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January 10th Playbook

Val Arkoosh talked to the PoliticsPA Podcast about her candidacy for U.S. Senate, while state Sen. Doug Mastriano announced his candidacy for Governor. Here is the Playbook. 

News

Podcast: Val Arkoosh Says the U.S. Senate Needs a Doctor (Just Not Dr. Oz): In the latest episode of the PoliticsPA Podcast, Montgomery County Commissioner Val Arkoosh, a longtime physician, talks about her candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2022.

‘Mastriano announces candidacy for Pennsylvania governor’: The Associated Press reports that “a Pennsylvania state senator who has pushed to overturn last year’s presidential election and led protests against pandemic shutdowns and mitigation efforts formally announced on Saturday that he will run for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Sen. Doug Mastriano of Franklin County launched his campaign at a Gettysburg rally more than four months before voters will pick the major-party candidates in the race to succeed Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, who is term-limited.”

‘Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway to join Corman gubernatorial campaign’: PennLive reports that “former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway is joining the gubernatorial campaign of state Sen. Jake Corman.”

‘Stalemates, court battles could squeeze primary election’: The Associated Press reports that “more extreme time pressures could push the bounds of how Pennsylvania’s elections are run in 2022, with wide-open races for a U.S. Senate seat and the governor’s office driving voter interest and partisan stalemates in the statehouse sowing uncertainty.”

‘Special election slated for Pennsylvania 5th Senate district’: The Associated Press reports that “a special election in the 5th Pennsylvania Senate district has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 17, the day of the primary election.”

‘Pa. redistricting panel gets an earful about proposed House and Senate maps from citizens’: PennLive reports that “more than 50 Pennsylvanians from all corners of the state turned out over two days of hearings to weigh in on where to draw boundaries for state House and Senate districts.”

‘ACLU sues Pa.’s Fulton County over missing records from 2020 election review’: PennLive reports that “the ACLU filed a lawsuit Wednesday claiming that Fulton County in Pennsylvania has refused to comply with a Right To Know request for documents related to a third-party review of the 2020 election.”

‘State lawmaker says he’s running for GOP nod for Pa. lieutenant governor’: PennLive reports that “state Rep. Russ Diamond, a Lebanon County lawmaker and outspoken critic of Gov. Tom Wolf’s handling of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor.”

‘Gainey tells GOP Pittsburgh ‘would be excited to host’ 2024 presidential convention, but not everyone agrees’: WESA reports that “Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey is urging the Republican National Committee to select Pittsburgh as the site of its 2024 presidential convention, saying the city “would be excited to host” the gathering. But the overture already is being heavily criticized on social media, and Gainey’s new colleagues in city government are urging the event be held somewhere else.”

‘Pittsburgh is 1 of 4 cities vying to host the 2024 Republican National Convention’: WESA reports that “Visit Pittsburgh said the Republican National Committee invited the city to put in a bid to host the 2024 Republican National Convention.”

‘Who is State Rep. Austin Davis? Five things to know about Josh Shapiro’s pick for lt. Governor.’: The Philadelphia Inquirer lists “some things to know about Davis ahead of Pennsylvania’s primary May 17.”

‘What happened to those in poverty with the child tax credit expansion ended?’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “advocates are angered over the loss, but many Americans weren’t in favor of it.”

‘PSERS’s own consultant finds the fund’s board has been poorly led and suffers from a lack of trust’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Pennsylvania’s largest pension fund lacks a cohesive plan on how to invest its billions. It has ignored calls to improve its financial reporting. And its auditors looked the other way while PSERS staff engaged in worldwide luxury travel and billed retirees and taxpayers.”

‘Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney hires Gov. Wolf’s senior advisor’: The Pittsburgh Business Times reports that “Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC, Pittsburgh’s third-largest law firm, said it has hired Harrisburg insider Rob Ghormoz as a principal in its Government Relations Group.”

‘Pennsylvania politics in 2022: On the brink of political change’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “as Pennsylvania gets rolling in early 2022, it does so on the cusp of metamorphic political change. To mark the moment, the Post-Gazette examined the five issues that will have an impact on not only Pennsylvania, but could also alter the national political landscape as the primary season heats up, and the midterms loom in November.”

‘Casey, Senate hopeful Lamb say end the filibuster. Manchin, Sinema want to protect historic rule’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “two Democratic Pennsylvania lawmakers — Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Mt. Lebanon, a Senate hopeful — are in favor of breaking the required Senate supermajority, often referred to as the “nuclear option.””

‘PA Dems file FEC complaints against Dr. Oz, David McCormick’: City & State PA reports that “the Pennsylvania Democratic Party is asking the Federal Election Commission to investigate two newcomers to the state’s 2022 U.S. Senate race – celebrity physician Dr. Mehmet Oz and former hedge fund executive David McCormick – accusing the candidates of violating separate provisions of federal election law.”

‘2022 Transportation Summit’: City & State PA will host a “full-day, in-person summit” that “will bring together experts across sectors to assess the current state of Pennsylvania’s transportation systems, break down recent legislative actions, and look towards the future of all things coming and going in Pennsylvania.”

‘Bellevue Strategies expands to Pittsburgh, merges with Philly firm’: City & State PA reports that “one of the commonwealth’s leading lobbying firms is starting off the year with two major moves.”

‘Redistricting could give Luzerne County a new look in Harrisburg’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “state Sen. John Yudichak this week said the proposed new legislative district maps, as drawn, have outraged many local community leaders in Luzerne County who are concerned their voice in Harrisburg will be diminished if the preliminary reapportionment plan becomes the final plan.”

‘Pennsylvania redistricting tug-of-war over communities continues; Bethlehem and Slate Belt get attention’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “the city of Bethlehem and the “slaters” of the Slate Belt were held out on Friday as examples of communities that should not be divided, with state Sen. Lisa Boscola defending her hometown of Bethlehem.”

‘Schnee eyes Toohil’s former state seat’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Luzerne County will learn by Monday if the special election for Tarah Toohil’s state representative replacement must be held separately before the May 17 primary. In a related topic, county Councilman Robert Schnee confirmed Thursday he is “very interested” in receiving the county Republican Party nomination to run for the seat.”

‘Costello announces for GOP nomination in the 119th Legislative District’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Jim Costello, a Wilkes-Barre Area schoolteacher and former executive director of the Keystone State Games, Friday announced that he is a candidate for the Republican nomination for state representative in the 119th Legislative District.”

‘Casey says infrastructure law will boost region’: The Observer-Reporter reports that “Sen. Bob Casey says the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will benefit Southwestern Pennsylvania.”

‘Pennsylvania GOP Senate primary clash: Bartos calls top rivals ‘political tourists’’: Fox News reports that “Republican Senate candidate Jeff Bartos of Pennsylvania charges that some of his top rivals for the GOP nomination in the crucial battleground state’s open seat race are “political tourists.””

‘GOP narrows 2024 convention list to 4 cities’: Fox News reports that “the Republican National Committee (RNC) has narrowed the list of contenders to host its 2024 presidential convention to four major cities. The short-list of cities are Milwaukee, Nashville, Pittsburgh and Salt Lake City, Fox News has confirmed.”

‘Janet Diaz joins 50th District race to represent Lancaster city, setting up a hotly contested race between top city Democrats’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “a showdown between two of Lancaster city’s most prominent Democrats is officially underway. Lancaster city Councilmember Janet Diaz on Friday entered the race to represent a newly created legislative district made up of the southern half of Lancaster city, as well as all of Lancaster Township and Millersville Borough.”

‘Lehigh Valley getting attention, as lawmakers debate fate of state legislative districts’: WFMZ reports that “the fate of legislative districts in the Commonwealth for the next decade hang in the balance, as new boundaries are being drawn up and sorted out in Harrisburg.”

‘Legislation paves road to self-driving commercial vehicles in Pennsylvania’: The Express-Times reports that “Pennsylvania has been at the forefront of autonomous vehicle development and now state legislators want to get commercial self-driving vehicles on the commonwealth’s road.”

‘Pennsylvania seeks more hospital beds, staff in COVID surge’: The Associated Press reports that “Pennsylvania has begun working to boost the number of hospital beds and organize “strike teams” of extra health care workers for hospitals and nursing homes struggling with surging COVID-19-related caseloads and staffing shortages, Gov. Tom Wolf’s office said Friday.”

‘Slate Belt school board opposes Pa.’s state redistricting plan’: The Express-Times reports that “one Lehigh Valley school board has declared its opposition to a proposed Pennsylvania legislative reapportionment plan that would separate the school district into two different districts.”

‘Yaw calls out greenhouse gas initiative, talks rising opioid deaths’: The Williamsport Sun-Gazette reports that “state Sen. Gene Law, R-Loyalsock Township, recently spoke out against the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, a compact of 10 states including Pennsylvania to reduce gas emissions from the power sector.”

‘Pa. state police review recommendations to end racially biased policing from committee headed by Easton man’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “Pennsylvania state police and Gov. Tom Wolf’s office are reviewing recommendations from a citizens’ advisory subcommittee, chaired by a Lehigh Valley resident, to end profiling and other racially biased practices.”

‘Pennsylvania Farm Show kicks off by getting back to a more regular routine’: PennLive reports that “the Pennsylvania Farm Show was scaled back a year ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but visitors filled the complex parking lot Saturday as the 106th edition of the event kicked off with the promise of getting back to a more, regular schedule.”

‘Pa. says it’s investigating ‘aggressive and sophisticated’ unemployment fraud efforts’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry says it’s investigating “increasingly aggressive and sophisticated” efforts to steal unemployment compensation benefits. And the agency is urging employers and workers to report any suspicious activity.”

‘McClure: Northampton County to consider starting its own health bureau’: WFMZ reports that “Northampton County will explore creating a health bureau, County Executive Lamont McClure said Thursday.”

‘Philly’s vaccine mandate for city employees takes effect Jan. 14. Thousands remain unvaccinated.’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Philadelphia’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for 22,000 municipal employees takes effect Friday, but thousands of city workers aren’t yet fully vaccinated.”

‘Philly’s rental, utility assistance program comes to an end’: KYW Newsradio reports that “time has run out for Philadelphia’s COVID-19 Emergency Rental and Utility Assistance Program.”

‘Seven townships sue to stop Delco Health Department from taking over municipal inspections’: The Delaware County Daily Times reports that “seven townships filed a motion seeking a court injunction to prevent the Delaware County Health Department from taking over municipal health inspections.”

‘In Focus | A look behind the scenes: Inauguration day for Mayor Ed Gainey’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Post-Gazette photographers followed him Monday to chronicle his first day.”

‘Democratic Politicians Protest Pittsburgh Being Considered For 2024 Republican National Convention’: KDKA reports that “after the announcement Pittsburgh may be one of several cities where the 2024 Republican National Convention could be held, local Democratic politicians are speaking out.”

‘Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey Joins Public Works On First Snowfall Of The Season’: KDKA reports that “as Pittsburgh braced for its first significant snowfall of the season, newly sworn-in mayor Ed Gainey joined Pittsburgh Public Works as plows hit the streets.”

‘Gainey appoints new city solicitor’: The Pittsburgh Business Times reports that “Krysia Kubiak will step into the role of city solicitor designate and is expected to begin work as the permanent solicitor on January 24.”

‘Washington council seeking new city administrator’: The Observer-Reporter reports that “in its first meeting of the new year, Washington City Council voted Thursday to advertise for a new city administrator.”

‘Young Republican leaders take reins of Luzerne County Council’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “Luzerne County Council will be led by two 28-year-old Republicans from the Pittston region this year.”

‘Optimism high for Scranton-to-NYC train, but so is the cost’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “obscured by all the enthusiasm lately about Amtrak reviving a Scranton-to-New York City passenger train, two of the railroad’s estimates inject a dose of reality. Amtrak’s construction cost far exceeds past estimates and ridership projections appear lower than a key previous appraisal.”

‘Kaufer suggests SCI Retreat for Luzerne County lockup’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “state Rep. Aaron Kaufer is urging Luzerne County to consider taking possession of the closed State Correctional Institution at Retreat in Newport Township for a new county prison.”

‘Filer of ethics complaint against Luzerne County councilman urges action’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Luzerne County Election Board Chairwoman Denise Williams revealed Friday she had filed the ethics complaint that prompted a recommended $100 fine and censure against county Councilman Stephen J. Urban.”

‘Luzerne County has final rules on spending $113M in American Rescue Plan funding’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Luzerne County officials now have the information they need to determine how the county’s $113 million American Rescue Plan allocation will be spent.”

‘Women make up the majority of Allentown and Bethlehem city councils for the first time. Here’s why that matters.’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “as of this week, women outnumber men on city council in both Allentown and Bethlehem for the first time.”

‘School bus driver shortage continues, but feds offer some help ‘under the hood’’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “the ongoing shortage of school bus drivers in the Lehigh Valley and nationwide, exacerbated by the pandemic, may get some help from the federal government.”

‘Meuser pays visit to southern Schuylkill businesses’: The Reading Eagle reports that “U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser toured small businesses in Schuylkill Haven and Orwigsburg on Friday, Jan. 7.”

‘About 90% of COVID-19 patients in some of Pa.’s hardest-hit hospitals are unvaccinated’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Pennsylvania hospitals say the vast majority of hospitalized coronavirus patients are still unvaccinated — as high as 90% at some hospitals — even as more vaccinated people are also getting infected amid the omicron-delta surge.”

Opinion  
Mark S. Singel: Ask every candidate this question: are you willing to tell the truth?
Salena Zito: This rural rep is worried about redistricting
Patrick Beaty: Pennsylvania Republicans are planning a redistricting redo in time for the 2024 election 
Erika Almirón: New legislative maps can restore representation for Pa.’s growing Latino communities 
Ezra Thrush: Pennsylvanians have a right to clean water
John L. Micek: Pa. House bill would allow state to join national popular vote compact | Friday Morning Coffee
John E. Jones III: We are all Americans, and democracy is our shared faith
Karl J. Brummer and Carol Thornton: Our hope for a healthy new year: an increase to Pennsylvania’s minimum wage 
Caterina G. Roman and John K. Roman: Mayor Kenney should create a cabinet of experts to stem gun violence
Laila Martin Garcia: I’ll soon be a U.S. citizen living in Pa. This is why our democracy is worth defending
David Burmeister: We didn’t expect to be here at this stage of pandemic. So what’s next?
Mike Tedesco: In past, Johnstown’s jobs filled by immigrants – why not now?
Ruth Ann Dailey: Rep. Lamb abandons the center
Kristin Luebbert and Lou Fantini: Amid teacher shortage and COVID, Philly School District must change broken attendance policy 
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: As patriotic Americans, we need to hold to account those who carried out the insurrection — and those who enabled it 
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Medical-grade masks can help our communities stay safer during omicron surge 
Philadelphia Tribune Editorial: Pennsylvania Senate hopefuls must answer questions on 2020 election 
PennLive Editorial Board: Harrisburg’s new mayor must do four things to help the people she has pledged to serve 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Attacks on Mark Nordenberg are cynical, offensive 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Music program a painful cut
Hasshan Batts: Walking together we can journey toward progress, peace and justice
Bill White: Reader blasts illegal fireworks displays in the city
Christine M. Adams: Greedy old propagandist politicians won’t lift a finger to help the poor 
Joan Bechtel: Support teaching accurate history and science
David M. Shribman: New Year Reflections: What’s Old Is … Old
Keith C. Burris: Lives well lived
John Cole: The Syringe in the Stone | Editorial Cartoon 
Will Bunch: The real cause of Philadelphia’s deadly fire is our unequal society. Let’s make this a turning point 
Darcy Walker Krause: 8 tips for talking to your kids about the Fairmount fire
Robert F. Powelson: Focusing on true ‘water equity’ will bring higher quality water accessible to all

5 Responses

  1. Mastriano got Daniels to drop out of a congressional race Daniels was sure to win to run for Lt Gov which he has no chance to win. We can thank Doug for not flipping a congressional seat blue to red. Stupid choice, Daniels.

  2. Hey folks remember… Ding Dong Doug is an Insurrectionist. He is not eligible to be sworn in to any elective office.

  3. Senator Yaw has demonstrated he failure to understand science by his negativity toward the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

    1. Oh, by the way, science does include social science, psychological science and the “dismal science”, economics.

  4. Good for Gainey in voicing his support for the GOP convention being in Pittsburgh. Think of how it could boost the city economically.

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