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May 23: Moving Forward

Handguns

🌅 Hi, TuesdayRise and shine.

PA Weather
Erie | Mostly Sunny, 69
Altoona | Partly Sunny, 75
Scranton | Mostly Sunny, 78

PA Sports
Pirates (25-22) | Texas 6-4 | Tu-W vs. Texas
Phillies (22-25) | Arizona 3-6 | Tu-W vs. Arizona

What We’re Hearing
“With extreme risk protection orders, we have a mechanism to step in and save lives.” – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Witmer

What’s Happening Today
The House convenes at 11 a.m.

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Top Story

1. Democrats Advance Gun-Control Bills Through PA House

Handguns

“Authorities could temporarily seize firearms and background checks would be expanded for gun buyers, under two bills passed Monday in the Pennsylvania House, where Democrats are using their razor-thin majority to push gun-control measures after a years-long standstill in the politically divided government.

The party describes the proposals as relatively moderate measures to cut down on gun trafficking, suicide deaths, accidental shootings and day-to-day violence. Republicans oppose the bills, saying they punish law-abiding gun owners.” (AP)

Related

The PA House Passed Two Gun Reform Bills. A Third Failed On The House Floor. “Democrats had hoped to pass a four-bill package of what they called “commonsense” gun reforms. But one was voted down, and House leadership didn’t bring the fourth up for a vote Monday.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

 

Republicans Can’t Avoid Donald Trump’s Drag On Candidate Recruitment. “Republicans have some electoral advantages next year; of the three Senate races widely seen as toss-ups in 2024, all—Arizona, Ohio, and West Virginia—are currently Democrats’ to lose. Republicans are also likely to try and pick off Democrats in Pennsylvania, Montana, and Nevada. Still, there’s a major question looming over Republicans’ prospects: Can they run winners?” (Vanity Fair)

Mastriano Set For Thursday Announcement About Possible U.S. Senate Run. “State Sen. Doug Mastriano is set to announce whether a run for the United States Senate in 2024 is in his immediate future. Mastriano will reveal his intentions via Facebook Live on Thursday, according to published reports.” (PoliticsPA)

PA Sen. Doug Mastriano On GOP Opposition To His U.S. Senate Bid: ‘It’s Irrelevant To Me’  Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano on Monday shrugged off calls from inside his party to oppose his potential U.S. Senate bid, including one from a current legislative colleague.” (PennLive)

  • Reader Poll: Will Doug Mastriano Run For U.S. Senate? (PoliticsPA)

 

Harrisburg

2. How Dems Went Big To Save Their Slim PA Majority

“Democrats in Pennsylvania dodged a bullet last week, thanks to voters’ anger over abortion rights being threatened — and an assist from Gov. Josh Shapiro.

On Tuesday, the party held onto its razor-thin majority in the state House, winning a special election for a seat in the Philadelphia suburbs. Democrats had gone all in on the race, spending nearly $1 million and even securing a last-minute endorsement from President Joe Biden to back Heather Boyd, a former congressional aide running for the seat.” (POLITICO)

Related

McClinton: Delco Special Election Win Endorses Dems’ Agenda. “Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton says last week’s Democratic victory in a special election in Delaware County means that voters back their agenda and believe in their ability to get things done.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Shapiro’s First Four Months ‘By The Numbers.’  “What’s just four months out of a four-year term? It ain’t much, but since his inauguration on Jan. 17, Shapiro has dealt with disasters, derailments and a diverse set of policy priorities as he looks to establish himself as a bipartisan leader working in a divided General Assembly.” (City & State)

Republican Nominee For PA Supreme Court Wiped Anti-Abortion Language From Website. “Carolyn Carluccio, the Republican nominee for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, removed a resume highlighting her anti-abortion stances from her campaign’s website. The since-deleted resume’s topline stated that she’d be a defender of “all life under the law”” (The Keystone)

Child Sexual Abuse Amendment Stuck In Political Quagmire In PA Legislature. “Survivors of childhood sexual abuse remain caught in the middle of a game of political brinksmanship that is denying them the chance at having an opportunity to have a two-year window to file civil suits against their abuser.” (PennLive)

Bill To Boost Funding For Road And Bridge Projects Advances In PA House. “Legislation designed to use the state’s gas tax revenue in its entirety for road and bridge work is advancing in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.” (PennLive)

 

Around The Commonwealth

3. Small-Business Owners Sound The Alarm Over Proposed Minimum Wage Hike

“Pennsylvania’s leading small business advocacy association, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), is sounding the alarm over a proposed new bill in the state House, HB 1135, that would hike the Commonwealth’s mandated minimum wage to $21/hour.” (Broad + Liberty)

Related

Cherelle Parker Makes First Public Appearance Since Winning The Mayoral Primary: ‘We All All Of Philadelphia To Unify’  “I don’t care who you voted for, I don’t care what section of the city you live in, your ZIP code, what your political philosophy or ideology is,” Parker told reporters. “Our democratic process, we worked through it, we now have the results, and we need all of Philadelphia to unify in order to move our city forward.”” (Philadelphia Inquirer) 

  • Cherelle Parker In Public. (Al Día)
  • A Look Back At The Mayoral Primary. (Inquirer)

 

2023 Primary Election Analysis. “The Times-Tribune politics reporter Borys Krawczeniuk joins the News Engine Podcast to break down the Primary election, taking a look at what happened to Jerry Notarianni and if reassessment was to blame. Borys also digs into the emergence of Bill Gaughan onto the Lackawanna County stage, what Matt McGloin is going to need to learn to be a commissioner, and how local voters sought change and younger leadership.” (Times-Tribune)

Term Limits For Northampton County Executive? An Elected Sheriff? County Council Floats Possible Home Rule Charter Changes. “Commissioners John Cusick and Lori Vargo Heffner revived previous proposals for the changes, as well as to clarify when appointees temporarily filling vacant seats are replaced through an election.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

 

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

Editorial

 

Opinion

  • These PA House Bills Can Decrease Gun Violence. (Jo Recht)
  • Why We Care About The Pirates, And The Steelers And Penguins. (David Mills)
  • We Must Correct The Misclassification Of Workers In PA. (Nancy Walker)
  • Parents Ignite A ‘Brushfire Of Freedom.’  (Lowman Henry)
  • The Heart Of Progressive PA. (Christopher Nicholas)

 

1 Thing

5. A ‘Taco Tuesday’ Trademark Tiff

Taco Bell® | Live Más

“Declaring a mission to liberate “Taco Tuesday” for all, Taco Bell is asking U.S. regulators to force Wyoming-based Taco John’s to abandon its longstanding claim to the trademark.

Too many businesses and others refer to “Taco Tuesday” for Taco John’s to be able to have exclusive rights to the phrase, Taco Bell asserts in a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office filing that is, of course.

“Basically what this is about is you cannot trademark something that is ‘generic,’” New York trademark law attorney Emily Poler said. “That means it doesn’t have any association with that particular source or product.”

 

 

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One Response

  1. I want to be first in line to congratulate my cousin
    Stevie Zappala jr for winning the Republican write in nod for Allegheny County District Attorney. It would have made his daddy very proud because we ALL thought he was an idiot. If he can now
    Convince Blacks, progressives, Trump Democrats and ordinary white people to switch sides he may only lose by 100,000 votes. As for Republicans,
    They are stuck with him and thanks to his other cousin Sad Sam Demarco the Republican chair who pulled off the write in win Zap will tank the whole Gop ticket. Its ok. He will say he only ran to protect Democrats.





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