Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Enjoy responsibly. Another day, another Dr. Oz story. PA Supreme Court rejects challenges to LRC maps. Meet Jason Richey. Philly party leaders back Lamb. Dauphin commissioners oppose putting tolls on I-83 South Bridge. Here is the Playbook.

PA Weather
Greensburg | Slight chance of sprinkles, 65
Greentown | Showers Likely, 52
Green Lane | Rain, 55
Upper Dublin Twp. | Rain, 56

PA Sports
76ers | d. Cleveland, 118-114; FRI vs. Dallas
Flyers | tonight vs. Nashville; FRI vs. Ottawa
Penguins | today vs. St. Louis

News

Oz Will Renounce Dual Citizenship If Elected: A day after telling a reporter he would not renounce his dual citizenship with Turkey, Mehmet Oz reversed course and told Fox News that he will do so if he is elected to the United States Senate.

Supreme Court Rejects Challenges to Newly Drawn PA Maps: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court today found that the Final Reapportionment Plan of the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Committee is in compliance with the mandates of the Pennsylvania Constitution and the United States Constitution.

Jason Richey and the Contract With Pennsylvania: Given the commotion surrounding the campaigns of Dave White, Jake Corman, Bill McSwain and Doug Mastriano to name a few, one name has been particularly inconspicuous – Jason Richey.

Who’s Who: The Candidates Are On The Field: The deadline has passed to submit nomination petitions for the 2022 primary election season. Ninety-one (91) candidates successfully completed the process and now, as they say, the players are on the field.

PA Governor Race: ‘A Trump aide says Pa. Republicans should back Doug Mastriano for governor — but that’s not a Trump endorsement’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “former President Donald Trump’s spokesperson is weighing in on the Pennsylvania governor’s race — but Trump himself is staying quiet for now.”

• KDKA Radio: A Discussion With PA Gubernatorial Candidate Lou Barletta

PA Senate Race: ‘Philly leaders say reason for Lamb endorsement is simple: ‘He campaigned’’: WHYY reports that “party leaders say they chose Lamb over fellow Philly politician Malcolm Kenyatta and Lt. Gov. John Fetterman because they think Lamb can win. But the decision was also a personal one.”

• Fox News: Pennsylvania Senate candidate David McCormick takes fire for corporate history on transgender activism

‘Who’s running for Congress? Fitzpatrick faces GOP primary challenge’: The Bucks County Courier Times reports that “U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick will face at least three primary challenges in his bid to hold onto his seat in the 1st Congressional District representing Bucks County and portions of Montgomery County.”

‘Democratic Congressional Candidate Drops Out, Leaving Only One’: Levittown Now reports that “Bensalem Township U.S. Army veteran Ashley Ehasz is the lone remaining Democrat in her party’s primary race for the First Congressional District. On Tuesday, U.S. Navy veteran Paul Fermo, of Lower Makefield Township, announced he was ending his primary bid.”

‘Divided court explains choice of new congressional map’: The Associated Press reports that “all seven Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices issued opinions Wednesday regarding their 4-3 vote last month to pick a new map of the state’s congressional districts, disclosing the majority relied partially on how fair the various proposals would be to the two major parties.”

‘GOP Family Feud: Conservative group targets Pa. House leader Saylor for gas tax, budget votes’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “a new ad by the Cumberland County-based advocacy group, Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania, takes aim at House Appropriations Committee Chairperson Stan Saylor, R-York, accusing him of voting for the “bloated budgets of Democrat governors [Ed] Rendell and [Tom] Wolf” and highlights his votes for two infrastructure bills that increased Pennsylvania’s gas tax.” 

‘Pennsylvania members of Congress praise Ukraine President Zelenskyy after virtual address. Here’s what they said’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday after his virtual address to Congress.”

‘Ask The Experts: What to do with the prevailing wage?’: City & State PA reports that “prevailing wage laws may not get the attention that minimum wage debates do, but state and federal laws mandating certain wages and benefits for those working on public construction projects have been a point of contention between lawmakers, advocates and workers for years.”

‘Pennsylvania asks for input on PFAS rule’: StateImpactPA reports that “the state is asking for feedback on a proposed rule to limit what are known as “forever chemicals” in drinking water.”

‘State Rep. Galloway Wants To ‘Level The Playing Field’ For Misclassified Employees’: Levittown Now reports that “following the work of a task force in Harrisburg, State Rep. John Galloway will be working with fellow lawmakers to implement the group’s 15 recommendations.”

‘Dauphin County commissioners join the list of opponents to I-83/South Bridge tolling proposal’: PennLive reports that you can “add Dauphin County commissioners to the growing list of the Capital Region’s elected officials who oppose the proposed tolling of the I-83/South Bridge.”

‘Buckingham Democratic Committee calls on legislature to pass term limits resolution’: The Bucks Local News reports that “the Buckingham Democratic Committee on March 2 officially called on Pennsylvania’s legislature to pass an Article V application to propose a Term Limits Amendment for members of the U.S. House and Senate.”

New Medicaid contract provision could help health care unions, but be bitter pill for employers. WESA-FM reports that efforts to unionize health care workers in Pittsburgh and across the state may be getting a shot in the arm, thanks to a little-noted change the state wants to make in its handling of Medicaid funds. But Republicans and hospitals argue the alteration benefits a well connected union fighting Pittsburgh’s largest health care network — and makes pawns of the low-income patients who rely on the Medicaid program.

Legislative Election Updates

‘Pennsylvania Sen. Mario Scavello to retire; Monroe County Rep. Rosemary Brown to run for Senate’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “citing his health and a desire to spend time with family, state Sen. Mario Scavello of Monroe County has decided to retire and endorse a fellow Republican, Rep. Rosemary Brown, for his seat representing the 40th district.”

‘State Rep. Farry Announces Run For State Senate’: Levittown Now reports that “hours after Republican State Sen. Tommy Tomlinson announced his retirement, State Rep. Frank Farry formally began his candidacy for the Sixth Senatorial District.”

‘Democrat Joins Race For Sixth Senate District’: Levittown Now reports that “a Democrat has thrown their hat in the ring for the Sixth Senate District race. Attorney Ann Marie Mitchell, a resident of Northampton Township’s Ivyland section, will be running to fill the seat.”

‘Two-term incumbent lawmaker announces he will not seek re-election’: PennLive reports that “two-term Republican incumbent Rep. Andrew Lewis announced on Wednesday he will not be seeking re-election for a third term.”

‘Rep. Boback decides not to run for reelection in 117th District’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “state Rep. Karen Boback Wednesday announced that she will not seek reelection in the 117th Legislative District.”

‘Rep. Barry Jozwiak is seeking fourth term in Pennsylvania House’: The Reading Eagle reports that “state Rep. Barry Jozwiak will be running for another term in the House.”

Regional Spotlight: Northeast
The Times Leader: Two Luzerne County election bureau positions filled
The Times Leader:  Luzerne County DA Sanguedolce presents annual report
Times-Tribune: Council introduces legislation authorizing outside funding for finance post 
Times-Tribune: Lackawanna County forced to return $2 million in emergency rent assistance funds to federal government
Times-Tribune: Lackawanna County hires company to speed up emergency rent assistance program approvals
Citizens Voice: Acting Luzerne County Manager Crocamo makes case to keep job full time
Citizens Voice: Wilkes-Barre council OKs code change, nixes mayoral appointment
Citizens Voice: Cartwright announces $4.1 M for school and libraries to improve online learning

Opinion  
Mike Kelly: Energy independence strengthens American foreign policy
Anthony Hardy Williams: Don’t pick a superintendent until Philly gets a new mayor
Paul Muschick: Want to hold government accountable? Learn to use Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law
Helen Ubiñas: Maria Quiñones-Sánchez went public after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Now she begins the next chapter of her story. 
Mustafa Rashed: Black Americans are still waiting on their place in the Biden agenda
Julia Hustwit: Build Back Better moves us toward energy independence
Jill Sunday Bartoli: We need powerful diplomacy for a strong democracy
Sandy Gibson: A safe drug treats opioid addiction. But most doctors can’t prescribe it. 
John L. Micek: Will high gas prices get Pa. drivers out of their cars and on the bus? | Wednesday Morning Coffee
John L. Micek: Republicans denounce Putin’s war on facts, but are silent on the one at home 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Kneading the nonprofits 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Ending textbook inequity
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Lancaster County school districts should be granted the time to use federal pandemic relief funds wisely
Bruce Ledewitz: Ukrainians are fighting and dying to defend their homes. Could I do the same? 
Trudy Rubin: Zelensky’s brilliant speech should impel Biden and Congress to protect Ukrainian skies 
Chris Kelly: Betti/Domenick bout promotes prison doubts