Bills, bills and more bills. GOP Censures Member, Strips Another of Assignments. Miller Wins 14th District Dem Nod. Changes Coming to Election Process? Here is the Playbook.

PA Weather
Erie | Mostly Sunny, Chance of Storms, 82
State College | Mostly Sunny, Storms Likely, 88
Reading | Storms, 83

PIAA Sports
Softball Championship Games
1A: Montgomery vs. Dubois CC, 10:30
3A: Lewisburg vs. Avonworth, 12:30
5A: Pittston Area vs. Armstrong, 2:30

Baseball Championship Games
2A: Everett vs. Neshannock, 10:30
4A: Holy Ghost Prep vs. Montour, 1:30
6A: Liberty vs. Warwick, 4:30

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News

Senate Aims to Reduce Corporate Tax Rate: The Pennsylvania Senate agreed twice on Wednesday that the Keystone State’s corporate tax rate is too high.

Two House Legislative Proposals Aimed at Gas Tax: Two legislative proposals will be introduced in the Pennsylvania House with the same goal – to reduce the pain at the gas pump for Keystone State residents.

PA Senate Race: ‘’You’ve got to eat’: Oz talks inflation, energy costs in campaign stop in Johnstown’: The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports that “standing in Market Basket’s produce aisle and holding a cantaloupe, Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, talked on Wednesday about how increasing transportation costs and inflation have impacted the price of food in recent months.”

• WGAL: Republican US Senate nominee Mehmet Oz holds campaign event in Camp Hill
• PennLive: Early poll has Fetterman, Shapiro leading their GOP opponents

‘VP Kamala Harris to visit Pittsburgh Friday to tout infrastructure dollars to replace lead pipes’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Pittsburgh Friday to tout federal infrastructure funds that will be used to remove and replace lead pipes that carry drinking water to millions of American households.”

‘Tara Zrinski concedes to Nick Miller in Pa. 14th Senate District Democratic primary after voters settle lawsuit over ‘naked,’ late mail-in ballots’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “Tara Zrinski conceded to Nick Miller on Wednesday afternoon — 29 days after Election Day — in the closely fought 14th Senate District Democratic primary following settlement of a federal lawsuit filed by voters in the contest.”

‘County GOP censures Pa. lawmaker; to him it means as much as ‘a cloudy day’’: PennLive reports that “a state senator has been censured by one of his local Republican committees for supporting opponents of candidates that the committee endorsed for two legislative seats. These actions by Sen. Mike Regan, R-Cumberland/York counties, not only “undermine what our committee does but it encourages others to do the same in future elections,” Cumberland County GOP Chairman Louis Capozzi said in a letter informing Regan of the committee’s censure vote.”

‘Rep. Dave Zimmerman says he was stripped of committee assignments because of ‘perception’ issue’: LNP | LancasterOnline reports that “state Rep. Dave Zimmerman took to social media earlier this month to say Republican leaders in the Legislature stripped him of his committee assignments because they believed he supported a primary challenger to Sen. Ryan Aument.”

‘Pa. teachers union pushes back against lawmaker’s proposal to allow school employees to be armed’: PennLive reports that “the proposal from Mastriano, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, drew immediate fire from the state’s largest teachers union that sees it as a threat to student safety.”

‘An optimistic Seth Grove looks to begin bipartisan talks on election reforms’: City & State PA reports that “in the wake of a drawn-out primary election cycle that featured a state-mandated recount, a top Republican tasked with overseeing election policy has expressed a desire to begin bipartisan talks on election law changes ahead of the November general election.”

‘Pa. state university system adopts enrollment-based formula for distributing state dollars’: PennLive reports that “the stakes over state investment in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education got higher on Wednesday with the approval of a new enrollment-driven formula for allocating dollars to the system’s soon-to-be 10 universities.”

‘Pa. Senate votes to block charter school regulations from taking effect’: PennLive reports that “the Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday passed a concurrent resolution that would block Gov. Tom Wolf’s regulatory changes to the state’s charter school law from taking effect.”

‘Fights over Pa. election rules that seemed settled after 2020 have now come roaring back’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Pennsylvania’s primary election and Senate race recount are over. But as the state heads into yet another high-profile and contentious November, elections officials and lawyers are warily acknowledging something: It’s starting to feel a bit like 2020.”

‘Bill that would limit inmates’ records access passes House’: The Associated Press reports that “a bill that would allow incarcerated people to request public records only about themselves or their own cases is making its way through the Pennsylvania Legislature.”

‘PA House approves bill to improve junior firefighter training’: ABC27 reports that “the State House unanimously approved a bill by Rep. Torren Ecker (R-Adams/Cumberland) to prepare junior firefighters for becoming full firefighters.”

‘Gov. Wolf launches online elder abuse awareness website’: ABC27 reports that “the Pennsylvania Department of Aging (PDA) announced the launch of two new online resources: a new webpage that focuses on the growing financial exploitation of older adults, and an online elder abuse awareness training module.”

‘PA bill would allow seizing illegal dirt bikes & ATVs, fine riders’: ABC27 reports that “the Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee has unanimously approved a bill that would allow police to seize dirt bikes and ATVs that are being illegally ridden on local streets.”

‘PA education spending soars to all-time high’: WTAJ reports that “data from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) showed that taxpayer spending on public schools has consistently increased, reaching all-time highs year after year.”

‘A bill regulating herbal stimulant kratom looked different after a Pa. House panel got done with it’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “a state House bill that was supposed to enhance consumer protections for kratom, an unregulated plant that has the properties of a stimulant when consumed at low levels and an opiate when consumed in high quantities, ended up looking very different when it came out of committee this week.”

‘Casey, Cartwright push for action on Scranton-to-NYC rail service’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright announced Wednesday they’ve sent letters to the Federal Railroad Administration to urge the reestablishment of the passenger rail service that ended in 1970.”

Regional Spotlight: Northeast
Times-Tribune: Gun rights and control groups spend on elections of NEPA Congressional, state legislators
Times-Tribune: Cognetti to attend D.C. forum on advancing America’s global leadership
Citizens Voice: Luzerne County Council urges state to abolish drop boxes, mail ballots; appoints new member
Citizens Voice: Demonstrators want to restore pre-pandemic voting procedures 
Citizens Voice: Wilkes-Barre fire chief: New fireworks bill doesn’t go far enough
Times-Tribune: Scranton Council hears concerns about new payroll tax
Times-Tribune: Gun sales strong in area shops following mass shootings
Times-Tribune: Gun-control advocates rally in Scranton  
Times-Tribune: News Engine Podcast Season 2: Interview with Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti
The Times Leader: Baker voices opposition to bridge tolling plan
The Times Leader: Kingston resident appointed to Luzerne County Council
The Times Leader: Luzerne County receives American Rescue funding requests to address public safety needs
The Times Leader: Revival of WB Citizens Advisory Committee highlights rift between mayor, council members
The Times Leader: Luzerne County Manager Randy Robertson has busy first day
The Times Leader: Group honors Pashinski with ‘Legislator of the Year’ award
The Times Leader: Legislators announce $15.4M in grants for Luzerne County communities
The Times Leader: Boback’s bill to rename highway in Hasay’s memory heads to governor’s desk

Opinion  
Ryan Bizzarro, Sara Innamorato, Nick Pisciottano, and Joanna McClinton: Our plan would end price gouging and protect the people
John L. Micek: Pa. House lawmaker proposes $100M mental health aid package | Wednesday Morning Coffee
Kate L. Nolt: Pennsylvania should think twice about privatizing alcohol stores
Joyce M. Davis: Lift every voice and sing: Happy Juneteenth | Social Views
Evan Myers: State College, Centre Region must have an accurate census count
Al Taubenberger: If San Francisco can vote to recall its district attorney, why can’t Philly?
Jenice Armstrong: Gun violence is poised to ruin yet another summer. Not enough is being done to stop it.
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Congress: Pass the Toomey-led bipartisan gun control bill
Inquirer Editorial Board: Does a chatbot have a soul?
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: As cost of farmland soars, next generation of farmers finding ways to get a foothold 
Charles D. Allen: What will the next generation of military leaders learn from our years of upheaval?
Michal Maksimak, M.D.: Parents should remain calm during formula shortage