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What We’re Hearing
“House Democrats have instead set a terrible precedent for what to expect over the next two years and beyond.” – State Rep. Bryan Cutler.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Sen. Patrick Browne.

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Top Story

1. McClinton Swearing In Raises GOP Ire

“Rep. Joanna McClinton was sworn in by Delaware County Judge Richard H. Lowe as House Majority Leader for the 2023-24 legislative session, becoming the first woman in Pennsylvania history to serve as the House’s presiding officer.

The manner of her swearing in did not sit well with House Republicans.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Democrats Try To Secure State House Majority In 2023 Amid Dispute Over Special Elections. “Democrats in the state House say they have scheduled Feb. 7 as the date for special elections in three Allegheny County House seats — a move likely to set off a court dispute, and certain to deepen an already complicated debate about who leads the closely-divided chamber.” (WESA)

Dispute Over PA House Special Elections, Control Likely Headed To Court. “Democrats say they are now in control of the Pennsylvania House after their top leader had herself sworn in a month before the new legislative session begins in order to schedule three critical special elections.” (Spotlight PA)

• Democrats Move To Take Power With Narrow PA House Majority (Associated Press)
• Power Struggle In Harrisburg Intensifies As Reps. Davis And Lee Resign. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• PA House’s Unprecedented Power Struggle Shows No Let Up In The Drama Surrounding It. (PennLive)
• Tug Of War For State House Intensifies. (City & State)

Washington

2. Casey, Toomey Announce Confirmation Of Four U.S. District Judges

“U.S. Senators Bob Casey and Pat Toomey have announced the confirmation of four new United States District Judges for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Mia Perez, Kai Scott, Kelley Hodge and John Murphy were confirmed by the Senate as federal district court judges.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Perez, Three Others Confirmed To Serve On The Federal Bench. “Courts in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania are poised to receive a freshman class of four federal judges this week as part of a decade-long Senate effort by Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) to confirm 33 members to the Commonwealth’s judiciary. ” (Al Dia)

Courts

3. Supreme Court Justices Skeptical Of ‘Independent Legislature Theory’ In Case That Could Reshape Elections

“The Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed skeptical of making a broad ruling that would leave state legislatures virtually unchecked in making rules for congressional and presidential elections.

In nearly three hours of arguments, liberal and conservative justices appeared to take issue with the main thrust of a challenge asking them to essentially eliminate the power of state courts to strike down legislature-drawn, gerrymandered congressional district maps on grounds that they violate state constitutions.” (Associated Press)

Related

Supreme Court Seems Poised To Reject Robust Reading Of ‘Independent State Legislature’ Theory. “The Supreme Court on Wednesday struggled to find consensus about a legal theory that could strip state courts’ ability to review election laws passed by legislatures, but a critical bloc of justices seemed likely to reject the most robust version of that theory that could unleash dramatic change in how states oversee elections.” (POLITICO)

• How A PA Court Case Paved The Way For The Gerrymandering Lawsuit In Front Of The Supreme Court. (Associated Press)

Around The Commonwealth

Western PA Democrats To Pick Candidate For Special Election To Replace Dead Lawmaker

“Allegheny County party committees are preparing to pick candidates for three special elections in February that could give Democrats unquestioned control of the state House.” (PennLive)

• Special Elections Set For Two Valley Seats. (Mon Valley Independent)

Trump Blowback Could Carry Less Bite For Some In 2024. “Donald Trump’s attacks on fellow Republican David McCormick contributed to the former hedge fund manager’s loss in Pennsylvania’s Senate primary. Now, as McCormick considers running again for the Senate, Trump’s derision may not be such a liability.” (Associated Press)

Months After PA Supreme Court Justice Baer’s Death, Still No Word On Replacement. “Gov. Tom Wolf remains publicly undecided about whether he’ll nominate someone to the commonwealth’s top bench or leave the potential honor to his successor.” (Beaver County Times)

PA Panel To Vote On Proposal Defining Sex, Race. “Pennsylvania government regulations would be revised with extensive definitions of sex, religious creed and race under a proposal set for a vote on Thursday — a change some Republican lawmakers see as an overreach on a subject they think should not be addressed without legislation.” (Associated Press)

Allentown City Council Passes $138M Budget For 2023. “Allentown City Council members Wednesday night passed Mayor Matt Tuerk’s $138 million budget for 2023.” (Morning Call)

Opinion

• The Independent State Legislature Theory Is A Threat To Free and Fair Elections. (Jim Greenwood, Philadelphia Inquirer)
• A U.S. Supreme Court Case Could Reverse 200 Years Of Progress On Voting Rights. (Henry L. Chambers Jr., Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
• Pittsburgh Picks Highlight Encouraging Shapiro Transition Team. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• The 2024 Presidential Race Is Starting To Take Shape, But Not A Shape Anyone Wants. (John Baer, PennLive)
• As Demographics Change, Now What? (Dennis M. Powell, The Hill)
• ‘Minority Rules’ Seems To Be Democrats’ Mantra In Harrisburg. (Lewistown Sentinel)

1 Mispronounced Thing

The Most Mangled Words

“Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa explained the significance of the Chicxulub impact crater to actor Domhnall Gleeson over a drink of negroni sbagliato in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia,” is the kind of sentence that just might tie your tongue up in knots.

It contains five examples from this year’s list of the most mispronounced words released Wednesday by The Captioning Group, which since 1991 has captioned and subtitled real-time events on television in the U.S. and Canada.