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What We’re Hearing
“No leader should have the power to just veto a bill by just never putting it on an agenda.”

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. Brendan Boyle.

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Top Story

1. The Special Elections: What to Expect This Week

“In the coming days, three special elections will likely decide which political party controls the Pennsylvania House, breaking a stalemate that has brought operations in the chamber to a complete halt.

The special elections for contested state House seats will be held Tuesday. All three are in Allegheny County districts dominated by registered Democratic voters, and the party is expected to win them.

If that happens, Democrats will hold the state House majority for the first time in more than a decade.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Special Election Preview: 35th State House District. “A year ago, Austin Davis represented the Mon Valley and the 35th District in Harrisburg. Now, he is the Commonwealth’s lieutenant governor. That opens a seat in the State House that requires a special election to fill. That takes place February 7.” (PoliticsPA)

3 Special Elections in Allegheny County Will Determine State House Majority. “Three special elections being held Tuesday in Allegheny County will determine which party has the majority in the state House for the next two years. Voters who live in the 32nd, 34th and 35th state House districts will elect new legislators. With those seats now empty, Republicans hold a slim majority in the House, with 101 seats to Democrats’ 99.” (Tribune-Review)

Harrisburg

2. Ask And Ye Shall Receive? We Want Less Partisan Deadlock

“A statewide listening tour organized by embattled state House Speaker Mark Rozzi revealed widespread frustration with the lower chamber, which has been unable to move forward with official business amid a partisan stalemate.

Members of the public frequently criticized previous versions of the rules that have given the majority party outsized power to kill legislation that has bipartisan support.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Bucks Politicians, Political Watchers Embrace Independents. “With partisan bickering at an all-time high, current and former politicians, along with political watchers and the League of Women Voters, said a way to cut through the extremism of both parties is to allow registered independents to vote in primary elections.” (Bucks County Courier Times)

Bullock Shares PA Legislative Black Caucus Priorities For 2023. “This year, the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus celebrates its 50th anniversary, and does so with the largest and most diverse coalition of members in caucus history. ” (City & State)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Biden Visits Philadelphia To Announce Funds For Water Upgrades, Lead Pipe Removal

“President Joe Biden visited the Belmont Water Treatment Plant in Philadelphia Friday, where he announced $160 million in federal funding to replace close to 20 miles of water mains in Philadelphia. During that project, the city will also replace any customer lead service lines found.” (WHYY)

Related

Republicans Endorse Carluccio For Seat On State’s High Court. “Pennsylvania Republican Party officials voted Saturday to endorse a Montgomery County judge, Carolyn Carluccio, to be the party’s nominee in this year’s election for an open state Supreme Court seat.” (AP)

PA Election Debate On Precanvassing Mail Ballots Confronts Governor, New Legislature. “As Pennsylvania election officials enter their fourth year of dealing with avalanches of mail ballots, one of their big wishes remains unfulfilled: more time to “precanvass” those ballots.” (Morning Call)

Who Is U.S. Rep. Summer Lee? “Summer Lee, a lawyer and a former labor organizer, is the state’s first Black congresswoman and a progressive political organizer. In November she defeated Republican Mike Doyle — not to be confused with Democratic U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, whom Lee replaced, to represent Pennsylvania’s 12th District, which includes parts of Pittsburgh and its outlying towns and suburbs.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Summer Lee Talks About Her Goals During 1st Term in Congress. “Pittsburgh has a new representative in Congress for the first time in nearly three decades.” (Tribune-Review)

Unabashed Jill Biden Is Philadelphia Eagles Fan-In-Chief. “For the first time in years, there’s an occupant in the White House who has hometown bragging rights on the line in next week’s Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.” (The Hill)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

• Returning State Workers To Office Is a Good Call. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Let’s Not Forget What Working At Home Taught Us. (Tribune-Review)
• Rural Rage Hurts Our Communities – The Answer Lies Within. (Becky Bennett, PennLive)
• Dispelling the Myth of ‘Rural Rage.” (Salena Zito, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Where Is PA’s Latino Vote Headed? (John Hinshaw, York Daily Record)
• Why It’s Time For a Woman Mayor. (Judee Von Seldeneck, Philadelphia Citizen)
• Amendment As Illogical As Campaign. (Times-Tribune)
• Republicans Must Learn to Play Long Game. (Matthew Brouillette, RealClearPA)
• State of Independents. (David Thornburgh, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

1 Thing

5. Get Your Hoagie On in Philly

Maybe there’s some tiny spot down on Wolf Street that we missed, or a Delco shop you went to as a kid after Little League. But in a city of endless hoagie choices, these are the spots you can always count on. (Philadelphia Magazine)

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