🌻 Good Day, Wednesday. The last day of May.

PA Weather
Erie | Sunny, 77
State College | Sunny, 81
Scranton | Sunny, 86

PA Sports
Pirates (27-27) | San Francisco 2-1 | Wed vs. San Francisco
Phillies (25-29) | NY Mets, 0-2 | W-Th vs. NY Mets
Union (7-4-3) | Wed vs. Charlotte

What We’re Hearing
“Of course we want all Republicans to vote yes on all the bills. But on this bill, I think we’re going to get a majority of the majority.” – Rep. Guy Reschenthaler

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Top Story

1. What’s In, What’s Out Of The Debt Limit Bill To Avert A U.S. Default

“President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have been working the phones in an intense push to sell Congress on the 99-page bill that would suspend the nation’s debt limit through 2025 to avoid a federal default while limiting government spending.

The Democratic president and Republican speaker have to win their respective parties’ support for the plan in time to avert a default that would shake the global economy. On Tuesday, lawmakers began scrutinizing and debating the legislation, which also includes provisions to fund medical care for veterans, change work requirements for some recipients of government aid and streamline environmental reviews for controversial pipelines and other energy projects.” (AP)

Related

Perry, Freedom Caucus Announce Opposition to Debt Ceiling Bill. “During a Tuesday press conference on Capitol Hill, Rep. Scott Perry (R-10), the chair of the House Freedom Caucus (HFC), announced that his group will oppose the debt ceiling agreement reached between President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.” (PoliticsPA)

• McCarthy Overcomes Rules Rebellion Over Debt Deal. (POLITICO)

Cartwright Will Vote For Debt Ceiling Bill; Meuser Undecided. “One area member of Congress said he will vote on the proposed debt ceiling deal and another said he is undecided.“ (Times Leader)

PA Congresswoman Summer Lee Condemns Debt Ceiling Brinkmanship. “She decried Republicans’ willingness to take the country “to the brink of economic catastrophe” to win budget concessions, fueled mainly by deep spending cuts that would have affected “working class people, the vulnerable, people they were willing to use as pawns … to get all of their diabolical plans through,” she said.” (WESA)

Harrisburg

2. Shapiro Won’t Share Daily Calendar, A Departure From Previous PA Governor’s Transparency

“Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is declining to make public his daily calendar, a policy that obscures many of the details about who he meets with and what they discuss.

The decision breaks from the practice of his predecessor, and is the latest choice by the new governor to roll back a transparency measure.

Pennsylvania’s Office of Open Records, an independent state agency that settles Right-to-Know Law disputes, recently ruled in Shapiro’s favor and found he does not need to share details about his schedule.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Colón Named Commonwealth Chief Diversity Officer. “Gov. Josh Shapiro and Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver announced the appointment of Norman Bristol Colón as the Commonwealth Chief Diversity Officer to lead diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across Commonwealth agencies. ” (PoliticsPA)

Nurse Practitioner Turned Lawmaker Is Setting A New Standard For His Community. “Tarik Khan is the first Pakistani-American lawmaker in the Pennsylvania legislature. He’s part of a newly created caucus dedicated to giving Asian Americans a voice at the state level.” (CBS Philadelphia)

Key Lawmaker Planning Bill To Continue Using Speed Cameras And Add New Locations. “Rep. Ed Neilson, D-Philadelphia, majority chairman of the House Transportation Committee, has announced plans for legislation that would expand the use of speed cameras — which have been in use since 2020 in active work zones and on Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia.” (Capitolwire)

Property Tax And Rent Rebate Boost Meandering Through Legislature. “Gov. Josh Shapiro’s key proposal expanding the state’s property tax and rent rebate program meanders along as lawmakers grapple with the projected costs.” (The Center Square)

Around The Commonwealth

3. The Next Stage In The Fight Against Antisemitism

“From the time that the first recorded group of Jews arrived on these shores – in New Amsterdam, in 1654 – they have been both welcomed and targeted. In the 17th century, the Dutch West India Company encouraged the embrace of the new arrivals, while the New Amsterdam governor, Peter Stuyvesant, tried to have them removed from his colony. But in the following 369 years, there had never been as deadly an attack on Jews in America as on Oct. 27, 2018, when a lone gunman entered Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue.” (City & State)

Related

PA Town On The Brink, As Power Plant Shuts. What’s The Impact For The State? “In a few weeks, the Homer City Generating Station is set to close, marking a victory for the state’s environmental enthusiasts and the beginning of an end for those who have depended on the jobs and the power of Pennsylvania’s five coal plants. All are scheduled to shut down by 2028.” (PhillyBurbs.com)

Cash-Strapped Volunteer Fire Depts. Ask Lawmakers For Help. “Every  year, Emerald Star Hose Fire Company #1 in Slatington, Lehigh County has to find about $148,000 of funding in order to break even on its financial affairs, according to Chief Tito Burgos.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Election Bureau’s Write-In Policy Again Draws Scrutiny. “Luzerne County elections officials will find themselves back in court Wednesday to answer to the latest legal challenge centering on write-in votes cast in the primary election earlier this month.” (Standard-Speaker)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

• PA Is One Of 18 States With An All-White Supreme Court. This Must Change. (Kadida Kenner)
• School Censorship Is Not Democratic. Speaking Up Is The Solution. (Jonathan Zimmerman)
• Pittsburgh, State Must Clean Up Their Act With Stiffer Penalties For Littering And Dumping. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Biden Takes Stand Against Antisemitism, While Right Wing Misses The Point. (Gene Collier)
• Pass Yaw Bill To Regulate ‘Skill Games.’ (Citizens Voice)
• Education: A Vote-Moving Issue In 2024? (Colin Hanna)
• What Does It Mean To Be A Patriot? (John C. Morgan)
• Why Is Shapiro So Quiet On PA’s Energy Policy? (Rep. Eric Nelson)
• When It Comes Time To Technology And Politics, Things Are Getting Messy And Confusing. (Bill Gindlesperger)

1 Thing

5. New Cubs On The Block

The new sloth bear cubs at the Philadelphia Zoo finally have names.

• After a week of online voting, Kelce and Harper — yes, for Eagles’ Jason Kelce and the Phillies’ Bryce Harper — were the winners.
• The other names in contention were from the Philly pop group Hall and Oates.

By the numbers: Nearly 16,200 votes were cast, with Kelce and Harper taking in more than 9,400.

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