House Republicans release a draft congressional map, while a separate map – billed as a “deal” – leaked from the Senate. Here is the Playbook.

News  

‘Lawmakers to take first steps toward new congressional map’: The Associated Press reports that “a key state House committee has homed in on a proposed map of Pennsylvania’s new U.S. congressional districts, and could vote to advance it as early as next week.”

Proposed PA Senate Congressional Map Leaks: The Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman tweeted out a “deal” map that is “circulating in the PA Senate that would turn Rep. Conor Lamb (D)’s seat red in exchange for giving state Sen. Sharif Street (D) a path to primarying #PA02 Rep. Brendan Boyle (D).” 

‘First debate announced for Republicans running for governor in Pa.’: PennLive reports that “the first debate among Republicans vying to be Pennsylvania’s next governor will be held Jan. 5 at Dickinson College in Carlisle.”

‘Court grapples with legality of state school masking mandate’: The Associated Press reports that “a lawyer for Pennsylvania’s acting health secretary on Wednesday defended the validity of the secretary’s order requiring masks inside K-12 schools to fight COVID-19, asking state Supreme Court justices to focus on a single regulation.” 

‘Sharply split State Employees Retirement System board defeats effort to cancel Gov. Wolf’s vaccination bonus for some staff’: PennLive reports that “by a 6-5 vote Wednesday, State Employees Retirement System trustees beat back a proposal to cancel Gov. Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 vaccination incentive bonuses for management and professional staff at the main public pension system for Pennsylvania’s state employees.”

‘Big donor in high court race eyeing candidates for governor’: The Associated Press reports that “the biggest single campaign donor in this year’s race for a seat on Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court is now aiming to endorse a candidate for governor and, with $20 million in a bank account, it could be a transformative endorsement.” 

‘Republicans say voter ID will increase voters’ trust in elections; researchers say otherwise’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “a bill now before the state House would allow for early voting, restrict how voters can return mail-in ballots, and modernize large swathes of the state’s 1937 election law.”

‘The Pa. politicians who got Local 98 campaign money aren’t having second thoughts, even after Johnny Doc’s conviction’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “prominent Pennsylvania politicians who’ve benefited from the union’s largesse aren’t renouncing its campaign cash — or saying much of anything.”

‘Doug Mastriano wants to stop giving raises to public officials’: City & State PA reports that “State Sen. Doug Mastriano plans to introduce legislation that would end the annual cost-of-living adjustments granted to public officials each year, including the governor, lieutenant governor, judges and members of the General Assembly.”

‘Olympic gold medalist and Lehigh Valley politician Marty Nothstein charged with stalking ex-lover and her boyfriend’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “Olympic gold medal-winning cyclist and former Lehigh County Commissioner Marty Nothstein is accused of stalking a woman with whom he had a six-year affair and her new boyfriend after the woman ended their relationship in 2020, according to court documents detailing the allegations against Nothstein.”

‘South WB Democrat Kelly looks to challenge Rep. Cartwright’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “South Wilkes-Barre resident Brian Kelly has announced he is running for the Democratic nomination in the 8th Congressional District, the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, a Democrat from Moosic.”

‘Pa. Lawmaker Has Bill To End County And Municipalities Spending Millions Of Tax Dollars On Lobbyists’: KDKA reports that “laws to restrict lobbyists have been introduced before but never made it into law.”

‘WATCH VIDEO | Barletta campaigns for governor in Cambria County’: The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports that former Congressman Lou Barletta, a candidate for governor, spoke at the “Cambria County Republican Party headquarters in Richland Township” on Tuesday.

Gingrich Endorses Sands: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Ambassador Callista Gingrich have endorsed Carla Sands for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, according to a press release from the Sands campaign.

‘Preliminary Congressional map selected by House committee splits Cumberland County’: The Carlisle Sentinel reports that “the House State Government Committee on Wednesday selected a citizen map as its preliminary congressional district plan, a selection that parcels out parts of Cumberland County into two districts and places Harrisburg with counties west and north of Cumberland.”

‘Pa. redistricting panel’s first map: what it means for 11th District, Lancaster County’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “the first draft of Pennsylvania’s new congressional map to come out of a state House panel appears to hold good news for Lancaster County’s representative in the U.S. House and the Republican Party.”

‘Chester, Montgomery counties would see changes in GOP Pa. congressional map proposal’: KYW Newsradio reports that “Republicans in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives are out with their version of a new congressional map, one which would change districting in parts of Chester and Montgomery counties.”

‘CeaseFirePA outside Laughlin’s office to slam his support of concealed carry bill’: The Erie Times-News reports that “roughly 40 people gathered outside the district office of State Sen. Dan Laughlin on Wednesday to protest his support of a bill to ease restrictions on carrying concealed guns.”

‘Keller responds to issues facing region’: The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that “two proposals have the attention of U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, R-Kreamer — the possibility of locating Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices on Williamsport’s Reach Road and an effort by the Maryland Air National Guard to conduct low-altitude training over Tioga County.”

‘GOP Rep. Joyce opposes infrastructure bill, vaccine mandates in telephone town hall’: The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports that “U.S. Rep. John Joyce, R-Blair, spent much of a 45-minute telephone town hall on Wednesday railing against Democratic President Joe Biden’s policies.”

‘Pa. Senate and governor’s races’: WHYY provides “an update on the Senate and gubernatorial races, the candidates and what’s at stake for the battleground state.”

‘Pennsylvania state university system posts $32M in losses as enrollment dives’: The Philadelphia Business Journal reports that “enrollment at PASSHE schools dropped by about 25% since 2010.”

‘New PA Farm Show milkshake flavor will debut in 2022; here’s what it is’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “the PA Dairymen’s Association announced recently that it would debut a black raspberry flavored milkshake for 2022’s Farm Show.”

‘No toll hikes for DRPA’s New Jersey, Pennsylvania spans’: The Associated Press reports that “it will cost motorists the same to cross the Delaware River Port Authority’s bridges between New Jersey and Pennsylvania next year.”

‘Mayor Kenney acknowledges Philadelphia has ‘a gun crisis’ but sidesteps questions about DA Larry Krasner’s crime comments’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “two days after District Attorney Larry Krasner stirred outrage by insisting the city isn’t in the midst of a crime or violence crisis, two of Philadelphia’s most prominent officials sought Wednesday to gingerly wade into — or away from — the issue.”

‘Mayor Jim Kenney tells D.A. and city controller they’re on their own for inauguration ceremony’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Mayor Jim Kenney has canceled the city’s traditional January inauguration ceremony for District Attorney Larry Krasner and City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart, telling the newly reelected officials that they are on their own to organize swearing-in events due to budget constraints caused by the coronavirus pandemic.”

‘Police Commissioner Outlaw says rumors she is resigning to go to NYPD are ‘out of control’’: WHYY reports that “Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw took a clear opportunity Wednesday to squash a surging rumor that she would soon be resigning her Philadelphia post and packing her bags to become the new top cop in New York City.”

‘Philly’s eviction diversion program takes step to outlast the pandemic that inspired it’: WHYY reports that “Philadelphia City Council is one step closer to enacting legislation that would make permanent the city’s emergency eviction diversion program, a pandemic-inspired alternative to landlord-tenant court credited with keeping thousands of residents in their homes while dramatically reducing the number of eviction proceedings in the city.”

‘Philadelphia to pilot high-tech solution for delivery trucks clogging city streets’: PhillyVoice reports that “in March 2022, Philadelphia will pilot a program to decrease traffic congestion by having delivery drivers reserve loading spots online ahead of their arrival.”

‘Pittsburgh City Council and Wilkinsburg residents consider annexing the borough’: WESA reports that on an “episode of The Confluence: The Borough of Wilkinsburg could be annexed into the City of Pittsburgh, but the proposal still has a long way to go.”

‘Mayor-elect Gainey puts controversial transit project on hold as multi-modal vision of Hazelwood Green becomes more uncertain’: Pittsburgh City Paper reports that “as first reported by Technical.ly Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Mayor-elect Ed Gainey announced on Nov. 24 that when he takes office in January, he will place the city’s Mon-Oakland Connector project on hold.”

‘Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto Receives Proclamation From Allegheny Co. Council’: KDKA reports that “Mayor Bill Peduto was honored by Allegheny County Council on Tuesday evening.”

‘Blair 2022 budget holds taxes steady’: The Altoona Mirror reports that “Blair County commissioners introduced the 2022 budget on Tuesday that’s supported by current real estate tax levies.”

‘Proposed Scranton budget complies with Act 47 exit plan goals, city’s recovery coordinator says’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti’s significantly revised 2022 budget proposal meets the goals of Scranton’s Act 47 exit plan, the city’s financial recovery coordinator found.”

‘Mullery bill would eliminate automatic pay raises for elected officials’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Rep. Gerald Mullery said this week that he is continuing his efforts to reform Harrisburg and keep elected officials accountable by introducing legislation which would end the perk of annual automatic pay raises for legislators.”

‘Wilkes-Barre City Council passes Mayor Brown’s 2022 budget’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “City Council Tuesday approved Mayor George Brown’s $54.4 million balanced budget for 2022 and took the first steps toward expanding permit parking downtown and lowering recycling and sewer maintenance fees.”

‘Bethlehem City Council moves closer to approving 2022 budget, but some have concerns with new position mayor-elect wants’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “Bethlehem City Council approved a procedural vote Tuesday night to advance the 2022 proposed budget after several tense budget hearings and conflict between the city’s mayor-elect and an outgoing council member over a new administrative position.” 

‘Lehigh Valley doctor involved in ivermectin case as Pennsylvania lawmakers consider bill on controversial drug’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “disagreements in the case of a York County man fighting for his life with COVID-19 that have led to the involvement of security guards as well as a Lehigh Valley physician illustrate the need for a bill on the controversial drug ivermectin, according to state Rep. Kathy Rapp.”

‘Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong attends roundtable in Washington, D.C.’: WFMZ reports that “Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong is attending the 2021 County Executive Roundtable in Washington, D.C. this week.”

‘‘Community Conversation’ held to address Greene broadband issues’: The Observer-Reporter reports that “more than two dozen residents attended a “Community Conversation” held at the Greene County Fairgrounds Monday evening to discuss broadband access and speed issues in the area and learn about an ongoing statewide connectivity improvement plan.”

‘Williamsport’s financial audits for 2019, 2020 ‘rough,’ auditors claim’: The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that “an auditing firm says the city’s financial state for the years 2019 and 2020 is more questionable than anyone thought — and it needs more time and staff to answer those questions.”

‘Luzerne County Council rejects proposed cut of new IT staffers’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “After extensive discussion Tuesday, a Luzerne County Council majority decided not to reduce the administration’s requested 2022 information technology department budget.”

‘Preventing veteran suicide this holiday starts with a caring message’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “the Pennsylvania arm of a nationwide initiative to prevent suicide among military veterans, service members, and their families is encouraging Pennsylvanians to send a “caring message” to veterans and service members this holiday season.”

‘People over 70 make up well over half of Pa.’s latest COVID-19 deaths: update’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania logged 654 COVID-19 deaths during the week ending Sunday, with 66% involving people 70 or older, according to the latest COVID-19 update from the state health department.”

Opinion  
Jake Corman: Personal freedoms are worth fighting for
Michael Rubin: Pennsylvania probation system needs reform, and the Senate can do it this week 
Paul Muschick: Why school boards should share – rather than stifle – offensive speech at meetings
Harry Campbell: Clean water bills will benefit hunters, anglers and others who love the outdoors
John L. Micek: Report paints uncertain picture of Pa. child welfare system in pandemic | Wednesday Morning Coffee
Roy Rosin: Why Taxpayers Should Fund News
Keith Naughton: Perilous Pennsylvania, Trump’s non-strategy takes another hit
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: City Council moves to combat lead poisoning
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: White nationalist stickers at Millersville University offer disturbing evidence of hatred that must be rebuked 
Adam Garber and Dillon Harris: Debate: After a school shooting, should parents be held accountable? | Pro/Con
Christine Flowers: Vaccination mandates take a toll on workers, too
Solomon Jones: One lie led to the death of Emmett Till. How many others have sent Black men to jail? 
Bruce Melgary: For the nonprofit sector, the pandemic offers lessons in resilience | Rebuilding Philly
Lynn Margherio and Michal Smith: A Right To Diapers
Trudy Rubin: Can Biden and NATO prevent Putin from invading Ukraine? Summit puts it to the test. 
The Grammarian: Two little letters that could skew the Pa. Senate race