Turning Attention to the Budget. House Resolution Targets Krasner. Senate Passes Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. Oz’s image takes beating in primary. Here is the Playbook.

PA Weather
Johnstown | Sunny, 86
Selinsgrove | Sunny, 89
Wilkes-Barre | Sunny, 88

PA Sports
Phillies (39-37, 8.0 GB) | lost vs. Atlanta, 4-1; THU vs. Atlanta
Pirates (30-45, 13.0 GB) | d. Washington, 8-7; THU-SUN vs. Milwaukee

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News

House Resolution Targets Krasner: The Pennsylvania House today adopted a resolution to establish the Select Committee on Restoring Law and Order by a 114-86 vote.

Senate Passes Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. The Pennsylvania Senate passed a House Bill that called for banning transgender females from competing in girls’ scholastic and collegiate athletics by a 30-20 vote. 

PA Senate Race: ‘Mehmet Oz’s image took a beating during the GOP primary, and it’s weighing on him as the general election starts.’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “early public polling has shown deeply negative views of GOP nominee Mehmet Oz, raising questions about whether voters will trust him in the Senate race against Democratic Lt. Gov. John Fetterman.”

• The Hill: Fetterman calls for Biden administration to fine airlines amid cancellations
• The Hill: Ocasio-Cortez backs Fetterman, Barnes and Ryan for Senate
• Heartland Signal: Dr. Oz has rental properties in Florida, New York City and Turkey. It’s still not certain where he lives in Pennsylvania.

PA Governor Race: ‘Shapiro teams up with healthcare workers to tout abortion message; Mastriano says economy will sway voters’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “as state Democrats continue to hone in on the overturning of Roe v. Wade as an electoral galvanizer ahead of November’s midterms, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the party’s nominee for governor, teamed up with a group of healthcare professionals on Wednesday to label his candidacy the last line of defense against the Impulses of rights-infringing Republicans.”

• WHYY: Medical professionals join Shapiro in show of support for his Pa. gubernatorial campaign

• WJET: Pennsylvania Governor race could shape abortion rights in PA

‘Pa. Senate passes so-called ‘don’t say gay’ bill and votes to have schools notify parents about sexually explicit library books’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “the Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday approved a prohibition on school instruction before sixth grade on sexual orientation or gender identity — a bill dubbed “don’t say gay” by its opponents — and also acted to have school districts tell parents about school library books with sexually explicit content.”

‘Bill to keep transgender athletes out of girls’ sports clears Pa. Legislature; Gov. Wolf promises veto’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “the Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to a bill to prevent athletes who were male at birth from participating in women’s and girls’ school sports, sending it toward a promised veto by Gov. Tom Wolf.”

‘State budget horse-trading is in full swing as deadline approaches in Pennsylvania’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania lawmakers and Gov. Tom Wolf are hammering out a 2022-23 budget plan but it’s not going to be done before the new fiscal year begins on Friday although that has little consequence at least for the first couple weeks of the new fiscal year.”

‘Pa. budget won’t make its June 30 deadline, as lawmakers push forward proposals bound for a Wolf veto’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “Pennsylvania’s budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year won’t be complete on time for its June 30 deadline, as lawmakers plan to stay through the July 4 weekend.”

‘Tree of Life shooting trial will likely begin in spring 2023, judge says’: WESA reports that “a federal judge said Wednesday that a trial likely will begin next spring in the prosecution of the man accused of killing 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill more than three and a half years ago.”

‘The World Cup is coming to Philadelphia in 2026. Here’s what happens next.’: The Philadelphia Business Journal reports that “in the wake of Philadelphia securing host city status for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the coordinators of the local bid are already deep in the planning process and looking years down the road.”

‘Working behind the scenes: A Q&A with attorney Adam Bonin’: City & State PA reports that “the Philly lawyer talks about his work in election law and the likelihood of major lawsuits in 2022.”

‘Pittsburgh City Councilman Corey O’Connor slotted to take over as Allegheny County’s next county controller’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “a Pennsylvania Senate committee nominated Mr. O’Connor for the position, after the spot was vacated by the former controller, and now Court of Common Pleas Judge Chelsa Wagner. Judge Wagner was elected last year and vacated her office as controller in January.”

Regional Spotlight: Northeast
Citizens Voice: Luzerne County Council hires firm to administer Rescue Plan funding proposals 
Times-Tribune: Scranton’s 2022 HUD action plan outlines proposed uses for millions in federal funds 
Times-Tribune: Local unemployment rate lowest in 27 months 
Citizens Voice: Anti-abortion, abortion rights advocates react to court decision
The Times Leader: Pa. lawmakers, candidates, weigh in on ruling
The Times Leader: Baker working to help military spouses collect unemployment
Citizens Voice: Protesters at Luzerne County Courthouse enraged with Supreme Court ruling on abortion 
Citizens Voice: Ballot drop box incidents prior to May 17 primary referred to DA
Citizens Voice: COLTS fare hike in the works
The Times Leader: Luzerne County Manager Randy Robertson meets with workers 
The Times Leader: Where Pa. law stands on abortion
Times-Tribune: Anti-abortion, abortion rights advocates react to court decision
Times-Tribune: News Engine Podcast Interview with Scranton Police Chief Tom Carroll

Opinion  
Elizabeth Fiedler: After Roe, we know what the Pa. GOP will do, says Rep. Fiedler
Nick Pressley and Marc Stier: Who runs Harrisburg? You or the corporate elite?
Renee Chenault Fattah: Roe v. Wade decision makes me “furious”
John L. Micek: ‘Believe Them’: In new Pa. ad, Dems warn GOP wants national abortion ban | Wednesday Morning Coffee
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Aument and Martin propose bills to give parents more control over kids’ education at a time LGBTQ kids already facing harm
Inquirer Editorial Board: Scott Perry, Jeffrey Clark, and the lingering threat of Jan. 6 enablers
Inquirer Editorial Board: With climate change, we must resist the quick fix on oil supplies
Inquirer Readers: As Roe v. Wade is overturned, readers respond
Ron Martin: The overturning of Roe is just the beginning – LGBTQ+ rights could be next
Ernest Owens: Overturning of Roe v. Wade Is a Reminder That We Aren’t a True Democracy 
Brandon McGinley: The rise of the RINO
Lloyd E. Sheaffer: What the GOP and a Greek tragedy have in common
Nasharie Stewart: Fair funding for Pa. schools also means fair funding for special education
Gene Therapy: On new gun safety law, thanks for nothing.
Rebecca L. Watts, Ph.D.: Fathers can face difficult odds in trying to pursue higher education
Tom Fitzgerald: Drag queens are no harder for kids to grasp than clowns, Teletubbies, or Disney characters
Joyce M. Davis: Music can help us bridge political and social divides this Fourth of July | Social Views
Sue Kerr, Marcus Robinson and Sarah Rosso: The LGBTQIA+ community’s herculean accomplishment
Karl Miller: I’m a gay Catholic. I can’t tell if the church thinks that’s OK.
Tony Norman: An iron fist on the scales of justice
Debbie Millman: The sexual abuse I suffered as a child made access to abortion a necessity
Faye Anderson: This July 4th, let’s honor Frederick Douglass and “agitate”