🗡️ The Ides of March. Hello, Wednesday.

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What We’re Hearing
Make the Road Action in PA, Pennsylvania’s largest Latino organizing group, will announce its endorsement of Helen Gym for Mayor of Philadelphia this morning.

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Top Story

1. Is a Senate Run In Mastriano’s Future?

“On a cloudy, cold day this past weekend, Jamie Crowe, a conservative activist from northeastern Pennsylvania, put on a Doug Mastriano gemstone pin and got in her car for a 100-mile drive to see the state’s most MAGA Republican.

An advocate for freeing the prisoners who were charged in the Jan. 6 riot, Crowe participates in a nightly vigil for them. But on Saturday, she put aside that work to cheer on Mastriano, the Republican lawmaker who just months ago lost the governor’s race by 15 percentage points. She hopes that by showing up and supporting him at his rally, he will be convinced to make another run for office in 2024, this time for the Senate.” (POLITICO)

Related

GOP Fears Mastriano Redux As Party Zeroes In On McCormick In PA. “The prospect of a Pennsylvania Senate bid by state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R) has Republicans feeling a sense of déjà vu and reigniting fears that he could cost them up and down the ballot.” (The Hill)

Doug Mastriano Dropped Hints On His Political Future. Can He Really Win a Statewide Race? “During a recent interview with Politico, Mastriano acknowledged that he’s considering a run next year for the seat held by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. Keen political observers, meanwhile, are challenged to foresee an outcome for Mastriano much better than his 14-point drubbing in last year’s gubernatorial race.” (USA Today Network)

Republicans Eye David McCormick As Their Best Bet To Pick Up PA Senate Seat. “Pennsylvania Republicans are cautiously optimistic they can win a Democratic-held Senate seat in 2024 following last year’s electoral let-down — if they choose the right candidate.” (Washington Examiner)

Senator Casey Mum On Potential 2024 Re-Election Bid. “U.S. Senator Bob Casey declined to address whether he will run for re-election in 2024 during a visit to Harrisburg International Airport.” (ABC27)

Statewide

2. How Accurate Were Polls On 2022 PA Races?

“You know the winners. You know the spread.

How did the polls do in the final tally for the 2022 Pennsylvania Senate and gubernatorial races?” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Shapiro Outlines Plan For PA’s Federal Infrastructure Aid Spending. “As federal COVID-19 stimulus aid winds down, federal aid to Pennsylvania under the 2021 infrastructure law is ramping up.” (Capitolwire.com)

Consensus Building For Bigger PA Child Care Tax Credit. “What exactly an expansion looks like remains to be seen, though Gov. Josh Shapiro, Senate Republicans and House Democrats — who play key roles in negotiating the state’s budget — agree more must be done.” (The Center Square) 

Breaking Down Shapiro’s Plan To Eliminate Two of PA’s Cell Phone Taxes. “Pennsylvania levies some of the highest taxes on cell phones in the country — a combined 16% when adding together the state sales tax, gross receipts tax, the fee on 911 services, and a local sales tax.” (Spotlight PA)

At Risk In PA Schools – Books, Political Talk, LGBTQ Policies. “One of Pennsylvania’s largest school districts has become a culture war arena, favoring a parental rights movement to block political correctness and “woke” ideologies by banning books and limiting “political” discussions in classrooms.” (Bucks County Courier Times)

Why It’s Significant That Shapiro Eliminated A 4-Year College Degree Requirement For State Government Jobs. “Gov. Josh Shapiro’s recent announcement that Pennsylvania will no longer require college degrees for thousands of state jobs is being touted by many as a logical way to break down barriers and create opportunities for young adults entering the workforce.” (Post-Gazette)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Weinstein’s Ties to Judge, Staff Emerge In Lawsuit Amid Exec Race

“John Weinstein, Allegheny County’s treasurer and now a leading candidate for county executive, lent his name and support two years ago to a successful judicial candidate, who went on to hire two staffers with ties to the mother of two children with Weinstein.” (WESA, Public Source)

Related

Dozens of Philly Candidates Face Legal Battles Ahead of May Primary. “It’s easier to run for public office in Philadelphia if you can knock off the competition.” (Inquirer)

Heart and Lung Benefit, Abused by Cops In Philadelphia, Could Expand Under FOP-Backed Legislation in Harrisburg. “A police disability program that has been abused for years by some Philadelphia officers could be significantly expanded to include potentially thousands of additional law enforcement officers statewide, under new police union-backed legislation introduced in Harrisburg.” (Inquirer)

Public Survey Indicates Potential Health Issues Following Toxic Train Derailment. “A survey of Western Pennsylvanians who live near the toxic train derailment just over the Ohio state border found more than 8 in 10 experienced at least one adverse health symptom since the accident.” (CNHI News)

Investigation Into Impeachment of Schuylkill Co. Commissioner On Hold. “A Pennsylvania House subcommittee says its investigation into whether a Schuylkill County commissioner should be impeached is on hold.” (CNHI News)

PA Group Pushes To Educate Voters Ahead of Municipal Primary. “Meghan Pierce, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania, said every ballot will look a little different, depending on where you live. The League is encouraging people to do some research before casting their ballot, to determine how the races could affect their lives.” (Public News Service)

Religious Leaders Call For Stricter Gun Laws In PA. “A new group — the Saving Lives: Ending Gun Violence Committee — led by Pennsylvania’s Episcopal Diocese, is calling for tougher gun laws.” (WITF)

Bill To Move PA Firearms Deer Season Opener Back To Monday Pitched by Sen. Boscola. “As the debate around the timing of the opening day of Pennsylvania’s firearms deer season continues, a Lehigh Valley legislator has joined the ranks of those considering moving the opener back to its traditional Monday after Thanksgiving.” (LehighValleyLive)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

• Shapiro, His Budget, And The Politics of Pragmatic Progressivism. (Fletcher McClellan)
• Madame Speaker, The Gavel Is Now Yours. (Richard Gaw)
• Westmoreland GOP Chair Says Lawsuits Are About Eliminating Rivals. (Tribune-Review)
• Shapiro Takes First Step In Fixing State’s Shameful Indigent Defense System. (Post-Gazette)
• Three Self-Destructive Reasons Progressives Feel Sad and Anxious. (David Brooks)
• The East Palestine Disaster Could Happen Anywhere in PA. (Joseph Otis Minott)
• Delaware County Democrats Won’t Stand For Sexual Harassment – Except By One of Their Own. (Olivia DeMarco)
• Does Philly City Council Have a Sexual Harassment Problem? (Patty-Pat Kozlowski)
• Legalize and Regulate, But Stay Out of Sales. (Chris Kelly)

1 Thing

5. Boneless Wings A Thing?

“Everyone with a complex about getting wing sauce all over their face has a new hero. Aimen Halim of Chicago filed a class-action lawsuit against Buffalo Wild Wings that accuses the restaurant chain of falsely advertising its boneless wings when they are allegedly just chicken nuggets.

The lawsuit, filed last Friday, states that Halim believed BWW’s boneless chicken wings were actually deboned wings. If he had known the breast-meat truth, Halim claims he would have ordered something else, and therefore he’s suffered “financial injury.”

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