A Philadelphia lawyer reportedly may join the Republican race for U.S. Senate, while a new poll shows Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Dr. Oz in a close race in a potential head–to-head general election matchup. Here is the Playbook. 

News

‘Philly lawyer may join GOP field running for US Senate seat’: The Associated Press reports that “George Bochetto, a prominent Philadelphia lawyer and Republican whose cases have often landed in the public spotlight, said Thursday that he is seriously considering running for Pennsylvania’s open U.S. Senate seat.”

‘POLITICO Playbook PM: SCOOP: Oz polls strong in Pa. Senate race’: POLITICO reports that “Data for Progress, the pollster for Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, tested a general-election matchup between the two candidates from Dec. 3-5. Fetterman narrowly leads Oz 44-42 among likely voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.”

‘With new maps and Sharif Street looming, Brendan Boyle polls his odds for reelection’: Philly Clout reports that “State Sen. Sharif Street is helping to redraw Pennsylvania’s congressional maps while also mulling a 2022 Democratic primary challenge to U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, who has polled on that matchup.”

‘How to weigh in on Pennsylvania’s next congressional map’: Spotlight PA reports on “how to get involved” with Pennsylvania’s next congressional map. 

‘Street says Senate congressional draft is fair, protects minority voters; Democrats say he sold out’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “Facing social media scorn and internal party outrage, the lead Democratic architect of a negotiated map of Pennsylvania’s new congressional districts is defending the work product. State Sen. Sharif Street, D-Philadelphia, cautioned that the map, made public on Wednesday night, is a draft and that negotiations with Senate State Government Committee Chairperson Sen. Dave Argall, R-Schuylkill, are ongoing. Street is the panel’s ranking Democrat.”

‘Pa. congressional map drafts are out. They’re good news for the GOP and some incumbents’: WHYY reports that “two proposed congressional district maps — one formally released by House Republicans, one leaked from the Senate — are now public in Pennsylvania. Both would likely be better for Republican candidates than the current, court-drawn map is, but lawmakers say neither will be their final draft.”

‘What we know about the House GOP’s preliminary congressional map’: City & State PA reports on “what we know about the map so far.”

City & State PA’s Biggest Winners & Losers This Week: City & State PA highlights the three winners and losers in Pennsylvania politics this week.

‘Meet The Other Doctor in PA’s U.S. Senate Race’: The Delaware Valley Journal reports that “currently, four physicians are serving in the United States Senate, and TV celebrity Dr. Oz has made headlines with news that he hopes to join them. But another local physician, Dr. Kevin Baumlin, has also thrown his stethoscope into the ring. Baumlin, a Democrat who works in a Philadelphia emergency room, hopes to change healthcare and society as a whole.”

‘Former Pa. Gov. Tom Ridge to be among those in attendance at Bob Dole’s funeral’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge and wife Michele plan to attend the Friday funeral of former U.S. Sen. and Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.”

‘GOP’s Congressional Redistricting Plan Under Attack For What It Does In Western Pennsylvania’: KDKA reports that “House Republicans on the state House Government Committee released their proposed congressional redistricting map. Democrats immediately denounced the plan, especially for what it does in western Pennsylvania.”

‘Gov. Wolf, AG Shapiro speak on how the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade could affect abortion-seekers’: WHYY reports that on Thursday, “Governor Tom Wolf was joined by Pennsylvania’s Attorney General Josh Shapiro, local leaders, and abortion activists at People’s Park in Philadelphia in support of a person’s right to access abortion.”

‘DCNR seeks applicants for new public input council’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “the state agency tasked with managing Pennsylvania’s 121 state parks and its 2.2 million acres of state forests announced that it’s looking to the public to help inform its future programs and operations.”

‘Pa. food banks to receive $11.4M allocation to expand storage infrastructure’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “with an $11.4 million allocation from federal relief funds, Pennsylvania food banks can expand their infrastructure to address food insecurity and waste across the state.”

‘DA Larry Krasner’s campaign and Real Justice PAC have admitted to breaking Philly’s campaign finance law, again’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “for the second time in as many elections, District Attorney Larry Krasner’s campaign and a San Francisco-based political group that supports him have admitted to violating Philadelphia’s campaign finance law.”

‘Philly Dems chair offers to host swearing-in for city officials after Kenney administration passes on event’: KYW Newsradio reports that “the head of the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee is offering to sponsor a swearing-in ceremony for city officials who were elected in November, after the Kenney administration said it would be unable to coordinate the event.”

‘Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw is a rumored finalist to head the NYPD. Here’s what we do and don’t know.’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw has dismissed rumors she is about to resign as the city’s top cop to take a job leading the New York Police Department, but declined to say whether she had interviewed for the post.”

‘Philly DA Larry Krasner: It was ‘inarticulate’ to say the city is not experiencing a violence crisis’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “District Attorney Larry Krasner on Thursday said he was “inarticulate” earlier this week when he told reporters at his weekly news conference: “We don’t have a crisis of lawlessness, we don’t have a crisis of crime, we don’t have a crisis of violence.””

‘Wilkinsburg annexation plan faces uncertain future after Pittsburgh City Council meeting’: WESA reports that “Councils for the City of Pittsburgh and Borough of Wilkinsburg met Thursday to discuss a plan to annex the borough into the city. During the meeting, it appeared the plan does not have enough support to move forward.”

‘Bucks County lawmaker to introduce legislation targeting porch pirates’: The Bucks Local News reports that “state Rep. Wendi Thomas (R-Bucks) will soon introduce legislation to crack down on home delivery theft.”

‘Plastic bag ban bill tabled by Lehigh County commissioners. Called for shoppers to pay 10 cents per bag’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday tabled a bill that would ban single-use plastic bags across the county, with only a handful of exceptions, after an environmental group pulled its support and officials cited concerns over the timing of the legislation.”

‘‘A historic appointment’: Louisville’s Neeli Bendapudi named Penn State’s next president’: The Centre Daily Times reports that “less than a year after Penn State President Eric Barron announced his intent to retire, the university has already found his replacement. Former University of Louisville President Neeli Bendapudi, 58, was named Penn State’s next president on Thursday, after a unanimous vote by the board of trustees, which will make her both the first woman and first non-white person in the university’s 166-year history to serve from the top post. Her predecessor, Barron, announced in February he would retire by summer 2022.”

‘Philly could require proof of vaccination for indoor dining, like New York’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Philadelphia officials are considering implementing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate at all indoor dining establishments, requiring both patrons and employees to show proof of vaccination, according to two sources briefed on the matter.”

‘Philly students can now identify as nonbinary in the school district system’: Billy Penn reports that “starting on Monday, students can mark their gender as nonbinary in the School District of Philadelphia’s system.”

‘Michael Susek hired as Luzerne County’s new election director’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Luzerne County has a new election director — Plains Township native Michael Susek, Acting County Manager Romilda Crocamo announced Thursday.”

‘Philly’s next crop of city buildings will be greener under bill passed by Philly Council’: WHYY reports that “many new municipal buildings in Philadelphia will need to meet a higher standard of sustainability, under a bill City Council passed Thursday. But advocates say the change doesn’t go far enough to address the climate crisis.”

‘Philly Council votes yes on higher fines for illegal auto work on city streets and sidewalks’: WHYY reports that “Philadelphia City Council passed a bill expressly barring residents and auto businesses from using public sidewalks and streets to repair and sell cars.”

‘‘Hot People’ Behind Gun Violence Need to Be Jailed, Philly’s Former Top Cop Says’: NBC10 reports that “former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, who oversaw the department from 2008 through 2015, said law enforcement needs to identify and prosecute those responsible for most of the deadliest violence. There have been a record number of murders in 2021.”

‘Philly to permanently cap fees on 3rd-party restaurant delivery, but with an caveat’: KYW Newsradio reports that “City Council members have voted unanimously to permanently cap fees on third-party delivery services for restaurants at 15%. However, restaurants can choose to opt-out of those caps in exchange for more services.”

‘Philadelphia among 12 major US cities where homicides are up, breaking records’: KYW Newsradio reports that “across the U.S., several cities have broken their all-time homicide records, some of which have stood for more than three decades, making this one of the deadliest years ever. At least 12 major U.S. cities have broken their annual homicide records, and with three weeks left in 2021, there is no sign of it slowing.”

‘Easton City Council OKs Panto’s 13th straight no-tax-increase budget’: WFMZ reports that “Easton City Council approved Mayor Sal Panto’s 13th straight budget without a tax increase Wednesday.” 

‘April 8 target set for committee to recommend manager applicants to Luzerne County Council’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “if all goes as planned, Luzerne County’s citizen Manager Search Committee will present prospective top manager applicants to county council for its consideration on April 8, according to a revised timeline released Wednesday.”

‘Fewer applications received for latest Johnstown city manager posting’: The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports that “fifteen candidates have applied to become Johnstown’s next full-time city manager, a much lower number than in the past, officials said Wednesday.”

‘Audience divided on ATV pilot program’s possible expansion’: The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that “environmental groups came out in opposition to the possible expansion of ATV traffic through the forest lands of northcentral Pennsylvania during a state Senate hearing Wednesday at Pennsylvania College of Technology.”

‘U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development expected to ‘monitor’ funds delivered by prior Williamsport administration’: The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that “the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is likely to perform a “monitoring” of the city Department of Community and Economic Development to clear up matters prior to the current administration.”

Opinion  
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