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What We’re Hearing
“I’m getting sick of the monopoly that the far right seems to think they have on the American flag.” – Mike O’Brien

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Top Story

1. Appeals Court Reverses Part Of Ruling On DOJ Access To Perry’s Phone

“A federal appeals court in Washington on Tuesday partially reversed a lower court judge’s decision giving the Justice Department access to the phone seized from Rep. Scott Perry in a government search last year.

But the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia didn’t provide any detail about its reasoning in a case that has largely proceeded out of the public eye. The order only noted that it partially reversed a lower court judge and sent the case back.

The notice on the court docket said only that the district court judge should “apply the correct standard” to Perry’s communications with individuals outside the federal government, members of Congress and of the executive branch regarding alleged election fraud from the time before Congress voted to certify the 2020 election result and its March vote on an elections bill backed by Democrats.” (Roll Call)

Related

Plot Thickens In PA’s 10th Congressional District As Third Candidate Joins Democratic Primary. “The replay that was the 2024 Democratic primary for Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District just got a rewrite, as a retired Marine Corps aviator who is new to politics and south central Pennsylvania has entered the race.” (PennLive)

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry Gets A Congressional Challenger With A ‘Top Gun’ Resume. “Retired Marine Corps Lt. Col. Mike O’Brien brings an uncommon pop culture mix of “Top Gun” and “Jersey Shore” to his campaign to unseat U.S. Rep. Scott Perry in Pennsylvania’s 10th District.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

PA-13: Joyce Announces Reelection Bid. “U.S. Rep. Dr. John Joyce announced on Tuesday that he plans to seek a fourth term representing Pennsylvania’s 13th Congressional District during the 2024 election cycle. The district contains all of Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin, and Perry counties. It also includes slivers of Cumberland and Somerset counties.” (PoliticsPA)

Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis Makes Low-Key Campaign Trip To Central PA. “The intimate gathering at the Central Penn College conference center in East Pennsboro Township, was closed to all media, with reporters and photographers banned from the parking lot as well as the small ballroom where the donor luncheon took place.” (PennLive)

State

2. EO Creates New Opportunities for Small Businesses to Compete For State Contracts

“Small businesses can now compete with the big boys after Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an Executive Order increasing opportunities for them to compete for state contracts.

Shapiro signed Executive Order 2023-18 that will make the Commonwealth procurement process more accessible, and take actionable steps to help small businesses and small diverse businesses grow, succeed, and create good-paying jobs.

“We need to do more to help our small and small diverse businesses compete for state dollars,” said Shapiro.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Taxpayers Sidelined Amidst School Funding Tit-For-Tat. “As the state’s prolonged game of chicken enters its third month, all eyes turn toward the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. That’s because two key pieces of legislation needed to enact the $45.5 billion budget sit unfinished on the chamber’s desk, though neither meets the demands of the Democrats in charge.” (The Center Square)

PA State Senator: Medical Marijuana Card Is No Proof Of DUI, Laws Should Change. “This fall, Pennsylvania lawmakers are expected to address a medical marijuana issue that has lingered since the program was enacted in 2016.” (KDKA)

L&I: Reports Of Child Labor Law Violations Surge In PA. “Accusations of child labor law violations increased nearly four-fold in Pennsylvania, but the commonwealth’s labor secretary isn’t certain what factors caused the rapid rise.” (CNHI News)

Everything You Need To Know To Vote In The Nov. 7 General Election. “The November general election is 10 weeks away. To help voters prepare to cast their ballots, the Capital-Star has compiled this guide of deadlines and helpful resources. ” (PA Capital-Star)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Outlaw Resigns As Philly Police Commissioner; Stanford Named Interim

“Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw has resigned and will be leaving her role later this month for a new position, the mayor’s office announced Tuesday.

Outlaw’s last day with the city will be Sept. 22. She will then become the deputy chief security officer of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

First Deputy John Stanford will serve Philadelphia’s interim police commissioner.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw Resigns Her Post For Another Position. “Outlaw said her departure was voluntary, but it comes just months before Mayor Jim Kenney is set to leave office and a new mayor is to be sworn in.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Who Is John Stanford? The Philadelphia Police Deputy Will Step In As Interim Commissioner As Danielle Outlaw Resigns. “Stanford is the first deputy police commissioner, the Philadelphia Police Department’s second-in-command. He is a two-decade veteran of the department and has overseen Internal Affairs, led a West Philadelphia district, and served as a department spokesperson.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

HD-21: Powell Picks Up Endorsement of NextGen PAC. “NextGen PAC announced the endorsement of Lindsay Powell for Pennsylvania’s 21st House of Representatives District ahead of this year’s special elections.” (PoliticsPA)

Blair Against Moving Primary. “Blair County leaders say a change in the 2024 primary election date will create problems for its elections office and, in particular, with precinct locations to be set up in schools.” (Altoona Mirror)

Time May Be Running Out For Luzerne County Ballot Question. “The county said the referendum wording must be framed and certified by Monday, Sept. 11, so the ballot can be finalized for proofing, printing and voting machine programming.” (Times Leader)

Latest Federal Student Loan Program Already Attracts 170k Pennsylvanians. “More than 170,000 Pennsylvania residents have enrolled in the new federal student loan program that will limit payments to a percentage of a borrower’s income and eventually forgive whatever balance remains after the original period of the loan.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• PA’s Representatives In Congress Should Fund The TSA. (Joe Shuker)
• U.S Authoritarianism Also Means A Police State. (Will Bunch)
• New PA Outdoor recreation Office Is Government Done Right. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• How To Talk About ‘Extremists’  (David Mills)
• The Public Deserves To Speak At Basic Education Funding Commission Hearings. (Brenda Morales and Sylvia Witherspoon)
• Striking A Balance On Xylazine Regulations. (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat)
• Lawmakers Can Help Pennsylvania Businesses, Veterans, Taxpayers by Regulating Skill Games. (Mike Barley)
• Congress Needs To Pass 12 Funding Bills In 11 Days To Avert A Shutdown — Here’s Why That Isn’t Likely. (Raymond Scheppach)

1 TV Thing

5. Cable Collapse?

The financial dispute between Disney and Charter Communications, one of the nation’s biggest cable TV companies, shows how cord-cutting threatens to permanently unravel the cable business.

Why It Matters: If this fight isn’t resolved, the entire business model for the traditional cable TV industry could be on the verge of collapsing.

With the NFL season about to kick off, Disney channels — including ABC, ESPN and FX — have been blacked out since Thursday for Charter’s Spectrum nearly 15 million pay-TV customers.

Charter Spectrum is the country’s second-largest cable TV operator, second only to Comcast. It has told investors it needs to either rethink the cable bundle or get out of that business entirely. (Axios)

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