Meehan settled a sexual harassment claim with a staffer using funds from his office budget, Wagner certified bail for an accused sexual predator while a bondsman, McIlhinney announces his retirement, the latest Politically Uncorrected column, and the ups & downs from the week. Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!

Meehan Settled Sexual Harassment Claim With Staffer: Congressman Pat Meehan paid thousands of dollars out of his office budget to settle a sexual harassment claim from a former staffer.

Wagner Certified Bail For Accused Sexual Predator While a Bondsman: During a previous career, state Sen. and Gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner certified bail for Jeffrey Markey who was accused of corruption of minors and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. Markey went on to skip bail and was accused of assaulting a minor in York.

McIlhinney Announces Retirement: State Sen. Charles McIlhinney announced his retirement from the state House today, joining three other Bucks county elected officials who announced their retirements this year.

Politically Uncorrected: A Really Special Election: On March 13, a special election will be held in Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District, with Republican Rick Saccone opposing Democrat Connor Lamb. Libertarian candidate Drew Miller is also on the ballot. It is an especially convoluted special election since the winner will need to also run two months later in the May 15th primary to be nominated by his party – and then again in the November general election when the seat’s regular term expires. But three elections across some eight months might be one of the more unexceptional aspects of this contest.

1/19 Ups & Downs: Gale forgets his age, Casey starts 2018 off with a larger cash advantage, the first medical marijuana facility opens in Pennsylvania, and Eagles chants are hard to organize. See who made this week’s Ups & Downs!

Legislative Election Update
Altoona Mirror: Rep. Ward launches run for state Senate seat
Bucks County Courier Times: State Rep. Bob Godshall announces November retirement
Delco Times: Another Dem targets McGarrigle in 26th state Senate race

Statewide
State House Sound Bites: Here’s how PA would be affected in a government shutdown
StateImpact: Study: Conventional drilling waste responsible for radioactivity spike in rivers
StateImpact: EPA employees spend uneasy Friday bracing for potential government shutdown
StateImpact: Nuns want court to hear their religious objections to Atlantic Sunrise pipeline
StateImpact: Settlement: No longwall mining beneath state park stream in Greene County
City & State: GOP in Philly, suburbs, rocked by wave of legislative retirements
City & State: Winners and Losers for the week ending January 20

Philadelphia
Philly Public Record: Philadelphians Press Hard to Overturn Gerrymanders
Inquirer: Government shutdown: How’d we get here? Where do Pa., N.J. lawmakers stand? What closes?
Inquirer: Tourists’ plans foiled by the federal shutdown
Inquirer: GOP campaign head: Meehan ‘a good man,’ but investigate sexual harassment claim
Inquirer: Shutdown extends into workweek, as Senate talks continue
Inquirer: Rep. Patrick Meehan faces political storm after report of sex-harassment settlement
Philly Mag: Can You Run Pennsylvania the Way You Run a Garbage Company?
WCAU: 4 Pennsylvania GOP Gubernatorial Hopefuls Face Off in Debate
Philly Tribune: State Rep. leads push for minimum wage increase
WHYY: Meehan denies misconduct claim; House Speaker orders ethics investigation
WHYY: Thousands take to Parkway for second Philly Women’s March

SEPA
Delco Times: Meehan faces ethics probe in wake of report he paid to settle harassment claim
Delco Times: Interboro will not raise taxes over state allowance
Pottstown Mercury: Daniel Boone School Board looking at tax hike for 2018-19 budget
Pottstown Mercury: Pennsylvania sees 4th year of falling state prison numbers
Bucks County Courier Times: Suzanne Blundi becomes latest Lower Makefield supervisor following meeting interview
Bucks County Courier Times: Pennsylvania’s jobless rate up, but payrolls hit record high

Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s campaign didn’t need his money to raise $11M
Tribune Review: Trump figures into Pennsylvania GOP gubernatorial debate
Tribune Review: Addicts who commit petty crimes should go to treatment, not prison, McKeesport state Sen. Brewster says
Tribune Review: Congressman from Pa. denies misconduct claim; ethics probe may follow
Tribune Review: Estimated crowd of 30,000 marches Downtown, urges women to vote and seek office
Post-Gazette: Sen. Casey wants to avoid government shutdown, calls for long-term agreement over weekend
Post-Gazette: Senators trying to bridge gap as budget vote stalls
Post-Gazette: Shutdown fuels disagreement in Washington
Post-Gazette: Butler dispensary, Lawrence County grower get state approval for medical marijuana operations
Post-Gazette: GOP governor candidates differ on property taxes, discuss recreational marijuana, gerrymandering

Southwest
Tribune-Democrat: GOP gubernatorial hopeful flashes independent streak
Beaver County Times: Casey blasts GOP’s ‘inability to govern’
Beaver County Times: Prigg says struggles in poverty fuel his run for 12th Congressional District seat
Altoona Mirror: Tea Party hosting 9th District candidate session

NEPA
Standard-Speaker: No endorsements, 11th District candidate asks
Pocono Record: Leaders hail Philadelphia, Pittsburgh making Amazon list
Times Leader: Capitol Roundup: Casey urges Wells Fargo to bring back call-center jobs
Times Leader: Luzerne County zoning ordinance update underway
Times-Tribune: If the state House reduced, region will likely lose reps, legislators say

South Central
York Dispatch: Sen. Toomey’s statement on shutdown
Patriot News: Pa. bid to win Amazon HQ2 in Philly or Pittsburgh likely the biggest offer ever from the state
Patriot News: Governor Wolf says he is ‘frustrated’ by federal government shutdown
Patriot News: Scott Wagner remains favorite in the run-up to the Pa. GOP endorsement vote for governor
Patriot News: Gov. Wolf wants his nut roll as Eagles head to Super Bowl
Patriot News: Pa. congressman Patrick Meehan used taxpayer money to settle misconduct complaint: Report
Patriot News: Governor Wolf says he is ‘frustrated’ by federal government shutdown
Patriot News: Dave Reed tells party officials he’ll run for Congress: report
LNP: Lancaster County GOP chairman says Pat Meehan ‘should consider stepping down’ if misconduct allegations are true
LNP: How’s he doing? Lancaster County residents choose one word to describe Trump’s first year in office
WITF: Midstate GOP congressman denies misconduct claim

Lehigh Valley
Reading Eagle: Some supporters pull back from state Rep. Thomas Caltagirone
Reading Eagle: House speaker orders ethics probe of U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan
Morning Call: Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s trial opens today in Allentown. Here’s what you need to know.
Morning Call: Skirmishes over secret recordings likely in Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s trial

North by Northwest
WICU: U.S. Senators, Representatives for Pennsylvania React to Government Shutdown
Erie Times-News: Business as usual for many federal workers in Erie despite shutdown
Erie Times-News: Erie forging micro-grant program to help small businesses
Oil City Derrick: Overdose task force not sure how Wolf declaration will help

Opinion
Patriot News: We just about survived one year of Trump. How do we get through the next three? | Kirstin Snow
Patriot News: There’s no denying it: After a year of Trump, we have greater peace and prosperity | Charlie Gerow
Daily News: An oxymoron of anger and joy, Women’s March doesn’t know what’s next. That’s the beauty of it | Will Bunch
Inquirer: It’s time for Philly’s two successful tourism organizations to merge | Editorial
Inquirer: Litigation and activism required to change hearts, minds, and Congressional maps | Opinion
Post-Gazette: The budget beast: Huge overspending on defense is the American way
Post-Gazette: Amazon fever: As Pittsburgh and Philly vie, equal state support is vital
Post-Gazette: Kane’s case: Remember the nature of the former AG’s crimes
LNP: Releasing the names of judicial candidates is a victory for transparency and for Lancaster County