Fetterman and Shapiro Hold Leads at First Turn. Mastriano Proposing Legislation to Allow Armed School Employees. Karam Confirmed as U.S. Attorney. Here is the Playbook.

PA Weather
New Castle | Mostly Sunny, 93
Bellefonte | Sunny, 87
Langhorne | Sunny, 85

PA Sports
Phillies (31-31) | lost to Miami, 11-9; WED vs. Miami
Pirates (24-36) | lost to St. Louis, 9-1; WED vs. St. Louis

Thanks for reading PoliticsPA. Share our newsletter with a friend. And visit us online at PoliticsPA.com. 

Twitter: @PoliticsPA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/politicspa

News

Suffolk Poll: Fetterman Leads Oz. A Suffolk University/USA TODAY poll of likely midterm voters shows Democratic candidate John Fetterman with an early nine-point advantage over Republican challenger Mehmet Oz in the race for Pennsylvania’s open seat to the U.S. Senate.

Suffolk Poll: Shapiro Holds Slight Lead: A Suffolk University/USA TODAY poll of likely midterm voters shows Democratic candidate Josh Shapiro with a slight four-point advantage over Republican challenger Doug Mastriano in the race for Pennsylvania governor.

House Gun Violence Bills Returned to Committee: A package of four bills that address gun violence in the Commonwealth were returned to committee by House Republicans on Monday.

PA Senate Race: Brendan McPhillips Named Fetterman Campaign Manager: Brendan McPhillips, a Democratic strategist who ran Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign in Pennsylvania, was selected as campaign manager for John Fetterman’s 2022 Senate run.

• Erie Times-News: Dr. Oz holds roundtable discussion with PA farmers at North East winery and fruit farm
• PennLive: Fetterman names former Biden Pa. director as new campaign manager
• Post-Gazette: President Biden tells AFL-CIO convention crowd that Senate candidate John Fetterman is ‘looking good’ after Monday video call
• The Hill: Biden, Fetterman Zoom about Senate race
• Huffington Post: Mehmet Oz Misspells Pennsylvania Address On Candidacy Form And Twitter Has Jokes

PA Governor Race: ‘Republican objectors label Doug Mastriano a “traitor” for Trump election activities, in first attack ad of general campaign’: PennLive reports that “in a new political attack ad launched by the never-Trumpers who lead The Lincoln Project, Mastriano is tagged as a traitor for his post-2020 track record as a Donald Trump election defeat denier.”

• McClatchy: ‘A lone wolf,’ Mastriano rips up traditional campaign script in Pennsylvania
• KDKA: Democrat Josh Shapiro calls Republican Doug Mastriano ‘dangerous’

‘Mastriano to introduce bill allowing armed school employees in Pennsylvania’: ABC27 reports that “Pennsylvania State Senator and Republican gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano says he plans to introduce legislation that would allow school employees to be armed while on campus.”

‘Proposed formula would distribute state dollars to Pa. state universities based on enrollment’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania’s state universities would be incentivized not only to enroll students but to encourage their progression to graduation under a proposed revision to its state funding distribution formula to be considered for approval on Wednesday.”

‘Charter school rule changes hit last-minute snag delaying their effective date’: PennLive reports that “the state Senate is poised to vote on Wednesday to pass a resolution to disapprove Gov. Tom Wolf’s charter school regulations.”

‘Lawmakers, advocates call for passage of bill that would end hair discrimination in Pennsylvania’: WGAL reports that “lawmakers said during a rally Tuesday morning in Harrisburg that they want to see a version of the CROWN Act passed, which would block discrimination based on people’s natural hair texture or hairstyle.” 

‘Pa. Senate committee advances proposals responding to Russia’s war on Ukraine’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “when Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Pennsylvania lawmakers and state officials began efforts to draft legislation and encourage the divestment of public funds from Russian and Belarusian sources. With the selling of the state’s assets already underway, the Senate State Government Committee unanimously voted on Tuesday to advance two pieces of legislation prohibiting government contracts with Russia and Belarus and divesting public holdings connected with the countries as the war on Ukraine continues.”

‘In Philly speech to AFL-CIO, Biden decries D.C. gridlock and urges Pa. to elect Fetterman’: WHYY reports that “in a stop in Philadelphia for the AFL-CIO’s annual constitutional convention, President Joe Biden led off with a plea for the November midterm election: Pennsylvanians concerned about labor issues should elect Lieutenant Gov. John Fetterman to the U.S. Senate.”

‘Toomey talks gun reform compromise and its prospects in the U.S. Senate’: WTAE reports that “Pennsylvania’s Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey says the bipartisan agreement on gun reform has a better than even chance of passing.”

‘Deluzio, fresh off primary win in 17th Congressional district, gets support from national Democrats’: WESA reports that “the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which seeks to elect and protect Democratic House members, is adding Deluzio to its “Red to Blue” program. The designation is given to candidates that the DCCC considers “top-tier” and worthy of further investment.” 

‘Pa. DEP splits up long-stalled oil and gas air pollution rule’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Pennsylvania environmental regulators are moving forward with just half of a long overdue rule designed to limit air pollution from oil and gas well sites after objections from legislators and advocates for the state’s conventional oil and gas industry caused the proposed rule to be split in two.”

‘A new Pa. bill would make it easier for doctors to get insurance approval to treat patients’: WITF reports that “the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is pushing the state Senate to pass a bill making it easier for doctors to know if a patient’s insurance will cover a medication or procedure.”

‘First Step for PA?: Kail introduces medical release program bill for state prisons’: The Beaver County Times reports that “state Rep. Joshua Kail, R-15, Beaver, has introduced House Bill 2634, which would expand provisions of the First Step Act to state prisons. He serves as the prime sponsor for the bill.” 

‘Senate confirms Karam as region’s new U.S. attorney’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “the U.S. Senate confirmed former Lackawanna County Chief Public Defender Gerard M. Karam as the region’s new U.S. attorney Monday night.”

Former PA House member Michael Gerber will be joining the Federal Retirement Plan Board.: Investment News reports that former PA House member Michael Gerber will be joining the Federal Retirement Plan Board. “The board administers the Thrift Savings Plan, a defined-contribution plan for federal employees and military service personnel.”

‘Activists bring climate clock to Pennsylvania capitol to urge lawmaker action’: StateImpactPA reports that “Pennsylvania activists want lawmakers in Harrisburg to know the clock is ticking on climate change action. About two dozen people on Monday chanted “Act in time!” as organizers uncovered a six-foot long clock counting down to the year 2030.”

‘Could a food shortage be coming? Record diesel prices are crushing Pa. farmers and could affect affect supply, lawmakers told’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “a Pennsylvania farm industry representative on Tuesday said farm operations are getting crushed by record diesel fuel prices, and it may wind up affecting food availability.”

‘Berks County Democratic Committee reelects chairman’: The Reading Eagle reports that “Kevin Boughter was unanimously reelected to serve as chairman.”

Regional Spotlight: Southwest
Tribune Review: Here’s how U.S. Reps from Western Pa. voted on gun legislation bills
City Paper: Learn where Pennsylvania political candidates stand on gun control 
Post-Gazette: La’Tasha Mayes is the latest local Democrat to rebuff the Allegheny County Dems — and will make history while doing it
Post-Gazette: Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald defends record on fracking amid calls for drilling ban 
Post-Gazette: Gov. Tom Wolf signs long-sought legislation to sell old state prison on the North Side 
Post-Gazette: Staffing study of Pittsburgh police set to start after council approves consultant’s contract
Post-Gazette: Where the Pittsburgh jobs are: A look at the region’s largest employers in 2021
WESA: In lieu of county action, 35 communities outside Pittsburgh are now closer to passing climate plans 
WESA: Mayor Ed Gainey says allowing cities to set their own gun laws would reduce violence 
WESA: Allegheny County Council hears public comment on potential fracking ban 
WTAE: Pittsburgh mayor meets with South Side business owners and neighbors about public safety 
WTAE: Mayor Gainey spends time overnight on South Side after recent violence 
WTAE: Dozens rally for push to ban fracking in Allegheny County parks
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh City Council introduces legislation to change requirements for short-term rental parking permits
Post-Gazette: Federal Highway Administration releases guidelines for competitive $12.5 billion bridge replacement program
Post-Gazette: Pittsburgh students take to WAMO 107.3’s airwaves to speak against gun violence: ‘I’m afraid to go to school’ 
KDKA: Local groups have mixed reaction to compromise gun safety framework 
KDKA: Peters Township police chief supports bill for radar to catch speeding drivers 
KDKA: Lawsuit aimed at banning transgender discussion in Mount Lebanon School District
WESA: Bakery Square road will ease congestion, eventually connect with Homewood and Larimer, leaders say
WESA: More safety measures, including citing disruptive properties, coming to Pittsburgh’s South Side 
WESA: ‘It doesn’t have to be this way’: gun violence protesters rally in Oakland
WESA: Sweltering heat, lack of air conditioning: City schools to end year with early dismissals
Pittsburgh Business Times: Gov. Wolf announces funding for 52 affordable housing initiatives in Pittsburgh metro 
Pittsburgh Business Times: U.S. Steel pays, appeals $4.5M fine over Clairton emissions 
Pittsburgh Business Times: Shell’s played a significant role in Beaver County, but one thing that’s still lacking is further petrochemical development 
Pittsburgh Business Times: Pitt’s fight for funding: Local organizations, business leaders pen support 
Pittsburgh Business Times: Future of Pitt satellite campuses could be threatened without state funding 
Pittsburgh Business Times: Wolf administration cites Pittsburgh Tech Council’s apprenticeship program as important model for workforce development
City Paper: Lawsuit alleges “brutal treatment” of people with psychiatric disabilities at Allegheny County Jail
City Paper: Latino community urges reopening of Pittsburgh immigration court
City Paper: City of Pittsburgh and POISE Foundation offering $1 million in grants to anti-violence programs
Observer-Reporter: Greene DA announces ’emergency response team’ for school shootings
Observer-Reporter: Greene County receives $800,000 for housing repair programs 
Observer-Reporter: Donora fills council vacancy with former council member
Observer-Reporter: No charges filed in Nov. 24 courthouse incident between Davis, deputies
Altoona Mirror: House sends series of flooding response bills to Senate
Altoona Mirror: Erb backs broadband connections
Beaver County Times: Nearly $600,000 secured for Beaver County housing programs
Post-Gazette: Judge again refuses to release Pittsburgh-area ex-Army Ranger charged with assaulting police at Jan. 6 Capitol riot
Post-Gazette: Ross woman gets 14 days in jail, community service for U.S. Capitol breach

Opinion  
Dr. Mehmet Öz: A brighter prognosis for Pennsylvania 
John Fetterman: Domestic solutions: High prices not a random problem
Paul Muschick: Why don’t Pennsylvania lawmakers have the courage to vote on gun violence bills?
Ron Klink: The proposed WTO patent deal invites outbreaks worse than monkeypox
John L. Micek: Pa. House GOP moves to impeach Philly DA Larry Krasner | Tuesday Morning Coffee
Jenny DeHuff: Editor’s Note: Unchecked gun violence in Philly will continue as long as there is a lack of leadership
Diana Robinson: The misguided partisan focus on election proposals
Zane Kaleem: Pa.’s $5 prison co-pay helps no one. Eliminate it
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Closing Pittsburgh immigration court symptomatic of broken system
Bruce Wilson: Facing facts on energy use, cost and the environment
Carol Lastowka: As a gun owner, I know we need more regulation. I saw that at the gun show
Brittany Salerno: ‘Lifesaving work is at risk’: On the end of telehealth waivers for opioid use disorder
Will Bunch Newsletter: Is Jan. 6 truth bomb just a blast from our past?
Salena Zito: Does a Seattle-area coach have a prayer in his Supreme Court case?
Michael Coard: When you say ‘that’s not us’ remember this historic tale of racial savagery
Gene Therapy: Somebody say Powerball? Trump’s already won it.
Ellie Davis: Diabetes camp should be fun. Instead, we worry about the cost of insulin.
Jeremy Cannon: We are in the first-ever ‘blood crisis.’ As a doctor, I’m worried. | Expert Opinion