Acting Secretary of State Veronica Degraffenreid wrote in a letter that the 2022 Pennsylvania primary date may need to be pushed back as the redistricting process plays out. Here is the Playbook. 

News

‘Warnings issued over redistricting delays affecting primary’: The Associated Press reports that “Pennsylvania’s top state election official is warning that the 2022 primary election may have to be delayed as a group of voters asked the state’s highest court to pick a new map of congressional districts if Gov. Tom Wolf and lawmakers fail to agree on one soon.”

‘Gov. Tom Wolf vetos curriculum transparency bill, calling it a ‘dangerous and harmful imposition’’: PennLive reports that “Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday vetoed legislation that would have required public schools to post online educational materials used in their classrooms.”

‘Multiple people in custody after U.S. Rep Mary Gay Scanlon is carjacked and robbed in South Philly’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon was carjacked and robbed at gunpoint on Wednesday afternoon shortly after finishing a meeting at FDR Park, her office and police officials confirmed. She was not injured.”

‘Pennsylvania Republicans are going on the attack against a new map for state House districts’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “the political battle over Pennsylvania’s next legislative maps is intensifying, with Republicans attacking one of the proposed maps and the integrity of the chair of the commission that drew it.”

‘McCormick drawing support from Trump alumni ahead of Pennsylvania Senate bid’: The Hill reports that “Pennsylvania Republican David McCormick is drawing support from alumni of the Trump administration and allies of the former president ahead of the expected launch of his Senate campaign.”

‘Dr. Oz’s blank slate in Pennsylvania’: Jewish Insider reports that “TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz’s announcement last month that he is running for Senate in Pennsylvania has been met with a mixture of surprise and curiosity by political strategists and activists in the state.”

‘Long before embracing Trump’s false election claims, Rep. Scott Perry promoted groundless theories’: The Washington Post reports that “Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) has been fanning false claims for years, long before his efforts to overturn the 2020 election based on former president Donald Trump’s baseless allegations drew the attention of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.”

‘Gov. Tom Wolf implores Senate to act on ‘window’ bill for child sex abuse survivors to file civil lawsuits’: PennLive reports that “Gov. Tom Wolf is calling on the Senate Republican leaders to make their first order of business when they return to session in January moving a bill that would open a two-year retroactive window for child sex abuse survivors to sue their alleged perpetrator.”

‘More Pa. senior citizens now qualify for the state’s prescription assistance programs’: PennLive reports that “Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday signed into law two bipartisan bills that make adjustments to income eligibility limits for the PACE and PACENET prescription assistance programs that offer low-cost prescription medications to qualified residents age 65 or older. PACE has lower income limits than the PACENET program. Both are funded through proceeds from the Pennsylvania Lottery.”

‘Former Sixers announcer Marc Zumoff, Pa. Attorney General Josh Shapiro troll Ben Simmons in gubernatorial campaign ad’: Philly Voice reports that “in a hilarious political campaign ad, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who’s running for governor in 2022, teamed up with beloved former Sixers broadcaster Marc Zumoff to show off his capabilities at the free throw line.”

‘Outgoing Mayor Bill Peduto reflects on time in city government, what’s next’: WESA reports that “departing Mayor Bill Peduto shares highlights and what he wishes he could have improved during his time as mayor.”

‘Mayor-elect Gainey tests negative for COVID-19 on more accurate PCR test’: WESA reports that “a follow-up, and more accurate, COVID test for Mayor-elect Ed Gainey indicates that he has not contracted the coronavirus, according to a statement issued around lunchtime Wednesday.”

‘DA-elect Nicole Ziccarelli moves ahead with transition without cooperation from predecessor’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “Westmoreland County District Attorney-elect Nicole Ziccarelli said Wednesday she and her new administrative team are set to begin work Jan. 3 to replace outgoing prosecutor John Peck, who she said has so far refused to cooperate with the transition.”

‘Assault charges against suspended Somerset DA’s wife dropped’: The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports that “domestic assault charges against the wife of suspended Somerset County District Attorney Jeffrey Thomas were dismissed in court Wednesday.”

‘More than 70 lawyers hired by Philly DA Larry Krasner have left. Some say the office is in disarray.’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “when District Attorney Larry Krasner took office in 2018, he set about traveling the country, to Ivy League law schools and historically Black universities, inviting top graduates to help fulfill his vision for a progressive prosecutor’s office. About 70 of those recruits have already left, joining an exodus that has included both veteran prosecutors and young idealists. In all, the loss of 261 attorneys during Krasner’s first term has thrown the office — already beset by conflict with the police and judiciary, and mired in pandemic-related backlogs — into what some describe as a state of chaos.”

‘Pa. redistricting maps: Search now to see your old and new legislative districts’: Spotlight PA provides maps that let you compare your current legislative districts to the proposed maps.

‘You’re invited! A free virtual panel on Pennsylvania’s proposed redistricting maps’: Spotlight PA reports that on “Thursday, Jan. 6 at noon EST” they will be hosting “a free breakdown of the newly released state House and Senate maps, how the maps could shift political power, and their potential impact on Pennsylvanians.”

‘Gov. Wolf renews call for General Assembly to pass legislation to increase Pennsylvania’s minimum wage’: FOX43 reports that “Governor Tom Wolf on Tuesday urged Republican lawmakers in the General Assembly to address Pennsylvania’s minimum wage, which has stood at $7.25 per hour for more than a decade.”

‘Lawmakers consider bill to account for cleanup when developing renewable energy projects’: StateImpactPA reports that “state lawmakers are considering cleanup requirements for renewable energy projects when they reach the end of their useful lives–which in most cases is decades away.”

‘PA Dems Pan Manchin’s Nix of Biden’s Build Back Better Plan’: The Delaware Valley Journal reports that “Pennsylvania Democrats reacted swiftly Sunday to West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin’s announcement he won’t be supporting President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan, the approximately $2 trillion social spending bill, effectively killing the legislation for now.”

Dent Talks To Pennsylvania Kitchen Table Politics Podcast: The Pennsylvania Kitchen Table Politics Podcast talks with former Congressman Charlie Dent about congressional redistricting.  

Altmire Talks To Pennsylvania Kitchen Table Politics Podcast: The Pennsylvania Kitchen Table Politics Podcast talks with former Congressman Jason Altmire about congressional redistricting.  

‘Hundreds of restaurants got excluded by Philly’s new ‘streetery’ zones — some by less than a block’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “an Inquirer analysis of city permit data and zone boundaries found that 62 of the 281 restaurants outside the zones missed the cut-off by 500 feet or less — roughly one city block or less.”

‘‘Glaring giant loophole:’ Philly Council members have to report who pays them, but not their spouses’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Philadelphia City Council members next year will consider a bill designed to prevent special interests from purchasing influence on Council by employing lawmakers through side jobs outside of their official duties.”

‘Pittsburgh Public Schools board authorizes 3% property tax rate hike’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “the Pittsburgh Public Schools board Wednesday evening narrowly authorized a 3% real estate tax rate increase, providing a revenue boost that supporters saw as an important first step in turning around the district’s troubled financial situation.”

‘Marijuana advocate announces run for Wilkes-Barre mayor’: Citizens Voice reports that “a Wilkes-Barre Shade Tree Commission member who wants to see marijuana decriminalized in the city intends to run for mayor in the 2023 primary.”

‘‘It’s OK to not be OK,’: Wolf admin. highlights mental health, substance abuse resources for holiday season’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “the leaders of four Pennsylvania state agencies met virtually Wednesday to remind the Pennsylvanians who need them of mental health and substance abuse disorder resources available this holiday season.”

‘Major Pa. Farm Show food vendor drops out over COVID-19 surge, clouding hopes for a full comeback’: PennLive reports that “at least one major food court vendor announced it is pulling out of the Pennsylvania Farm Show amid concerns about the health of farmers and volunteers with COVID-19 infection rates on the rise.”

‘Lancaster County commissioners approve plan for American Rescue Plan homeless aid’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “Lancaster County commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved a plan to secure $6.8 million in federal funding for Lancaster County organizations to address homelessness.”

‘Cambria President Judge Krumenacker says he won’t seek retention in 2023’: The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports that “Cambria County’s president judge said in an interview Wednesday that he will not seek retention in 2023. President Judge Norman A. Krumenacker III, 67, of Southmont, marked his 30th anniversary on the bench last week but said he plans to retire in about two years.”

‘Five Luzerne County municipalities seek to create regional police force’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “five Luzerne County municipalities are seeking to create a combined police force known as the Wyoming Area Regional Police Department — and municipal officials hope to buy the former state police barracks in Wyoming Borough to use as its headquarters.”

‘Pittsburgh activists say the city needs to do more in the wake of Jim Rogers’ death’: WESA reports that “one day after the City of Pittsburgh announced discipline and new policy changes for police in the wake of the death of Jim Rogers, there is criticism that the response hasn’t gone far enough.”

‘Pennsylvania Ranks Among The Worst Roads In The United States’: KDKA reports that “Pennsylvania has the 15th worst roads in the country, according to a new study from Consumer Affairs.”

‘Here’s where you can get tested for COVID-19 in Pennsylvania’: PennLive lists the “federal COVID-19 testing sites in central Pa.”

Opinion  
Kerry Benninghoff: Proposed state House map is a partisan gerrymander
Jake Corman: Personal freedoms are worth fighting for
Cassie Miller: DNC billboard touts Biden infrastructure funding to holiday travelers | Wednesday Morning Coffee
Michael Coard: Krasner’s impressive actions speak louder than his imperfect words 
Solomon Jones: Changes to magnet school admissions policies will adversely affect Black students 
Debra Carter: A record number of children are getting COVID-19. So now is not the time to say goodbye to masks
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: It’s time to abolish the death penalty 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: A case of mistaken identity is hurting a local restaurant
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Dr. Oz brings a lot of baggage to the U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania. It merits examination. 
Inquirer Editorial Board: As homeownership declines, Philly must address unlicensed rental properties
Trudy Rubin: As U.S. tightens visa rules, thousands of our Afghan allies are at risk with no hope of departing 
Matthew T. Mangino: The slow undoing of the Sixth Amendment
John L. Micek: At Williamsburg, a reminder of what we’ve gained, and could yet lose