Let’s Go. It’s Wednesday. We’re halfway home.

PA Weather
Butler | Mostly Sunny, 82
New Bloomfield | Partly Sunny, 83
Center Valley | Mostly Cloudy, showers, 81

PA Sports
Phillies (52-42) | Milwaukee 4-3 | Wed-Thu vs. Milwaukee
Pirates (41-54) | Cleveland 1-10 | Wed vs. Cleveland

What We’re Hearing
Former House Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Bill Shuster has been tapped by Airlines For America (A4A) to lobby lawmakers on the FAA reauthorization package.

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Top Story

1. Budget Mess Stalls Priorities For Shapiro, Others

“Helping ease the stress of property taxes and rent on financially struggling Pennsylvanians is a winning bipartisan issue in Harrisburg, but it can’t escape the black hole of the state budget impasse.

Tuesday was the 18th day the state was without a budget, and there were no signs of a breakthrough. As a result, a measure to carry out a much-desired expansion of the state’s Property Tax Rent Rebate program is sitting on the shelf in the Senate, awaiting a signature. It’s one of a number of initiatives that remain in limbo.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Related

How PA’s Budget Impasse Could Impact Public Schools, Local Governments, And Nonprofits That Rely On State Funding. “While a short delay is unlikely to have a significant impact, an extended impasse could result in delayed or limited payments and force them to take out loans or spend down their reserves.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Funding For Government Flows During PA Budget Impasse – But Some Agencies Fear Well Will Dry. “A budget stalemate creates a tale of haves and have-nots, where some services can continue to operate for long periods without a budget, and others – mainly local agencies who rely on state allotments – could feel the pain much quicker.” (PennLive)

PA Budget Switches $100M In Mental Health Funding From Adults To Schools. “A sum of $100 million already appropriated for adult mental health needs is redirected for school mental health grants under the state budget bill awaiting final enactment over two weeks after the deadline.” (Capitolwire

Washington

2. House GOP Targets Federal Funding For Twp PA LGBTQ Organizations

“A group of House Republicans voted Tuesday to deny federal funding to three LGBTQ organizations, including two in the Philadelphia region; a move that Democrats are blasting as openly discriminatory.

The House Appropriations Committee voted along party lines 32-26 to deny Community Project funding applications from Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-Philadelphia) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Berks).” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

Casey And Fetterman Have A High Percentage Of LGBTQ Staffers. We Talked To Some About Why That Matters. “Sen. Bob Casey’s Senate office has the highest percentage of LGBTQ staffers, according to a diversity survey by Senate Democrats. Sen. John Fetterman’s office ranks third.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Campus Whitewash. “Diversity of all kinds, but especially geographical and racial diversity, is part of what makes education at America’s elite colleges and universities a unique and highly sought-after experience.” (The American Prospect)

PA Near Top Of State Legislative Special Elections Since 2010. “There have been 945 state legislative special elections in 37 states since Ballotpedia began tracking them in 2010. Georgia and Pennsylvania have held the most during that time, with 79 and 64, respectively.” (Ballotpedia)

Jill Biden Touts ‘Bidenomics’ In Pittsburgh Stop. “First Lady Jill Biden told a gathering of elected officials and union members here on Tuesday that President Joe Biden’s administration had kept pledges made during the 2020 campaign to bolster the region’s workforce and create more jobs.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Why Abortion Rights Advocates Are Frustrated With PA Democrats. “More than six months into their majority, however, they have yet to vote on a single abortion-related bill. Now, abortion rights advocates want the Democrats they helped elect to either put up or shut up.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Funding Up In The Air For Small PA Airports

“Could Pennsylvania’s smaller airports lose their funding and support? The idea could be placed on the table when the U.S. House begins debate on the FAA reauthorization bill.

Rep. Scott Perry (R-10), along with Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), have an amendment to the bill that calls for the elimination of the Essential Air Service (EAS), the government program that helps support rural airports.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Lawmakers Renew Call For Rail Safety Reforms After PA’s Latest Train Derailment. “Several Pennsylvania officials are calling for action to tighten railroad safety laws after a CSX train derailed in Montgomery County early Monday morning.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Mercer County Woman Who Used Bullhorn To Direct Capitol Rioters Is Convicted Of Jan. 6 Charges. “U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth heard testimony without a jury before he convicted Rachel Marie Powell of felony charges stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, siege.” (AP)

Cappelletti Announces Bill To Stop ‘Book Bans’  “The American Library Association documented the highest number of attempted book bans last year since it began compiling data more than 20 years ago. Pennsylvania ranks among the worst states in book-banning efforts, where there were 56 attempts to ban 302 unique titles,” Cappelletti said in a statement. (DV Journal)

PSP: Cases Of Child Sex Materials On The Rise. “How overwhelming the reports are, before the pandemic, all of Pennsylvania would get 5,000 to 6,000 reports a year. In the short time since the pandemic, it’s well over 15,000 reports a year,” said Sergeant Kenneth Bellis, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Commander. (Times Leader)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• Courts Must Rise Above Partisan Politics To Provide Fair, Just, Evenhanded Decisions. (Jill Beck)
• The State’s Budget ‘Impasse’ Is A Self-Inflicted Wound.  (Rep. Matt Bradford)
• Democrats, Bowing To Teachers Unions, Put Political Ambitions Ahead Of Children’s Education. (Stephen Moore)
• Quiet Pittsburgh Police Shakeup An Ominous Sign For Transparency. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• America’s Forecast: Hotter And Dumber. (Gene Collier)
• Keep Our Money In PA’s Public Schools Where it Belongs. (Jill Sunday Bartoli)
• The Supreme Court Inadvertently Instituted Affirmative Action For White Men. (Naomi Schoenbaum)
• No Labels Will Make The 2024 Election Even Worse. (William A. Galston)
• Lifeline Scholarship Opponents Fear It Will Work. (Guy Ciarrocchi)
• Shapiro, Lawmakers Must Choose – Students Or Special Interests? (Nathan Benefield)
• Angered Over Shapiro’s Plan To Veto School Voucher Program, State Senators Took The Ball And Went Home. (LNP)

1 Lottery Thing

5. Where Are The Jackpot Tickets Sold?

“A pair of record-setting lottery prizes are growing, one Powerball and the other Mega Millions. 

While your odds of winning either are slim (1 in 24.87 and 1 in 24, respectively), it seems where you live could have an impact on your luck. 

Pennsylvania has seen the most Powerball jackpot tickets at 18 with its most recent being an August 3, 2022, prize worth an estimated $206.8 million.” (The Hill)

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