🥳 I’ve Got Friday On My Mind. The long holiday weekend is upon us. We’re off on Monday but will see you back here on Tuesday. Have a safe, happy and healthy holiday.

PA Weather
Presque Isle State Park | Sunny, 60
Raystown Lake | Sunny, 71
Mount Pocono | Sunny, 68

PA Sports
Phillies (23-27) | Atlanta, 5-6 | F-Sat-Sun vs. Atlanta
Pirates (25-24) | F-Sat-Sun vs. Seattle
Union (6-4-3) | Sat vs. NYC FC

What We’re Hearing
Democrats don’t like what they’ve heard about the emerging debt-limit and federal spending deal between President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Moderates, such as Rep. Susan Wild, have privately vented about making swing-seat Democrats vote for a deal that could cost them their races next year.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (Sat.), Rep. Tina Pickett (Sun.) and Sen. Lynda Culver (Sun.).

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Top Story

1. Mastriano Will Not Run For U.S. Senate

State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Franklin) announced that he will not be a candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 2024 during a Facebook Live conversation on Thursday night.

In a 36-minute presentation, the unsuccessful GOP candidate for Pennsylvania governor last year declined to challenge three-time incumbent Democrat Bob Casey Jr.

“We have decided not to run for the U.S. Senate,” said Mastriano. “(We’ll) continue to serve in Harrisburg. I know this will be disappointing for some. At this moment, the way things are, I am not running for the U.S. Senate seat that is going to be vacated by Casey. We need to beat him.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

GOP Field In PA Senate Race Still Wide Open As Hard-Right State Lawmaker Says He Won’t Run. “A hard-right Pennsylvania state lawmaker said Thursday night that he will not challenge Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, leaving the GOP field wide open as Republican Party officials try to recruit a strong candidate in the moderate battleground state to help capture a Senate majority in 2024.” (AP)

Mastriano Says He’s Not Running, A Relief For the PA GOP Establishment. “State Sen. Doug Mastriano said Thursday that he won’t run for U.S. Senate “at this time,” in an announcement that’s sure to be a relief to Republican leaders who considered him a surefire general election loser against Sen. Bob Casey.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

• Mastriano Bows Out Of Senate Race, Opening Door For McCormick. (DV Journal)

A Well-Liked Incumbent Stands In The Way Of Republicans Retaking The PA Senate Seat. “Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a rising star in the state’s GOP, is keeping her options open ahead of the 2024 Senate election. She isn’t ruling out a run against Democratic Sen. Bob Casey next year.” (POLITICO)

Senator Fetterman Embarrasses Pennsylvanians By Adopting The Latest Legal Conspiracy Theory. “In saying “the whole reason why the Fourteenth Amendment exists” is to give away Congress’s power over borrowing, Fetterman is historically ignorant and politically ridiculous.” (Broad + Liberty)

The Fetterman Dress Code. “Are you bothered by our U.S. Senator dressing like he’s at an Eagles game while doing his job for you in the U.S. Senate?” (Philadelphia Citizen)

State

2. Lee Introduces Hazard Pay Bill For Healthcare Workers

“U.S. Rep Summer Lee introduced legislation on Thursday that would provide hazard pay and other protections for essential healthcare workers in emergency or disaster situations.

The Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act, sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), would include not only doctors and nurses at hospitals, but home care workers, medical technologists, and environmental services staff.” (CNHI News)

Related

DCCC Targets Fitzpatrick On Billboard During Holiday Weekend Rush. “Some people use Twitter. Others Facebook Live. Traditionalists still believe in good old-fashioned billboards to get their message out. And that is the tack that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is taking against Republican congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01).” (PoliticsPA)

Runoff Elections Suggested For Crowded Primary Races. “Lawmakers want a change after years of crowded Republican primary races. If their proposal goes forward, Pennsylvania voters could start seeing runoffs to determine candidates for a general election.” (The Center Square)

PA House Moves Legislation On Illegal Dumping And Retirement Savings. “In the week before the Memorial Day break, and as the Pennsylvania General Assembly enters the final 30 days before the constitutional deadline to pass a state budget, the state House had a busy week.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Freshman PA Lawmaker Wants Pension Changes For Colleagues. “Pennsylvania State Senator Jarrett Coleman (R-Allentown) this week introduced a measure requiring colleagues to take defined-contribution (DC) savings plans rather than traditional pensions.” (Pennsylvania Daily Star)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Finding Dignity In The Loss. The Living Reality For Latinas Running For Philly City Council

“For Latinas in city politics, there is neither dignity in the current prescription nor trophies waiting at the finish line. That doesn’t stop them from laying their reputations on the line to fight tooth and nail for a seat in any elected office. ” (Al Día News)

Related

‘A Tragic Pivotal Moment:’ Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Cited As Biden Releases Plan To Fight Antisemitism. “Alarmed by an increase in antisemitic incidents, including the murder of 11 Pittsburgh worshippers in 2018, President Joe Biden and members of his administration on Thursday released a plan to combat the growing number of attacks on Jews.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Campaign Finance Limits Come To Allegheny County. “I’m a political reporter, which means that trouble is my business, and also that I don’t like to work very hard. So I confess a certain ambivalence about efforts to limit the size of campaign contributions.” (WESA)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

• How My Budget Would Help More Seniors Stay In Their Homes. (Gov. Josh Shapiro)
• Dianne Feinstein, The Aging New Left, And The Curse Of Careerism. (Will Bunch)
• America Couldn’t Live Without Undocumented Immigrants. (Adriana E. Ramírez)
• The Brave Fought For A Country Built On Tolerance. What Happened? (Nancy Eshelman)
• We’re PA College Students. Let’s Fix The Broken Primary System We’re Inheriting. (Harry Hou, Danika Grieser)
• Can Republicans Be Persuaded To Vote For Someone Else Other Than Trump. (Jonah Goldberg)
• Federal Debt Default Would Be Disaster For State And Nation. (Mike Brubaker)

1 Thing

5. Summertime Along The Delaware

“Summer along the majestic Delaware River has always been special to me and my family in our beloved Bucks County. The reawakening, with nature outstretching its arms in bucolic splendor, is breathtaking. That very moment has served as inspiration for some of America’s greatest artists — artists who called Bucks County “home.”

It’s the place that Michener, a child of Doylestown, addressed so lovingly. Oscar Hammerstein wrote songs about it from his cherished Highland Farm, and New Hope impressionist painter Edward Redfield drew inspiration from it for his breathtaking “Road to the River.”

Hammerstein once said, “I just couldn’t write anything without hope in it.” That’s truly what summer along the Delaware in Bucks County is for me: A time for hope and delight.” (Bucks County Herald)

Thanks for starting your day with us. Have a great weekend.
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