March 9: Budget Fallout
Zabel Submits Resignation. Fallout On Shapiro Budget. Train CEO To Apologize. Plant-Based Hershey Treats. Here is Thursday’s Playbook
March 9, 2023
2 Comments
Zabel Submits Resignation. Fallout On Shapiro Budget. Train CEO To Apologize. Plant-Based Hershey Treats. Here is Thursday’s Playbook
The budget is out. Reactions to Shapiro Proposals. Presidential Primary Passover Problem. Raspberry Rally Racket. Here is Wednesday’s Playbook
It’s Budget Day. McClinton Responds to Zabel Allegations. Making Norfolk Southern Pay. Field of Dread. Here is Tuesday’s Playbook
What to Watch In Shapiro’s Budget Address. Zabel Won’t Resign, But Stepping Away. Allegheny County Dems Endorse. COVID and Concussions. Here is Monday’s Playbook
State of Black PA. Second Accuser Steps Forward. Allegheny Endorsements Coming. Best Soft Pretzels. Here is Friday’s Playbook
Lobbyist Calls For Lawmaker’s Resignation. Schools Looking For Shapiro Plan. Local Races Raise Stakes. Best Brewery In PA. Here is Thursday’s Playbook
History Made. The New State Senator. Casey Returns. He Did It His Way. Here is Wednesday’s Playbook
A Subpoena For Norfolk Southern? Senate Dems Urge Vote On House Bills. No Update On Fetterman. Tooth Fairy Inflation. Here is Tuesday’s Playbook
Senate Returns. Talking With Josh. Sizing Up Allegheny Exec Race. Looking For Love? Here is Monday’s Playbook
House Vote Set For Friday. More Derailment Details Released. Clarke Won’t Seek Reelection in Philly. Baseball’s Back. Here is Friday’s Playbook
😎 Hello Thursday. A busy news day to recap.
PA Weather
Windber | Mostly Sunny, 45
Mont Alto | Sunny, 50
Broomall | Sunny, 50
PA Sports
PIAA Wrestling Championships, Hershey
Penguins (32-22-9) | THU v. NY Islanders
Flyers (24-29-11) | THU v. Carolina
76ers (43-22) | FRI v. Portland
What We’re Hearing
President Biden will release his federal budget this afternoon in Philadelphia at 2:30 p.m..
A Free Playbook Subscription. Yes Please.
Sign up for today and get a Playbook emailed to you every weekday morning. It’s one of the best deals in town.
State Rep. Mike Zabel has submitted his resignation to Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton effective March 16.
“After conversations with leadership, Rep. Zabel has chosen to do what is best for his family, the people he represents, and the state House of Representatives,” the House Democratic Caucus said in a statement.
The announcement follows a Wednesday morning press conference in which Rep. Abby Major came forward, accusing Zabel of sexual harassment in November 2022.
Related
State Legislator Alleges Sexual Harassment By House Colleague, Calls For Broader Ethics Rules As Zabel Resigns. “State Rep. Abby Major of Ford City said she is committed to changing the culture and the ethics rules for her colleagues in Harrisburg after relating a personal story Wednesday at a press conference that added to sexual harassment allegations against Rep. Mike Zabel of Delaware County.” (Valley News Dispatch)
Delco State Rep Zabel To Resign After Sexual Harassment Allegations. “Hours after a Republican female lawmaker publicly accused State Rep. Mike Zabel of sexual harassment Wednesday, the Delaware County Democrat said he would resign.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
“In showing his hand for the budget address, Pennsylvania’s new governor offered a peek at whether the prolific former prosecutor, fundraiser and campaigner might govern as moderately as pledged.
As he made his case to voters last year, Josh Shapiro positioned himself as a middle-ground hedge against the ultra-right conservativism of his GOP opponent and state Sen. Doug Mastriano. But Shapiro’s flirtation with school choice and reservations about the cap-and-tax Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative were not in the cards presented March 7.” (PhillyBurbs.com)
Related
PA School Allies Criticize Shapiro’s Budget Plan. “Lawyers for the districts that won a landmark school funding court case in Pennsylvania say that Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal falls short of the financial commitments that are needed to help the state’s poorest school districts.” (AP)
Advocacy Group Says Higher Ed Funding in Shapiro’s Proposed Budget Shows ‘Appalling Neglect.’ “Shapiro’s 2% increase includes neither the funding that system leaders sought to freeze tuition for a fifth straight year across the 85,000-student system, nor does it include a $112 million special request to support students pursuing careers in high-demand fields.” (Tribune-Review)
PA Senate Votes To Confirm Henry, Paris As AG, State Police Commissioner. “The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate has approved two nominations by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, confirming the state’s top prosecutor and head of State Police.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
McClinton Announces House Committee Chairs. “Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton announced the members of the House Democratic Caucus who will serve as majority chairs for the state House’s 24 standing committees for the 2023-24 legislative session.” (PoliticsPA)
NRSC Chair Daines Blasts Former Gubernatorial Candidate Doug Mastriano’s PA Senate Ambitions. “Montana GOP Sen. Steve Daines, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is dismissing future political ambitions of retired U.S. Army Colonel Doug Mastriano, concluding that he is likely to not win a race after failing to clinch the post as governor of Pennsylvania in 2022.” (Fox News)
PA Senator Becomes 1st To Give Birth In Office, Bringing Workplace Maternity Issues To Light. “With the birth this week of her daughter, Taglia, Sen. Amanda Cappelletti has become the first person to give birth while serving in the Pennsylvania Senate. As the senator deals with something that, to many working Pennsylvanians, is a common occurrence, there is hope that the learning curve might actually help promote gender equity in the state.” (KYW NewsRadio)
PA Senate Passes TikTok Bill Ban For State-Owned Networks and Devices. “A bill prohibiting TikTok on state-owned devices and networks unanimously passed the Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday, advancing to the House amid a growing trend of agencies banning the app due to security concerns.” (PennLive)
How Much Do State Government Workers Make? “From candy to cars, the price of everything is going up – and that includes government salaries.” (PennLive)
“The chief executive of one of the nation’s largest railroads is coming to a Senate hearing with an apology and a commitment to send millions of dollars to the village on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border disrupted by a fiery derailment as senators investigate railway safety and the Biden administration’s response to the disaster.” (AP)
Related
PA Senate Committee Advances Emergency Response Proposals. “Responding to last month’s train derailment in Ohio — just a few miles from the Pennsylvania border — a state Senate committee approved a series of bills related to emergency response and supporting commonwealth residents affected by the Feb. 3 crash.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
Biden Will Roll Out His Budget, And A Political Marker, In Philly. “President Joe Biden will roll out his budget proposal at a Northeast Philadelphia union hall Thursday, and U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle says there’s nowhere more fitting to emphasize the Democratic agenda.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Cloistered At Walter Reed, Fetterman Runs His Senate Operation From Afar. “A dozen miles from the Capitol, the first-term Democrat from Pennsylvania is keeping up with his work while being treated for severe clinical depression. ” (New York Times)
In An Ideal World, Pennsylvanians Could ‘Vote With Their Feet’ For Fair School Funding. “Philly-area economist Joel Naroff helped Massachusetts create its school-funding formula. It took political will to make it reality.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
City Councilman Ricky Burgess Is Not Running For Reelection, And a New Name Is In The County Executive Race. “Pittsburgh City Councilman Ricky Burgess has decided not to seek re-election this year. The petition filings also showed a new addition to the race for Allegheny County executive: Theresa Sciulli Colaizzi, a former Pittsburgh Public Schools board member.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
McClelland Drops Out of County Executive Race. “Harrison resident and former congressional candidate Erin McClelland has ended her bid for Allegheny County executive.” (Tribune-Review)
Accuser Says Former Somerset DA Pursued Her Through ‘Creepy’ Late-Night Texts For Year Prior to Incident. “A Windber woman testified Wednesday that suspended Somerset County District Attorney Jeff Thomas sent her a relentless barrage of inappropriate images and late-night texts to “hang out” over the year before she was assaulted.” (Tribune-Democrat)
A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.
Really? It’s true.
The Hershey Company announced two new options for people who have an appetite for milk chocolate but are looking for plant-based snacks.
Meet Hershey’s Plant Based Extra Creamy with Almonds and Sea Salt, as well as Reese’s Plant Based Peanut Butter Cups.
To each their own, I guess. (ABC27.com)
Thanks for starting your day with us.
What did you think of today’s newsletter?
Please invite your friends
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook
😎 Hello Thursday. A busy news day to recap.
PA Weather
Windber | Mostly Sunny, 45
Mont Alto | Sunny, 50
Broomall | Sunny, 50
PA Sports
PIAA Wrestling Championships, Hershey
Penguins (32-22-9) | THU v. NY Islanders
Flyers (24-29-11) | THU v. Carolina
76ers (43-22) | FRI v. Portland
What We’re Hearing
President Biden will release his federal budget this afternoon in Philadelphia at 2:30 p.m..
A Free Playbook Subscription. Yes Please.
Sign up for today and get a Playbook emailed to you every weekday morning. It’s one of the best deals in town.
State Rep. Mike Zabel has submitted his resignation to Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton effective March 16.
“After conversations with leadership, Rep. Zabel has chosen to do what is best for his family, the people he represents, and the state House of Representatives,” the House Democratic Caucus said in a statement.
The announcement follows a Wednesday morning press conference in which Rep. Abby Major came forward, accusing Zabel of sexual harassment in November 2022.
Related
State Legislator Alleges Sexual Harassment By House Colleague, Calls For Broader Ethics Rules As Zabel Resigns. “State Rep. Abby Major of Ford City said she is committed to changing the culture and the ethics rules for her colleagues in Harrisburg after relating a personal story Wednesday at a press conference that added to sexual harassment allegations against Rep. Mike Zabel of Delaware County.” (Valley News Dispatch)
Delco State Rep Zabel To Resign After Sexual Harassment Allegations. “Hours after a Republican female lawmaker publicly accused State Rep. Mike Zabel of sexual harassment Wednesday, the Delaware County Democrat said he would resign.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
“In showing his hand for the budget address, Pennsylvania’s new governor offered a peek at whether the prolific former prosecutor, fundraiser and campaigner might govern as moderately as pledged.
As he made his case to voters last year, Josh Shapiro positioned himself as a middle-ground hedge against the ultra-right conservativism of his GOP opponent and state Sen. Doug Mastriano. But Shapiro’s flirtation with school choice and reservations about the cap-and-tax Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative were not in the cards presented March 7.” (PhillyBurbs.com)
Related
PA School Allies Criticize Shapiro’s Budget Plan. “Lawyers for the districts that won a landmark school funding court case in Pennsylvania say that Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal falls short of the financial commitments that are needed to help the state’s poorest school districts.” (AP)
Advocacy Group Says Higher Ed Funding in Shapiro’s Proposed Budget Shows ‘Appalling Neglect.’ “Shapiro’s 2% increase includes neither the funding that system leaders sought to freeze tuition for a fifth straight year across the 85,000-student system, nor does it include a $112 million special request to support students pursuing careers in high-demand fields.” (Tribune-Review)
PA Senate Votes To Confirm Henry, Paris As AG, State Police Commissioner. “The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate has approved two nominations by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, confirming the state’s top prosecutor and head of State Police.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
McClinton Announces House Committee Chairs. “Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton announced the members of the House Democratic Caucus who will serve as majority chairs for the state House’s 24 standing committees for the 2023-24 legislative session.” (PoliticsPA)
NRSC Chair Daines Blasts Former Gubernatorial Candidate Doug Mastriano’s PA Senate Ambitions. “Montana GOP Sen. Steve Daines, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is dismissing future political ambitions of retired U.S. Army Colonel Doug Mastriano, concluding that he is likely to not win a race after failing to clinch the post as governor of Pennsylvania in 2022.” (Fox News)
PA Senator Becomes 1st To Give Birth In Office, Bringing Workplace Maternity Issues To Light. “With the birth this week of her daughter, Taglia, Sen. Amanda Cappelletti has become the first person to give birth while serving in the Pennsylvania Senate. As the senator deals with something that, to many working Pennsylvanians, is a common occurrence, there is hope that the learning curve might actually help promote gender equity in the state.” (KYW NewsRadio)
PA Senate Passes TikTok Bill Ban For State-Owned Networks and Devices. “A bill prohibiting TikTok on state-owned devices and networks unanimously passed the Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday, advancing to the House amid a growing trend of agencies banning the app due to security concerns.” (PennLive)
How Much Do State Government Workers Make? “From candy to cars, the price of everything is going up – and that includes government salaries.” (PennLive)
“The chief executive of one of the nation’s largest railroads is coming to a Senate hearing with an apology and a commitment to send millions of dollars to the village on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border disrupted by a fiery derailment as senators investigate railway safety and the Biden administration’s response to the disaster.” (AP)
Related
PA Senate Committee Advances Emergency Response Proposals. “Responding to last month’s train derailment in Ohio — just a few miles from the Pennsylvania border — a state Senate committee approved a series of bills related to emergency response and supporting commonwealth residents affected by the Feb. 3 crash.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
Biden Will Roll Out His Budget, And A Political Marker, In Philly. “President Joe Biden will roll out his budget proposal at a Northeast Philadelphia union hall Thursday, and U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle says there’s nowhere more fitting to emphasize the Democratic agenda.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Cloistered At Walter Reed, Fetterman Runs His Senate Operation From Afar. “A dozen miles from the Capitol, the first-term Democrat from Pennsylvania is keeping up with his work while being treated for severe clinical depression. ” (New York Times)
In An Ideal World, Pennsylvanians Could ‘Vote With Their Feet’ For Fair School Funding. “Philly-area economist Joel Naroff helped Massachusetts create its school-funding formula. It took political will to make it reality.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
City Councilman Ricky Burgess Is Not Running For Reelection, And a New Name Is In The County Executive Race. “Pittsburgh City Councilman Ricky Burgess has decided not to seek re-election this year. The petition filings also showed a new addition to the race for Allegheny County executive: Theresa Sciulli Colaizzi, a former Pittsburgh Public Schools board member.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
McClelland Drops Out of County Executive Race. “Harrison resident and former congressional candidate Erin McClelland has ended her bid for Allegheny County executive.” (Tribune-Review)
Accuser Says Former Somerset DA Pursued Her Through ‘Creepy’ Late-Night Texts For Year Prior to Incident. “A Windber woman testified Wednesday that suspended Somerset County District Attorney Jeff Thomas sent her a relentless barrage of inappropriate images and late-night texts to “hang out” over the year before she was assaulted.” (Tribune-Democrat)
A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.
Really? It’s true.
The Hershey Company announced two new options for people who have an appetite for milk chocolate but are looking for plant-based snacks.
Meet Hershey’s Plant Based Extra Creamy with Almonds and Sea Salt, as well as Reese’s Plant Based Peanut Butter Cups.
To each their own, I guess. (ABC27.com)
Thanks for starting your day with us.
What did you think of today’s newsletter?
Please invite your friends
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook
😎 Hello Thursday. A busy news day to recap.
PA Weather
Windber | Mostly Sunny, 45
Mont Alto | Sunny, 50
Broomall | Sunny, 50
PA Sports
PIAA Wrestling Championships, Hershey
Penguins (32-22-9) | THU v. NY Islanders
Flyers (24-29-11) | THU v. Carolina
76ers (43-22) | FRI v. Portland
What We’re Hearing
President Biden will release his federal budget this afternoon in Philadelphia at 2:30 p.m..
A Free Playbook Subscription. Yes Please.
Sign up for today and get a Playbook emailed to you every weekday morning. It’s one of the best deals in town.
State Rep. Mike Zabel has submitted his resignation to Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton effective March 16.
“After conversations with leadership, Rep. Zabel has chosen to do what is best for his family, the people he represents, and the state House of Representatives,” the House Democratic Caucus said in a statement.
The announcement follows a Wednesday morning press conference in which Rep. Abby Major came forward, accusing Zabel of sexual harassment in November 2022.
Related
State Legislator Alleges Sexual Harassment By House Colleague, Calls For Broader Ethics Rules As Zabel Resigns. “State Rep. Abby Major of Ford City said she is committed to changing the culture and the ethics rules for her colleagues in Harrisburg after relating a personal story Wednesday at a press conference that added to sexual harassment allegations against Rep. Mike Zabel of Delaware County.” (Valley News Dispatch)
Delco State Rep Zabel To Resign After Sexual Harassment Allegations. “Hours after a Republican female lawmaker publicly accused State Rep. Mike Zabel of sexual harassment Wednesday, the Delaware County Democrat said he would resign.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
“In showing his hand for the budget address, Pennsylvania’s new governor offered a peek at whether the prolific former prosecutor, fundraiser and campaigner might govern as moderately as pledged.
As he made his case to voters last year, Josh Shapiro positioned himself as a middle-ground hedge against the ultra-right conservativism of his GOP opponent and state Sen. Doug Mastriano. But Shapiro’s flirtation with school choice and reservations about the cap-and-tax Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative were not in the cards presented March 7.” (PhillyBurbs.com)
Related
PA School Allies Criticize Shapiro’s Budget Plan. “Lawyers for the districts that won a landmark school funding court case in Pennsylvania say that Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal falls short of the financial commitments that are needed to help the state’s poorest school districts.” (AP)
Advocacy Group Says Higher Ed Funding in Shapiro’s Proposed Budget Shows ‘Appalling Neglect.’ “Shapiro’s 2% increase includes neither the funding that system leaders sought to freeze tuition for a fifth straight year across the 85,000-student system, nor does it include a $112 million special request to support students pursuing careers in high-demand fields.” (Tribune-Review)
PA Senate Votes To Confirm Henry, Paris As AG, State Police Commissioner. “The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate has approved two nominations by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, confirming the state’s top prosecutor and head of State Police.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
McClinton Announces House Committee Chairs. “Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton announced the members of the House Democratic Caucus who will serve as majority chairs for the state House’s 24 standing committees for the 2023-24 legislative session.” (PoliticsPA)
NRSC Chair Daines Blasts Former Gubernatorial Candidate Doug Mastriano’s PA Senate Ambitions. “Montana GOP Sen. Steve Daines, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is dismissing future political ambitions of retired U.S. Army Colonel Doug Mastriano, concluding that he is likely to not win a race after failing to clinch the post as governor of Pennsylvania in 2022.” (Fox News)
PA Senator Becomes 1st To Give Birth In Office, Bringing Workplace Maternity Issues To Light. “With the birth this week of her daughter, Taglia, Sen. Amanda Cappelletti has become the first person to give birth while serving in the Pennsylvania Senate. As the senator deals with something that, to many working Pennsylvanians, is a common occurrence, there is hope that the learning curve might actually help promote gender equity in the state.” (KYW NewsRadio)
PA Senate Passes TikTok Bill Ban For State-Owned Networks and Devices. “A bill prohibiting TikTok on state-owned devices and networks unanimously passed the Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday, advancing to the House amid a growing trend of agencies banning the app due to security concerns.” (PennLive)
How Much Do State Government Workers Make? “From candy to cars, the price of everything is going up – and that includes government salaries.” (PennLive)
“The chief executive of one of the nation’s largest railroads is coming to a Senate hearing with an apology and a commitment to send millions of dollars to the village on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border disrupted by a fiery derailment as senators investigate railway safety and the Biden administration’s response to the disaster.” (AP)
Related
PA Senate Committee Advances Emergency Response Proposals. “Responding to last month’s train derailment in Ohio — just a few miles from the Pennsylvania border — a state Senate committee approved a series of bills related to emergency response and supporting commonwealth residents affected by the Feb. 3 crash.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
Biden Will Roll Out His Budget, And A Political Marker, In Philly. “President Joe Biden will roll out his budget proposal at a Northeast Philadelphia union hall Thursday, and U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle says there’s nowhere more fitting to emphasize the Democratic agenda.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Cloistered At Walter Reed, Fetterman Runs His Senate Operation From Afar. “A dozen miles from the Capitol, the first-term Democrat from Pennsylvania is keeping up with his work while being treated for severe clinical depression. ” (New York Times)
In An Ideal World, Pennsylvanians Could ‘Vote With Their Feet’ For Fair School Funding. “Philly-area economist Joel Naroff helped Massachusetts create its school-funding formula. It took political will to make it reality.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
City Councilman Ricky Burgess Is Not Running For Reelection, And a New Name Is In The County Executive Race. “Pittsburgh City Councilman Ricky Burgess has decided not to seek re-election this year. The petition filings also showed a new addition to the race for Allegheny County executive: Theresa Sciulli Colaizzi, a former Pittsburgh Public Schools board member.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
McClelland Drops Out of County Executive Race. “Harrison resident and former congressional candidate Erin McClelland has ended her bid for Allegheny County executive.” (Tribune-Review)
Accuser Says Former Somerset DA Pursued Her Through ‘Creepy’ Late-Night Texts For Year Prior to Incident. “A Windber woman testified Wednesday that suspended Somerset County District Attorney Jeff Thomas sent her a relentless barrage of inappropriate images and late-night texts to “hang out” over the year before she was assaulted.” (Tribune-Democrat)
A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.
Really? It’s true.
The Hershey Company announced two new options for people who have an appetite for milk chocolate but are looking for plant-based snacks.
Meet Hershey’s Plant Based Extra Creamy with Almonds and Sea Salt, as well as Reese’s Plant Based Peanut Butter Cups.
To each their own, I guess. (ABC27.com)
Thanks for starting your day with us.
What did you think of today’s newsletter?
Please invite your friends
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook
😎 Hello Thursday. A busy news day to recap.
PA Weather
Windber | Mostly Sunny, 45
Mont Alto | Sunny, 50
Broomall | Sunny, 50
PA Sports
PIAA Wrestling Championships, Hershey
Penguins (32-22-9) | THU v. NY Islanders
Flyers (24-29-11) | THU v. Carolina
76ers (43-22) | FRI v. Portland
What We’re Hearing
President Biden will release his federal budget this afternoon in Philadelphia at 2:30 p.m..
A Free Playbook Subscription. Yes Please.
Sign up for today and get a Playbook emailed to you every weekday morning. It’s one of the best deals in town.
State Rep. Mike Zabel has submitted his resignation to Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton effective March 16.
“After conversations with leadership, Rep. Zabel has chosen to do what is best for his family, the people he represents, and the state House of Representatives,” the House Democratic Caucus said in a statement.
The announcement follows a Wednesday morning press conference in which Rep. Abby Major came forward, accusing Zabel of sexual harassment in November 2022.
Related
State Legislator Alleges Sexual Harassment By House Colleague, Calls For Broader Ethics Rules As Zabel Resigns. “State Rep. Abby Major of Ford City said she is committed to changing the culture and the ethics rules for her colleagues in Harrisburg after relating a personal story Wednesday at a press conference that added to sexual harassment allegations against Rep. Mike Zabel of Delaware County.” (Valley News Dispatch)
Delco State Rep Zabel To Resign After Sexual Harassment Allegations. “Hours after a Republican female lawmaker publicly accused State Rep. Mike Zabel of sexual harassment Wednesday, the Delaware County Democrat said he would resign.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
“In showing his hand for the budget address, Pennsylvania’s new governor offered a peek at whether the prolific former prosecutor, fundraiser and campaigner might govern as moderately as pledged.
As he made his case to voters last year, Josh Shapiro positioned himself as a middle-ground hedge against the ultra-right conservativism of his GOP opponent and state Sen. Doug Mastriano. But Shapiro’s flirtation with school choice and reservations about the cap-and-tax Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative were not in the cards presented March 7.” (PhillyBurbs.com)
Related
PA School Allies Criticize Shapiro’s Budget Plan. “Lawyers for the districts that won a landmark school funding court case in Pennsylvania say that Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal falls short of the financial commitments that are needed to help the state’s poorest school districts.” (AP)
Advocacy Group Says Higher Ed Funding in Shapiro’s Proposed Budget Shows ‘Appalling Neglect.’ “Shapiro’s 2% increase includes neither the funding that system leaders sought to freeze tuition for a fifth straight year across the 85,000-student system, nor does it include a $112 million special request to support students pursuing careers in high-demand fields.” (Tribune-Review)
PA Senate Votes To Confirm Henry, Paris As AG, State Police Commissioner. “The Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate has approved two nominations by Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, confirming the state’s top prosecutor and head of State Police.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
McClinton Announces House Committee Chairs. “Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton announced the members of the House Democratic Caucus who will serve as majority chairs for the state House’s 24 standing committees for the 2023-24 legislative session.” (PoliticsPA)
NRSC Chair Daines Blasts Former Gubernatorial Candidate Doug Mastriano’s PA Senate Ambitions. “Montana GOP Sen. Steve Daines, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, is dismissing future political ambitions of retired U.S. Army Colonel Doug Mastriano, concluding that he is likely to not win a race after failing to clinch the post as governor of Pennsylvania in 2022.” (Fox News)
PA Senator Becomes 1st To Give Birth In Office, Bringing Workplace Maternity Issues To Light. “With the birth this week of her daughter, Taglia, Sen. Amanda Cappelletti has become the first person to give birth while serving in the Pennsylvania Senate. As the senator deals with something that, to many working Pennsylvanians, is a common occurrence, there is hope that the learning curve might actually help promote gender equity in the state.” (KYW NewsRadio)
PA Senate Passes TikTok Bill Ban For State-Owned Networks and Devices. “A bill prohibiting TikTok on state-owned devices and networks unanimously passed the Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday, advancing to the House amid a growing trend of agencies banning the app due to security concerns.” (PennLive)
How Much Do State Government Workers Make? “From candy to cars, the price of everything is going up – and that includes government salaries.” (PennLive)
“The chief executive of one of the nation’s largest railroads is coming to a Senate hearing with an apology and a commitment to send millions of dollars to the village on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border disrupted by a fiery derailment as senators investigate railway safety and the Biden administration’s response to the disaster.” (AP)
Related
PA Senate Committee Advances Emergency Response Proposals. “Responding to last month’s train derailment in Ohio — just a few miles from the Pennsylvania border — a state Senate committee approved a series of bills related to emergency response and supporting commonwealth residents affected by the Feb. 3 crash.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
Biden Will Roll Out His Budget, And A Political Marker, In Philly. “President Joe Biden will roll out his budget proposal at a Northeast Philadelphia union hall Thursday, and U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle says there’s nowhere more fitting to emphasize the Democratic agenda.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Cloistered At Walter Reed, Fetterman Runs His Senate Operation From Afar. “A dozen miles from the Capitol, the first-term Democrat from Pennsylvania is keeping up with his work while being treated for severe clinical depression. ” (New York Times)
In An Ideal World, Pennsylvanians Could ‘Vote With Their Feet’ For Fair School Funding. “Philly-area economist Joel Naroff helped Massachusetts create its school-funding formula. It took political will to make it reality.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
City Councilman Ricky Burgess Is Not Running For Reelection, And a New Name Is In The County Executive Race. “Pittsburgh City Councilman Ricky Burgess has decided not to seek re-election this year. The petition filings also showed a new addition to the race for Allegheny County executive: Theresa Sciulli Colaizzi, a former Pittsburgh Public Schools board member.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
McClelland Drops Out of County Executive Race. “Harrison resident and former congressional candidate Erin McClelland has ended her bid for Allegheny County executive.” (Tribune-Review)
Accuser Says Former Somerset DA Pursued Her Through ‘Creepy’ Late-Night Texts For Year Prior to Incident. “A Windber woman testified Wednesday that suspended Somerset County District Attorney Jeff Thomas sent her a relentless barrage of inappropriate images and late-night texts to “hang out” over the year before she was assaulted.” (Tribune-Democrat)
A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.
Really? It’s true.
The Hershey Company announced two new options for people who have an appetite for milk chocolate but are looking for plant-based snacks.
Meet Hershey’s Plant Based Extra Creamy with Almonds and Sea Salt, as well as Reese’s Plant Based Peanut Butter Cups.
To each their own, I guess. (ABC27.com)
Thanks for starting your day with us.
What did you think of today’s newsletter?
Please invite your friends
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook
Who Will Be Speaker of the PA House on February 28?
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