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What We’re Hearing
House Freedom Caucus Chair Scott Perry (R-Pa.) will hold a news conference on the debt-limit deal.

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Top Story

1. How Did House Republicans Stick Together On The Debt Ceiling? Credit This Western PA Congressman

“When House Speaker Kevin McCarthy sat down to negotiate a debt ceiling bill with President Joe Biden, he knew almost his entire conference had lined up behind him.

The chamber’s Republican majority had already passed legislation last month and there was no appetite on behalf of the conference’s more moderate members to cross party lines and force a vote on a debt ceiling bill without corresponding spending cuts.

A Western Pennsylvania lawmaker helped see to that.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Related

Takeaways From Biden, McCarthy’s Debt Ceiling Agreement. “It’s a deal no one in Washington claims to really like. But after weeks of negotiations, President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have struck an agreement to raise the debt ceiling and avert a potentially devastating government default.” (AP)

GOP-Led States Plan New Voter Data Systems To Replace One They Rejected. Good Luck With That. “So far this year, seven states, all Republican-led, have left the Electronic Registration Information Center, an interstate compact for sharing voter registration data, and more could follow.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

State

2. Legislatures Not Very Active In Election Reform

“Action has been taken on administrative oversight, registration and records changes in legislative sessions thus far in 2023.

Some states remain in session; others are done. In an analysis by The Center Square staff, the most notable changes happened in Texas and Washington. At the same time, laws in two states at the epicenter of some hot-button claims in 2020 and 2022 – Pennsylvania and Arizona – haven’t changed.” (The Center Square)

Related

On Gun Control Bills, PA Parties Remain Divided. “Though Democrats made progress on stricter gun laws by passing two bills in the state House, they have struggled to persuade Republicans. The policy disagreement appears here to stay, with the GOP favoring better enforcement of existing laws while Democrats advocate for more barriers to, and tracking of, gun ownership.” (The Center Square)

Shapiro Signs Order To Develop Master Plan For Aging Pennsylvanians. “Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an Executive Order in Scranton, authorizing the Pennsylvania Department of Aging to develop a 10-year, state-led and stakeholder-driven strategic plan designed to help transform the infrastructure and coordination of services for older Pennsylvanians.” (PoliticsPA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. A DuBois Official Was Arrested On Corruption Charges. Then Nearly $100K In Cash Arrived At City Hall

“On an otherwise routine Tuesday in early May, DuBois’ solicitor showed up at City Hall with $93,920 in cash tucked inside a cardboard box and packaged in a gift bag.

The solicitor, Toni Cherry, pulled DuBois’ Interim City Manager Chris Nasuti and Police Chief Blaine Clark out of a meeting. According to Nasuti, she handed the gift bag to the two men and told them that the cash — in bills of $20s, $50s, and $100s — belonged to the city. She advised them to deposit the money and did not explain why or how it came into her possession.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Westmoreland Officials Talk Train Derailment Contingency Plans With Expert. “Since the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train filled with hazardous materials in Ohio earlier this year, the looming potential of a similar disaster has weighed heavily on the minds of local leaders whose communities are traversed by trains every day.” (Tribune-Review)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

• FBI Caused ‘Lasting Harm’ To Our Nation With Trump Investigation. (Kyle Sammin)
• Our Elected Leaders Must Meet With Victims’ Families. It’s What They Signed On For. (Larry Miller)
• Gainey Admin Lets Gender Equity Commission Wither. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• The First GOP Candidate In The Swing 17th District Is A Black Pastor From Penn Hills. (Salena Zito)
• We Can All Agree On This. (Gregg Behr)
• Winds of Change In Pittsburgh, Philly. (Joseph Sabino Mistick)
• Allow More Flexible Local Taxes. (Times-Tribune)

1 Thing

5. The White Album At 55

Fifty-five years ago today, the Beatles began recording their “White Album” at EMI Recording Studios in London, starting with the original version of “Revolution 1.”

“I thought we should probably have made a very, very good single album rather than a double. But they insisted. I think it could have been made fantastically good if it had been compressed a bit and condensed. A lot of people I know think it’s still the best album they made. I later learnt that by recording all those songs they were getting rid of their contract with EMI more quickly.” – George Martin