He has momentum from four caucus straw votes wins. So who is Dave White? Are political parties sitting out the primary chase? Lanco chooses a new commissioner today. Here is the Playbook. 

News

Who is Dave White and Why Is He Doing So Well?: He has won four of five caucus straw polls. He has more than $2.5 million on hand entering 2022. He has momentum. So who is Dave White?

DelRosso Joins Lt. Governor Fray: Carrie Lewis DelRosso, the freshman state lawmaker from Oakmont, decided to tack from her House position and set her sights on the office of Lieutenant Governor.

White, Bartos Win Again: The PA Republican Southeast Caucus met last evening and gave another straw vote win to Dave White. The businessman from Delaware County received 30 votes from the party faithful while Bill McSwain was second with 20.

‘Wolf vetoes bill to prevent municipal firearms restrictions’: The Associated Press reports that “a bill to help gun owners and gun-rights groups seek civil damages from governmental bodies that pass firearms restrictions was vetoed on Thursday by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf.”

‘Governor sues to force carbon-pricing plan to take effect’: The Associated Press reports that “Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration went to court Thursday to force through its regulation imposing a price on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants, the centerpiece of the Democrat’s plan to fight climate change that is stuck in a dispute with the Republican-controlled Legislature.”

‘Pennsylvania has some big races in 2022, but political parties are mostly staying silent. Why?’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “even with an open governor’s mansion and control of the U.S. Senate potentially running through the commonwealth, Pennsylvania’s once powerful political parties are poised to play little role in picking their candidates for November.”

‘Jake Corman on his run for Pa. governor, Trump’s influence on the primary, and the 2020 election’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “the leader of the state Senate sat down with The Inquirer to discuss his campaign in a very crowded Republican primary.”

‘New poll shows an advantage for Republican state candidates this year’: City & State PA reports that “a committee dedicated to electing Republican state lawmakers has released a new poll on the political headwinds in Pennsylvania, and Republicans appear to have an advantage early on in 2022.”

City & State PA’s Biggest Winners & Losers This Week: City & State PA highlights the three winners and losers in Pennsylvania politics last week.

‘Pennsylvania lt. gov., Senate hopeful Fetterman: Republicans’ use of critical race theory ‘divisive dog whistling’’: The Hill reports that “Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D), who is running for the state’s open Senate seat in November, described Republicans’ use of issues such as critical race theory (CRT) as “divisive dog whistling.””

‘Dr. Oz is running as a China hawk. It’s a bit of a stretch.’: POLITICO reports that “Republican Mehmet Oz, whose Pennsylvania Senate campaign against David McCormick is focused on the former hedge fund CEO’s China ties, has his own close relationship with the country that helped net him and his TV show millions of dollars.”

‘GOP makes case for school choice, not money in Pa. funding trial’: WHYY reports that “after nine weeks of testimony from plaintiffs in a landmark trial over Pennsylvania’s system for funding public education, defense attorneys for GOP legislative leaders have started to present their case.”

‘With Pa. Facing ‘critical shortage,’ state physician general issues call for donations’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “Pennsylvania is in critical need of blood donations following months of decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, state health officials and blood bank leaders said Thursday.”

‘Democrat Dan Pastore Hopes To Take On Incumbent GOP Congressman Mike Kelly’: KDKA reports that “Pennsylvania’s congressional districts are still not finalized, but that hasn’t stopped candidates from announcing their intentions. The latest entry is Dan Pastore, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly in a congressional district just north of Pittsburgh.”

‘Bobby Henon got some help from his former Council office as he looks for a lighter prison sentence’: Philly Clout reports that “it’s common for convicted politicians to solicit letters of support prior to sentencing. But this request came from his former office.”

‘Pa. casinos hit jackpot with record year’: PennLive reports that “in 2021 Pennsylvania casinos hit the jackpot, scoring a record-breaking year for gaming with total revenues topping $4.7 billion.”

‘Pennsylvania state university system launches first diversity survey’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “the survey is the latest step by the system to improve conditions on its campuses, particularly for students of color, who have been speaking out about racism.”

‘Energy Transfer facing nine counts of environmental crimes for 2018 pipeline blast’: StateImpactPA reports that “Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro and a statewide investigating grand jury are charging a Texas company with environmental crimes related to a 2018 pipeline explosion in Beaver County.”

‘Lancaster County is expected to have its new commissioner chosen Friday, following interviews with 13 applicants’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “a new Lancaster County commissioner is expected to be chosen on Friday, following public interviews with the 13 Democratic candidates vying to replace former Democratic Commissioner Craig Lehman, who resigned a month ago.”

‘City Council confirms Republican Seth Bluestein to fill vacant City Commissioner seat’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “City Council on Thursday voted to confirm Seth Bluestein as one of the three commissioners on the city’s three-person election board, filling a vacancy left by Bluestein’s former boss, Al Schmidt, amid some opposition from progressive lawmakers.”

‘A Philly City Council member wants to ban demolition in her district for six months. Some say that’s illegal.’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Councilmember Cindy Bass said she wants to give residents time to process changes in her Northwest Philadelphia district.”

‘Dr. Oz, candidate for U.S. Senate, pays a visit to West Chester’: The Daily Local News reports that “TV star, author and now a candidate for U.S. Senate Dr. Oz discussed politics and met with supporters at Sedona Taphouse in West Chester during a campaign stop.”

‘PA lawmakers hear from Penn State faculty about inclusion, diversity concerns’: The Centre Daily Times reports that “the PA House Democratic Policy Committee held a hearing on Wednesday titled, “Diverse by Example: Increasing Participation in Academia,” that navigated equity and inclusion in higher education and gave faculty of color the opportunity to share their experiences at Penn State.”

‘Bill seeks transparency in federal transport of migrants’: WFMZ reports that “U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser was joined Thursday by more than 30 of his Republican colleagues in introducing the Immigration Transparency and Transit Notification Act.”

‘Berks County hires elections director’: The Reading Eagle reports that “the commissioners appointed Paige Riegner to serve as the director of the Office of Elections Services at their weekly meeting Thursday. The 33-year-old Washington Township resident will start the job Feb. 22 at an annual salary of $90,000.”

‘Legislators want to legalize sterile syringe distribution in attempt to capture federal dollars’: WESA reports that “the distribution of sterile syringes for drug use can incur a felony offense throughout most of Pennsylvania, even though the Biden administration provides funding to support such harm-reduction efforts.”

‘Philly unveils first-of-its-kind Narcan vending machine at West Philly Free Library’: WHYY reports that “Philadelphia health officials unveiled on Tuesday an innovative way to give out the overdose-reversal drug naloxone: a vending machine.”

‘Philadelphia officials challenge hospitals and universities to spend $75M with minority-owned businesses’: The Philadelphia Business Journal reports that “Mayor Jim Kenney and other public officials are challenging Philadelphia-area institutions to spend $75 million on local Black- and brown-owned businesses this year.”

‘Judge asked to hold Williamsport in contempt for not complying with ADA consent decree’: PennLive reports that “a federal judge has been asked to hold the city of Williamsport in contempt of court and impose a fine of $350 a day for failing to comply with a consent decree to make City Hall fully accessible to those with disabilities.”

‘Civil Rights Leader Alma Speed Fox Laid To Rest’: KDKA reports that “Pittsburgh Civil Rights icon Alma Speed Fox was laid to rest today after a funeral service at Calvary Episcopal Church.”

‘Thousands call for resignation of Oxford school director who blamed ‘illegal immigrants’ for declining test scores’: The Daily Local News reports that “a petition signed by more than 46,000 is calling for the resignation of an Oxford School Board member after comments she made about immigrants at a meeting several weeks ago.”

‘Delco anticipates saving millions in prison transition’: The Delaware County Daily Times reports that “Delaware County officials say the county is on track to save millions of dollars from taking over the operations of the George W. Hill Correctional Facility, with more details to be revealed Tuesday.”

‘Sheryl Lee Ralph on ‘Abbott Elementary,’ her marriage to State Sen. Vincent Hughes, and the show’s Philly cred’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “as Barbara Howard, the Jim Gardner loving, always freshly manicured, regal kindergarten teacher, Ralph says she has found “the big hit.””

Opinion  
John Baer: John Fetterman’s Senate campaign is as unconventional as he is; that raises questions 
Rick Bloomingdale, Frank Snyder and Laura Chu Wiens: Safe, reliable, and affordable transit is the fastest route to an equitable society 
Gene Barr and Wendell Young IV: Is it time for Pennsylvania to get out of the booze business? | Pro/Con
John L. Micek: Facing staff shortages, rising costs, Pa. schools at ‘critical juncture’ | Thursday Morning Coffee
Becky Bennett: Across the Divide: More Americans prep for Doomsday—while rural residents live it
Zachary Wilcha: A Western Pa. town repealed a critical ban on discrimination. Which town will be next? 
Jenice Armstrong: Debate over critical race theory shows why we need Black History Month 
Arthur H. Garrison: The Supreme Court is about to change America
Inquirer Editorial Board: ​​Philly officials managed to collaborate on gun violence report, but can they implement their own recommendations? 
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Pittsburgh bridge collapse shows urgency of fixing infrastructure in Lancaster County 
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Area chairman’s forced exit illustrates Lancaster County GOP’s shift toward extremism
Charles D. Ellison: Reality Check: One Word to Fix Philly’s Trash Crisis? Invest. 
Julie L. Holcomb: How 18th Century Quakers led a sugar boycott to protest slavery
Trudy Rubin: Don’t let Putin fool the West while he tries to dismember Ukraine 
Roxanne Patel Shepelavy: The Ultimate Black History Month Playbook 
Inga Saffron: Robert Venturi’s iconic Chestnut Hill cottage is a pioneer for a new form of housing
Jessica Blatt Press: The Answer To Our Youth Mental Health Crisis?