🇺🇲 Hi, Wednesday! Happy Flag Day.

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Pirates (34-31) | Cubs 3-11 | W-Th vs. Chicago Cubs
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What’s Happening
The House convenes at 11a.

What We’re Hearing
Retired Rep. Mike Doyle has been inducted into the Congressional Baseball Game’s Hall of Fame. He played in 11 of the contests and managed 16 others.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for former President Donald Trump and Rep. Mike Armanini.

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Top Story

1. PA Republicans Don’t Want To Talk About Trump

“Former President Donald Trump’s arraignment was everywhere in the news on Tuesday. But you wouldn’t know it from the Pennsylvania Capitol.

House lawmakers were focused on completing the state budget, which they must approve by June 30. They didn’t want to talk about Trump, a political fire starter who once successfully pushed some state lawmakers to help him try to overturn Pennsylvania’s 2020 election results.

Many Republicans in Pennsylvania politics have spent the last few years distancing themselves from Trump, and his federal indictment was the last thing GOP lawmakers working on the budget wanted to talk about.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

PA Republicans In D.C. Jumped To Defend Trump. Harrisburg Is More A Mixed Bag. “Western Pennsylvania’s Republican congressmen quickly pitched their tents firmly in former President Donald Trump’s camp following his indictment on federal criminal charges. But some state lawmakers have yet to join them.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Boyle Talks Debt Ceiling, I-95, And Trump Indictment. “Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-02) has some thoughts on the issues of the day and he shared them on Sirius XM Radio’s Julie Mason Show on Tuesday.” (PoliticsPA)

Feds Pledge Financial Backing, Support To Philadelphia In Rebuilding I-95. “U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visited Philadelphia on Tuesday to discuss the plan to rebuild Interstate 95 after a truck fire collapsed a portion of the northbound road.” (The Center Square)

I-95 Closure Is Having An ‘Outsized’ Impact On Commuters, Shipping. “Following a tour of the site, Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the deadly crash that has shut down the highway in both directions since Sunday morning is having “an outsized impact on commuters and on goods movement up and down the I-95 corridor.”” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Deluzio Celebrates Budget Protections For Veterans’ Healthcare. “U.S. Rep Chris Deluzio, is celebrating the protections he says he and fellow Democrats fought to retain for funding of the Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans’ healthcare.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

State

2. House Panel Approves Minimum Wage Hike Bill

“Could Pennsylvania’s minimum wage be going up, finally?

The House Labor and Industry Committee voted 12-9 along party lines to approve legislation that would increase the Commonwealth’s minimum wage incrementally through 2026.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Coplen Joins Race For Democratic Nomination In PA’s 10th House District. “After making a late switch into Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District race in 2022, Rick Coplen is getting into the 2024 campaign cycle early.” (PennLive)

House Passes Bill Easing Childcare Burdens. “In a day of rising costs for childcare, Democratic state Reps. Tina Davis (D-Bucks) and Melissa Shusterman (D-Chester) shepherded a bill through the Pennsylvania House to help working parents.” (PoliticsPA)

The PA House Unanimously Passed A Bill To Eliminate Cell Phone Taxes. “The state House on Tuesday unanimously passed a measure to get rid of two taxes on cell phone service, checking off a high-profile item sought by Gov. Josh Shapiro in his budget proposal.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Republican Nominee For PA Superior Court Judge Speaks Out. “Clarion County’s Maria Battista said it’s important for judges to leave politics out of the judicial system and simply evaluate the law as it’s written.” (YourErie.com)

Anti-Discrimination Bill Advances While Others Raise Questions For LGBTQ+ Community. “Pennsylvania is the only state left in the Northeast that does not provide anti-discrimination protection to its LGBTQ+ community.” (CBS Pittsburgh)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Which PA Schools Have The Highest And Lowest Tax Rates? And Why That’s Cause For Debate

“The disparity in local school tax rates across Pennsylvania is so vast it has created debate about whether the formula works or if it’s viable at all.

In one school district in Bucks County, the tax millage rate is 28 times higher than a school system in Bedford County. Five years ago, a court ruled that Beaver County’s tax assessments were unconstitutional because they were so old.” (PhillyBurbs.com)

Related

How A Landmark School Funding Lawsuit Is Shaping Negotiations. “A court decision requiring Pennsylvania lawmakers to make the funding system for public schools more equitable is front and center in this year’s budget negotiations, but the issue will not be resolved by the looming deadline.” (Spotlight PA)

Days Of Working For No Pay May Soon End For Student Teachers In PA. “Student teachers in Pennsylvania may soon get paid to complete one graduation requirement.” (PennLive)

Fitzgerald Vetoes Minimum Wage Hike Bill, Saying It Violates County Charter. “Rich Fitzgerald said in a prepared statement that his veto does not indicate a disagreement between council members and the executive over raising employee wages—but rather, a disagreement over the chief document outlining the roles of Allegheny County’s executive and legislative branches.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Teachers May Soon Be Free To Wear Religious Garb, Insignias In School. “Public school teachers may soon be free to wear religious insignia, clothing, marks or emblems to work without fear of losing their job.” (PennLive)

Shikellamy Joins Lawsuit Against State Department Of Education. “The Shikellamy School District is joining a lawsuit and passed a resolution Tuesday night against the state Department of Education’s new regulations requiring educators to be trained in culturally relevant and sustaining education, known as CR-SE.” (Daily Item)

Luzerne County Election Board Issue Going To Ballot. “Luzerne County voters will face a question on the November general election ballot asking if they want to reconstitute the county’s volunteer, five-citizen election board, a county council majority decided Tuesday.” (Times Leader)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• For Trump Supporters, ‘A Bridge Too Far’ Must Be Nearby. (Michael Leppert)
• In The LOOP: Innamorato Property Tax Relief Bill Is Right For Pittsburgh. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• The State Government Is The Reason For PA’s Teacher Shortage. (Joe D’Orsie)
• School Property Taxes Are Funding Excessive Spending In Cyber Charter Schools. (Susan Spicka)
• What We Say – And What We Mean – When We Talk About Fetterman’s Hoodie. (Heather MacDonald)
• The Path Forward In A Post-Affirmative Action World. (Michael Dannenberg)
• No One, Including Unions, Should Be Above The Law. (Matthew Brouillette)
• Second Trump Indictment Has Merit – That Doesn’t Mean It Isn’t Political. (Andy Bloom)
• Flag Day Is A Uniquely Pennsylvanian Holiday. (Tribune-Review)

1 Thing

5. What Fox Tells Viewers

Check the chyron above, which ended Fox News’ 8 p.m. ET hour.

🤔 Host Brian Kilmeade said as the show went live to an appearance by former President Trump at his club in Bedminster, N.J.: “This is the president of the United States, about to address a crowd of reporters.”

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