Search
Close this search box.

December 13th Playbook

Former Sen. Rick Santorum nixes chatter that he could be Trump’s next Chief of Staff, while the Farm Bill passes in Congress. Here is the Playbook.

Santorum Nixes Trump CoS Chatter: The former Pennsylvania Senator said it is an honor to be considered, but his current family situation doesn’t allow him to take on the role.

Looking for the Anti-Trump: Three polls cite Trump was disliked personally (by as many as 2 out of every 3 voters), but many of his policies are not.

State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown Resigns “Under Protest” After Bribery Conviction: The special election date for the seat will take place early next year.

Harrisburg & DC
Post-Gazette: Most Pa. lawmakers voted yes on farm bill
Post-Gazette: What’s in the 2018 Farm Bill: a new crop, more organic-growing techniques and a lifeline for dairy farms  
Post-Gazette: Pa. drafts new limits on air pollution from gas wells as feds reconsider rules
Post-Gazette: State Rep. Frankel seeking support for bills to give cities more power over gun laws
Post-Gazette: Pennsylvania child porn case inspires law to secure restitution for victims
AP: New charge filed for man arrested for threatening Trump
AP: 2 more Pennsylvania casinos open up for sports betting
StateImpactPA: Trump administration rolls back Obama-era water protections  
StateImpactPA: Teenager’s asthma, in shadow of Clairton Coke Works, frames town’s struggle with dirty air
PLSReporter: Pension reform commission prepares final report, will vote on approval next week  
WHYY Newsworks: Holiday card campaign to Gov. Wolf calls for repeal of Pa.’s new prison mail policy
WHYY Newsworks: Algorithm to reform criminal sentencing in Pa. faces deluge of criticism
WHYY Newsworks: Battle over school tax hike in wealthy Pa. district to be heard in state court  
KYW Newsradio: Pa. lawmakers review controversial law requiring licenses for professional hair braiding  
KYW Newsradio: 2 women sue state for denying them cosmetology licenses due to ‘moral character’
Inquirer: Opioid use during pregnancy on the rise in Pa., data show
Inquirer: Marijuana industry must be socially responsible when pot becomes legal, CMU expert says
York Dispatch: Wolf announces ‘Moving Pennsylvania forward’ events for Inauguration Day
York Daily Record: Two Pa. pipelines almost done, but at what cost?
Morning Call: How did Pennsylvania lawmakers vote on the farm bill?
Morning Call: What the presidents of Pennsylvania’s private universities make

Philadelphia
Billy Penn: Here’s everything Philly’s soda tax money is (and isn’t) paying for
Inquirer: After talk with Philly congressman, Amtrak says it may keep flipboard at 30th Street Station
Inquirer: Poverty among older Philadelphians on the rise  
Inquirer: Philly home values are rising. Will taxes keep rising with them?
Inquirer: How to get free naloxone in Philadelphia on Thursday  
KYW Newsradio: City pollution hearing finds some communities aren’t feeling much improvement
KYW Newsradio: Angry library lovers march on Philadelphia City Hall, demand more funding
KYW Newsradio: Philadelphia School Board votes on contract to build new school in Mayfair
KYW Newsradio: Pa. lawmakers review controversial law requiring licenses for professional hair braiding
KYW Newsradio: 2 women sue state for denying them cosmetology licenses due to ‘moral character’
Philly Voice: Philadelphia’s interns will now be paid to work at mayor’s office
PLSReporter: Mayor, Controller quarrel over soda tax report
WHYY Newsworks: Holiday card campaign to Gov. Wolf calls for repeal of Pa.’s new prison mail policy
WHYY Newsworks: Philly’s most dangerous roads clustered in black and brown neighborhoods
WHYY Newsworks: Philly goes to school: Lessons in inclusive, universal pre-K

SEPA
WHYY Newsworks: Battle over school tax hike in wealthy Pa. district to be heard in state court
Delco Daily Times: $15.3M Aston budget includes $180 tax hike
Delco Daily Times: Springfield signs off on budget; taxes remain stable, trash fee hiked
Bucks County Courier Times: Bristol Township board approves another phase of Barton project
Bucks County Courier Times: DRBC given 104,000 signatures for full fracking ban
Pottstown Mercury: Pottstown Council OKs 9.5% tax hike for 2019
Pottstown Mercury: Chester County students accurately predict the 2018 midterms
Pottstown Mercury: County Administrator Robert Kagel speaks to Downingtown students about his career

Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette: Most Pa. lawmakers voted yes on farm bill
Post-Gazette: After donations to anti-immigrant groups, Colcom signs removed from Downtown holiday market
Post-Gazette: What’s in the 2018 Farm Bill: a new crop, more organic-growing techniques and a lifeline for dairy farms
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh Human Relations Commission head on leave
Post-Gazette: Pa. drafts new limits on air pollution from gas wells as feds reconsider rules
Post-Gazette: State Rep. Frankel seeking support for bills to give cities more power over gun laws
PLSReporter: Affordable housing advocates plead with Pittsburgh City Council for restored funding
Tribune Review: Pittsburgh council ups URA budget for affordable housing
Tribune Review: Bridgeville council approves $53 quarterly trash, recycling fee
Tribune Review: Sharpsburg holds line on taxes, targets blighted properties
Tribune Review: Sharpsburg holds line on taxes, targets blighted properties
Tribune Review: Shaler Area School Board names new president, vice president
WESA: Post-Gazette Union Members Protest Health Care Cuts
KDKA: Council Votes To End Comments On Monroeville’s Facebook Page
City Paper: Uber whistleblower says autonomous vehicles “routinely” involved in crashes

SWPA
Beaver County Times: County officials hope to delay voting machine edict
Beaver County Times: Former Ellwood City police chief Betz placed on leave as Lawrence County CYS director
Observer-Reporter: GOP candidate Sherman to make second bid for Washington County Commission
Observer-Reporter: Charleroi authority leader retires  
Observer-Reporter: Donora council reviews early intervention plan   
Observer-Reporter: North Franklin struggles to balance 2019 budget
Altoona Mirror: Penn Cambria reaches teacher contract deal
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Johnstown City Council nixes realty transfer tax hike

NEPA
Standard Speaker: Judge denies appeal for Sugarloaf Twp. plant
Standard Speaker: Streetscape project funding delays Alter St. meters’ return
Times Leader: Metal detectors, restrictive bag policy coming to Mohegan Sun Arena
Times Leader: County election director amends disclosure form as trip probe widens
Times-Tribune: Cognetti resigns from Scranton school board to work for state auditor general
News-Item: Sunbury State Health Center distributing free naloxone Thursday
News Item: Spyglass owner announces bid for commissioner
Times-Tribune: Filling staffing recommendations could push Scranton School District deficit over $6 million
Times-Tribune: Expo features new state-mandated voting systems; officials concerned with potential costs
Times-Tribune: Dickson City council tables vote for new police contract
Citizens Voice: Auditor general to look into voting equipment procurement process state-wide
Citizens Voice: No property tax hike in 2019 budget
Citizens Voice: Auditor General: Pittston misses pension payment deadline
Citizens Voice: GNA board picks new president

South Central
York Dispatch: York City Mayor Michael Helfirch’s first year graded – from B to D
York Dispatch: Wolf announces ‘Moving Pennsylvania forward’ events for Inauguration Day
LNP | LancasterOnline: Proposal to close Elizabethtown district court denied by state Supreme Court
York Daily Record: Two Pa. pipelines almost done, but at what cost?
Carlisle Sentinel: Assistant Superintendent Alan Vandrew retiring from Mechanicsburg School District
Harrisburg Patriot News: Harrisburg police officer shortage will become a ‘real issue’ in 2020, mayor says    
Harrisburg Patriot News: Dauphin County passes budget with no tax increase for 14th year in a row

Lehigh Valley
Morning Call: How did Pennsylvania lawmakers vote on the farm bill?
Morning Call: Easton Council approves 2019 budget with no tax increase; hears from Lafayette College on new residence hall
Morning Call: Auditor General tosses Lehigh Twp. Fireman’s Relief Association audits based on ‘falsified records’
Morning Call: East Penn teachers to get raises tied to state Act 1 Index
Morning Call: Here’s the one thing City Council cut from Bethlehem’s Christmas list
Reading Eagle: Reading School District graduate running for school board
Reading Eagle: Allentown Diocese announces plans for compensation fund for survivors of clergy sex abuse
Reading Eagle: Reading protest takes stand against immigration policies, border wall
Reading Eagle: Mohnton 2019 budget bumps property tax 8.7%
Reading Eagle: Caernarvon Township’s 2019 budget keeps taxes at 2.48 mills
Reading Eagle: Ambulance-service tax hike riles Longswamp residents

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: Crawford deputy sheriff seeks top post
Erie Times-News: Millcreek considers tax credits for volunteers
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Community members rebuke planning seat appointment
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Pipeline project open house draws some dissent
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Budget will raise taxes in Montgomery
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Township surplus allows for no tax increase

Opinion
Inquirer Editorial Board: Red tape & sweetheart deals: time to fix the Land Bank
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Make the fairies dance: Post-Gazette’s Goodfellows fund aims to brighten holidays
Dom Giordano: Free speech — especially on controversial topics — must be based in facts
Brad C. Klein: Despite good intentions, City Council bill deters physician education and limits patient access
Michael J. Pappas: Environmental Protection Agency’s assault on the Northeast continues
James Greiner: Divorce is hard enough – let’s stop making it confusing and unaffordable
Donna Cooper: Government shouldn’t pay to solve toxic lead problem
Inquirer: Share your opinion: What is the most important change the Philadelphia region needs to see in 2019?
Trudy Rubin: French ‘yellow vest’ protesters demand something no Western leader grasps

2 Responses

  1. Ballot measures of national interest in 2018 tell an interesting story. In regard to redistricting reform Michigan had Proposal 2 that offered the creation of an independent commission for approving congressional and legislative districts and it passed this November 61% to 39%. Missouri Amendment 1 creates a non partisan demographer to draw redistricting plans for state commissions and it passed 62% to 38%. Utah Proposition 4 creates an independent commission for approving Congressional and Legislative Districts and it passed 50.3% to 49.7%. Medicaid Expansion passed in Idaho 60% to 40%. Medicaid Expansion passed in Nebraska 53% to 47%. Medicaid Expansion passed in Utah 53% to 47%. All information taken from an “Inside Elections” poster recently mailed out. What does all this mean? Even red states want fair redistricting despite what the Pa Republican leadership thinks and there is a concern for healthcare that actually covers people without going broke again despite what Republican leadership thinks.

Email:
  • Do you agree that ByteDance should be forced to divest TikTok?


    • Yes. It's a national security risk. (60%)
    • No. It's an app used by millions and poses no threat. (40%)
    • What's ByteDance? (0%)

    Total Voters: 30

    Loading ... Loading ...
Continue to Browser

PoliticsPA

To install tap and choose
Add to Home Screen