The DCCC skips Cartwright, Democrats endorse Peduto, and an update on the Allentown’s Mayoral race. Good morning politicos, here’s the Playbook!
DCCC Announces its Initial Frontline Program: The list of potentially vulnerable incumbents does not include Congressman Matt Cartwright, who has been named as a GOP target in 2018
Democrats Endorse Peduto for Pittsburgh Mayor: Allegheny Democrats met over the weekend to pick their favorite candidate for the Mayor’s race.
Allentown Mayor Race: State of the Race: The field has grown on both sides of the aisle since our last check in.
Statewide
Capitolwire: Wolf’s $100 million tax credit cut proposal likely a ‘non-starter’ with Senate Republicans.
Capitolwire: House lawmakers break down Wolf’s proposed education budget for next year.
State House Sound Bites: Senate Democrats are still computer-less
State House Sound Bites: Revenue hearings focus on contentious tax code proposals
State House Sound Bites: Education secretary: this is a tough budget year
Philadelphia
Inquirer: Pa. auditor general: Legalize pot to close budget gap
Inquirer: Pennsylvania Senate Democrats resist ransom in cyberattack
Inquirer: Maybe giving U.S. senators a 6-year term wasn’t a great idea
Inquirer: Toomey, Republicans seek quieter ways to engage critics demanding town halls
Inquirer: In the race for DA in Philly, reform is all the buzz
Inquirer: Report: Pollution kills 1.7M kids worldwide. What about Phillly?
Inquirer: Ubiñas: Emergency room doctors fight fear of deportation
Inquirer: Global merger could boost U.S. HQ in Philly
Inquirer: Seeking an Uber in Philly, Comcast will boost tech start-ups with ‘accelerator’ in new tower
Inquirer: 170 cops promoted as Ross makes changes
Inquirer: Travel ban drawing fire despite the tweaks
Inquirer: Court lays down the law for Philly’s juvenile lifers
Philadelphia Magazine: Can El-Shabazz Win Over Voters Despite His Tax Debts, Ties to Seth Williams?
WHYY Newsworks: Measuring the effectiveness of Philly’s sugary drink ‘sin tax’
WHYY Newsworks: Seeing red, UberBlack drivers seek to unionize
WHYY Newsworks: Pa. lawmakers confront State Police funding quandary
WHYY Newsworks: Impact of ACA repeal gets hearing before Philly City Council
WHYY Newsworks: Candidate Untermeyer offers plan for Philly DA’s office
Billy Penn: Philly’s International Women’s Day organizers: It’s about us, not Trump
KYW: City Wants To Redevelop Part Of Chinatown, Hears Proposals
KYW: Protesters Voice Displeasure With Sen. Toomey Outside CBS Philly Studios
Philadelphia Business Journal: Strike by nurses, technicians costing Delco hospital $1.5M
Philadelphia Business Journal: Photos: Hilton Penn’s Landing nears completion of multimillion-dollar redesign
Philly Voice: For Philly-area families, it pays to live in the city (over suburbs)
Philly Voice: Kenney: Revised travel ban ‘instills unnecessary fear’ among immigrants
SEPA
Pottstown Mercury: Despite cyber attack, Sen. Dinniman’s office stays open
Pottstown Mercury: Daniel Boone School District proceeds with hearing to close Birdsboro Elementary Center
Bucks County Courier Times: Calendar of Bucks meetings today – Tuesday, March 7
Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County Republicans endorse row office candidates
Bucks County Courier Times: Pennsbury schedules two special budget hearings
Bucks County Courier Times: Gun bills restricting local ordinances in General Assembly again
Montgomery Media: Arcadia University holds public hearing on Every Students Succeeds Act
Pittsburgh
Tribune Review: UPMC docs support proposed vaping ban
Tribune Review: Fort Ligonier Days feels $20K lease squeeze from borough
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh employs 18 lawyers, but it paid nearly $700K to outside firms
Tribune Review: Demonstrators in Greensburg demand face-to-face meeting with Congressman Tim Murphy
Tribune Review: House committee focuses on education spending during budget hearings
Tribune Review: Feds, Altoona-Johnstown bishop spell out abuse plan in troubled diocese
Tribune Review: Blawnox manager, councilman resign; longtime volunteer fills post
Tribune Review: Hampton officials hold meeting on property tax reform
Post-Gazette: City workers seeking potholes to repair during two-day blitz
Post-Gazette: Flat oil prices keep Pittsburgh gasoline low
Pittsburgh Business Times: Comcast to build out $20 million ethernet network downtown
WESA: Wilkinsburg Councilwoman: People Don’t See How Loved The Community Is
WESA: Trump’s Child Care Policies Wouldn’t Reach Neediest Pittsburgh Families, Advocates Say
KDKA: Some Pittsburghers Planning To Strike On ‘International Women’s Day’
Southwest
Beaver County Times: DePasquale says it’s time for PA to legalize and tax marijuana
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Supervisors abruptly end meeting before wind farm foe can speak – or sing
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Langerholc’s bill would restore minimum sentences for drug dealers
NEPA
Standard-Speaker: Blaschak Coal temporarily lays off 55 employees due to warm winter
Standard-Speaker: Budget hearing sparks debate on helping distressed cities
Times-Tribune: Scranton teachers plead for board to listen about health care, credits
South Central
Patriot News: North Philly political feud will cost PA Democrats a state House seat
Patriot News: Camp Hill residents can vote in May primary on whether to allow liquor sales
Carlisle Sentinel: Governor Wolf plants to tighten medications under Medicaid
Carlisle Sentinel: Pat Toomey claims repeal of Medicaid expansion has to be negotiated
Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: Pennsylvania Senate Democrats resist ransom in cyberattack
Morning Call: Feds, bishop announce reform plan to address child sex abuse
Morning Call: Pennsylvania auditor general says legal pot would reap taxes
Morning Call: Sen. Toomey hails “constructive discussion” after meeting with protesters
Reading Eagle: Auditor General Eugene DePasquale proposes legalizing marijuana
Reading Eagle: Berks delegation visits Reading, talks health care (VIDEO)
North by Northwest
Centre Daily Times: Borough Council discusses conditions for proposed high-rise
Erie Times-News: Trump signs new travel ban
Opinion
Delco Times: Editorial: Why selling health insurance across state lines won’t work
Tribune Review: Beyond the sound bites: Trade & common sense
Inquirer: Inquirer Editorial: Trump’s calling Obama ‘sick’ isn’t how you heal a nation
Inquirer: Commentary: Let’s make Philly schools the better choice
Inquirer: Commentary: Trump boycotts will prove ineffective
Inquirer: Commentary: Boycotts should be part of arsenal against Trump
Reading Eagle: Editorial: Scott starts off well, but there’s much left to be done