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PA Weather
🌂Hermitage | Mostly Cloudy, chance of showers, 68
☀️Trout Run | Mostly Sunny, 66
☁️Stroudsburg | Mostly Cloudy, 64

PA Sports
⚾ Phillies (88-69) | Pittsburgh 7-6 | Thu vs. Pittsburgh
⚾ Pirates (74-83) | Philadelphia 6-7 | Thu vs. Philadelphia
⚽ Union (14-8-8) | FC Dallas 1-1 | Sat vs. Columbus
🏈 Temple (2-2) | Thu vs. Tulsa

What We’re Hearing
Pennsylvania loves its football teams slightly more than Gov. Josh Shapiro and a lot more than anyone else in Harrisburg, according to the Commonwealth Foundation’s Q3 Common Ground in the Commonwealth poll. That and more coming later this morning when the poll is released statewide.

The Best Political News In The State
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Top Story

1. What Would A Government Shutdown Mean For You?

“As the federal government draws closer to a shutdown, it is fair to ask how the shutdown would affect you.

We’ll try our best to cover the bases as the clock winds down to midnight on October 1.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Federal Shutdown Would Stop Paychecks, Benefits To Thousands Of Pennsylvanians. “For the more than 62,000 Pennsylvanians employed by the federal government, the impact of Congress failing to pass a budget bill – even a temporary one to buy more time to reach a compromise – could hit hard and may worsen if a deal isn’t reached in short order.” (PennLive)

• Rep. Susan Wild Prepares For Potential ‘Devastation’ As A Federal Government Shutdown Looms. (LehighValleyNews.com)

Senators Nix Casual Clothing As Bipartisan Resolution Sets New Dress Code For Senate Floor. “The Senate voted Wednesday evening to reverse an informal guidance issued by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer last week that senators could wear what they want when voting or speaking in the chamber.” (AP)

Pennsylvania Senate Predictions & Polls. “Republicans will have their work cut out if they want to topple Democratic Senator Bob Casey – who is the first and only Democrat in state history to win six statewide elections.” (Race To The White House)

State

2. PA Lawmakers Still Trying To Finish The Budget 3 Months After The Deadline

“Pennsylvania lawmakers are no closer to finalizing the state’s spending plan nearly three months after the deadline, leaving hundreds of millions of dollars for the poorest schools, student mental health grants, and more in limbo.

State House lawmakers returned to Harrisburg this week for the first time since passing the main $45.5 billion budget bill in July. The Democratic majority agreed to support the legislation after securing a commitment from Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, to line-item veto a $100 million private school voucher program championed by Republicans who control the state Senate.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Vereb Steps Down As Secretary of Legislative Affairs; Yablonski Appointed To Role. “Secretary of Legislative Affairs Mike Vereb has tendered his resignation effective today. Thomas (TJ) Yablonski Jr., a senior advisor in the Governor’s Office, will be appointed to fill the role.” (PoliticsPA)

Shapiro’s Top Liaison To The PA Legislature Has Resigned. “Mike Vereb, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s top liaison to the state legislature and a longtime associate of the governor’s, resigned his position on Wednesday, Mr. Shapiro’s office announced.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Election 2023 Preview. “Here are some of this year’s biggest races to watch – and what the results could mean long after November.” (City & State)

Clean Slate Expansion, Probation Reform Held Up As PA House, Senate Seek Trade-Off. “Two major criminal justice bills are being negotiated as a pair by Pennsylvania lawmakers, potentially holding up both items as legislators haggle over the details of measures dealing with probation reform and the sealing of criminal records.” (PennLive)

PA Gun Violence Prevention Advocates Optimistic About New White House Initiative. “Those of us who’ve been in this fight for a long time have been waiting for real progress,” said Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. (PA Capital-Star)

More Money Means More Transparency In Higher Ed, Lawmakers Say. “Pennsylvania higher education is crucial, costly and confusing. So said state policymakers during a recent meeting with a trio of college leaders invited to share thoughts about the high cost of a degree and how the vision for higher education should look.” (The Center Square)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Why Andrew Yang And George Soros Are Bringing National Heat To The Allegheny County DA Race

“The race to be Allegheny County’s top prosecutor, between incumbent Stephen Zappala and challenger and Democratic nominee Matt Dugan, has drawn unusual national attention for a local election.

A local contest that’s usually sleepy and uncompetitive has become a flashpoint in the long-running debate over criminal justice reform, attracting outside attention and money and causing a longtime incumbent to switch parties.” (Public Source)

Related

How a Moms for Liberty-Aligned Attack On Library Content Is Upending Politics In Philly Burbs. “The situation exemplifies how culture-war battles previously playing out across the country in school board meetings have found a new front line: the public library.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

A Look At Sara Innamorato’s Policies In The Race For Allegheny County Executive. “Pursuing a comprehensive public health approach to crime and public safety, adding to Allegheny County’ stock of affordable and transitional housing, and establishing a baseline for property tax values.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

A Look At Joe Rockey’s Policies In The Race For Allegheny County Executive. “Increasing the number of Allegheny County’s police officers, attracting new jobs, and blocking a county-wide property tax reassessment. ” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

County Will Livestream Vote-By-Mail Processing. “With Election Day right around the corner, Centre County has plans on being transparent when it comes to counting the mail-in ballots.” (Centre County Gazette)

Pregnant Women In Rural PA Face Expanding ‘Maternity Deserts.’ Here’s Why. “In 2020, six Pennsylvania counties, Cameron, Forest, Greene, Juniata, Sullivan and Wyoming, met the criteria for a maternity desert because of the absence of delivery hospitals or obstetricians in those areas, according to the March of Dimes. These deserts are only expected to multiply, experts say.” (Pocono Record)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• Govs. Shapiro in PA, Youngkin in VA Could Be Shaping The Future Of Politics. (John Baer)
• Shapiro Would Use Government Force To Coerce The People. (Sen. Cris Dush)
• The War On Drugs Didn’t Work. We Need A Fresh Approach To Address The Fentanyl Crisis. (Sens. John Fetterman and Cory Booker)
• The Senate Can’t Solve Adult Problems. It Should Dress The Part. (William Murchison)
• Fetterman Will Wear A Suit In The Senate. Can We All Move On Now? Please? (Kim Lyons)
• With Trump In Control, Many State Republican Parties Are Struggling, Including In Pennsylvania. (John A. Tures)
• What the Republicans Forcing A Government Shutdown Have In Common With 1960s Radicals. (Jonah Goldberg)
• No One Should Call Climate Change A Hoax. (Donald Brown)
• Probation Reform Is Within Reach. (Latonya T. Myers)

1 Thing

5. Joy, Sorrow and Appreciation

Tuesday night was a night of mixed emotions. The Phillies clinched a National League playoff berth, guaranteeing another “Red October.” And baseball fans around the country mourned the loss of Baltimore Orioles great Brooks Robinson.

Robinson, an 18-time All-Star, won 16 consecutive Gold Gloves and won the 1964 American League MVP. He was also instrumental in bringing minor league baseball to York in 2007.

“To call him a great ball player diminishes him,” Eric Menzer, president of the York Revolution, said in an interview Wednesday. “He was so much more than a great ballplayer, he was a great human being.”

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