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What We’re Hearing
“This is beyond politics. This is really about students and about our young people’s future. And if we don’t provide the funding, because of the political posturing that we’ve seen, folks are going to be held accountable for those actions.” – Rep. Jordan Harris on state-related university funding.

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Top Story

1. GOP Leader Hopes Rare August Work Day Will Wrap Up PA Budget

“The Pennsylvania Senate reconvenes on Wednesday in a rare August session day to tackle legislation needed to address issues that remain in limbo in the $45.5 billion state budget.

Senate Majority Leader Sen. Joe Pittman hopes the day will produce legislation that clears the House and lands on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk for enactment.

“We’ve had conversations with House Democratic leadership,” Pittman said. “I certainly can’t portray there being an understanding and mutual agreement.” (PennLive)

Related

Biden Reschedules Trip to Pennsylvania As Hurricane Idalia Approaches Florida. “The president was set to visit Montgomery County on Thursday, but will now travel there on Sept. 6, according to the White House.” (The Messenger)

DeSantis Will Hold Three Fundraisers In PA Next Week As He Tries To Regain Momentum For His Campaign. “Ron DeSantis is looking to cash in on Pennsylvania next week. The Pennsylvania trip is a rare visit outside of the early voting states and comes as DeSantis looks to fund his recently rebooted and refocused campaign.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Casey Touts Policy Wins On Pregnant-Worker Protections, Drug Prices During Pittsburgh Stop. “U.S. Sen. Bob Casey took a kind of victory lap Tuesday in Pittsburgh, visiting the headquarters of Goodwill Southwestern Pennsylvania to celebrate a couple of long-delayed Democratic policy wins — even as partisan division over the federal budget looms.” (WESA)

Democrats Tout Fight Over ‘Junk Fees’ In Events Across The Country. “Rep. Chris Deluzio ordered a cup of cookies and cream and name-checked food delivery apps Grubhub and UberEats on Tuesday as he pitched a Democratic policy initiative during a visit at the Scoops ice cream store and other downtown businesses.” (Roll Call)

PA Lawmakers Consider Moving Up State’s Presidential Primary Date. “Two bills that would move up Pennsylvania’s presidential primary election on the calendar will go before the House State Government Committee soon, its chairman said Monday.” (PennLive)

State

2. Shapiro Announces Partnership With Google, PASSHE For High-Growth Jobs

“Governor Josh Shapiro announced a new public-private partnership between Google and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) that makes industry-recognized Google Career Certificates available to students and the public to help them secure good-paying jobs.

This new public-private partnership will enable PASSHE students to earn a Google Career Certificate during their regular undergraduate programs, allowing them to earn college credit and an industry-recognized certificate at the same time.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Google To Offer Technology-Focused Courses, Certificates At No Cost To Millersville, Other PASSHE Students. “The new initiative — which will train Pennsylvanians who attend eight of the system’s universities for in-demand fields like cybersecurity and data analytics — was announced Tuesday at Millersville University by Gov. Josh Shapiro and other leaders across the commonwealth.” (LNP)

Regan Introduces Bill To Require Armed School Safety Personnel. “In an effort to protect Pennsylvania school students, teachers and staff, Sen. Mike Regan introduced legislation to require schools to employ armed security personnel during school hours.” (PoliticsPA)

Data Analysis Reframes State Education Issues. “As Pennsylvania’s legislators prepare to return to Harrisburg to sort out the state’s education system and budget, a new report challenges what they call “funding cuts and teacher shortage myths.” ” (The Center Square)

Monroe County Has PA’s Highest Tax Burden. “Which county in the Commonwealth has the highest tax burden? If you guessed Monroe County, go to the head of the class.” (PoliticsPA)

How This Election Will Shape PA’s Highest Courts. “The balance of Pennsylvania’s highest courts are among the stakes for commonwealth residents in the Nov. 7 election.” (Erie Times-News)

Why PA Paramedics Say ‘EMS Is Dying’  “The state budget includes a $20.7 million increase to ambulance reimbursement rates, but EMS agencies say much more is needed.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Third State Employee Union Ratifies Historic Labor Agreement With Shapiro Administration. “The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 on Monday ratified by a 90% approval vote from its members to accept a pact that grants 22.1% pay increases when compounded over the contract’s life.” (PennLive)

Understanding How State Funding For Family Planning Centers Is Going To Change In 2024 – And Why It Matters. “What the state’s decision to move away from crisis pregnancy centers means for the future of family planning in the commonwealth.” (City & State)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Pittsburgh Area Jobless Rate Hits Record Low, But Workforce Levels Remain Down

“The seven-county Pittsburgh region’s unemployment rate fell in July to its lowest level in 47 years, but the labor force has yet to regain the 46,000 workers it had before the pandemic wreaked havoc on the economy.” (Tribune-Review)

Related

Allegheny County Council Approves July 2024 Deadline For Climate Action Plan. “Council members voted 15-0 to set a deadline of July 1 for the county’s Department of Sustainability to adopt a climate action plan. Before that vote, dozens of Allegheny County residents called on the council to pass the bill.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Hundreds Of Philly Janitors March To Demand A Fair Contract With Cherelle Parker’s Support. “Office cleaners, maintenance staff, mechanics, and other building workers marched through Center City on Tuesday to demand a strong new contract to replace the one set to expire on Oct. 15.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Philadelphia Schools Pay $150K On Athlete Promotion App. “Philadelphia’s public school system earmarked $150,000 to promote its high school athletes in hopes the added exposure will lead to college scholarships.” (The Center Square)

Westmoreland Commissioner Kopas Calls For Cap On Raises For Elected County Officials. “Ted Kopas, a Democrat who took office at the beginning of August, pitched a revision to a county ordinance approved nearly two decades ago that guarantees yearly cost-of-living pay hikes to commissioners and row officers based on regional consumer price indexes that, over the past two years, have totaled more than 13%.” (Tribune-Review)

Luzerne County Democrats Announce General Election Endorsements. “With the Nov. 7 general election a little over two months away, Luzerne County’s Democratic Party has announced its endorsement of all six party county council nominees.” (Times Leader)

Greene County Judge To Consider Accusations of Negligence Against DA Russo. “Greene County District Attorney David Russo appeared at the defendant’s table Tuesday morning for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to investigate his decision to charge county officials in connection with how the election board handled the ballot order selection process earlier this year.” (Observer-Reporter)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• The Gross Hypocrisy of ‘Woke Donald Trump’  (Will Bunch)
• If You Want The Public’s Trust, Broadcast The Trump Trials. (Anthony Coley)
• Dereliction of Duty. (Lowman Henry)
• We Can’t Return to COVID Lockdowns. (Thom Nickels)
• Urban Doom Loop … Really? (Paul R. Levy)
• In Politics, The Slogan Sells It. (J. Mark Powell)
• The Lehigh Valley Is Benefiting From The Federal CHIPS Act. Here’s How. (Rep. Susan Wild)

1 Thing

5. Jim’s Steaks Set To Reopen In October

“The sound of sizzling meat and onions will soon return to Fourth and South streets. The landmark cheesesteak spot Jim’s Steaks is set to reopen its location there in late October, its owner said.

The sandwich shop has been closed since a two-alarm fire tore through the building in July 2022. The exact timeline of its return was unclear until this week, when Jim’s owner Ken Silver told the Inquirer that the cheesesteak shop was set to open by the end of October.” (PhillyVoice)

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