Good Thursday morning. It’s official. The Senate race goes to a recount. What is John Fetterman’s condition and why don’t we already know? More talk, less action on gun reform. Here is the Playbook.

Please note: PoliticsPA will be on pause Friday, but readers should look forward to an upgraded experience next week! 

PA Weather
Dubois | Chance of Showers, 75
Lewistown | Increasing Clouds, 69
Easton | Slight Chance of Showers, 69

PA Sports
Phillies (20-24, 8.0 GB) | lost to Braves, 8-4; THU vs. Atlanta; FRI-SUN at NY Mets
Pirates (18-25, 9.5 GB) | d. Rockies, 10-5; FRI-SUN at San Diego
Union (6-1-6, 24 pts, 1st) | SAT vs. New England

News

Consideration of Assault Weapons Ban Stopped: In light of the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, a call by PA House Democrats to consider an assault weapons ban was halted by the GOP-controlled body, 111-87.

PA Senate Race: It’s Official: Senate Primary Set For Recount: It is now official. The Pennsylvania GOP Senate primary race between Mehmet Oz and Dave McCormick is headed to a formal recount.

• It’s Time We Heard From Fetterman’s Doctors About Condition: The people of Pennsylvania deserve to know the physical health of their statewide elected officials. And today we do not know the condition of John Fetterman.
• AP: Oz, McCormick race heads into recount in Pa. Senate primary
• Inquirer: Pennsylvania’s heading to a recount in the Oz-McCormick Republican Senate primary. Here’s what to expect.
• Post-Gazette: Automatic recount triggered in Pennsylvania’s GOP U.S. Senate race between Mehmet Oz, David McCormick
• Politico: Pennsylvania GOP Senate nail-biter triggers recount
• CNN: Pennsylvania GOP Senate primary between Oz and McCormick is heading to a recount
• Fox News: RNC stands by Pennsylvania law, ballots have to be dated: Ronna McDaniel
• The Hill: Pennsylvania officially orders recount in GOP Senate primary
• PennLive: Latest snapshot shows Oz maintaining lead in race for U.S. Senate GOP nomination, recount ordered

PA Governor Race: ‘DelVal Republicans Say They’ll Support Mastriano’: The Delaware Valley Journal reports that “however, though they might not have voted for him in the primary, most Republicans the Delaware Valley Journal spoke to now say they support Mastriano in his race against Democrat Attorney General Josh Shapiro.”

‘Jarrett Coleman claims Republican primary election win in Pa. Senate 16th District, but Sen. Pat Browne says he may seek recount’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “Jarrett Coleman late Wednesday said he had locked up the Republican nomination in the Senate 16th District Republican primary election, but opponent Sen. Pat Browne said he is considering asking for a recount.”

‘House votes against taking up gun bill after Texas killings’: The Associated Press reports that “an effort by Democratic lawmakers in Pennsylvania to ban owning, selling or making high-capacity, semi-automatic firearms went nowhere Wednesday as state House Republicans again displayed their firm opposition to gun restriction proposals.”

‘Here’s what Pa. members of Congress have said about the Texas school shooting’: The Philadelphia Inquirer lists what members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation “have said about the Texas school shooting.”

‘Toomey hasn’t given up on expanded background checks’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “a day after a gunman massacred 19 elementary school children and two teachers in Texas, Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey is in the spotlight as one of the outliers who has tried to broker gun safety legislation across the aisle, and he said Wednesday that an “effort is underway” in the upper chamber to find a bipartisan compromise.”

‘What Pennsylvania voters think about gun control, according to polls’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “polls find that a majority of Pennsylvanians are in favor of stronger gun laws, and support is even higher when pollsters ask about specific safety proposals.”

‘Bill allowing personal testing equipment, Fentanyl test strips passes House committee’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “a bill amending Pennsylvania’s controlled substance law to allow for the use of personal testing equipment, including Fentanyl test strips, unanimously passed the House Judiciary Committee this week.”

‘Man with a ban: How Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto tally is defining his legacy’: City & State PA reports that “with the exception of a flurry of COVID-related vetoes in 2020, Wolf’s use of this executive power has been remarkably consistent.” 

‘Democrats in Harrisburg call for gun law reforms after deadly Texas shooting’: City & State PA reports that “a massacre that left 19 children and two teachers dead in Uvalde, Texas has quickly reignited calls for changes to Pennsylvania’s own gun laws, with Democrats pressuring GOP leaders in the General Assembly to hold votes on an array of gun-related legislation.”

‘‘We will not go away:’ Philly Black Clergy, allies call for more money for gun violence prevention’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “barely a day after 21 people, most of them children, were gunned down in a Texas elementary school, a coalition of faith leaders and their allies gathered in the Capitol on Wednesday, where they called on state lawmakers to boost spending on gun violence prevention programs and public education.”

‘Pa. long-term care advocates warn of another crisis on the way, due to years of underfunding’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “long-term care employees from the state’s largest health care union and nursing home administrators demonstrated in Harrisburg in two separate rallies this week.”

‘State-mandated school safety protocols aim to protect students attending Pa. schools’: PennLive reports that “the topic of school safety once again has been thrust upon the national conscious amid the latest school massacre.”

‘Companies blanket Pa. with ads about how to get a medical marijuana card, but doctors are silenced’: Spotlight PA reports that “with millions of dollars at stake, companies are blanketing Pennsylvania with ads about how to get a medical marijuana card. But if doctors do the same, they risk their license.”

Regional Spotlight: Northeast
Times-Tribune: Scavo received subpoena to testify before Jan. 6 riot committee
Times-Tribune: Local congressmen shrug off Russia ban 
Times-Tribune: Education group finds cyber charter school used taxpayer money for concert tickets, vacations, arcades 
Times-Tribune: Former acting Luzerne County manager named assistant solicitor for Scranton 
Citizens Voice: Election board completes tally of provisional ballots, as Senate recount looms next week 
Citizens Voice: Luzerne County deputy election director resigns 
Citizens Voice: What is the solution?
Citizens Voice: Abortions increased among Luzerne County residents 
Citizens Voice: PennDOT touts Luzerne County trail projects
The Times Leader: Still deep in primary ballot processing, Luzerne County Election Board faces recount 
The Times Leader: Luzerne County receives numerous requests for American Rescue Plan funding 
The Times Leader: Rep. Boback’s Bill to assist older foster youth passed by House 
The Times Leader: Senate Judiciary Committee hears testimony on juvenile justice reform
The Times Leader: Wilkes-Barre asked to fund Parking Authority elevator repairs with ARP money

Opinion  
Fletcher McClellan: Pa. voters wanted to burn the House — and Senate — down this primary season
John Baer: Can anything bring some normalcy to Pa. politics? Yep.
Jennifer Smith: Pa. residents recovering from substance use disorder deserve safe, supportive housing
John L. Micek: After Texas, clergy gather to protest gun violence. How much is enough? | Wednesday Morning Coffee
John L. Micek: Our national pathology over guns is no longer insane. It’s inhuman
Inquirer Editorial Board: America loves guns more than kids. Uvalde is just more proof. 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: Yes to new gun laws, but the crisis is deeper than firearms 
Post-Gazette Editorial Board: The Southern Baptist blasphemy
Adam M. Nagel: Philly water problems won’t be solved by continuing to raise rates
Will Bunch: Don’t be ‘horrified and heartbroken’ at Uvalde. Get mad as hell and do something
Julie A. Werner-Simon: Repeal the Second Amendment
Jeffery Gerritt: Dreams of home: Ukrainian refugees need Marshall Plan
Jon Reid: Pennsylvania’s broken property tax system needs fixing