🧢 Hello, Thursday. Bring on the Braves.

PA Weather
⛅ Mercer | Increasing Clouds, 80
☀️ Hughesville | Mostly Sunny, 79
☀️ Bangor | Sunny, 76

PA Sports
⚾ Phillies (2-0) | Miami 7-1 | Sat vs. Atlanta
⚽ Union (15-9-8) | Atlanta 3-2 | Sat vs. Nashville

What We’re Hearing
“The agitators and the Democrats rule the day. In a mutual way, they’ve really blown up any meaningful legislation. I don’t know how you get a speaker with that coalition. Without a speaker, you can’t do anything.” – Rep. G.T. Thompson

What’s Happening
State House, 8 a.m.; Lackawanna County commissioner forum, 8:30 a.m.; Blair County commissioner forum, 6 p.m.

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Top Story

1. Shapiro Met Privately With Female Senators As Questions Swirl About Sexual Harassment Allegations Against A Top Aide

“Gov. Josh Shapiro met privately with all eight of Pennsylvania’s Democratic female state senators Wednesday, as questions continued to swirl about his silence on the sudden resignation last week of a top aide who had been accused of sexual harassment.

The lawmakers — some of whom had questioned Shapiro’s handling of the allegations lodged against Mike Vereb, his top liaison to the General Assembly — declined to comment after the meeting. Some left the hour-long, closed-door meeting visibly frustrated, and one senator later said she still had “unanswered questions”. (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

Women State Senators Call Out Gov. Shapiro Over Sex Harassment Scandal. “A sexual harassment scandal gripping the Shapiro administration isn’t sitting well with some women in the Pennsylvania state Senate, starting with DelVal’s own Sen. Tracy Pennycuick.” (Broad + Liberty)

House Removal Of Speaker Adds Hurdle For New Farm Bill. “The farm bill could be collateral damage after the House removed Speaker Kevin McCarthy in a historic vote that may have “blown up any meaningful legislation,” House Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson warned.” (Roll Call)

Bob Casey Leads David McCormick In PA Senate Race, Poll Says, With Trump And Biden Tied. “Casey was ahead of McCormick, 50% to 44%, in a Quinnipiac University survey of registered Pennsylvania voters released Wednesday. That’s outside the poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Union Loyalty Or Political Gain? Casey’s Mixed Messages Raise Eyebrows. “Like many elected Democrats, Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey has been vocal in his support for the United Auto Workers on strike, a labor contest now entering its third week. But when Casey isn’t praising the picket line, he’s busy raking in donations from political action committees for the “Big Three” automakers, according to Federal Election records.” (Broad + Liberty)

State

2. Attack Ads And Millions Of Dollars Flow Into Race For PA Supreme Court Seat

“Spending in the campaign for an open Pennsylvania state Supreme Court seat is picking up, with millions of dollars flowing into the race as the sides sharpen their attacks over questions about ethics and abortion rights.

Total reported spending has passed $4.5 million, with millions more likely before the Nov. 7 election. Much of the campaign cash is from trial lawyers, labor unions and a billionaire who is considered one of the GOP’s top national donors. That money is underwriting attack ads.” (AP)

Related

8 Things To Know About The New Tax Code Bill Passed By The PA House. “A wide-ranging tax code bill that would speed up the state’s corporate tax reduction and expand existing tax credits moved through the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Tuesday night, drawing a wide range of responses from members of the General Assembly.” (City & State)

PA Senator Finds Automatic Voter Registration System ‘Disconcerting’ During Test Run. “Sen. Cris Dush said he considers it to be a misuse of power over the driving public by forcing people to opt out of registering to vote when they come to a PennDOT service center to apply for or renew their driver’s license.” (PennLive)

Pennsylvania Could Go After Lottery Winnings, Tax Returns Of Turnpike Toll Scofflaws. “Pennsylvania’s state Senate unanimously approved legislation Wednesday that would authorize the Department of Revenue to go after the lottery winnings and income tax returns of turnpike toll scofflaws.” (AP)

Democratic Changes To PA Budget Bill That Boost Tax Cuts, Film Credits Anger House GOP. “A tax reform bill that would hasten cuts to Pennsylvania’s corporate tax rate and allow businesses to deduct a greater share of their losses drew the ire of House Republicans after it passed Tuesday night.” (PA Capital-Star)

Shapiro Administration Announces New Pennsylvania State Forester. “Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn today announced that Seth Cassell has been appointed to serve as Pennsylvania’s State Forester and will lead the agency’s Bureau of Forestry.” (PoliticsPA)

Living Former PA Governors Make democracyFIRST Promise. “What do five living former governors of Pennsylvania share in common? We know it’s not policy nor party. However, they do seek to restore the standards, expectations, and norms for elected officials and candidates seeking positions overseeing the administration and certification of elections.” (PoliticsPA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. More Corruption Charges Brought Against Suspended Dubois City Manager

“An embattled City of DuBois official was slapped with additional charges Wednesday in a sweeping political corruption case alleging he stole hundreds of thousands of public and nonprofit dollars.

Suspended City Manager Herm Suplizio now faces a total of 23 criminal counts — including 13 felonies — filed by prosecutors with the state Office of Attorney General. He was arraigned Wednesday in Clearfield County on $100,000 unsecured bail.

The charges Wednesday replace and add to the 15 counts of theft, conflict of interest, and other crimes that prosecutors filed earlier this year against Suplizio, one of the city’s most politically connected officials.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

New Charges Filed Against DuBois City Manager. “In the new affidavit of probable cause, John “Herm” Suplizio, 63, of DuBois, is accused of committing more than $550,000 in fraudulent transactions using public accounts associated with the City of DuBois, DuBois Volunteer Fire Department and DuBois Area United Way.” (DuBois Courier-Express)

PA-10: Stelson Makes It Official. “Former WGAL-TV news anchor Janelle Stelson has finally made it official. She is a candidate for the 10th congressional district seat held by Republican Scott Perry.” (PoliticsPA)

Bresnahan Files To Run Against Cartwright in 8th District. “After months of speculation, Pittston native and businessman Rob Bresnahan Jr. has filed paperwork seeking the Republican nomination for the 8th District Congressional seat long held by Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic.” (Times Leader)

• PA-08: Bresnahan Files to Run Against Cartwright. (Scranton Times-Tribune)

The Powerful Philly Building Trades Are Backing City Council Candidates Based On The Proposed Sixers Arena. “The deep-pockets Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council says it is endorsing Republican Jim Hasher for City Council because he supports the proposed 76ers arena.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Lynn Allowed To Serve As Montour County Coroner And Commissioner If Elected, Solicitor Says. “Scott Lynn, who has served the county as coroner since 1991 and will seek reelection next month, is also a Republican candidate for commissioner in Montour County. Lynn said he hopes to fulfill both roles simultaneously.” (Daily Item)

Nominees For County Commissioner Lay Goals Out For Voters. “Four candidates for Lycoming County commissioner met in a political forum at the historic Eagles Grange No. 1 hall this week.” (Williamsport Sun-Gazette)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• In Ousting Of House Speaker, Congressional Dysfunction Hits A New Low. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• In Vereb Scandal, Shapiro Must Model The Accountability He Has Demanded From Others. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• ​​If I Had An Advice Column For Politicians … (John Baer)
• Why the Republican ‘Young Guns’ Collapsed. (Rich Lowry)
• Reschedule Primary To Make Pennsylvania A Presidential Player. (Scranton Times-Tribune)
• Harrisburg and Washington: Are You Listening? (Emily Greene)
• Time to Move Past the School Voucher Debate. (Elaine Maimon)
• The Shift in Democratic Views on Free Speech — What’s Going On? (Dustin Olson)
• Who Is Going To Pay Fulton County’s Legal Bills In Pa. Voting Machine Case? Not Trump. (Bill Gindlesperger)
• Easier Voter Registration Is Better For Everyone. (Observer-Reporter)

1 Thing

5. Bring On The Braves

HOLY GRAND SLAM BRYSON STOTT pic.twitter.com/xTdrDcjGDn

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 5, 2023

The Phillies eliminated the Miami Marlins, 7-1, in the NL Wild Card series last night, setting up a much-anticipated NL Divisional Series against the Atlanta Braves. Bryson Stott hit a grand slam to put the game away in the sixth.

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