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Flyers (26-32-12) | d. Florida 6-3 | THU vs. Minnesota
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What We’re Hearing
“Minimum wage earners deserve to be able to afford to exist and to live and to thrive.” – Jessica Ramos (D-N.Y.)

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Connor Rose of Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson’s (R-Pa.) office. Belated wishes for Rep. Louis C. Schmitt (Tues.)

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Top Story

1. Gov. Shapiro Touts Tax Incentive For New Teachers As Way To Ease Shortage

“Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday doubled down on the importance of bolstering Pennsylvania’s teaching profession, which for years has seen a drastically declining number of new educators.

Standing in the library of Pittsburgh Colfax K-8 in Squirrel Hill, Mr. Shapiro touted his proposed three-year tax incentive of up to $2,500 a year for newly certified teachers, while stressing the impact a better school environment can have on quelling the teacher shortage.” (Post-Gazette)

Related

Shapiro Says Tax Credits For New Teachers Needed To Address Shortage In PA Schools. “Pennsylvania certified more than 20,000 teachers every year a decade ago, but those numbers have dropped dramatically, Gov. Josh Shapiro said during a Tuesday visit to Pittsburgh’s Colfax K-8 school.” (Tribune-Review)

‘I Will Take The Fight To Any Other State’: Shapiro Makes First Visit To Lehigh Valley, Says Wants To Build On Region’s Success. “In his first visit to the region as governor, Gov. Josh Shapiro said Tuesday afternoon during Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.’s annual meeting that he wants to build on the Valley’s generational transformation and expand it statewide.” (Morning Call)

Harrisburg

2. PA House Lawmakers Ask State-Related University Leaders To Justify Proposed Funding Growth

“Lawmakers probed the workings of Pennsylvania’s four state-related universities in a House Appropriations Committee hearing on Tuesday, asking the institutions’ presidents to define the value taxpayers receive for their contributions to the schools’ bottom lines.

Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and Lincoln universities would receive a 7.1% increase in state funding, which has remained level for the past four years, under Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2023-24 budget proposal.

That’s a 5% greater increase than Shapiro has proposed for the 10 state-owned universities in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.” (PennLive)

Related

University Heads Talk Workforce Readiness, Security, Supports At PA House Budget Hearing. “Presidents of four state-related universities answered a wide range of questions Tuesday in the Pennsylvania House as lawmakers consider Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget request to boost subsidies to the schools by more than $32 million combined.” (CNHI News)

Former State Lawmaker Forced To Resign From One State Post After Taking Another. “Marguerite Quinn, a Republican who served in the House of Representatives from 2007-2018 representing a portion of Bucks County, resigned her position on the three-member Unemployment Compensation Board of Review on Friday.” (PennLive)

Lawmakers Propose Assault Weapons Ban. “Sens. Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks) and John Kane (D-Chester / Delaware) plan to introduce legislation that would mirror language that is similar to what was enacted in Connecticut after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.” (PoliticsPA)

Public School Workers Say ‘Dignified’ Retirement Now Out of Reach. “Pennsylvania educators say the “dignified” retirement promised to them decades ago no longer exists thanks to record inflation and benefits “frozen” in time for the last 20 years.” (The Center Square)

Thousands of Homeowners Still At Risk As PA Alleges Improper Denials, Delays In Mortgage Relief. “The state agency overseeing Pennsylvania’s troubled mortgage relief program has leveled a slew of new accusations against the private contractor originally hired to run it as thousands of homeowners remain stuck in limbo and at risk of further financial harm.” (Spotlight PA)

PA Judge Gets More Arguments On Whether Public Can See 2020 Election Ballot Images. “It would be absurd to conclude the General Assembly wanted images of mail-in and absentee ballots made public but not those cast in person.” (PennLive)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Philly Region Gets To Flex Muscles

“The numbers in Harrisburg don’t lie — and for the first time in more than a decade, they look good for Philadelphia.

Democrats have been in the minority in the state House for 24 of the last 27 years. It’s been 12 years since Democrats held the majority, and in turn, the ability to shape what life is like for Pennsylvanians.

In that time, the collar counties surrounding Philadelphia have flipped reliably blue. Now, almost 60% of the 101 House Democrats hail from one corner of the state: the southeast.” (Inquirer)

Related

Carpenters Union Is Endorsing Former City Councilmember Cherelle Parker For Mayor. “The regional carpenters union on Tuesday announced it is endorsing former City Councilmember Cherelle Parker for mayor, adding a politically powerful labor ally with financial might to her side in what remains a wide-open race to lead Philadelphia.” (Inquirer)

Philly City Council Is The Least Experienced It’s Been In 40 Years. “No matter what happens in this year’s City Council elections, Philadelphia will gain one of its freshest cohorts of lawmakers in decades — and thus one of the least experienced in terms of years in office.” (Inquirer)

Biden Nominates Eric Olshan As Next U.S. Attorney In Pittsburgh. “Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan is poised to become the next U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania after President Biden nominated him for the post on Monday.” (Union Progress)

National Republicans Are Looking For Senate Candidates Who Are Filthy Rich. “So far, at least 10 candidates with sizable net worth are seriously considering self-funded Senate campaigns in more than a half-dozen swing states — many of them at the behest of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.” (POLITICO)

Progressives Have A New Minimum Wage Goal: $20 And Up. “After inflation rocketed upward last year, those pushing for higher minimum wages see a new opening to gain ground on raising worker pay.” (POLITICO)

Norfolk Southern Supports Some New Regs After Ohio Disaster. “Norfolk Southern’s CEO is offering support for some parts of a bipartisan Senate bill to put tougher safety regulations on railroads after last month’s fiery hazardous materials train derailment on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border.” (AP)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

• Let It Stand: Education Reform Starts With Court Ruling On Inequitable School Funding (Post-Gazette)
• To Philly School Board From Former Member: Our Students Deserve Better. (Angela McIver)
• Not ‘Woke’ Enough To Understand Its Meaning. (Elwood Watson)
• Unleashing PA’s Energy Resources Will Grow Economy. (Jeff Kotula) 
• House Committee Should Postpone Hearing, Change Name. (Times Leader)

1 Thing

5. Honoring Roberto Clemente

Pittsburgh Pirates’ legend Roberto Clemente has been gone for more than 50 years, following his tragic death in 1972 in a plane crash while assisting his native Puerto Rico after an earthquake.

Now, three Pennsylvania state representatives want the Commonwealth to honor the first Latin American baseball superstar.

Reps. Nick Pisciottano (D-Allegheny), Danilo Burgos (D-Philadelphia) and Jose Giral (D-Philadelphia) are proposing legislation to establish September 15, 2023, as “Roberto Clemente Day” in the state.

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