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November 28: Welcome Back

It’s the start of a new week and the end of the old session.

PA Weather
Pittsburgh | Mostly Cloudy, 47
Harrisburg | Mostly Cloudy, 51
Philadelphia | Partly Sunny, 54

PA Sports
Steelers (3-7) | MON vs. Indianapolis
Eagles (10-1) | Green Bay, W 40-33
Penn State (10-2) | Michigan State, W 35-16
Pitt (8-4) | Miami, W 42-16
Temple (3-9) | East Carolina, L 49-46
76ers (11-9) | Orlando, W 133-103 | MON vs. Atlanta
Penguins (11-8-3) | TUE vs. Carolina
Flyers (7-10-5) | TUE vs. NY Islanders

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Top Story

1. When Is A Majority Not A Majority?

“Democrats won control of the Pennsylvania state House on Nov. 8, but their majority is going to disappear for at least a few weeks in the new year.

Republicans will have a temporary 101-99 edge in the 203-seat chamber, in part because of the death of a longtime lawmaker whose seat must be filled in a special election.

But the Democratic majority will also take a hit because two state lawmakers ran for reelection while also vying for different elected offices — a completely legal decision that some good-government advocates say shouldn’t be an option.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Learning To Count: Dems Still Need One More Vote To Elect McClinton As House Speaker. “To me, it seems pretty clear the one thing state House Democrats said would happen on Jan. 3 won’t. At least not on Jan. 3.” (Times-Tribune)

How Did Democrats Win Control Of The PA House? They Owe It To The GOP, Lawmaker Says. “Pennsylvania Democrats may have given thanks to a Republican over the holiday for delivering them their first House majority in over a decade.” (Lehigh Valley News)

Sparring In PA House Over Rules Changes Preview Of What’s To Come In 2023. “Lawmakers’ final vote before recessing, one cast in the shadow of such a momentous move, was just as reflective of the division between the lower chamber’s ruling parties ahead of the next legislative session.” (New Castle News)

 

Washington

2. Lee Among Seven Incoming House Members To Watch

May be an image of 4 people, people standing and monument

“Next year’s crop of freshman lawmakers in the House includes 37 Republicans and 35 Democrats who hail from 32 states across the country. PA’s Summer Lee is among seven to watch.

Lee made history earlier this month when she became the first Black woman to be elected to Congress from Pennsylvania. She beat Republican Mike Doyle to replace the 12th Congressional District’s retiring Democratic lawmaker, who is also named Mike Doyle.” (The Hill)

Related

The GOP’s Great Trump Reckoning Begins At The State Party Level. “For years, Lou Barletta counted himself among Donald Trump’s most diehard allies. The former Pennsylvania Republican gubernatorial candidate and congressman endorsed him at a time in 2016 when many GOP elected officials saw Trump as radioactive. He served as the co-chair of his first presidential campaign in Pennsylvania. Six years later, Barletta is finally disembarking from the MAGA train.” (POLITICO)

GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick: Congress Will Not Allow U.S. Freight Rail Strike To Happen. “Failure is not an option here. We cannot have our transportation system responsible for one third of our products being transported throughout our country struck down. That’s not an option.” (Real Clear Politics)

 

Elections

3. Is Luzerne A Swing County Again?

Luzerne County, PA | Official Website

“Luzerne County continues to lean Republican, but the unofficial results from the Nov. 8 election show the county can still be a swing county with ticket splitters who will vote for Democrats.

Republican Mehmet Oz, who lost the election for U.S. Senate, received the most votes in Luzerne County with 62,340, which was 53 percent of the county vote. Yet, in the other high-profile statewide contest, Democrat Josh Shapiro won the Luzerne County vote in the election for governor with 57,837 votes, 49.5 percent of the county vote.” (Standard-Speaker)

Related

Mastriano Supporters Are Flooding PA Courts With Baseless Recount Petitions In Governor’s Race. “The effort could sow confusion about the validity of the election, tie up state courts, and disrupt officials’ work to audit and certify the results. Mastriano lost by almost 15 percentage points.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

PA Republicans Look Inward After Voters Quashed The Expected ‘Red Wave’Votes were barely counted in the Nov. 8 election before the “autopsy” stories started rolling in on the Pennsylvania Republican Party.” (PennLive)

Questions Surround Election Vote Certification.The Luzerne County Board of Elections will hold a special meeting on Monday to certify the results of the county’s Nov. 8 general election, which was marred by a shortage of ballot paper that caused a judge to order polls to stay open an extra two hours.” (Citizens Voice)

 

Around The Commonwealth

Why Trib Total Media Is Nixing Negative Political Ads. “Like you, we’re sick and tired of political attack ads. So, we’re getting rid of them. All Trib Total Media publications now have a new policy for political advertisements: They can be about the candidate, but not about the opponent.” (Tribune-Review)

Is Possible Impeachment Of Larry Krasner A Political Power Grab Or A Lawful Check on Policies?Starting Tuesday, the Republican-controlled state Senate will take the first steps in a trial of Mr. Krasner that will likely stretch into next year, and that could culminate in the first vote to remove an elected official in Pennsylvania since 1994.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Retiring Rep. Brian Sims Finds Next Act With LGBTQ Business, Policy Group. “When F. Scott Fitzgerald mused  that there are no second acts in American lives, state Rep. Brian Sims had not yet been born.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

‘We’re Going After The System:’ Why PA Activists See Capitol Reform Opportunities in ‘22. “Rabbi Michael Pollack wants to end “legalized bribes” in the commonwealth’s Capitol — and members of his organization see reasons for optimism in the coming year.” (USA TODAY PA State Capitol Bureau)

Chester County Commissioner Michelle Kichline Will Not Seek Re-Election In 2023. “Michelle Kichline, the lone Republican on the Chester County Board of Commissioners, will not be seeking re-election in 2023. However, she said this should come by no surprise to those who know her ideals.” (WHYY)

 

Opinion

 

1 Thing

Getting Your Scrabble On

“The addition of 500 words to “The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary” seventh edition, released last week by Hasbro and Merriam-Webster, should make for some exciting and eyebrow-raising gameplay this holiday season.

So hello to words such as “dox,” “dumpster” and “queso.”

“We’re always looking for something when we get stuck with a Q,” laughed Johanna Rubino, a Monongahela resident who works at Donora Library, where she is a member of the bi-weekly Scrabble Club.” (Observer-Reporter)

 

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One Response

  1. Queso is a Spanish word (cheese). I suppose now MAGA will boycott Scrabble and ban it from schools as a woke game.





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