🥳 Working for the Weekend. Make it a good one

PA Weather
🌤️ Hollidaysburg | Becoming Sunny, 56
🌤️ Elizabethville | Becoming Sunny, 52
☀️ Skippack | Sunny, 49

PA Sports
🏈 Eagles (10-2) | Sun vs. Dallas
🏈 Steelers (7-6) | New England 18-21 | Sat vs. Indianapolis
🏀 Sixers (13-7) | Fri vs. Atlanta
🏒 Penguins (11-11-3) | Fri. vs. Arizona
🏒 Flyers (14-10-2) | Arizona 4-1 | Sat vs. Colorado

What We’re Hearing
An automated phone poll currently being conducted in the Mon-Yough area claims Sen. Jim Brewster is “unlikely to seek re-election” and then asks recipients, “which of the following Democrats would you be most likely to support to replace him?”

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Top Story

1. A Leaky Roof Is About To Close The PA House For Months. Can The Legislature Finish A Budget First?

“State lawmakers will return to Harrisburg next week in hopes of finally ending nearly six months of partisan deadlock on the last pieces of Pennsylvania’s $45.4 billion budget.

While Gov. Josh Shapiro’s signature on the spending plan in August has allowed most of those dollars to be sent to K-12 schools, state workers’ paychecks, and other programs, disagreements between the Democratic-controlled state House and Republican-controlled state Senate over a handful of budget-enabling bills have left funding for libraries, community colleges, and nonprofits across the commonwealth in legislative purgatory.

Top lawmakers are aware of the consequences of their inaction, and while trading blame, have set a high bar for the coming session days.” (Spotlight PA)

• Repairs To Historic Pennsylvania House Chamber Prompt Three-Month Hiatus For Lawmakers. (Penn Capital-Star)
• A Water Leak And A Light Schedule Are The Latest Sources Of Harrisburg Bickering.  (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Related

Trump Told Supporters To ‘Guard The Vote’ In Philly. Here’s The Phrase’s Backstory And Why It’s Raising Concern. “Former President Donald Trump is urging supporters to “guard the vote” during next year’s election, a phrase that has set off alarm bells among pro-democracy advocates who say it signals permission to take extreme measures that could intimidate voters and threaten election workers.” (AP)

Casey Outflanked By Local Democrat On Debate Over Penn President Magill And Antisemitism. “Although the 2024 elections are a full eleven months away, candidates — incumbent Democrats in particular — are having to navigate the current Israeli-Hamas war with voters in mind. And just as incumbent U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D) was trying to maneuver against his likely Republican opponent on the issue as it heated to new levels, he may have been outflanked by a member of his own party.” (Broad + Liberty)

Dave McCormick Wants To Ban China From These Six Things As He Debuts More Hawkish Campaign Tactics. “Dave McCormick outlined six aggressive measures Thursday that he thinks the United States should take against China to curb what he described as a danger to American security and economic independence as he tries to out-hawk Sen. Bob Casey in his bid for the U.S. Senate.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Pennsylvanians Get Relief As Biden Cancels Nearly $5 Billion More In Student Debt. “The Biden administration on Wednesday announced that it approved the cancellation of nearly $5 billion in additional federal student loan debt for more than 80,000 borrowers, providing relief to many middle- and working-class borrowers.” (The Keystone)

State

2. Shapiro Calls His First Year A Success Despite Some Disappointments

“Shortly after his inauguration as governor last January, Josh Shapiro had his first sit-down television interview at KDKA-TV. Nearly a year later, the governor on Thursday sat down with KDKA-TV political editor Jon Delano to review his progress to date.

This is the time of year that politicians like to do wrap-ups on their successes over the last year, and Gov. Shapiro is no exception, but the governor is the first to admit that he didn’t get everything in 2023 that he wanted.” (CBS Pittsburgh)

Related

SD-19: Comitta Announces Reelection Bid. “Calling Chester County “the best place to live, work, and raise a family,” state Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) announced her intent to run for reelection to the 19th State Senatorial District seat.” (PoliticsPA)

HD-125: Kerwin Announces Reelection Run. “State Representative Joe Kerwin announced his intent to run for reelection in the 125th Legislative District on Wednesday.” (PoliticsPA)

PA Community Colleges Are Still Waiting For State Funding. “Legislators have yet to approve the $261 million that Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed. The colleges’ funding is now over five months overdue. Impact at regional colleges varies.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Pennsylvania Representatives Call On Penn Board To Remove Magill. “A group of six Pennsylvania Republicans called on the University of Pennsylvania to fire its president, Liz Magill, following backlash against comments she made at a House committee hearing Tuesday.” (The Hill)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Philly Republican Leaders Worry Donald Trump Could Be A ‘Bloodbath’ For Their Party In The Region

“There’s good reason for (Philadelphia GOP chair Vince) Fenerty and a bar full of GOP party leaders in heavily Democratic Philadelphia to like alternatives to (Donald) Trump, who is the frontrunner to become the party’s presidential nominee and has declined to debate his opponents. They worry about the other races in Pennsylvania next year, wary of the negative impact they think Trump had in the last two elections.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

Scranton and Reading Railroad Proposals Just Got $1M From The Federal Government. Is The Lehigh Valley’s Plan For A Train Left Behind? “It may appear the Lehigh Valley’s bid to restore passenger rail service has been left at the station.” (Morning Call)

How Local Government Works: A Key Factor In Determining Property Taxes Varies Wildly Across Pennsylvania. “Property taxes are the lifeblood of municipal revenue and services in Pennsylvania, but depending on when a county last assessed its property values, local governments can overflow with cash or be strapped for it.” (Spotlight PA)

Cambria County Commissioners Apply For $7M Loan To Cover End-Of-Year Finances. “The Cambria County commissioners on Thursday approved an application for a $7 million bridge loan from First National Bank to help cover end-of-the-year expenses and start the new year.” (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat)

Jim Kenney Dishes Out Shade For Democrats Who Lost The Primary For Mayor. “Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney was talking legacy near the end of his second term when Clout asked about the Democrats who want his job. He didn’t hold back.” (Philadelphia Inquirer Clout)

Innamorato’s Transition Team Strikes A Balance Between Allegheny County Progressives And Moderates. “Let’s stipulate from the outset: When politicians name the members of their transition teams prior to taking office, very few carbon-based lifeforms care — unless they are among the appointees.” (WESA Politics)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• Desensitized States of America: Has Trump Made The Country Just Numb Enough? (John T. Bennett)
• What Went Unsaid At The Congressional Hearings On Antisemitism On College Campuses. (Jonathan Zimmerman)
• Faculty Will Resist State Mandates For A College Education. (Michael A. MacDowell)
• Save Our Most Vulnerable Kids: Invest In Our Juvenile Justice System. (George Hartwick and Chadwick Libby)
• It’s Time for Educational Choice in PA. (Rep. Joe D’Orsie)
• 1933 Comes to Sansom Street. (Larry Platt)

1 Thing

5. The Color of the Year

Pantone 13-1023 — aka “Peach fuzz” — is Pantone’s color of the year for 2024.

The company said it selected this particular hue — a “velvety gentle peach whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul” — as a way to provide some good vibes “at a time of turmoil in many aspects of our lives.”

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