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March 28th Playbook

Good Monday morning. What happened to spring? The PoliticsPA podcast with Kathy Barnette. Allegheny Dems endorse Irwin. We’re No. 1 (most expensive senate race in the U.S.). Here is the Playbook.

>> Can you believe it’s been 30 years since Christian Laettner hit this shot at the Specturm to beat Kentucky? Yes, I know I’m old.

PA Weather
Washington | Chance snow showers and blustery, 31
Wellsboro | Snow showers likely and blustery, 21
Warrington | Mostly sunny, then scattered flurries and breezy, 33

PA Sports
76ers | lost to Phoenix, 114-104; TUE vs. Milwaukee
Flyers | lost to Nashville, 5-4; TUE at Minnesota
Penguins | d. Detroit, 11-2; TUE vs. NY Rangers
Villanova MBB | d. Houston, 50-44; SAT vs. Kansas

PIAA Basketball Champions
6A Boys | Roman Catholic d. Archbishop Wood, 77-65
6A Girls | Plymouth Whitemarsh d. Mt. Lebanon, 60-40
5A Boys | Imhotep Charter d. New Castle, 54-39
5A Girls | Cardinal O’Hara d. Chartiers Valley, 42-19
3A Boys | Devon Prep d. Aliquippa, 76-58
3A Girls | Neumann-Goretti d. Freedom, 55-49
2A Boys | Neshannock d. Southern Columbia, 62-56
2A Girls | Our Lady of the Sacred Heart d. Constitution, 92-71

News

PA Senate Race: Podcast: GOP Senate Candidate Kathy Barnette: In the latest episode of the PoliticsPA Podcast, Republican Kathy Barnette, a Montgomery County resident, talks about her candidacy in this spring’s U.S. Senate primary and why she felt compelled to run.

  • The Most Expensive Senate Race in the Nation: As of two days ago, nearly $50 million has been spent by the candidates, their campaigns as well as outside groups, such as super PACS, to run ads in major markets throughout the Keystone State ahead of the May 17 primary.
  • ‘The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2022’: CNN reports that “Pennsylvania once again tops the list of seats most likely to flip.”
  • The Hill: Pennsylvania Senate primaries get personal
  • The Daily Beast: Will Fetterman Silence Lamb in Pennsylvania Senate Face-Off?
  • CBS21: Face the State | Rep. Senate Candidate Kathy Barnette, plus proposed gas tax suspension
  • Fox News: Republican women preparing for 2022 midterm elections
  • WJET: Warren County Democrats host Congressman Conor Lamb
  • Reading Eagle: U.S. Senate candidate makes a campaign stop in Reading

PA Governor Race: ‘Abortion to elections: Republican candidates on the issues’: The Associated Press reports that “with Pennsylvania’s ballot seemingly set, Republican candidates for governor are hitting the forum circuit in earnest, working to set themselves apart from a huge primary field with just eight weeks to go in the campaign.”

  • ABC27: This Week in Pennsylvania: Josh Shapiro & other Pa. news
  • WTAE: Commitment 2022: One-on-one with GOP governor candidate Lou Barletta

Candidates for Representative in the PA General Assembly: 184 candidates have announced their candidacy and submitted their nomination petitions for Representative in the PA General Assembly.

Candidates for Senator in the General Assembly: 27 candidates have announced their candidacy and submitted their nomination petitions for Senator in the PA General Assembly as of 10 a.m. Saturday.

Coleman, Frye Call for GOP Civility in Quest for Nominations: Republican candidates for lieutenant governor Jeff Coleman and Chris Frye released a video via social media on Thursday, calling for more civility among the GOP candidates for all offices.

Ups and Downs – March 25: A busy news week for us here at PoliticsPA. And a week of celebrations – National Cheesesteak Day, for instance. We’re a little partial to Tony Luke’s, but that’s just us. Would that get an Up or a Down from you? Here’s what we think for the week that was March 21-25.

‘Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate falls in February to 5.1%’: PennLive reports that “the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry said that the unemployment rate for February was down three-tenths of a percentage point over the month to 5.1 percent. The state’s unemployment rate was 2.2 percentage points below its February 2021 level.”

‘Pennsylvania’s bank accounts are flush with cash. Will it last?’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “depending on who you ask, Pennsylvania is either on its way to a surplus, or a fiscal cliff.”

‘Irwin, Deluzo win Democratic endorsements amid questions about committee’s openness’: WESA reports that “Allegheny County Democratic Committee members picked Squirrel Hill attorney Steve Irwin as their favorite in the 12th Congressional District race. In the region’s other contested Democratic primary, Chris Deluzio bested Sean Meloy for the 17th Congressional District seat being vacated by Conor Lamb.”

‘County Republican Committee Endorses Congressman Fitzpatrick’: Levittown Now reports that “at a meeting Wednesday evening, the Bucks County Republican Committee recommended Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick to GOP voters for the upcoming May 17 primary.”

‘Congressman Says Putin ‘Mentally Deteriorating,’ Calls For More Support Of Ukraine’: Levittown Now reports that “at an event this week, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick said Russian President Vladimir Putin was “mentally deteriorating” and he called for more American support of Ukraine.”

‘Inside Pa. candidates’ scramble to get on the ballot in a chaotic, must-win year’: WHYY reports that “for the past ten days, hundreds of candidates for Pennsylvania’s state House and Senate have been scrambling to collect the signatures they need for the nomination petitions that will get them on the ballot for this year’s midterm elections.”

‘A ‘meaningless’ change: Restaurant workers say Pa.’s new threshold for tipped wages won’t make much difference’: WHYY reports that “Pennsylvania employers can pay tipped workers less than the state’s minimum wage of $7.25 an hour — as little as $2.83 an hour — if they make at least $30 a month in tips.”

‘Bill amending Pennsylvania Election Code back to House for third consideration Monday’: The Carlisle Sentinel reports that “a House bill aimed at amending the Pennsylvania Election Code will be back on the House floor for a third consideration by the Legislature on Monday.”

‘Ukraine Support, State Budget, and Tax Relief’: WGAL reports that “this week’s Pennsylvania Newsmakers features Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, who discusses the state’s support for Ukraine, the use of American Rescue Plan money, and his state budget proposal. Then, Brad Bumsted, Bureau Chief of The Caucus, and Danielle Ohl, Capitol Reporter for Spotlight PA, join host Terry Madonna for an update on tax relief proposals, legislative expenses, and the governor’s race.”

‘5 women to watch during the midterms: Susan Wild, Carla Sands, Summer Lee and more’: City & State PA reports that “City & State takes a look at five women running for office in this year’s midterm elections whose success could reshape the political landscape in Pennsylvania – and even make history in the process.” 

‘National study calls for more transportation dollars beyond the federal infrastructure bill to improve roads and bridges, save lives’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “a national study has confirmed what Pennsylvania officials have been saying for months: The Biden administration’s trillion dollar infrastructure plan is a nice boost but isn’t nearly enough to address all of the nation’s transportation needs.”

‘Senator Pat Toomey Says President Joe Biden Is Not Doing Enough To Help Ukraine’: KDKA reports that “Republican U.S. Senator Pat Toomey said President Joe Biden is not doing enough to help Ukraine.”

‘Gov. Wolf pushes for COVID aid spending during visit to York City’: The York Dispatch reports that “Gov. Tom Wolf pushed the GOP-led Legislature to spend federal COVID aid on small businesses during his visit to a York City flower shop.”

‘All but 5 Pennsylvania counties had more deaths than births last year. See how else the state’s population changed [Maps]’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “the U.S. Census Bureau has released numbers showing how population changed in every county and metropolitan area from April 2020 to July 2021.”

‘Levine, Wild visit Bethlehem, urge Congress to pass bills to lower medication costs’: WFMZ reports that “Dr. Rachel Levine, who now works for the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, joined Lehigh Valley Congresswoman Susan Wild in calling for lower prescription drug prices.”

‘Defense: Maybe AG’s office shouldn’t handle case against DA’: The Associated Press reports that “the attorney representing a suspended western Pennsylvania prosecutor in a sexual assault case is questioning whether the state attorney general general’s office should be handling the case.”

‘With a little more than a month to apply, Pa. officials remind students, families to submit FAFSA’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “nearly 31,000 fewer Pennsylvania students — representing a 10.4 percent decline — have submitted the 2022-23 Free Application for Federal Student Aid ahead of the approaching deadline.”

‘House panel’s findings on Jan. 6 will be of concern to ‘vast majority’ of Americans, Rep. Cheney tells Chatham students’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “in a virtual seminar with college students at Chatham University on Thursday, U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, the Wyoming Republican who bucked her party to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection and combat former President Donald Trump’s claims of a stolen election, said she’s confident the findings of the House select committee will “be of concern to the vast majority of the American people.””

Legislative Election Updates

‘Ziemba announces for GOP nomination in 117th Legislative District’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Eugene Ziemba, Republican of Harveys Lake, has announced he is seeking the Republican nomination for State Representative in the newly drawn 117th Legislative District. The seat is currently held by Rep. Karen Boback, R-Harveys Lake, who is not seeking reelection.”

‘Haddock seeks Democratic nomination in 118th Legislative District’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “James L. Haddock of Pittston Township has announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for State Representative in the 118th Legislative District. The seat is currently held by Rep. Mike Carroll, D-Avoca, who is not running for reelection.”

‘Hazleton bakery owner enters race for state representative in 116th District’: The Citizens Voice reports that “with three children in Hazleton Area schools and one son about to leave for college, Yesenia Rodriguez puts education at the center of her campaign for state representative as a Democrat in the 116th Legislative District.”

Regional Spotlight: Southeast and Lehigh Valley
WHYY: Philadelphia City Council sets date set for special election to replace Henon
Inquirer: Kenyatta Johnson trial: Day-by-day updates for federal bribery case
Inquirer: Philly had its largest one-year population decline since 1975: See charts that show the factors 
Inquirer: Councilmanic prerogative in Philadelphia: What you need to know 
Inquirer: Philly’s new police oversight board, first proposed in 2020, is inching toward reality
Bucks County Courier Times: Fitzpatrick urges more support for Ukraine
Inquirer: From a family tragedy to City Hall, how Kenyatta Johnson rose to power before his corruption trial 
Inquirer: Philly Councilmember David Oh just called for a partial no-fly zone over Ukraine 
Morning Call: Allentown forms task force to tackle dirt bike and ATV riders causing ‘quality of life’ issues on Lehigh Valley city streets
Morning Call: Allentown has a plan to revitalize its ‘forgotten’ riverfront neighborhoods. Here’s what’s in it.
Morning Call: Scant oversight for Pennsylvania constables allows those with troubled histories to be elected
Morning Call: ‘The Lehigh Valley is reborn,’ chief economic official tells business leaders; one sector is especially driving the growth
Morning Call: Lehigh County DA seeks to remove Allentown constable from office, alleges his actual address is in New Jersey
Morning Call: The man in charge of the Jan. 6 insurrection investigation was raised in Lehigh Valley. An Allentown teacher inspired his law-enforcement career.
WFMZ: Reading will see minimal change to redistricting requirement 
WFMZ: Mayor Eddie Morán to participate in campaign to fight pollution 
WFMZ: Schuylkill County Commissioner seeks hard drives of county’s Clerk of Courts
WFMZ: Jim Thorpe borough councilman injured in fire dies months later 
WFMZ: Reading community marches in support of ending gun violence
Reading Eagle: New legislative districts in Berks finalized
Reading Eagle: Lawmakers announce grants to boost Schuylkill County broadband
Reading Eagle: Kutztown Area School District parent takes issue with students raising money for Ukraine
Reading Eagle: Late Reading councilman’s legacy helps historic district residents plant trees
Reading Eagle: Reading mayor engages RHS students in effort to stem city violence
Philadelphia Tribune: Black clergy group gives Kenney an ‘F’ for his gun violence response
WHYY: Philadelphia to get an additional $4.6 million for summer youth programs 
WHYY: Prominent Philly developer testifies in Kenyatta Johnson’s corruption trial
WHYY: Philabundance teams ups with elected leaders to offer meals during Ramadan
Billy Penn: Officials swear they have plans to fix Philly’s big illegal dumping problem, but say they need more funding
Daily Local News: Houlahan invites veterans, public to listening session, Town Hall in Coatesville
Inquirer: Kenyatta Johnson’s trial opens with dueling portrayals of what feds call a $67,000 bribe 
Inquirer: First day of testimony wraps up at bribery trial of City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson and wife Dawn Chavous 
Inquirer: City Council wants police to crack down on disability benefit abuse as the department admits: ‘We’ve made very little progress’
Inquirer: Philly names new commerce director to seat that’s been vacant for months 
Inquirer: Spotlight shines on Royal Theater at Kenyatta Johnson’s bribery trial 
Inquirer: First draft of Philly’s $3.9 billion school budget approved to immediate backlash 
Inquirer: Philly’s Wilma Theater is returning a donation from a group close to Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich
Billy Penn: Dismissed as ‘quota hires’ but now called ‘boss’: Philly’s Black women firefighters tell their stories 
Billy Penn: Solutions bubble up in Philadelphia neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence 
Billy Penn: New group HER is working to improve Philly’s dangerous recovery house scene, as the first state regulations take effect

Opinion  
Joanna McClinton: America deserves high court that reflects the diversity of our people
Gene DiGirolamo: It’s time to reform the redistricting process
Douglas E. Schoen and Zoe Young: Pennsylvania’s Senate race is a bellwether for Democrats in 2022 and beyond
Jeaneen Zappa: Without RGGI, Pennsylvania lags behind
Paul Muschick: Why it matters that Allentown’s mayor and police chief speak Spanish
Joe McClure: Harrisburg’s South Bridge was built to solve traffic problems. Tolls might undo that.
Cassie Miller: Federal relief funds ‘critical’ to state park repair needs, DCNR says | Friday Morning Coffee
PennLive Editorial Board: Thanks to legislators for writing memos, but they must pass laws to protect children in state custody 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Private companies lead way on raising minimum wages 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: School Board can’t afford to blow it again 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Rogers’ death demands a public apology
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: We have so many questions about the theft of money from the Lancaster County Drug Task Force safe
LNP | LancasterOnline Editorial Board: Hempfield school board’s new approach to meetings is not in the public’s best interest 
Ray E. Landis: The Villages: A new type of retirement community 
Debra M. McCarthy-Arnone: Equality delayed is equality denied
Rob Baker: Torture is never justified
Ruth Ann Dailey: Some wanderers are, in fact, lost
Joseph P. Ferguson: Teachers are losing trust in the PSEA
Steph Sorensen: How one mom learned to hate capitalism
John Cole: The great snowflake debate 
Barry Shutt: Here’s a way to avoid tolls on the South Bridge
Chris Kelly: Nothing holy about Putin’s war

9 Responses

  1. Trump would be running circles around Putin and the North Korean baby-man but Dems are delusional and provide nothing but rambling speech.

  2. Trump touts Putin and the North Korean baby-man as his heroes in a delusional Georgia rambling speech.

  3. PSERS issue with hedge fund may change trajectory of the race for R’s with OZ learning to politically fight back.

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