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February 2nd Playbook

PA Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar will be resigning at the end of the week after the Department of State failed to advertise a constitutional amendment. Here is the Playbook. 

January 29th Ups and Downs: A PA Republican is mentioned in a New York Times report about a plot to oust an Attorney General, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney receives pushback over a report on summer protests and COVID-19 vaccine rollout, plus the former Dem House Leader lands a new job. All of that and more are in this week’s Ups and Downs. 

Schmitt Named Subcommittee Chair on Railroads, Secretary of House State Government Committee: State Rep. Lou Schmitt (R-Blair) has been appointed to serve as the chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads under the House Transportation Committee and will serve as secretary of the House State Government Committee, according to a release from Pennsylvania House Republicans. 

Harrisburg & DC   
Spotlight PA: Top Pa. election official to resign after agency bungled requirement for constitutional amendment
Spotlight PA: There’s another path for survivors of clergy sex abuse to get justice. It faces an uphill climb.
Spotlight PA: Stress, delays, and confusion still plague jobless in Pennsylvania, and January brought little relief
AP: State agency bungles ballot referendum for child sex victims
AP: Snow delays Pennsylvania governor’s budget address a day
AP: Bucks County man charged with officer assault at US Capitol
AP: Philadelphia probes vaccination site awarded to student, 22
AP: A gloomy Groundhog Day: Punxsutawney Phil says more winter
Inquirer: Pa. Republicans are stumped by Trump’s pick of Bruce Castor for his impeachment defense. Others see a ‘natural choice.’
Inquirer: 5 things to know about Bruce Castor, the Montgomery County lawyer now repping Donald Trump
Inquirer: Bob Casey wants Biden and Democrats to swing for the fences: ‘Go big or go home’
Inquirer: Pennsylvania voters are about to receive mail ballot applications. Things could get confusing.
Inquirer: Bucks man charged with assaulting police officer during U.S. Capitol riot
Patriot News: Marijuana, natural gas tax and higher minimum wage: Pa. Gov. Wolf’s budget plan carries familiar themes 
Patriot News: Angry over botched constitutional amendment, Pa. lawmakers call for action to aid child sexual abuse victims 
Patriot News: Pa. Senate GOP leaders call for a full investigation into Kathy Boockvar’s mistake
Patriot News: Gov. Wolf declares ‘disaster emergency’ due to winter storm
Patriot News: 63 Pa. counties show substantial spread of COVID-19, positive test rate drops for 7th week
York Daily Record: Who they are: The 12 Pennsylvania residents arrested for U.S. Capitol insurrection
WHYY Newsworks: Survivors react to Pa’s botched sexual abuse amendment: ‘You’ve got to be kidding me’
WHYY Newsworks: A primer on Pa.’s Bruce Castor, who Trump tapped to co-lead his impeachment defense 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Top Pa. election official Boockvar to step down after error delays sex abuse reform
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. parks see growth during pandemic | The Numbers Racket
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: SWPA lawmaker’s bill would create new Pa. broadband authority, expand access | Monday Morning Coffee 
Pennsylvania Capital-Star: It was already awkward between Wolf and lawmakers. The Boockvar blow-up just made it worse | Tuesday Morning Coffee
KDKA: Fiasco At Pennsylvania State Department Leads To Secretary’s Resignation And Upends Sexual Abuse Survivors’ Ability To Sue
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pennsylvania: State Ranks 44th In Getting People Vaccinated
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pennsylvania: More Than 1M Vaccine Doses Administered 
Morning Call: Who is Bruce Castor? What we know about former prosecutor representing Trump at impeachment trial 
USA Today: PA secretary of state Kathy Boockvar out after failing to advertise victims rights amendment
PLSReporter: Boockvar to resign after DOS mismanages constitutional amendment 
PLSReporter: Feb. 1 COVID-19 Update: Over 1 million vaccines administered, DOH says
Post-Gazette: Pat Toomey opposes GOP’s relief proposal ahead of senators’ meeting with President Biden
Post-Gazette: State updates unemployment programs set up for pandemic assistance
Fox News: Pennsylvania Secretary of State Boockvar to step down after failure to advertise constitutional amendment 
CNHI: Toomey resists calls for more COVID relief
National Journal: Pennsylvania’s Poconos shifted left, but will it last?
National Journal: Kenneth Braithwaite Considers Bid for GOP Nomination
The Hill: Man facing federal charges in attack on Capitol officer who suffered concussion
Tribune Review: ‘Just sick over it’: Clergy sexual abuse victims, their advocates lament error that derailed Pa. amendment
Politico: He used to win elections in a Never-Trump stronghold. Now he’s leading Trump’s legal team.
Politico: These states had big plans for addressing Covid disparities. They’re still struggling to vaccinate underserved communities.

Philadelphia 
KYW Newsradio: Kenney defends Philly’s vaccine rollout as City Council tries to take stronger hand in vaccine contracts
KYW Newsradio: Second longest-serving federal judge in Philadelphia dies 
Inquirer: City Council proposes new vaccine rollout oversight amid Philly Fighting COVID fiasco: ‘This will never happen again’ 
Inquirer: Philly-based Duane Morris adds former U.S. Attorney McSwain to its ranks 
Inquirer: Pharmacies soon will offer COVID-19 vaccines to seniors in Philadelphia. No options yet for the homebound.
WHYY Newsworks: Philadelphia Health Department under investigation as it seeks new vaccine partners 
Philly Voice: As Philly Fighting COVID probe continues, city turns toward next steps for vaccination
Billy Penn: South Philly’s Andrew Jackson School is being renamed after years of advocacy
Philadelphia Business Journal: Farley takes over Philadelphia’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout after deputy resigns
Philadelphia Business Journal: Former U.S. Attorney William McSwain joins Duane Morris

SEPA
Montgomery Media: Bruce Castor no stranger to national spotlight
Delco Daily Times: Delco’s new Pennsylvania senator John Kane focused on job in Harrisburg
Delco Daily Times: Bruce Castor’s career as D.A. included putting killers behind bars for life
Bucks Local News: FEB. 1 COVID-19 BUCKS COUNTY UPDATE: Delayed lab reports inflate cases; hospitalizations down in Bucks
Inquirer: Bucks man charged with assaulting police officer during U.S. Capitol riot
KYW Newsradio: ‘Pardon boxes’ are helping people expunge marijuana crimes from their records
Daily Local News: In Chester County, good news in the fight against COVID

Pittsburgh 
WESA: Debate Over Allegheny County Democratic Endorsement Grows Louder
WESA: Black Women For A Better Education Forms PAC To Endorse Pittsburgh School Board Candidates
WESA: Proposed Hydroelectric Plant Will Power Allegheny County Buildings By 2023
WESA: Rent Relief Didn’t Get To Those Who Needed It. Will Pennsylvania Get It Right The Second Time?
KDKA: State Rep. Dan Frankel Seeking To Introduce Anti-Hate Crime Package Of Bills
KDKA: Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto Introduces Bill To Make Juneteenth City Holiday
KDKA: COVID-19 In Pittsburgh: Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Reports 402 Coronavirus Cases, 1 Additional Death Over 48 Hours
Post-Gazette: Kathy Boockvar to resign as Pa.’s secretary of state over amendment issue
Post-Gazette: Juneteenth could be paid holiday for city employees
Post-Gazette: Check, please? Pittsburgh restaurateurs glad for possible aid but aren’t holding breath
Post-Gazette: COVID-19 Update: Cases in Pa. continue decline
Tribune Review: Peduto bill to be introduced making Juneteenth a Pittsburgh holiday
Tribune Review: Allegheny County saw nearly 40% drop in new covid cases in January
City Paper: Juneteenth proposed as official holiday in city of Pittsburgh

SWPA 
Observer-Reporter: Monessen mayor to seek second term
Observer-Reporter: COVID-19 cases decreasing in Pennsylvania
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Backers dismayed that proposed abuse window amendment faces new delay
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Rendell, wife give civics lesson to UPJ students
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: Westmoreland adds 19 deaths, Cambria COVID rate continues downward trend 
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat: State reports fewest COVID-19 cases since Nov. 8, one death across region

NEPA
Times-Tribune: Cartwright expects more federal dollars for home district in new post
Times-Tribune: Cognetti gambles her party switch won’t matter
Times-Tribune: New Trump impeachment lawyer has NEPA ties  
Times-Tribune: COVID-19 proved deadly, durable over December and January
The Times Leader: Luzerne County frees up $3.3 million due to reimbursement for coronavirus expenses
The Times Leader: Luzerne County may receive additional compensation from developer in tax break
The Times Leader: 69 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Luzerne County Monday; 4 more deaths
Citizens Voice: Cartwright promises more money for home district in new post
Citizens Voice: New Trump impeachment lawyer has NEPA ties
Citizens Voice: County leaders to continue discussion of electoral process this month
Citizens Voice: Luzerne County COVID-19 case total up, positivity rate down
Citizens Voice: 69 new COVID-19 cases reported in county 

South Central 
Patriot News: Lewis Butts Jr. is back for a third attempt to become Harrisburg’s mayor
Patriot News: Attorney Jeff Engle announces run for Dauphin County judge 
York Dispatch: One new death in York County attributed to COVID-19
Carlisle Sentinel: DOH: 67 and 114 new COVID-19 cases for Cumberland County in Monday’s two-day report
LNP | LancasterOnline: 31 people in Lancaster County died of COVID-19 last week; here’s a look into the county, state data

Lehigh Valley       
Reading Eagle: State Rep. Mark Rozzi ‘devastated’ after state agency fails to advertise constitutional amendment for sex abuse victims
Reading Eagle: 2020 saw record voter turnout, but it’s 2021 when voters pick their local leaders
Reading Eagle: Berks County residents, medical professionals call on commissioners to establish health department [Poll]
Reading Eagle: Reading hopes to solve panhandling problem downtown
Reading Eagle: Berks County adds 136 COVID cases and 2 deaths, according to state
Reading Eagle: Risk of community spread of COVID improves in parts of Pennsylvania, but Berks County risk still ‘substantial’
Morning Call: Former Lehigh Valley congressman Charlie Dent named director of group that fosters legislative cooperation in public policy 
Morning Call: New Allentown neighborhood program will invest millions in Center City youth initiatives 
Morning Call: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf issues disaster emergency for ‘one of the most impactful statewide storms’ in history 
Express Times: Pa. coronavirus update: 2,854 new cases in slow reporting day; Lehigh Valley with 247 new cases | Pa. COVID county map (02/01/21)
WFMZ: Rozzi: Referendum mistake ‘heartbreaking for victims’ 

North by Northwest
Erie Times-News: 5 things Erie’s watching for in Wolf’s budget
Erie Times-News: FAQ: Crawford County COVID vaccine distribution
Erie Times-News: Who they are: PA people charged in Capitol riot
Erie Times-News: Face masks required on public transportation and airplanes, CDC says
Erie Times-News: Boockvar out as secretary of state, Wolf says. Here’s why
Erie Times-News: More ways to get vaccine in Erie, but it’s complicated
Erie Times-News: Mass vaccination sites coming to PA in February
Centre Daily Times: Feb. 1 update: Centre County adds 225 COVID-19 cases; Pa. exceeds 1 million vaccinations
Centre Daily Times: Don’t post photos of your COVID vaccine card on social media, BBB says. Here’s why
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: Digging up the city: Resurfacing and accessibility curb upgrades ahead
Williamsport Sun-Gazette: State agency bungles ballot referendum for child sex victims

Opinion  
Paul Muschick: Who is Kathy Boockvar, Pennsylvania’s soon-to-be-former secretary of state?
Mike Krancer: Biden’s version of Green New Deal moves forward, but executive action has its limits
Nelly Jimenez, Deborah Godon Klehr, Susan Spicka, Patty Torres, Laura Boyce, and Jennifer R. Clarke: This budget season, lawmakers have to put underserved students first
York Dispatch Editorial Board: Best, worst of our state on display
Inquirer Editorial Board: After barely surviving 2020, Pa.’s democracy might not survive the Republican effort to gerrymander the court
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Tubman bill is long overdue
Patrick J. Egan: Pa. could enforce death penalty when Gov. Wolf leaves office
Adam Sanchez and Nina Willbach: Philly leaders lied for decades about school safety. Why should teachers trust them during a pandemic? 
John L. Micek: Some winter storm reflections: We’ve forgotten how to shovel each other out
Charles D. Allen: Maj. Gen. Charles C. Rogers: A legacy of Black history 
John Sigle: Mitch McConnell would have to lead an anti-Trump revolt
Jon Geeting: Is It Time For A Permit Parking Blacklist? 
Ray E. Landis: We can’t afford vaccine haves- and have-nots 
Dick Polman: It’s time. Put Harriet Tubman on the $20 
Marion Leary: Patients and families suffer as COVID-19 keeps visitors out of hospitals

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