The House State Government Committee advanced lobbyist reform bills on Monday. Here is the Playbook. 

News

‘Lawmakers get started on bills aimed at lobbyist influence’: The Associated Press reports that “Pennsylvania’s state House of Representatives on Monday began advancing a package of bills aimed at lobbyist influence, including limiting gifts from lobbyists and prohibiting lobbyists from trying to influence an elected official for whom they also worked as a campaign strategist.”

‘Panel OKs data for drawing Assembly, Congress district maps’: The Associated Press reports that “the five-person commission redrawing Pennsylvania General Assembly district lines gave its approval on Monday to adjusted and validated census-based data they will use to craft preliminary maps over the coming months.”

‘Powerful special interests are pouring millions into the 2021 Pa. Supreme Court race’: Spotlight PA reports that “labor unions, lawyers, and a political committee with ties to a billionaire advocate for school choice are underwriting the increasingly contentious race for a spot on Pennsylvania’s top court.”

‘‘This is how we remain competitive’: Advocates call on lawmakers to pass bill allowing in-state tuition, aid for undocumented residents’: The Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports that “advocates for undocumented Pennsylvanians rallied at the state Capitol on Monday, where they called on state lawmakers to pass legislation that would allow those individuals to pay in-state tuition rates at state colleges and universities, and qualify for aid from the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.”

‘Advocates call on Wolf to uphold methane promise’: StateImpactPA reports that “environmental groups are launching a new effort to hold Gov. Tom Wolf accountable to his earlier promises to cut methane emissions in the oil and gas industry.”

‘HOTLINE EXTRA: Sean Parnell leads in internal poll’: National Journal’s Hotline reports that an internal poll from Sean Parnell’s U.S. Senate campaign shows him leading the GOP race.  

‘Fetterman criss-crosses eastern Pa. in weekend swing, stops in Luzerne County’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Second Lady Gisele Fetterman stopped in Luzerne County on Saturday as part of a wide swing through eastern Pennsylvania.”

‘Trump endorsed Herschel Walker, Max Miller and Sean Parnell. They’re now facing scrutiny over their pasts’: CNN reports that “Donald Trump is throwing his support behind a trio of candidates whose troubled pasts have come under scrutiny, as he continues to influence the standards of the GOP from his post-presidency perch.”

‘Lawmakers advance bill intended to boost Pennsylvania breweries in competition with out-of-staters’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “a measure intended to boost Pennsylvania beer brewers in competition with out-of-staters is advancing in the state House, although there was pushback from some lawmakers who said an amendment played favorites in the brewery industry.”

‘’He’d inserted himself’: Dougherty calls about Comcast starts week 4 of corruption trial’: KYW Newsradio reports that “the federal corruption trial of Philadelphia City Councilmember Bobby Henon and electricians union leader John Dougherty focused upon Comcast’s 2015 franchise agreement with the city as it entered its fourth week Monday.”

‘The Philadelphia district attorney race: DA Larry Krasner and Charles Peruto’: WHYY will talk with Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and GOP challenger Charles Peruto about the race for Philadelphia District Attorney this morning. 

‘Gainey has huge campaign war chest for final mayoral drive against Moreno’: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “about two weeks before voters in Pittsburgh were set to head to the polls to vote for a new mayor, Democrat Ed Gainey had more than 200 times the money in his campaign’s bank account than Republican Tony Moreno, new campaign finance reports show.”

‘Republican Ziccarelli Calls For Change While Democratic Incumbent Peck Cites His Prosecutorial Experience In Westmoreland County DA Race’: KDKA reports that “Election Day is just eight days away, and one race is getting some attention in Westmoreland County. District Attorney John Peck is getting his first serious challenge in years.”

‘Mayoral candidate Tony Moreno withdraws Right-To-Know request for warrants connected to PAC’: WTAE reports that “Tony Moreno, former Pittsburgh police officer and mayoral candidate, withdrew his Right-to-Know request in court Monday after the prosecution said the warrants remain in their investigative file, making them exempt from the request.”

‘Pa. Rep. Nelson, group of parents, file suit against 4 Westmoreland school districts over mask mandate’: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that “a group of parents, along with state Rep. Eric Nelson, R-Hempfield, filed a lawsuit against several local school districts alleging the state-issued mask mandate is unconstitutional.”

‘After four years of high-profile prosecutions and progressive policies, Bucks County’s DA is seeking reelection’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Matt Weintraub hopes his pragmatic approach to criminal justice will transcend party lines in November.”

‘Lamont McClure spends more than six times the amount Steve Lynch has raised to keep Northampton County executive job’: The Allentown Morning Call reports that “the Northampton County executive race may be the Lehigh Valley’s top race to watch, but when it comes to cash, incumbent Lamont McClure has blown his opponent away, spending more than six times the amount that Steve Lynch has raised.”

‘Kenney administration hired no high-level Hispanic staff and fewer Black executives last year, city controller analysis finds’: Billy Penn reports that “white employees are still overrepresented in the City of Philadelphia’s non-civil servant workforce, according to a new analysis from the Office of the Controller. The controller’s report found that for departments under mayoral supervision, hires of Hispanic people stagnated, and hires of Black staff were down.”

‘Philly voters will decide whether to keep a 1950s anti-corruption rule that some say limits diversity among city workers’: The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that “Philadelphia’s Home Rule Charter, adopted in the 1950s as reform-minded Democrats were taking control of City Hall, is filled with policies aimed at ending the corruption of the Republican machine that had ruled local politics since the 1800s. City leaders now say that one of those policies known as the “rule of two” — to prevent political patronage in hiring and promotions, it requires managers to choose between the two candidates with the highest exam scores — has had the unintended consequence of limiting diversity in the municipal workforce, especially by preventing nonwhite city employees from getting promotions.”

‘No SEPTA labor deal yet, but some progress; rail contingency schedule created’: KYW Newsradio reports that “with a threatened strike less than a week away, SEPTA and its largest union are reporting some progress in contract talks.”

‘DA, community groups launch gun violence response in West, Southwest Philly after more deaths’: KYW Newsradio reports that “advocates for shooting and homicide victims in Philadelphia are pulling their resources to help the overwhelming number of victims in one section of the city, after another weekend of gun violence which centered in that area.”

‘Days before the election, groups petition for an end to cash bail in Chester County’: The Daily Local News reports that “two Chester County organizations have petitioned Chester County judges and the Chester County District Attorney’s office to end cash bail, just days ahead of the general election.”

‘Row offices on the ballot in Nov. 2 election’: The Observer-Reporter reports that “three row office positions are on the ballot for the Nov. 2 election,” in Washington County “and with only one incumbent running, the county leadership will undoubtedly see more changes soon.”

‘2 candidates for Bethlehem mayor, 2 ideas for the city’s future’: Lehigh Valley Live reports that “J. William Reynolds has big plans for Bethlehem. John Kachmar wants to rein things in. That’s the short, short version of the race for Bethlehem mayor, so far a low-key affair ahead of an Oct. 28 debate. Election Day is Nov. 2.”

‘Critics decry city distribution of flyers urging ‘yes’ votes on Johnstown referendums’: The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports that “the City of Johnstown used taxpayer money to mail to residents copies of a flyer that endorsed positions on the seven referendum questions that appear on this year’s general election ballot.”

‘Should Johnstown’s city manager have to live there? Candidates for mayor, City Council comment on ballot question’: The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat reports “should Johnstown’s city manager be required to live in the city? Voters will indirectly answer that question on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 2.”

‘Attorneys Dempsey, Arora vie for Lackawanna County judgeship’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “voters will have a choice between Democrat Mary Walsh Dempsey, 55, Scranton, and Republican Nisha Arora, 41, Waverly Twp., when they head to polls Nov. 2 to elect a replacement for Judge Thomas Munley, who reaches the mandatory retirement age of 75 later this year.”

‘Lackawanna County voters to decide if Geroulo should remain on county bench’: The Scranton Times-Tribune reports that “voters in Lackawanna County will decide in the Nov. 2 election whether to keep Judge Vito P. Geroulo on the county bench.”

‘Luzerne County government set to pay off debt in nine years’: The Wilkes-Barre Times Leader reports that “Luzerne County government will be out of debt in nine years under the current repayment schedule, according to a report up for discussion at Tuesday’s council meeting.”

‘LWVPA seeks independent probe of Berks ballot mistake’: WFMZ reports that “the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania is calling for an independent investigation of the mistake made within the instructions sent to mail-in ballot voters in Berks County.”

‘Amid slew of claims, GOP candidate says too soon to know if he’ll accept election results’: LehighValleyLive reports that “it’s a week until Election Day, and Steve Lynch, the Republican candidate for Northampton County executive, slung a slew of allegations at the current administration, ranging from conditions at the county-owned nursing home to illegal immigration and election impropriety.”

‘Candidate for Northampton County Executive blames McClure administration for staffing shortages at Gracedale’: WFMZ reports that “one of the local races in the upcoming November election is for Northampton County Executive, and one candidate is calling out his competitor over what he alleges are several issues he says need fixing. Republican Steven Lynch blamed the administration of Democrat Lamont McClure Monday for a number of issues.”

‘County Councilman Andre Horton proposes free community college tuition for former non-violent inmates’: WJET reports that “during the media event held on October 25th, County Councilman Andre Horton proposed free tuition to the Erie County Community College for non-violent inmates who have served their sentences.”

‘COVID-19 surge shows further signs of easing in Pa.’: PennLive reports that “Pennsylvania registered 10,412 new COVID-19 infections between midnight Friday and midnight Sunday, continuing a recent trend of fewer new cases. The state had 11,208 new infections during the same period a week earlier.”

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