February 8: Should He Stay or Should He Go?
😀 It’s Thursday. Thanks for supporting the PoliticsPA Playbook. Tell a friend! PA Weather🌤️ North East | Partly Sunny, 54🌥️ Nanty Glo | Increasing Clouds,
February 8, 2024
1 Comment
😀 It’s Thursday. Thanks for supporting the PoliticsPA Playbook. Tell a friend! PA Weather🌤️ North East | Partly Sunny, 54🌥️ Nanty Glo | Increasing Clouds,
👋 Welcome Wednesday. Let’s make it a great one, shall we? PA Weather☀️ Murrysville | Mostly Sunny, 51☀️ McElhattan | Mostly Sunny, 49☀️ McAdoo |
💬 Hello, Tuesday. It’s the Talk of the Town – it’s Budget Address Day in Harrisburg PA Weather☀️ Lewisburg | Sunny, 44☀️ Lancaster | Sunny,
🤟 Just Another Manic Monday. Our readers are the best. Thanks for your support. PA Weather☀️ Kittanning | Sunny, 48☀️ Kutztown | Sunny, 45☀️ Kingston
🦔 Friday. And great news – Punxsutawney Phil DID NOT see his shadow. An Early Spring Is On The Way PA Weather☁️ Jeannette | Mostly
😀 Hellooo, February. One down, a few to go. PA Weather☁️ Irwin | Mostly Cloudy, 47☁️ Indiana | Mostly Cloudy, 46🌤️ Intercourse | Mostly Sunny,
😀 The Middle of the Week. And we bring a close to January. PA Weather🌥️ Hermitage | Partly Sunny, 39☁️ Huntingdon | Mostly Cloudy, 44☁️
😀 Hello, Tuesday. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for reading the PoliticsPA Playbook. PA Weather☁️ Girard | Mostly Cloudy, 40☁️ Greencastle | Mostly Cloudy,
🤨 Monday, Monday. Can’t trust that day. PA Weather☁️ Franklin | Cloudy, 36☁️ Fayetteville | Mostly Cloudy, 42☁️ Fogelsville | Mostly Cloudy, 41 PA Sports🏀
It’s Here! Have a great weekend and thanks for being a subscriber to the PoliticsPA Playbook. PA Weather Erie | Showers before noon, 42 Elizabethville
😀 It’s Thursday. Thanks for supporting the PoliticsPA Playbook. Tell a friend!
PA Weather
🌤️ North East | Partly Sunny, 54
🌥️ Nanty Glo | Increasing Clouds, 53
☀️ Norristown | Mostly Sunny, 52
PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (30-20) | Golden State 104-127 | Fri vs. Atlanta
🏒 Flyers (26-19-6) | Thu vs. Winnipeg
🏒 Penguins (23-17-7) | Fri vs. Minnesota
What’s Happening
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Donald Trump’s appeal to remain on the 2024 ballot beginning at 10 a.m.
What We’re Hearing
“But the bottom line is, analysis can’t be used as an excuse for paralysis, which is what oftentimes happens in our state capitol.” – Gov. Josh Shapiro
Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. John Joyce.
Political News? Yes, Please
The PoliticsPA Playbook gives you all today’s PA political headlines in an easy-to-read email format. All by 8 AM. And it’s free. Subscribe now.
“The Supreme Court on Thursday will confront the critical question of Donald Trump’s eligibility to return to the White House, hearing arguments in an unprecedented case that gives the justices a central role in charting the course of a presidential election for the first time in nearly a quarter-century.
The justices will decide whether Colorado’s top court was correct to apply a post-Civil War provision of the Constitution to order Trump off the ballot after concluding his actions around the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol amounted to insurrection. Primary voting is already underway in some states. Colorado’s ballots for the March 5 primary were printed last week and include Trump’s name. But his status as a candidate will depend on what the Supreme Court decides.” (Washington Post)
Related
Are Americans Really Committed To Democracy In The 2024 Election? “With former President Donald Trump having all but wrapped up the GOP presidential nomination, one issue looks set to be at the center of the general election campaign: the threat to democracy.” (Penn Capital-Star)
Falling In Line With Their Parties, Pennsylvania Politicians Split On Immigration Proposal. “The bill, unveiled by a bipartisan group of senators Sunday, would have made it significantly tougher to claim asylum, provided resources for detention, removal, asylum processing and immigration courts, and included $20 billion for new border security agents and asylum officers.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Meet Mike Roman, The Man Trying To Bring Down Fani Willis. “Roman, 52, is a longtime Republican political operative who grew up in Philadelphia and got his start in Pennsylvania politics. He has a history of questioning the integrity of elections.” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Braces For ‘Toughest’ Re-Election Battle Yet In Pennsylvania. “Democrats are facing a tough set of Senate races in 2024. From his perch in perhaps the nation’s most important swing state in recent years, Sen. Bob Casey argues his contest is a must-watch.” (NBC News)
“Gov. Josh Shapiro took his budget road show out for an initial test run on Wednesday, highlighting his $10.3 million Agriculture Innovation Fund.
Shapiro, along with Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, toured the 341-acre New Holland Agriculture plant in Lancaster County. The campus includes a 150-acre test farm and a 700,000-square-foot equipment manufacturing plant that provides 600 jobs.
“For the first time ever, our economic development strategy isn’t limited in its focus to our high rises or our suburban office parks – we understand that our economic success is dependent on our rural communities and our farmlands,” said the governor.” (PoliticsPA)
Related
Lawmakers Wrangle Over Rescissions From 2022 Law For Farm Bill. “House lawmakers appear to have hit a snag over using money from the 2022 health, climate and tax law to help pay for the farm bill. Members of both parties staked out positions on use of money appropriated in the 2022 law, with Democrats saying they would oppose an effort to repurpose the money and House Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson saying opponents are “thinking pretty simplistic.”” (Roll Call)
PA Gov. Josh Shapiro to Senate GOP: If You Don’t Like My Ideas, Bring Your Own. “Gov. Josh Shapiro rebutted Republican criticism of his budget as unrealistic as he kicked off a statewide campaign on Wednesday to drum up support for his aspirational $48.3 billion budget proposal.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Shapiro Talks Up Budget; “Analysis Can’t Be Excuse For Paralysis” “Gov. Josh Shapiro made the rounds of morning radio shows to tout his 2024-25 budget that calls for increased spending from last year.” (PoliticsPA)
Who Is On The Ballot In 2024? “As we close in on the final days of nomination petition signing season, here is a list of who has completed the task and is on the ballot for the 2024 primary on April 23. This list was updated on Wednesday, February 7, at 5:48 p.m.” (PoliticsPA)
Gov. Josh Shapiro Called For Legalizing Marijuana, And The State’s Need For Revenue Could Help Make It A Reality. “A top Senate GOP leader suggested he may be willing to consider legalizing recreational marijuana, especially as Pennsylvania spending is projected to exceed revenue in the next fiscal year.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
PA Senate Backs Texas Governor’s Effort To Stop Influx Of Migrants. “The Pennsylvania Senate adopted a Republican-written resolution that supports Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s efforts to secure the southern border with Mexico and calls on Gov. Josh Shapiro to follow their lead.” (PennLive)
“The day after Gov. Josh Shapiro launched the 2024-25 state budget process with a 90-minute speech focused on his $48.3 billion spending proposal, Kim Ward and Jay Costa were mindful as ever that Pennsylvania is ruled by divided government.
Separate Wednesday interviews with both lawmakers — two of the most influential political leaders in Western Pennsylvania — underscored the question, “How divided is it?”” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Related
More Money For Schools, Some SEPTA Funding, And A $15 Minimum Wage: What Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Budget Proposal Means For Philly. “Here’s what the governor’s plan would mean for Philadelphia and what city leaders are saying about it.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Plan For Higher Ed Could Leave A ‘Lasting Legacy,’ But Questions Remain. “During his budget address on Tuesday, Mr. Shapiro said he’d like to enact a performance-based funding system for the four state-related universities, the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State, Temple University and Lincoln University.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Pennsylvania Sends Warning To Company Allegedly Behind Fake Biden Robocalls. “Pennsylvania’s attorney general sent a warning to the company allegedly responsible for using artificial intelligence to impersonate President Joe Biden in robocalls to potential voters.” (CBS Pittsburgh)
How an ‘Ice Cream Truck’ for Voting Could Stop Pennsylvania Ballots from Being Tossed. “Commissioner Neil Makhija tells Bolts he intends to propose that Montgomery County set up a mobile unit that’d go into neighborhoods to help people resolve mistakes they’ve made on their mail ballots.” (Bolts)
“People have all sorts of preferences when it comes to their pillows. Some like them flat and firm, some like them stuffed to the brim with down. What about a pillow that felt like a marshmallow? What about a pillow that literally was a marshmallow?
OK, maybe an actual marshmallow is a bit of a stretch, but Just Born Quality Confections’ premiere brand, Peeps, is making it as close to reality as possible. In a partnership with Home2 Suites by Hilton Easton, off Route 33 in Lower Nazareth Township, Peeps is welcoming guests into the aptly named Peeps Sweet Suite: a whole hotel room outfitted to look like a Peeps wonderland.” (LehighValleyLive)
Thanks for starting your morning with us.
Please invite your colleagues
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook
😀 It’s Thursday. Thanks for supporting the PoliticsPA Playbook. Tell a friend!
PA Weather
🌤️ North East | Partly Sunny, 54
🌥️ Nanty Glo | Increasing Clouds, 53
☀️ Norristown | Mostly Sunny, 52
PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (30-20) | Golden State 104-127 | Fri vs. Atlanta
🏒 Flyers (26-19-6) | Thu vs. Winnipeg
🏒 Penguins (23-17-7) | Fri vs. Minnesota
What’s Happening
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Donald Trump’s appeal to remain on the 2024 ballot beginning at 10 a.m.
What We’re Hearing
“But the bottom line is, analysis can’t be used as an excuse for paralysis, which is what oftentimes happens in our state capitol.” – Gov. Josh Shapiro
Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. John Joyce.
Political News? Yes, Please
The PoliticsPA Playbook gives you all today’s PA political headlines in an easy-to-read email format. All by 8 AM. And it’s free. Subscribe now.
“The Supreme Court on Thursday will confront the critical question of Donald Trump’s eligibility to return to the White House, hearing arguments in an unprecedented case that gives the justices a central role in charting the course of a presidential election for the first time in nearly a quarter-century.
The justices will decide whether Colorado’s top court was correct to apply a post-Civil War provision of the Constitution to order Trump off the ballot after concluding his actions around the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol amounted to insurrection. Primary voting is already underway in some states. Colorado’s ballots for the March 5 primary were printed last week and include Trump’s name. But his status as a candidate will depend on what the Supreme Court decides.” (Washington Post)
Related
Are Americans Really Committed To Democracy In The 2024 Election? “With former President Donald Trump having all but wrapped up the GOP presidential nomination, one issue looks set to be at the center of the general election campaign: the threat to democracy.” (Penn Capital-Star)
Falling In Line With Their Parties, Pennsylvania Politicians Split On Immigration Proposal. “The bill, unveiled by a bipartisan group of senators Sunday, would have made it significantly tougher to claim asylum, provided resources for detention, removal, asylum processing and immigration courts, and included $20 billion for new border security agents and asylum officers.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Meet Mike Roman, The Man Trying To Bring Down Fani Willis. “Roman, 52, is a longtime Republican political operative who grew up in Philadelphia and got his start in Pennsylvania politics. He has a history of questioning the integrity of elections.” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Braces For ‘Toughest’ Re-Election Battle Yet In Pennsylvania. “Democrats are facing a tough set of Senate races in 2024. From his perch in perhaps the nation’s most important swing state in recent years, Sen. Bob Casey argues his contest is a must-watch.” (NBC News)
“Gov. Josh Shapiro took his budget road show out for an initial test run on Wednesday, highlighting his $10.3 million Agriculture Innovation Fund.
Shapiro, along with Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, toured the 341-acre New Holland Agriculture plant in Lancaster County. The campus includes a 150-acre test farm and a 700,000-square-foot equipment manufacturing plant that provides 600 jobs.
“For the first time ever, our economic development strategy isn’t limited in its focus to our high rises or our suburban office parks – we understand that our economic success is dependent on our rural communities and our farmlands,” said the governor.” (PoliticsPA)
Related
Lawmakers Wrangle Over Rescissions From 2022 Law For Farm Bill. “House lawmakers appear to have hit a snag over using money from the 2022 health, climate and tax law to help pay for the farm bill. Members of both parties staked out positions on use of money appropriated in the 2022 law, with Democrats saying they would oppose an effort to repurpose the money and House Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson saying opponents are “thinking pretty simplistic.”” (Roll Call)
PA Gov. Josh Shapiro to Senate GOP: If You Don’t Like My Ideas, Bring Your Own. “Gov. Josh Shapiro rebutted Republican criticism of his budget as unrealistic as he kicked off a statewide campaign on Wednesday to drum up support for his aspirational $48.3 billion budget proposal.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Shapiro Talks Up Budget; “Analysis Can’t Be Excuse For Paralysis” “Gov. Josh Shapiro made the rounds of morning radio shows to tout his 2024-25 budget that calls for increased spending from last year.” (PoliticsPA)
Who Is On The Ballot In 2024? “As we close in on the final days of nomination petition signing season, here is a list of who has completed the task and is on the ballot for the 2024 primary on April 23. This list was updated on Wednesday, February 7, at 5:48 p.m.” (PoliticsPA)
Gov. Josh Shapiro Called For Legalizing Marijuana, And The State’s Need For Revenue Could Help Make It A Reality. “A top Senate GOP leader suggested he may be willing to consider legalizing recreational marijuana, especially as Pennsylvania spending is projected to exceed revenue in the next fiscal year.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
PA Senate Backs Texas Governor’s Effort To Stop Influx Of Migrants. “The Pennsylvania Senate adopted a Republican-written resolution that supports Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s efforts to secure the southern border with Mexico and calls on Gov. Josh Shapiro to follow their lead.” (PennLive)
“The day after Gov. Josh Shapiro launched the 2024-25 state budget process with a 90-minute speech focused on his $48.3 billion spending proposal, Kim Ward and Jay Costa were mindful as ever that Pennsylvania is ruled by divided government.
Separate Wednesday interviews with both lawmakers — two of the most influential political leaders in Western Pennsylvania — underscored the question, “How divided is it?”” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Related
More Money For Schools, Some SEPTA Funding, And A $15 Minimum Wage: What Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Budget Proposal Means For Philly. “Here’s what the governor’s plan would mean for Philadelphia and what city leaders are saying about it.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Plan For Higher Ed Could Leave A ‘Lasting Legacy,’ But Questions Remain. “During his budget address on Tuesday, Mr. Shapiro said he’d like to enact a performance-based funding system for the four state-related universities, the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State, Temple University and Lincoln University.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Pennsylvania Sends Warning To Company Allegedly Behind Fake Biden Robocalls. “Pennsylvania’s attorney general sent a warning to the company allegedly responsible for using artificial intelligence to impersonate President Joe Biden in robocalls to potential voters.” (CBS Pittsburgh)
How an ‘Ice Cream Truck’ for Voting Could Stop Pennsylvania Ballots from Being Tossed. “Commissioner Neil Makhija tells Bolts he intends to propose that Montgomery County set up a mobile unit that’d go into neighborhoods to help people resolve mistakes they’ve made on their mail ballots.” (Bolts)
“People have all sorts of preferences when it comes to their pillows. Some like them flat and firm, some like them stuffed to the brim with down. What about a pillow that felt like a marshmallow? What about a pillow that literally was a marshmallow?
OK, maybe an actual marshmallow is a bit of a stretch, but Just Born Quality Confections’ premiere brand, Peeps, is making it as close to reality as possible. In a partnership with Home2 Suites by Hilton Easton, off Route 33 in Lower Nazareth Township, Peeps is welcoming guests into the aptly named Peeps Sweet Suite: a whole hotel room outfitted to look like a Peeps wonderland.” (LehighValleyLive)
Thanks for starting your morning with us.
Please invite your colleagues
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook
😀 It’s Thursday. Thanks for supporting the PoliticsPA Playbook. Tell a friend!
PA Weather
🌤️ North East | Partly Sunny, 54
🌥️ Nanty Glo | Increasing Clouds, 53
☀️ Norristown | Mostly Sunny, 52
PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (30-20) | Golden State 104-127 | Fri vs. Atlanta
🏒 Flyers (26-19-6) | Thu vs. Winnipeg
🏒 Penguins (23-17-7) | Fri vs. Minnesota
What’s Happening
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Donald Trump’s appeal to remain on the 2024 ballot beginning at 10 a.m.
What We’re Hearing
“But the bottom line is, analysis can’t be used as an excuse for paralysis, which is what oftentimes happens in our state capitol.” – Gov. Josh Shapiro
Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. John Joyce.
Political News? Yes, Please
The PoliticsPA Playbook gives you all today’s PA political headlines in an easy-to-read email format. All by 8 AM. And it’s free. Subscribe now.
“The Supreme Court on Thursday will confront the critical question of Donald Trump’s eligibility to return to the White House, hearing arguments in an unprecedented case that gives the justices a central role in charting the course of a presidential election for the first time in nearly a quarter-century.
The justices will decide whether Colorado’s top court was correct to apply a post-Civil War provision of the Constitution to order Trump off the ballot after concluding his actions around the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol amounted to insurrection. Primary voting is already underway in some states. Colorado’s ballots for the March 5 primary were printed last week and include Trump’s name. But his status as a candidate will depend on what the Supreme Court decides.” (Washington Post)
Related
Are Americans Really Committed To Democracy In The 2024 Election? “With former President Donald Trump having all but wrapped up the GOP presidential nomination, one issue looks set to be at the center of the general election campaign: the threat to democracy.” (Penn Capital-Star)
Falling In Line With Their Parties, Pennsylvania Politicians Split On Immigration Proposal. “The bill, unveiled by a bipartisan group of senators Sunday, would have made it significantly tougher to claim asylum, provided resources for detention, removal, asylum processing and immigration courts, and included $20 billion for new border security agents and asylum officers.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Meet Mike Roman, The Man Trying To Bring Down Fani Willis. “Roman, 52, is a longtime Republican political operative who grew up in Philadelphia and got his start in Pennsylvania politics. He has a history of questioning the integrity of elections.” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Braces For ‘Toughest’ Re-Election Battle Yet In Pennsylvania. “Democrats are facing a tough set of Senate races in 2024. From his perch in perhaps the nation’s most important swing state in recent years, Sen. Bob Casey argues his contest is a must-watch.” (NBC News)
“Gov. Josh Shapiro took his budget road show out for an initial test run on Wednesday, highlighting his $10.3 million Agriculture Innovation Fund.
Shapiro, along with Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, toured the 341-acre New Holland Agriculture plant in Lancaster County. The campus includes a 150-acre test farm and a 700,000-square-foot equipment manufacturing plant that provides 600 jobs.
“For the first time ever, our economic development strategy isn’t limited in its focus to our high rises or our suburban office parks – we understand that our economic success is dependent on our rural communities and our farmlands,” said the governor.” (PoliticsPA)
Related
Lawmakers Wrangle Over Rescissions From 2022 Law For Farm Bill. “House lawmakers appear to have hit a snag over using money from the 2022 health, climate and tax law to help pay for the farm bill. Members of both parties staked out positions on use of money appropriated in the 2022 law, with Democrats saying they would oppose an effort to repurpose the money and House Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson saying opponents are “thinking pretty simplistic.”” (Roll Call)
PA Gov. Josh Shapiro to Senate GOP: If You Don’t Like My Ideas, Bring Your Own. “Gov. Josh Shapiro rebutted Republican criticism of his budget as unrealistic as he kicked off a statewide campaign on Wednesday to drum up support for his aspirational $48.3 billion budget proposal.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Shapiro Talks Up Budget; “Analysis Can’t Be Excuse For Paralysis” “Gov. Josh Shapiro made the rounds of morning radio shows to tout his 2024-25 budget that calls for increased spending from last year.” (PoliticsPA)
Who Is On The Ballot In 2024? “As we close in on the final days of nomination petition signing season, here is a list of who has completed the task and is on the ballot for the 2024 primary on April 23. This list was updated on Wednesday, February 7, at 5:48 p.m.” (PoliticsPA)
Gov. Josh Shapiro Called For Legalizing Marijuana, And The State’s Need For Revenue Could Help Make It A Reality. “A top Senate GOP leader suggested he may be willing to consider legalizing recreational marijuana, especially as Pennsylvania spending is projected to exceed revenue in the next fiscal year.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
PA Senate Backs Texas Governor’s Effort To Stop Influx Of Migrants. “The Pennsylvania Senate adopted a Republican-written resolution that supports Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s efforts to secure the southern border with Mexico and calls on Gov. Josh Shapiro to follow their lead.” (PennLive)
“The day after Gov. Josh Shapiro launched the 2024-25 state budget process with a 90-minute speech focused on his $48.3 billion spending proposal, Kim Ward and Jay Costa were mindful as ever that Pennsylvania is ruled by divided government.
Separate Wednesday interviews with both lawmakers — two of the most influential political leaders in Western Pennsylvania — underscored the question, “How divided is it?”” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Related
More Money For Schools, Some SEPTA Funding, And A $15 Minimum Wage: What Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Budget Proposal Means For Philly. “Here’s what the governor’s plan would mean for Philadelphia and what city leaders are saying about it.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Plan For Higher Ed Could Leave A ‘Lasting Legacy,’ But Questions Remain. “During his budget address on Tuesday, Mr. Shapiro said he’d like to enact a performance-based funding system for the four state-related universities, the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State, Temple University and Lincoln University.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Pennsylvania Sends Warning To Company Allegedly Behind Fake Biden Robocalls. “Pennsylvania’s attorney general sent a warning to the company allegedly responsible for using artificial intelligence to impersonate President Joe Biden in robocalls to potential voters.” (CBS Pittsburgh)
How an ‘Ice Cream Truck’ for Voting Could Stop Pennsylvania Ballots from Being Tossed. “Commissioner Neil Makhija tells Bolts he intends to propose that Montgomery County set up a mobile unit that’d go into neighborhoods to help people resolve mistakes they’ve made on their mail ballots.” (Bolts)
“People have all sorts of preferences when it comes to their pillows. Some like them flat and firm, some like them stuffed to the brim with down. What about a pillow that felt like a marshmallow? What about a pillow that literally was a marshmallow?
OK, maybe an actual marshmallow is a bit of a stretch, but Just Born Quality Confections’ premiere brand, Peeps, is making it as close to reality as possible. In a partnership with Home2 Suites by Hilton Easton, off Route 33 in Lower Nazareth Township, Peeps is welcoming guests into the aptly named Peeps Sweet Suite: a whole hotel room outfitted to look like a Peeps wonderland.” (LehighValleyLive)
Thanks for starting your morning with us.
Please invite your colleagues
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook
😀 It’s Thursday. Thanks for supporting the PoliticsPA Playbook. Tell a friend!
PA Weather
🌤️ North East | Partly Sunny, 54
🌥️ Nanty Glo | Increasing Clouds, 53
☀️ Norristown | Mostly Sunny, 52
PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (30-20) | Golden State 104-127 | Fri vs. Atlanta
🏒 Flyers (26-19-6) | Thu vs. Winnipeg
🏒 Penguins (23-17-7) | Fri vs. Minnesota
What’s Happening
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Donald Trump’s appeal to remain on the 2024 ballot beginning at 10 a.m.
What We’re Hearing
“But the bottom line is, analysis can’t be used as an excuse for paralysis, which is what oftentimes happens in our state capitol.” – Gov. Josh Shapiro
Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. John Joyce.
Political News? Yes, Please
The PoliticsPA Playbook gives you all today’s PA political headlines in an easy-to-read email format. All by 8 AM. And it’s free. Subscribe now.
“The Supreme Court on Thursday will confront the critical question of Donald Trump’s eligibility to return to the White House, hearing arguments in an unprecedented case that gives the justices a central role in charting the course of a presidential election for the first time in nearly a quarter-century.
The justices will decide whether Colorado’s top court was correct to apply a post-Civil War provision of the Constitution to order Trump off the ballot after concluding his actions around the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol amounted to insurrection. Primary voting is already underway in some states. Colorado’s ballots for the March 5 primary were printed last week and include Trump’s name. But his status as a candidate will depend on what the Supreme Court decides.” (Washington Post)
Related
Are Americans Really Committed To Democracy In The 2024 Election? “With former President Donald Trump having all but wrapped up the GOP presidential nomination, one issue looks set to be at the center of the general election campaign: the threat to democracy.” (Penn Capital-Star)
Falling In Line With Their Parties, Pennsylvania Politicians Split On Immigration Proposal. “The bill, unveiled by a bipartisan group of senators Sunday, would have made it significantly tougher to claim asylum, provided resources for detention, removal, asylum processing and immigration courts, and included $20 billion for new border security agents and asylum officers.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Meet Mike Roman, The Man Trying To Bring Down Fani Willis. “Roman, 52, is a longtime Republican political operative who grew up in Philadelphia and got his start in Pennsylvania politics. He has a history of questioning the integrity of elections.” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Democratic Sen. Bob Casey Braces For ‘Toughest’ Re-Election Battle Yet In Pennsylvania. “Democrats are facing a tough set of Senate races in 2024. From his perch in perhaps the nation’s most important swing state in recent years, Sen. Bob Casey argues his contest is a must-watch.” (NBC News)
“Gov. Josh Shapiro took his budget road show out for an initial test run on Wednesday, highlighting his $10.3 million Agriculture Innovation Fund.
Shapiro, along with Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, toured the 341-acre New Holland Agriculture plant in Lancaster County. The campus includes a 150-acre test farm and a 700,000-square-foot equipment manufacturing plant that provides 600 jobs.
“For the first time ever, our economic development strategy isn’t limited in its focus to our high rises or our suburban office parks – we understand that our economic success is dependent on our rural communities and our farmlands,” said the governor.” (PoliticsPA)
Related
Lawmakers Wrangle Over Rescissions From 2022 Law For Farm Bill. “House lawmakers appear to have hit a snag over using money from the 2022 health, climate and tax law to help pay for the farm bill. Members of both parties staked out positions on use of money appropriated in the 2022 law, with Democrats saying they would oppose an effort to repurpose the money and House Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson saying opponents are “thinking pretty simplistic.”” (Roll Call)
PA Gov. Josh Shapiro to Senate GOP: If You Don’t Like My Ideas, Bring Your Own. “Gov. Josh Shapiro rebutted Republican criticism of his budget as unrealistic as he kicked off a statewide campaign on Wednesday to drum up support for his aspirational $48.3 billion budget proposal.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Shapiro Talks Up Budget; “Analysis Can’t Be Excuse For Paralysis” “Gov. Josh Shapiro made the rounds of morning radio shows to tout his 2024-25 budget that calls for increased spending from last year.” (PoliticsPA)
Who Is On The Ballot In 2024? “As we close in on the final days of nomination petition signing season, here is a list of who has completed the task and is on the ballot for the 2024 primary on April 23. This list was updated on Wednesday, February 7, at 5:48 p.m.” (PoliticsPA)
Gov. Josh Shapiro Called For Legalizing Marijuana, And The State’s Need For Revenue Could Help Make It A Reality. “A top Senate GOP leader suggested he may be willing to consider legalizing recreational marijuana, especially as Pennsylvania spending is projected to exceed revenue in the next fiscal year.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
PA Senate Backs Texas Governor’s Effort To Stop Influx Of Migrants. “The Pennsylvania Senate adopted a Republican-written resolution that supports Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s efforts to secure the southern border with Mexico and calls on Gov. Josh Shapiro to follow their lead.” (PennLive)
“The day after Gov. Josh Shapiro launched the 2024-25 state budget process with a 90-minute speech focused on his $48.3 billion spending proposal, Kim Ward and Jay Costa were mindful as ever that Pennsylvania is ruled by divided government.
Separate Wednesday interviews with both lawmakers — two of the most influential political leaders in Western Pennsylvania — underscored the question, “How divided is it?”” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Related
More Money For Schools, Some SEPTA Funding, And A $15 Minimum Wage: What Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Budget Proposal Means For Philly. “Here’s what the governor’s plan would mean for Philadelphia and what city leaders are saying about it.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Plan For Higher Ed Could Leave A ‘Lasting Legacy,’ But Questions Remain. “During his budget address on Tuesday, Mr. Shapiro said he’d like to enact a performance-based funding system for the four state-related universities, the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State, Temple University and Lincoln University.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
Pennsylvania Sends Warning To Company Allegedly Behind Fake Biden Robocalls. “Pennsylvania’s attorney general sent a warning to the company allegedly responsible for using artificial intelligence to impersonate President Joe Biden in robocalls to potential voters.” (CBS Pittsburgh)
How an ‘Ice Cream Truck’ for Voting Could Stop Pennsylvania Ballots from Being Tossed. “Commissioner Neil Makhija tells Bolts he intends to propose that Montgomery County set up a mobile unit that’d go into neighborhoods to help people resolve mistakes they’ve made on their mail ballots.” (Bolts)
“People have all sorts of preferences when it comes to their pillows. Some like them flat and firm, some like them stuffed to the brim with down. What about a pillow that felt like a marshmallow? What about a pillow that literally was a marshmallow?
OK, maybe an actual marshmallow is a bit of a stretch, but Just Born Quality Confections’ premiere brand, Peeps, is making it as close to reality as possible. In a partnership with Home2 Suites by Hilton Easton, off Route 33 in Lower Nazareth Township, Peeps is welcoming guests into the aptly named Peeps Sweet Suite: a whole hotel room outfitted to look like a Peeps wonderland.” (LehighValleyLive)
Thanks for starting your morning with us.
Please invite your colleagues
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook
Do you agree that ByteDance should be forced to divest TikTok?
Loading ...