Hello. It’s Wednesday.

PA Weather
Latrobe | Sunny, 79
Hershey | Sunny, 81
King Of Prussia | Sunny, 81

PA Sports
Pirates (25-23) | Texas 1-6 | Wed vs. Texas
Phillies (22-26) | Arizona 3-4 | Wed vs. Arizona

What We’re Hearing
Former Philly mayoral candidate Derek Green will become special counsel for lobbying firm Bellevue Strategies.

What’s Happening Today
The House convenes at 11 a.m. The Senate State Government Committee meets to consider the nomination of Al Schmidt for Secretary of the Commonwealth at 1 p.m.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for former Rep. Charlie Dent. Belated wishes for Rep. Aerion Abney.

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Sign up for your free subscription to the PoliticsPA Playbook and we’ll email you every weekday morning. Yes, it’s free. And everyone likes free.

Top Story

1. How Rookie Governors Are Performing So Far

“In a pattern we first wrote about a year ago, governors appear to be strikingly popular these days, especially compared to national political figures and institutions such as Congress and the Supreme Court.

This perception was bolstered by the findings of the most recent 50-state survey by Morning Consult, the only polling undertaken nationally on gubernatorial approval ratings. The Morning Consult findings, which were released April 19, found that every single governor in the country was above water — that is, with the percentage of respondents approving of their job in office higher than the percentage of respondents disapproving.” (Sabato’s Crystal Ball)

Related

John Fetterman’s Public Battle With Depression Is Shattering Stigma. “The Pennsylvania senator’s decisions to temporarily step away from Congress and to discuss his mental health will save lives.” (The Nation)

Fetterman, Dean Endorse ‘Frivolous’ 14th Amendment Debt Ceiling Scheme. “Montgomery County Rep. Madeleine Dean and Sen. John Fetterman are urging President Joe Biden to invoke the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and unilaterally raise America’s debt ceiling. It is a move many legal scholars dismiss as both unserious and unconstitutional.” (Delaware Valley Journal)

IRA Funding For Farm Conservation ‘Unrealistic’  “House Agriculture Chair Glenn Thompson doubled down yesterday on House Republicans’ goal to redirect some of the billions of dollars Democrats have devoted to climate change into other priorities in the 2023 farm bill.” (POLITICO)

PA High Court To Consider Plan To Make Power Plants Pay For Greenhouse Gas Emissions. “Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court will take its first crack at whether a governor can force power plant owners to pay for their planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions, or whether he first needed approval from a Legislature that refused to go along with the plan.” (AP)

Harrisburg

2. PA House Panel Moves Forward On Gov. Shapiro’s Plan To Update Property Tax Relief Program

“Pennsylvania’s Property Tax and Rent Rebate program provides financial breathing room for hundreds of thousands of older and disabled residents to pay their bills and stay in their homes, lawmakers and advocates told the House Finance Committee.

But in the 16 years since the program’s enabling legislation, the Taxpayer Relief act, was last overhauled, Social Security and pension cost of living adjustments have put many who relied on the rebates over the program’s income limits.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Related

How PA Politics Are Shaking Up The State’s Crypto Scene. “Pennsylvania’s once freewheeling crypto landscape may soon become a little less welcoming to companies hoping to use its waste coal tax credits and data center sales tax exemptions to establish bitcoin mining operations.” (Forbes)

Progressive Caucus Formed In The PA House. “On the heels of another victory by progressives in Allegheny County, 34 state representatives have officially formed the Pennsylvania Progressive Caucus in the State House.” (PoliticsPA)

PA Limited A Board’s Power To Regulate Abandoned Oil And Gas Wells. Democrats Want To Restore It. “Last year, the Pennsylvania legislature stripped an independent board of its ability to use a tool designed to keep drillers from abandoning wells without plugging them.” (SpotlightPA)

PA House Panel Action Tees Up Anti-Hate Crimes Package. “A House committee set the stage Monday for some initial action later this week on an anti-hate crimes bill package sponsored by Democratic lawmakers.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

The Volpe Report: Seth Grove. “Chuck Volpe speaks with the member of the House Leadership Caucus, and the Appropriations Chairman in the House of Representatives.” (WOLF-TV)

5 Strategies To Grow Rural Health Care In PA. “Many of Pennsylvania’s rural counties are short on health care services. These communities, surrounded by mountains or farm fields, are often older and poorer than the state average, and residents may travel long distances for care.” (Lancaster Farming)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Ideas We Should Steal: Vote Like Minneapolitans

“Only 27 percent of voters cast a ballot in Philly’s mayoral primary last week. Here’s what we can learn from the midwest city — known for high levels of civic engagement — that recently set a turnout record.” (Philadelphia Citizen)

Related

Zappala Wins GOP Write-In Bid, Setting Up Potential November Rematch. “One week after losing the Democratic Primary, District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. has a chance for a retrial: As many political observers expected, he has secured enough write-in ballots on the Republican ticket to be the GOP nominee in November.” (WESA)

Get Ready For A Dugan-Zappala Rematch In The Race For Allegheny County DA. “The race for Allegheny County district attorney is likely going to a November rematch.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Why Rebecca Rhynhart’s Second-Place Campaign Still Beat Expectations. “Rebecca Rhynhart and her team were crammed in a room at a Northern Liberties restaurant as results rolled in on election night, and they could see where the Philadelphia mayor’s race was headed.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Allegheny County Council Passes Campaign Finance Regulations, But Fitzgerald Veto Looms. “Just as the dust settles on an expensive primary election season in Allegheny County, legislators are on the verge of enacting major new regulations on campaign finance for county offices, limiting contributions to candidates and requiring more frequent disclosures.” (Public Source)

Local Veterinarians Worried By Proposed Limits On Drug Linked To Opioid Epidemic. “As a veterinarian, Dr. Gary Brummel relies on xylazine as a tranquilizer in the treatment of large animals, including cattle and horses. He says the drug is the only one of its kind that is strong enough to ensure the animal’s safety, as well as the health and well being of veterinarians who provide treatment.” (LebTown)

After More Than 30 Years, Rankin Will Exit State’s Act 47 Program. “State and local officials will host an event Wednesday in Rankin to celebrate the community’s exit from Act 47, the state oversight program for fiscally distressed municipalities the community has been in since 1989.” (WESA)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

• Republicans Need To Stop the Blame Game And Work With Us For The People. (Rep. Ryan Bizzarro)
• The Left Blames Guns, The Right Blames Mental Illness. They’re Both Right. And Wrong. (Cynthia M. Allen) 
• The Time Is Right To Build A National Model For Senior Care Right Here In PA. (Garry Pezzano)
• Tests To Review Public Access Worth Watching (Daily Item)
• We Must Make It More Affordable To Become A Teacher In PA. (Marina Lagattuta)
• Independence And The Legacy Of PA Hospitals. (Tribune-Review)
• Raise Minimum Wage To A Better Future. (Alex Bernstein)

1 Thing

5. The Official Summer Drink Of PA

photo by Will Dickey

It’s official, I guess.

As Memorial Day Weekend approaches and with it, the “official” start of summer, the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association has declared the state’s official adult beverage for 2023 to be … The Orange Crush.

The what?

According to the Pioneer Woman’s official website, the Orange Crush is a “bright and zesty” cocktail that contains orange juice, orange-flavored vodka, triple sec, and lemon-line or orange soda, plus some — you guessed it — orange slices for garnish. (PennLive)

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