🏀 Good Morning, Wednesday. And hello March.

PA Weather
Greensburg | Sunny, 67
Landisburg | Partly Sunny, 56
Cobbs Creek | Mostly Sunny, 51

PA Sports
Penguins (30-21-9) | d. Nashville 3-1 | THU vs. Tampa Bay
Flyers (23-28-10) | WED vs. NY Rangers
76ers (39-21) | WED vs. Miami

What We’re Hearing
“And we, in this moment in time right now, have to pinch ourselves because it was almost 250 years before a woman could stand at this desk, not just to give a prayer, but to get the gavel.”

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Sen. Cris Dush and Brian Arata of Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson’s office.

Get Your Own Playbook Subscription
Sign up for free and get your Playbook subscription emailed to you every weekday morning. We promise.

Top Story

1. Joanna McClinton Elected Speaker of PA House

A day of Pennsylvania firsts on the last day of Black History Month.

Rep. Joanna McClinton was elected Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Tuesday following the resignation of Rep. Mark Rozzi from the position.

McClinton becomes the first woman and second Black to ascend to the Speakership.

Related

McClinton Voted PA Speaker; First Black Woman To Win Post. “Philadelphia state Rep. Joanna McClinton on Tuesday became the first woman to serve as speaker of the Pennsylvania House, ascending to the chamber’s top position on the strength of a fresh one-vote Democratic majority.” (AP)

McClinton Elected First Female Speaker of the PA House as Rozzi Steps Down. “Democrat Joanna McClinton was elected the first female speaker of the Pennsylvania House on Tuesday after Mark Rozzi stepped down following two tumultuous months presiding over the lower chamber.” (Spotlight PA)

Inside Joanna McClinton’s Quick Rise to Becoming PA’s First Female Speaker of the House. “Joanna McClinton became Pennsylvania’s first female speaker of the House on Tuesday, ascending into the leadership role after seven years representing Philadelphia in the state legislature, where she made a name for herself as a relationship-builder and a vocal advocate for criminal justice reform and women’s health issues.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

It’s A ‘New Day’ In Harrisburg. “Pennsylvania lawmakers elected state Rep. Joanna McClinton as the first woman to become House Speaker on Tuesday, ending months of turmoil in the chamber after state Rep. Mark Rozzi resigned from the top job.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Rozzi Leaves Speaker’s Role With Blistering Words For Harrisburg. “State Rep. Mark Rozzi rose from the back bench to become speaker of the Pennsylvania House two months ago and on Tuesday, he resigned as the top officer and returned to his seat at the rear of the chamber. It was hardly a moment of defeat.” (CNHI News)

Rozzi Steps Down as Speaker. “Rep. Mark Rozzi announced his resignation as Speaker of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, effective immediately.” (PoliticsPA)

Harrisburg

2. Culver Sworn In As 27th District Senator

Lynda Schlegel Culver was sworn in as the state Senator for the 27th District in a brief ceremony on Tuesday afternoon.

Culver, 53, was elected to the position during a January special election to replace former Senator John Gordner, who stepped down to accept a position in the office of Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward.

Related

Schlegel Culver Seated In PA Senate, Leaving House With An Open Seat. “Lynda Schlegel Culver resigned on Tuesday from the state House of Representatives to be sworn in as the state senator from the 27th senatorial district.” (PennLive)

PA Senate Swears In New Republican Member. “A Republican who won a Senate special election in January took the oath of office on Tuesday, bringing the 50-seat upper chamber to full complement.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Culver Swears In As Senator of 27th District. “Northumberland County President Judge Paige Rosini administered the oath of office to Lynda Schlegel Culver, who became the newest senator representing the 27th District.” (Daily Item)

House Democrats Announce Leadership Team. “Fresh off the swearing in of Joanna McClinton as Speaker, House Democrats appointed their leadership team for the 2023-24 session.” (PoliticsPA)

Senate Passes Bill To Free Up Money Spent On State Police To Fund Road, Bridge Work. “The state Senate on Tuesday voted 28-21 to approve legislation that would cap the amount of money taken out of the state’s Motor License Fund each year at $500 million that would go to help fund state police.” (PennLive)

Senate Panel Schedules Norfolk Southern Subpoena. “A Pennsylvania Senate panel will gather Wednesday to consider subpoenaing Norfolk Southern after its chief executive officer ignored an invitation to testify about the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment.” (The Center Square)

Lawmakers Propose 4-Day Work Week Legislation. “Could a 4-day, 32-hour work week be coming to Commonwealth companies?” (PoliticsPA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Casey Returns to Work as Fetterman Continues Treatment

“Sen. Bob Casey returned to work this week following surgery, as the state’s junior senator, John Fetterman, remained on leave continuing treatment for depression.

Fetterman, a fellow Democrat who just took office in January, checked himself into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Feb. 15 to receive inpatient treatment for clinical depression, something his aides said he had struggled with but that became “severe,” over the preceding month or so. His office said this week there’s no timeline for Fetterman’s return beyond “weeks.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

Former Senator Pat Toomey Has Walked Through The Revolving Door of Politics and Finance. “Following a career in the Senate championing private equity, Pennsylvania Republican Pat Toomey has left office to join the board of a private equity giant in yet another instance of the cozy relationship between Washington and the finance industry.” (Jacobin)

PA’s Deluzio, California’s Khanna Look To Beef Up Regs For Toxic Trains. “U.S. Reps. Chris Deluzio,D-17th District, and Ro Khanna, D-Calif., have introduced legislation that would add stricter regulations for trains carrying hazardous materials, such as the Norfolk Southern train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio last month.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Rep. Perry Ordered to Hand Over 2,000 Records to Federal Investigators. “A D.C. District Court judge ordered Rep. Scott Perry to give federal investigators more than 2,000 records in the legal battle over his cell phone that was seized by the FBI last year, according to recently unsealed court records.” (York Dispatch)

Beaver Countians Near East Palestine Train Derailment Rush to Confirm Safe Water. “After hearing reports of contaminated streams near East Palestine, Ohio, Amanda Turner purchased $500 worth of bottled water, testing kits and water filters as she awaits test results verifying her water is safe to drink.” (Beaver County Times)

PA Judges Offer Conflicting Opinions On Whether Fraud Evidence Is Needed For Recount Requests. “Such recount petitions have become an increasingly common tool for those seeking to question election results, leading to delays in certification and fresh doubts about the integrity of the elections.” (Votebeat)

Senators Explore Ways to Address PA’s Teacher Shortage. “Pennsylvania’s teacher shortage has left some schools scrambling to find qualified people to staff classrooms. Making the situation worse, the number of people interested in pursuing a teaching career is down.” (PennLive)

Cherelle Parker’s Latest Pitch: ‘Cherelle Parker Wants to Be Philly’s Next Mayor’ “Cherelle Parker often comes off unapologetic about who she is, where she comes from and what she believes in.” (City & State)

Philly Mayoral Candidates Are Discussing Gun Violence Tonight. “Philadelphia’s next mayor will face the daunting task of tackling an ongoing gun violence crisis — there have been just under 1,000 fatal shootings during the last two years.“” (WHYY)

Former City Councilmember Bobby Henon Is Facing Sentencing For a Bribery Conviction. “Former Philadelphia City Councilmember Bobby Henon will learn his fate Wednesday as he faces sentencing for his 2021 bribery conviction in a case tied to onetime labor leader John J. Dougherty.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Pittsburgh’s Next Generation Wants to Bring ‘A Fresh Perspective’ to City Hall. “A new generation is trying to break into Pittsburgh City Council. The crop of candidates running for council seats this year skews far younger than current lawmakers.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

• Fifty-Five Days Of Ineptitude and Deception: The Rise and Fall of “Independent” Speaker Mark Rozzi. (Broad + Liberty)
• The Lessons of Mark Rozzi’s Short-Lived Speakership. (Tribune-Review)
• McClinton Breaks New Ground; Enjoy Moment. (Times-Tribune)
• PA Has Its Own ‘East Palestine.’ It’s Not a Train. (Will Bunch, Philadelphia Inquirer)
• PA Counties Need Authority To Boost Tourism. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• The Important Part of School Funding That Gets Ignored. (Gwen Shapiro, PA Capital-Star)
• An Open Letter to Gov. Josh Shapiro About Minority Health In PA. (George Fernandez, PennLive)
• Unfinished Business: We All Have The Right to Run Our Own Race. (Rogette Harris, PennLive)
• American Government Is Unique; As Americans, We Should Embrace That. (Bill Gindlesperger, Public Opinion)
• Shapiro, Staff Wrong to Accept Super Bowl Tickets. (Williamsport Sun-Gazette)

1 Thing

5. My Way

It’s been an honor and a privilege, and I definitely did it my way. pic.twitter.com/GZy6T4iKvx

— Mark Rozzi (@RepRozzi) February 28, 2023

Thanks for starting your day with us.
What did you think of today’s newsletter?
Please invite your friends
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook