Good morning and welcome to March. It’s Fastnacht Day. Or is it Fasnacht?. DePasquale, Keller sit out House races. Supreme Court asked to intervene in maps case. Toomey endorses Coleman for lieutenant governor. CPAC recap. Ad Watch, Governor’s Edition. The $100K Club. Here is the Playbook.

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PA Sports
76ers, Flyers, Penguins idle
College basketball teams in DIII playoffs | (M) DeSales, Eastern, Neumann, Penn State Harrisburg, Susquehanna, Swarthmore, Wilson; (W) Clarks Summit, DeSales, Elizabethtown, Gettysburg, La Roche, Messiah, Scranton, Washington & Jefferson

News

Toomey Endorses Coleman for Lieutenant Governor: Jeff Coleman, the Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor, has received the endorsement of GOP U.S. Senator Pat Toomey.

DePasquale to Sit Out 10th District House Race: Eugene DePasquale has announced that he will not be a candidate for the 10th Congressional District seat held by Scott Perry in the fall.

Senate Candidates – and Dave White – Seize Opportunities at CPAC: The annual gathering of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) took place last weekend in Orlando, Fla. Amongst the many speeches by Republican politicians, Pennsylvania Senate candidates shook hands and networked in their attempts to curry favor.

Ad Watch: Governor’s Edition: Although the money being thrown around is not nearly as much as the U.S. Senate campaigns, the media buys for the governor’s race certainly are not peanuts.Today, we feature the latest ads released by the GOP gubernatorial candidates in their quest to win your vote in the May 17 primary.

PA Gov Race: ‘Inside the chaotic GOP primary for governor in Pennsylvania’: NBC News reports that “Trump has a keen interest in the state, where the governor — not the voters — picks a secretary of state to administer elections, making it one of 2022’s biggest races.”

• Inquirer: Republicans running for Pa. governor talk a lot about Philly crime. But who are they talking to?
• Post-Gazette: State Sen. Jake Corman touts Trumpian bona fides, conservative record during Bethel Park town hall
• Citizens Voice: Barletta brings his campaign for governor to Wilkes-Barre Twp.
• Williamsport Sun-Gazette: GOP candidates tout ‘better ideas’ at annual Lincoln Day gathering

‘Keller won’t run for reelection as Pennsylvania loses seat’: The Associated Press reports that “U.S. Rep. Fred Keller of Pennsylvania changed his mind Monday and said he will not run for reelection if he must face a primary election against another Republican incumbent.”

‘Supreme Court asked to intervene in congressional maps case’: The Associated Press reports that “a group suing over Pennsylvania’s new map of congressional districts asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to reconsider whether they are entitled to an emergency order to halt the plan.”

‘Dr. Oz says COVID-19 ‘steeled’ him to run for office, calls on Fauci to resign’: Fox News reports that “Dr. Mehmet Oz, who is running in Pennsylvania’s competitive U.S. Senate Republican primary, called on Dr. Anthony Fauci to resign, warning that when you “mix politics and medicine, you get politics,” and telling Fox News the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged him to run for office.”

‘Activists disrupt House GOP leader’s speech demanding action on gift ban legislation’: PennLive reports that “MarchOnHarrisburg, a grassroots activist group, disrupted the Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon speech demanding action on gift ban legislation.”

‘State looking toward divestment of Russia-related assets in pension funds’: PennLive reports that “the Pennsylvania state Treasurer is in the process of divesting $2.9 million in Russian holdings in commonwealth investment accounts she controls and is encouraging the state’s pension systems to follow suit.”

‘Senate committee considers oversight, economic growth with legalized adult-use cannabis’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “after wrestling with whether legalizing adult-use cannabis could curb demand on the black market earlier this month, a Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate committee on Monday heard from experts on how — if the state moves ahead with legalization — to regulate the product and ensure economic growth.”

‘Pa. medical marijuana sellers offer advice on weed legalization at Senate hearing’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “a group of industry representatives from medical marijuana sellers had some advice for legislators who were considering the legalization of recreational weed during a Pennsylvania Senate hearing Monday.”

‘Pennsylvania lawmakers look to pull public funds from Russia amid war in Ukraine’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “from liquor to pensions, top Pennsylvania policy makers in both parties are looking at cutting off the commonwealth from doing business with Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine.”

‘‘Wrong, hurtful, dangerous’: LGBTQ advocates want Chambersburg’s anti-discrimination ordinance reinstated’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “the Pennsylvania Coalition for Trans Youth said it will voice its concerns over the reversal at Chambersburg Borough Council’s first meeting since the anti-discrimination ordinance was repealed in late January after being on the books for just four months.”

‘Former pardons secretary starts consulting firm for reentry services’: City & State PA reports that “after ending his bid for lieutenant governor late last year, former state Secretary of Pardons Brandon Flood is looking to use his knowledge of the state’s criminal justice system to help others – but this time, he’s looking to do so not as a public official, but in the private sector.”

‘Endorsements in Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race keep stacking up.’: City & State PA “put together a list of the most current endorsements in Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race compiled from a combination of press releases, social media posts and candidate websites.”

‘Yudichak, Yaw request independent review of ‘outdated’ RGGI modeling’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Yudichak, I-Swoyersville, and state Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Williamsport, sent a letter to the Independent Fiscal Office last week requesting an audit of modeling used to justify Pennsylvania’s entry into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).”

‘The $100,000 Club: In Pa., 11,887 state government employees earned six figures’: PennLive reports that “14% of the state’s workforce made at least $100,000 in 2021.”

‘$100,000 Club: Who sits at the top of the list of Pa. government’s top earners?’: PennLive reports that “the ten highest state government earners all have something in common that the commonwealth has never seen before.”

‘$100,000 Club: Facts, figures, perspectives about Pa. state government top earners’: PennLive details “some highlights from PennLive’s annual analysis of state government earnings for 2021.”

‘Search the database to see which Pa. state government workers made the $100,000 Club’: PennLive’s database lets you search “who made the $100,000 Club roster of the highest earners in state government.”

Legislative Election Updates

‘Rep. Pashinski to seek reelection in 121st Legislative District’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski on Monday announced he is seeking reelection in the 121st Legislative District.”

Regional Spotlight: Central
York Dispatch: Sunday tells CPAC: Collaboration is crucial for reducing prison population
Patriot News: The pandemic has changed the way we work in central Pa.
Patriot News: Dickinson College finds its next president, and he’s already on the job
York Dispatch: Squabbles between York City Council and mayor continue
LNP | LancasterOnline: Local residents, politicians react to Russian invasion of Ukraine [updated full coverage]

Opinion  
Fred Keller: U.S. energy exports critical to lowering costs, deterring Putin
Morgan Cephas: We cannot delay addressing the student loan crisis; it’s time to act
Eric J. Barron: Universities can be vital in cultivating innovation and stimulating economic growth
Mark O’Keefe: In his final budget, Wolf drops his State Police fee. But the problem remains 
John L. Micek: Yanking Russian booze is a lay-up. Leaders still need to watch messaging | Monday Morning Coffee
Anthony W. Lepore: The Jewish Community Center did well to name its basketball court after Terri Travers
Inquirer Editorial Board: Too many Black lives were cut short in Philadelphia this Black History Month
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Learn from failures of free COVID-19 testing program for schools, so we’re better prepared next time 
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Elizabethtown school director alludes to Holocaust in remark about COVID-19 protocol. She needs to learn history. 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Venango County killing demands attention, clarity 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Biden must tell Putin: Cyberattack would mean war
Tony Norman: The right side of history
Dick Polman: In a time of war, Republicans are giving aid and comfort to the enemy