crowd

Rep. Scott Perry

😀 Friday, Yes Friday. It’s Rosh Hashanah. Shana Tovah and a Sweet New Year to those who celebrate.

PA Weather
☀️ New Kensington | Sunny, 73
☀️ Tioga | Sunny, 70
☀️ New Milford | Sunny, 68

PA Sports
⚾ Phillies (79-67) | Fri-Sun vs. St. Louis
⚾ Pirates (69-78) | Washington 2-0 | Fri-Sun vs. NY Yankees
🏈 Eagles (2-0) | Minnesota 34-28 | Sep 25 vs. Tampa Bay
🏈 Steelers (0-1) | Mon vs. Cleveland
🏈 Penn State (2-0) | Sat vs. Illinois
🏈 Pitt (1-1) | Sat vs. West Virginia
🏈 Temple (1-1) | Sat vs. Norfolk State
⚽ Union (14-4-8) | Sat vs. Cincinnati

What We’re Hearing
“It seems like you always get some new people in that have got to touch the stove, which is kind of what is happening here. There are people who say the government could shut down and no one would notice. Really?” – Rep. Mike Simpson

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. Joe Ciresi and Rep. Mary Jo Daley (Sat.).

The Best Political Wrap In The State
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Top Story

1. Scott Perry, A Trump Ally Who Stoked 2020 Election Denialism, Is Drawing A Crowd Of Democratic Challengers

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, the ultra-conservative Republican from York County who definitely tried to have all of Pennsylvania’s 2020 votes tossed in the trash and then maybe sought a pardon from then-President Donald Trump, is drawing a crowd these days.

That crowd is the Democratic primary, where three — and maybe soon four — candidates are hoping for the chance to defeat Perry’s bid for a seventh term in the 10th District next year.

Republicans have a five-point voter registration edge in the 10th District — 44% of voters are Republican, 39% are Democrats and the rest are independents or members of smaller political parties.” (Philadelphia Inquirer Clout)

Related

McCormick Plans To Run For Us Senate Again In Pennsylvania, Sources Tell AP. “Republican David McCormick is expected to announce his second bid for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, according to people familiar with his plans, taking on Democratic Sen. Bob Casey after narrowly losing an expensive and bruising GOP primary last year to a Donald Trump-endorsed rival.” (AP)

Casey Bill Would Bar People Convicted Of Violent Misdemeanor Hate Crimes From Obtaining Guns. “The Disarm Hate Act addresses a gap in current federal law, which currently prohibits those convicted of felonies — including hate crimes— from possessing guns. The bill would update the law to include those convicted of violent misdemeanor-level hate crimes from obtaining a firearm.” (PA Capital-Star)

Chris Deluzio and Pete Buttigieg Are Going After ‘Junk Fees’  “Ensuring you sit with your child on a plane can cost up to $50. Surprise resort fees can drive up lodging costs more than a third over the advertised price. And drivers of rented cars might want to check the fine print for daily toll transponder charges. U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio says these stories are all too common.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Politics)

Fetterman to Gaetz: ‘How About You Get Your S‑‑‑ Together And Do Your Job, Bud?’ “Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) fired back at Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) on Thursday after the Florida Republican invoked him over House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry. “Government shutdown in t-minus 16 days. Instead of crying about how I dress, how about you get your shit together and do your job, bud?” Fetterman wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.” (The Hill)

Pennsylvania Focus Group: Swing Voters See Impeachment Inquiry As GOP Retaliation. “Interviews with 11 participants who voted for former President Donald Trump in 2016 and for President Joe Biden in 2020, suggest Republicans going after Biden could cost them with the voters because many are doubting their motives.” (The Messenger)

 

State

2. Six Takeaways From First Week Of Hearings To Change PA’s School Funding System

“Pennsylvania lawmakers kicked off their hearings this week on how to change the state’s unconstitutional school funding system, and the scope of the challenge was on display: both in terms of dollars and how to distribute them, and the urgency of the needs facing schools.

Along with testimony that Pennsylvania schools are underfunded by $6.2 billion, superintendents and policy experts noted ways in which even that figure fell short, particularly in poor districts bearing the brunt of the funding problem. Meanwhile, lawmakers questioned how the state would foot the bill.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

State Supreme Court To Decide If Cities Can Enact Stiffer Gun Laws Than State. “The Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard arguments in the most significant challenge in almost 30 years to the law barring local governments from passing stricter gun laws than those enacted by the state on Wednesday.” (PoliticsPA)

What To Expect In PA’s Special Election. “For the third time in less than eight months, a special election will decide control of the narrowly divided Pennsylvania House of Representatives and provide political reinforcements to either the commonwealth’s Democratic governor or its Republican-controlled Senate.” (AP)

Next Week’s Special Election For 21st State House District Will Determine Control Of PA House. “Voters in the state’s 21st House District will be able to decide the direction of state government next Tuesday. But it’s sort of hard to tell.” (WESA Politics)

Your Election Questions Answered. “Welcome to the Capital-Star’s election mailbag: a weekly round-up of voting questions, crowdsourced from you — our readers.” (PA Capital-Star)

PA Student Aid Agency Asks For 13.2% Increase To Boost State Grant Awards. “The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency on Thursday approved a state appropriation request of $393.3 million, which reflects a 13.2% increase over this year’s approved funding of nearly $347.3 million.” (PennLive)

First Woman Speaker Of Pennsylvania House Praises Colleagues, Says Compromise With Senate Is In Future. “Joanna McClinton has had a meteoric rise in politics. First elected in 2015, the former Philadelphia public defender quickly became her party’s caucus leader, then minority leader of the state House and now the first woman speaker.” (KDKA)

The Latest On PA Politics With Harrisburg AP Reporter Marc Levy. “In Episode 3 of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, she talks to AP reporter Marc Levy about the changes in Pennsylvania, including a new governor, a power shift in the General Assembly and the possibility of an earlier 2024 primary.” (NBC10)

GOP Policy Committee Hears Testimony From Philadelphians On The Need For School Choice. “Meeting in Northeast Philadelphia, the panel heard stories from students, parents, and educators about the need for better options in failing districts.” (Broad + Liberty)

Three Former PA Governors Speak On The PA’s Importance In History As U.S. Approaches Its 250th Birthday. “Three former Pennsylvania governors and one from Ohio joined local and state leaders at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center to talk about how important the Commonwealth is to our nation’s history.” (WJET)

 

Around The Commonwealth

3. Rockey Says He Would ‘Champion’ Allegheny County To Businesses As GOP Nominee Promises A ‘Jobs Renaissance’

Joe Rockey

Joe Rockey unveiled what he called a “Jobs Renaissance” policy agenda on Thursday, a six-point plan that the Republican nominee for Allegheny County executive said would spur economic growth and employment.

Mr. Rockey, a former PNC executive who ran unopposed in the GOP primary, has been introducing himself to general election voters with policy plans and a TV advertising campaign painting himself as a “centrist” alternative to the Democratic nominee, the former progressive state representative Sara Innamorato. In July, he rolled out a plan to address growing public safety concerns in the region.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Related

Pennsylvania and The Stark U.S. Divide in Xylazine Use. “The rates are much higher in some states — 42.8% in Pennsylvania, 40% in North Carolina, and 36.1% in Ohio.” (PoliticsPA)

WGAL Anchor Janelle Stelson Leaving Station, Said To Be Considering Run For Congress. “The internet domain name registration system hints that Stelson may be close to declaring a run. Two web addresses – StelsonForCongress.com and JanelleStelson.com – were registered at the end of June, but whoever bought the domains chose to shield their identity.” (LNP)

Philadelphia Lawmakers Vote To Prohibit Supervised Injection Sites In Most Of The City. “The bill now heads to the desk of Mayor Jim Kenney, who has for years endorsed supervised drug consumption sites as a strategy to prevent overdose deaths.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Philly Council Rejects Mayor Kenney’s Attempt To Open A Door To Recreational Marijuana Sales. “Mayor Jim Kenney vetoed a bill Thursday that seeks to stymie the future transformation of medical marijuana facilities to recreational sales. Shortly afterward City Council, on its first day back after the summer recess, overturned the veto on a 14-0 vote.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

In Lehigh County, Race For 4 Commissioner Seats Could Bring Change In Party Control. “In Lehigh County, four at-large seats are open on the nine-member Board of Commissioners.  The election marks the first at-large race since 2019 when four Democratic wins ended Republican control of the board for the first time in decades.” (Armchair Lehigh Valley)

Franklin County Constable Faces 700 Counts Of Trafficking, Sexual Extortion And More. “A local official whose responsibilities include serving warrants and keeping the peace faces 704 criminal counts related to human trafficking, sexual extortion, involuntary servitude, prostitution and more.” (Chambersburg Public Opinion)

Rural PA Hospital Launches $1.5M GoFundMe Page. “An independent critical-access hospital in Pennsylvania has launched a GoFundMe page to raise $1.5m after concerns it may have to close. Bucktail Medical Center set up the fundraiser after there was insufficient money to meet this Friday’s payroll.” (The Independent)

 

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

 

1 Thing

5. Starbucks Cup Change?

Our Cups | Starbucks Archive

“For a generation and more, it has been a cornerstone of consumer society, first in the United States and then globally — the Starbucks throwaway cup with the emerald logo depicting a longhaired siren with locks like ocean waves. Ubiquitous to the point of being an accessory, it has carried a message: I am drinking the world’s most recognizable coffee brand.

Now, in an era where concern for sustainability can be good business, the Starbucks disposable cup may be on its way to extinction thanks to an unlikely force: Starbucks itself.” (AP)

 

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  • Will tonight's U.S. Senate debate affect your decision?


    • No. I've already decided on how to cast my vote. (81%)
    • Yes. Anxious to hear from both candidates (19%)

    Total Voters: 27

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