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January 16: On Edge

⛄ It’s A Snowy Tuesday Around These Parts. Thanks for reading the PoliticsPA Playbook PA Weather☁️ Mt. Lebanon | Mostly Cloudy, 19☁️ Littlestown | Cloudy,

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Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 15: I Have A Dream

🤟🏿 It’s MLK Day. “The time is always right to do the right thing.” PA Weather☁️ Erie | Mostly Cloudy, 17🌥️ Tower City | Partly

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Philadelphia public schools classroom

January 12: Closing The Gap

👍 Friday, We Made It. Thank you for reading the PoliticsPA Playbook. It is appreciated. PA Weather🌂 Waynesburg | Mostly Cloudy, Rain Arriving, 48☁️ Blain

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January 10: East vs. West

😄 Hey Wednesday. Can We Dry Out A Little? Thank you for being a subscriber to the PoliticsPA Playbook. It is appreciated. PA Weather🌨️ Meadville

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January 9: Control

🌧️ Greetings, Tuesday. Stay weather-wise today and tomorrow. PA Weather🌧️ Irwin | Rain, Windy, 51🌧️Williamsport | Rain, Breezy, 46🌧️Catasauqua | Rain, Breezy, 47 PA Sports🏀

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January 8: Partners

🗞️ Not Another Manic Monday. We have great news to start your week. PA Weather ☁️ Erie | Cloudy, 37 🌥️ State College | Decreasing

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Joe Biden, Donald Trump

January 5: A Threat to Democracy?

🤩 I’ve Got Friday On My Mind. Hope you weather the weather this weekend. PA Weather☀️ Murrysville | Mostly Sunny, 36☀️ Chambersburg | Sunny, 37☀️

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🧊 Hi. It’s Thursday. I’m ready for a weather-pattern shift.

PA Weather
☁️ Ligonier | Mostly Cloudy, 32
☁️ Lewistown | Cloudy, 33
☁️ Lancaster | Cloudy, 33

PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (26-13) | Fri vs. Orlando
🏒 Flyers (24-14-6) | Thu vs. Dallas
🏒 Penguins (21-15-6) | Sat vs. Vegas

What’s Happening Today
Interested in college sports? The Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee will hold a hearing at 10:30 a.m. – “NIL Playbook: Proposal to Protect Student Athletes’ Dealmaking Rights”

What We’re Hearing
“If the government can infringe on our Second Amendment rights, no rights can be enjoyed by citizens of this nation.” – Rep. Joe Hamm

Start Your Day Smarter
The PoliticsPA Playbook gives you all today’s PA political headlines in an easy-to-read format. All by 8 AM. And it’s free. Subscribe now.

Top Story

1. Do Political Ads Even Matter Anymore?

Research demonstrates importance of consistent branding in political television ads | WashU Olin Business School

“In a presidential election year, no glowing rectangle in Iowa or New Hampshire is safe from an endless deluge of political ads.

Campaign ads are inescapable on the nightly news, “Wheel of Fortune” and YouTube. Even the high-dollar, high-visibility ad blocks of professional and college football games have become increasingly saturated.

It’s a deeply entrenched multimillion-dollar industry, and one of the largest expenses of every presidential campaign. But a confluence of political forces and changing media behavior may be testing the efficacy of political advertising in the Trump era.” (NY Times)

Related

Everyday Pennsylvanians Who Oppose Trump To Star In Million-Dollar Ad Campaign By Democratic-Aligned Group. “A coal miner. A veteran. A nurse. These are some of the Pennsylvanians who will be appearing starting this spring in ads produced by a Democratic-aligned group, talking about why they are supporting President Joe Biden for re-election and why you shouldn’t back former President Donald Trump.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Joe Biden Faces Problem in His Birth State. “Biden is heading into an election year amid continuing poor approval ratings and concerns that his presumed 2024 Republican challenger, Donald Trump, is beating the president in several key swing states—including Pennsylvania, where Biden was born in 1942.” (Newsweek)

Lee Lands Endorsements From House Democratic Leaders. “Rep. Summer Lee had a pretty good day on Tuesday. The freshman Congresswoman from Allegheny County picked up endorsements from three House Democratic leaders – House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar – in her quest to retain the 12th Congressional District seat in Congress.” (PoliticsPA)

Tomasetti Announces Challenge to McCormick for GOP Senate Nomination. “Looks like the race for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate will not be a one-man race after all.” (PoliticsPA)

State

2. Gun Control Measures Advance Out Of Democratic-Controlled Pennsylvania House Committee

“Democrats in majority control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives advanced several gun control measures Wednesday, including one that would ban sales of automatic and semi-automatic guns, after years of standstill in the politically divided state government.

The bills were passed by the Judiciary Committee on party lines and await the full House’s consideration.

Even if the bills clear the House floor, however, they will likely face a cold reception in the state Senate; other gun control measures passed by the House last year did not even get called up in committee. Instead, senators have prioritized working with Democrats to boost funding for anti-violence and mental health programs.” (AP)

Related

Shapiro Offers Peek At 2024-25 Budget Plan Priorities. “A day shy of the one-year anniversary since he took office, Gov. Josh Shapiro on Wednesday gave a sneak peek at some of his top priorities for the upcoming budget.” (PennLive)

More People Are Now Eligible For Rent And Property Tax Rebates In Pennsylvania. Here’s What To Know. “The state’s rent and property tax rebate program now includes more older adults and adults with disabilities for the first time in years.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Bizzarro Criticizes Garrity For Endorsing Trump As She Demands Apology For ‘Insurrectionist Barbie’ Post. “State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, one of two candidates seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for state Treasurer, said in a press release Wednesday that incumbent Republican Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity should be “barred from public office,” and compared her to Benedict Arnold.” (Penn Capital-Star)

SD-49: Erie Democrat King, A Staff Member For U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Enters State Senate Race. “Erie resident Selena King, a staff member for U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and the former chairwoman of the Erie County Democratic Party’s Black Caucus, is running for Pennsylvania Senate and will challenge former party chairman Jim Wertz in the April 23 Democratic primary.” (Erie Times-News)

HD-140: A Quick Guide To PA’s House District 140 Special Election. “Voters in Bucks County will head to the polls in February to elect a new state representative in an election that will determine control of the state House.” (City & State)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Which Local Officials Ran Afoul Of The Pennsylvania Ethics Act in 2023?

“Eleven Pennsylvania public officials and employees admitted to significant conflicts of interest in 2023.

The violations of the State Ethics Act occurred in Crawford, Allegheny, Beaver, Lawrence, McKean, Northampton and Montgomery counties. They involved municipalities, sewer and water authorities, school districts and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, according to the State Ethics Commission.” (Erie Times-News)

Related

Lawmakers Told School Guidance Counselor Reforms Needed To ‘Finally Bring Pennsylvania Into The 21st Century’. “School guidance counselors in Pennsylvania frequently are monitoring hallways and lunchrooms or substitute teaching rather than doing the jobs they were trained to do, to the detriment of students.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Casey, Fetterman, Deluzio and Lee Press VA Pittsburgh Healthcare For Answers On Challenges, Quality Of Care. “Democratic members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation are pressing the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System to address staffing, communication and other challenges they say are impacting the quality of care for almost 85,000 veterans.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Burns Supports Anti-Sanctuary City Bill. “State Rep. Frank Burns recently signed on as the lone Democratic co-sponsor, to date, of a Pennsylvania House of Representatives bill that would prevent municipalities and counties from designating themselves as sanctuary cities.” (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat)

Homelessness, Suicide Among Social And Emotional Ills Ailing PA Students: School Professionals. “Persistent depression, homelessness, substance use, divorce, suicidal thoughts — student service professionals stressed to lawmakers in the Pennsylvania House on Wednesday that troubles weighing heavily on adults are burdens shared by school-age kids every day.” (CNHI News)

New Lackawanna County Commissioners Say County Faces Massive Financial Problems. “Lackawanna County government entered 2024 with $19 million in unpaid bills and may fall short of cash to pay all its expenses again this year,” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

  • Ruth Ann Dailey: Haley, DeSantis, Kennedy, West, Stein, Please, Please Keep Running!
  • John Baer: The Unwanted Trump-Biden Race Is On. Is Our Electoral System Failing?
  • Wall Street Journal: Mr. Smith’s Lousy Tax Deal.
  • Meredith Elizalde: I thought holding my son as he died would be my hardest moment. It wasn’t.
  • Larry Miller: Philadelphia’s Crime Wave Doesn’t Stay In Philadelphia.
  • Selena Zito: Teaching A Master Class In American Exceptionalism
1 Thing

5. “Hi, It’s The White House Calling”

Biden makes pitch for reelection to Lehigh Valley small business owners - WHYY

Lauren and Juan Vargas were being presented with the opportunity of a lifetime.

All they had to do was answer the phone.

“Juan and I were sitting next to each other and his phone rang. And he goes, ‘This 202 number has been calling me pretty aggressively.’ And I said, and I quote, ‘Maybe you should answer it. What if it’s like, Joe Biden, and he wants to use the coffee shop for a campaign event?’”

They both laughed, and then Juan answered the phone.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Thanks for starting your morning with us.
Please invite your colleagues
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook

🧊 Hi. It’s Thursday. I’m ready for a weather-pattern shift.

PA Weather
☁️ Ligonier | Mostly Cloudy, 32
☁️ Lewistown | Cloudy, 33
☁️ Lancaster | Cloudy, 33

PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (26-13) | Fri vs. Orlando
🏒 Flyers (24-14-6) | Thu vs. Dallas
🏒 Penguins (21-15-6) | Sat vs. Vegas

What’s Happening Today
Interested in college sports? The Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee will hold a hearing at 10:30 a.m. – “NIL Playbook: Proposal to Protect Student Athletes’ Dealmaking Rights”

What We’re Hearing
“If the government can infringe on our Second Amendment rights, no rights can be enjoyed by citizens of this nation.” – Rep. Joe Hamm

Start Your Day Smarter
The PoliticsPA Playbook gives you all today’s PA political headlines in an easy-to-read format. All by 8 AM. And it’s free. Subscribe now.

Top Story

1. Do Political Ads Even Matter Anymore?

Research demonstrates importance of consistent branding in political television ads | WashU Olin Business School

“In a presidential election year, no glowing rectangle in Iowa or New Hampshire is safe from an endless deluge of political ads.

Campaign ads are inescapable on the nightly news, “Wheel of Fortune” and YouTube. Even the high-dollar, high-visibility ad blocks of professional and college football games have become increasingly saturated.

It’s a deeply entrenched multimillion-dollar industry, and one of the largest expenses of every presidential campaign. But a confluence of political forces and changing media behavior may be testing the efficacy of political advertising in the Trump era.” (NY Times)

Related

Everyday Pennsylvanians Who Oppose Trump To Star In Million-Dollar Ad Campaign By Democratic-Aligned Group. “A coal miner. A veteran. A nurse. These are some of the Pennsylvanians who will be appearing starting this spring in ads produced by a Democratic-aligned group, talking about why they are supporting President Joe Biden for re-election and why you shouldn’t back former President Donald Trump.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Joe Biden Faces Problem in His Birth State. “Biden is heading into an election year amid continuing poor approval ratings and concerns that his presumed 2024 Republican challenger, Donald Trump, is beating the president in several key swing states—including Pennsylvania, where Biden was born in 1942.” (Newsweek)

Lee Lands Endorsements From House Democratic Leaders. “Rep. Summer Lee had a pretty good day on Tuesday. The freshman Congresswoman from Allegheny County picked up endorsements from three House Democratic leaders – House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar – in her quest to retain the 12th Congressional District seat in Congress.” (PoliticsPA)

Tomasetti Announces Challenge to McCormick for GOP Senate Nomination. “Looks like the race for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate will not be a one-man race after all.” (PoliticsPA)

State

2. Gun Control Measures Advance Out Of Democratic-Controlled Pennsylvania House Committee

“Democrats in majority control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives advanced several gun control measures Wednesday, including one that would ban sales of automatic and semi-automatic guns, after years of standstill in the politically divided state government.

The bills were passed by the Judiciary Committee on party lines and await the full House’s consideration.

Even if the bills clear the House floor, however, they will likely face a cold reception in the state Senate; other gun control measures passed by the House last year did not even get called up in committee. Instead, senators have prioritized working with Democrats to boost funding for anti-violence and mental health programs.” (AP)

Related

Shapiro Offers Peek At 2024-25 Budget Plan Priorities. “A day shy of the one-year anniversary since he took office, Gov. Josh Shapiro on Wednesday gave a sneak peek at some of his top priorities for the upcoming budget.” (PennLive)

More People Are Now Eligible For Rent And Property Tax Rebates In Pennsylvania. Here’s What To Know. “The state’s rent and property tax rebate program now includes more older adults and adults with disabilities for the first time in years.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Bizzarro Criticizes Garrity For Endorsing Trump As She Demands Apology For ‘Insurrectionist Barbie’ Post. “State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, one of two candidates seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for state Treasurer, said in a press release Wednesday that incumbent Republican Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity should be “barred from public office,” and compared her to Benedict Arnold.” (Penn Capital-Star)

SD-49: Erie Democrat King, A Staff Member For U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Enters State Senate Race. “Erie resident Selena King, a staff member for U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and the former chairwoman of the Erie County Democratic Party’s Black Caucus, is running for Pennsylvania Senate and will challenge former party chairman Jim Wertz in the April 23 Democratic primary.” (Erie Times-News)

HD-140: A Quick Guide To PA’s House District 140 Special Election. “Voters in Bucks County will head to the polls in February to elect a new state representative in an election that will determine control of the state House.” (City & State)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Which Local Officials Ran Afoul Of The Pennsylvania Ethics Act in 2023?

“Eleven Pennsylvania public officials and employees admitted to significant conflicts of interest in 2023.

The violations of the State Ethics Act occurred in Crawford, Allegheny, Beaver, Lawrence, McKean, Northampton and Montgomery counties. They involved municipalities, sewer and water authorities, school districts and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, according to the State Ethics Commission.” (Erie Times-News)

Related

Lawmakers Told School Guidance Counselor Reforms Needed To ‘Finally Bring Pennsylvania Into The 21st Century’. “School guidance counselors in Pennsylvania frequently are monitoring hallways and lunchrooms or substitute teaching rather than doing the jobs they were trained to do, to the detriment of students.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Casey, Fetterman, Deluzio and Lee Press VA Pittsburgh Healthcare For Answers On Challenges, Quality Of Care. “Democratic members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation are pressing the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System to address staffing, communication and other challenges they say are impacting the quality of care for almost 85,000 veterans.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Burns Supports Anti-Sanctuary City Bill. “State Rep. Frank Burns recently signed on as the lone Democratic co-sponsor, to date, of a Pennsylvania House of Representatives bill that would prevent municipalities and counties from designating themselves as sanctuary cities.” (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat)

Homelessness, Suicide Among Social And Emotional Ills Ailing PA Students: School Professionals. “Persistent depression, homelessness, substance use, divorce, suicidal thoughts — student service professionals stressed to lawmakers in the Pennsylvania House on Wednesday that troubles weighing heavily on adults are burdens shared by school-age kids every day.” (CNHI News)

New Lackawanna County Commissioners Say County Faces Massive Financial Problems. “Lackawanna County government entered 2024 with $19 million in unpaid bills and may fall short of cash to pay all its expenses again this year,” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

  • Ruth Ann Dailey: Haley, DeSantis, Kennedy, West, Stein, Please, Please Keep Running!
  • John Baer: The Unwanted Trump-Biden Race Is On. Is Our Electoral System Failing?
  • Wall Street Journal: Mr. Smith’s Lousy Tax Deal.
  • Meredith Elizalde: I thought holding my son as he died would be my hardest moment. It wasn’t.
  • Larry Miller: Philadelphia’s Crime Wave Doesn’t Stay In Philadelphia.
  • Selena Zito: Teaching A Master Class In American Exceptionalism
1 Thing

5. “Hi, It’s The White House Calling”

Biden makes pitch for reelection to Lehigh Valley small business owners - WHYY

Lauren and Juan Vargas were being presented with the opportunity of a lifetime.

All they had to do was answer the phone.

“Juan and I were sitting next to each other and his phone rang. And he goes, ‘This 202 number has been calling me pretty aggressively.’ And I said, and I quote, ‘Maybe you should answer it. What if it’s like, Joe Biden, and he wants to use the coffee shop for a campaign event?’”

They both laughed, and then Juan answered the phone.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Thanks for starting your morning with us.
Please invite your colleagues
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook

Email:

🧊 Hi. It’s Thursday. I’m ready for a weather-pattern shift.

PA Weather
☁️ Ligonier | Mostly Cloudy, 32
☁️ Lewistown | Cloudy, 33
☁️ Lancaster | Cloudy, 33

PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (26-13) | Fri vs. Orlando
🏒 Flyers (24-14-6) | Thu vs. Dallas
🏒 Penguins (21-15-6) | Sat vs. Vegas

What’s Happening Today
Interested in college sports? The Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee will hold a hearing at 10:30 a.m. – “NIL Playbook: Proposal to Protect Student Athletes’ Dealmaking Rights”

What We’re Hearing
“If the government can infringe on our Second Amendment rights, no rights can be enjoyed by citizens of this nation.” – Rep. Joe Hamm

Start Your Day Smarter
The PoliticsPA Playbook gives you all today’s PA political headlines in an easy-to-read format. All by 8 AM. And it’s free. Subscribe now.

Top Story

1. Do Political Ads Even Matter Anymore?

Research demonstrates importance of consistent branding in political television ads | WashU Olin Business School

“In a presidential election year, no glowing rectangle in Iowa or New Hampshire is safe from an endless deluge of political ads.

Campaign ads are inescapable on the nightly news, “Wheel of Fortune” and YouTube. Even the high-dollar, high-visibility ad blocks of professional and college football games have become increasingly saturated.

It’s a deeply entrenched multimillion-dollar industry, and one of the largest expenses of every presidential campaign. But a confluence of political forces and changing media behavior may be testing the efficacy of political advertising in the Trump era.” (NY Times)

Related

Everyday Pennsylvanians Who Oppose Trump To Star In Million-Dollar Ad Campaign By Democratic-Aligned Group. “A coal miner. A veteran. A nurse. These are some of the Pennsylvanians who will be appearing starting this spring in ads produced by a Democratic-aligned group, talking about why they are supporting President Joe Biden for re-election and why you shouldn’t back former President Donald Trump.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Joe Biden Faces Problem in His Birth State. “Biden is heading into an election year amid continuing poor approval ratings and concerns that his presumed 2024 Republican challenger, Donald Trump, is beating the president in several key swing states—including Pennsylvania, where Biden was born in 1942.” (Newsweek)

Lee Lands Endorsements From House Democratic Leaders. “Rep. Summer Lee had a pretty good day on Tuesday. The freshman Congresswoman from Allegheny County picked up endorsements from three House Democratic leaders – House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar – in her quest to retain the 12th Congressional District seat in Congress.” (PoliticsPA)

Tomasetti Announces Challenge to McCormick for GOP Senate Nomination. “Looks like the race for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate will not be a one-man race after all.” (PoliticsPA)

State

2. Gun Control Measures Advance Out Of Democratic-Controlled Pennsylvania House Committee

“Democrats in majority control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives advanced several gun control measures Wednesday, including one that would ban sales of automatic and semi-automatic guns, after years of standstill in the politically divided state government.

The bills were passed by the Judiciary Committee on party lines and await the full House’s consideration.

Even if the bills clear the House floor, however, they will likely face a cold reception in the state Senate; other gun control measures passed by the House last year did not even get called up in committee. Instead, senators have prioritized working with Democrats to boost funding for anti-violence and mental health programs.” (AP)

Related

Shapiro Offers Peek At 2024-25 Budget Plan Priorities. “A day shy of the one-year anniversary since he took office, Gov. Josh Shapiro on Wednesday gave a sneak peek at some of his top priorities for the upcoming budget.” (PennLive)

More People Are Now Eligible For Rent And Property Tax Rebates In Pennsylvania. Here’s What To Know. “The state’s rent and property tax rebate program now includes more older adults and adults with disabilities for the first time in years.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Bizzarro Criticizes Garrity For Endorsing Trump As She Demands Apology For ‘Insurrectionist Barbie’ Post. “State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, one of two candidates seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for state Treasurer, said in a press release Wednesday that incumbent Republican Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity should be “barred from public office,” and compared her to Benedict Arnold.” (Penn Capital-Star)

SD-49: Erie Democrat King, A Staff Member For U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Enters State Senate Race. “Erie resident Selena King, a staff member for U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and the former chairwoman of the Erie County Democratic Party’s Black Caucus, is running for Pennsylvania Senate and will challenge former party chairman Jim Wertz in the April 23 Democratic primary.” (Erie Times-News)

HD-140: A Quick Guide To PA’s House District 140 Special Election. “Voters in Bucks County will head to the polls in February to elect a new state representative in an election that will determine control of the state House.” (City & State)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Which Local Officials Ran Afoul Of The Pennsylvania Ethics Act in 2023?

“Eleven Pennsylvania public officials and employees admitted to significant conflicts of interest in 2023.

The violations of the State Ethics Act occurred in Crawford, Allegheny, Beaver, Lawrence, McKean, Northampton and Montgomery counties. They involved municipalities, sewer and water authorities, school districts and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, according to the State Ethics Commission.” (Erie Times-News)

Related

Lawmakers Told School Guidance Counselor Reforms Needed To ‘Finally Bring Pennsylvania Into The 21st Century’. “School guidance counselors in Pennsylvania frequently are monitoring hallways and lunchrooms or substitute teaching rather than doing the jobs they were trained to do, to the detriment of students.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Casey, Fetterman, Deluzio and Lee Press VA Pittsburgh Healthcare For Answers On Challenges, Quality Of Care. “Democratic members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation are pressing the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System to address staffing, communication and other challenges they say are impacting the quality of care for almost 85,000 veterans.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Burns Supports Anti-Sanctuary City Bill. “State Rep. Frank Burns recently signed on as the lone Democratic co-sponsor, to date, of a Pennsylvania House of Representatives bill that would prevent municipalities and counties from designating themselves as sanctuary cities.” (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat)

Homelessness, Suicide Among Social And Emotional Ills Ailing PA Students: School Professionals. “Persistent depression, homelessness, substance use, divorce, suicidal thoughts — student service professionals stressed to lawmakers in the Pennsylvania House on Wednesday that troubles weighing heavily on adults are burdens shared by school-age kids every day.” (CNHI News)

New Lackawanna County Commissioners Say County Faces Massive Financial Problems. “Lackawanna County government entered 2024 with $19 million in unpaid bills and may fall short of cash to pay all its expenses again this year,” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

  • Ruth Ann Dailey: Haley, DeSantis, Kennedy, West, Stein, Please, Please Keep Running!
  • John Baer: The Unwanted Trump-Biden Race Is On. Is Our Electoral System Failing?
  • Wall Street Journal: Mr. Smith’s Lousy Tax Deal.
  • Meredith Elizalde: I thought holding my son as he died would be my hardest moment. It wasn’t.
  • Larry Miller: Philadelphia’s Crime Wave Doesn’t Stay In Philadelphia.
  • Selena Zito: Teaching A Master Class In American Exceptionalism
1 Thing

5. “Hi, It’s The White House Calling”

Biden makes pitch for reelection to Lehigh Valley small business owners - WHYY

Lauren and Juan Vargas were being presented with the opportunity of a lifetime.

All they had to do was answer the phone.

“Juan and I were sitting next to each other and his phone rang. And he goes, ‘This 202 number has been calling me pretty aggressively.’ And I said, and I quote, ‘Maybe you should answer it. What if it’s like, Joe Biden, and he wants to use the coffee shop for a campaign event?’”

They both laughed, and then Juan answered the phone.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Thanks for starting your morning with us.
Please invite your colleagues
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA Playbook

🧊 Hi. It’s Thursday. I’m ready for a weather-pattern shift.

PA Weather
☁️ Ligonier | Mostly Cloudy, 32
☁️ Lewistown | Cloudy, 33
☁️ Lancaster | Cloudy, 33

PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (26-13) | Fri vs. Orlando
🏒 Flyers (24-14-6) | Thu vs. Dallas
🏒 Penguins (21-15-6) | Sat vs. Vegas

What’s Happening Today
Interested in college sports? The Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee will hold a hearing at 10:30 a.m. – “NIL Playbook: Proposal to Protect Student Athletes’ Dealmaking Rights”

What We’re Hearing
“If the government can infringe on our Second Amendment rights, no rights can be enjoyed by citizens of this nation.” – Rep. Joe Hamm

Start Your Day Smarter
The PoliticsPA Playbook gives you all today’s PA political headlines in an easy-to-read format. All by 8 AM. And it’s free. Subscribe now.

Top Story

1. Do Political Ads Even Matter Anymore?

Research demonstrates importance of consistent branding in political television ads | WashU Olin Business School

“In a presidential election year, no glowing rectangle in Iowa or New Hampshire is safe from an endless deluge of political ads.

Campaign ads are inescapable on the nightly news, “Wheel of Fortune” and YouTube. Even the high-dollar, high-visibility ad blocks of professional and college football games have become increasingly saturated.

It’s a deeply entrenched multimillion-dollar industry, and one of the largest expenses of every presidential campaign. But a confluence of political forces and changing media behavior may be testing the efficacy of political advertising in the Trump era.” (NY Times)

Related

Everyday Pennsylvanians Who Oppose Trump To Star In Million-Dollar Ad Campaign By Democratic-Aligned Group. “A coal miner. A veteran. A nurse. These are some of the Pennsylvanians who will be appearing starting this spring in ads produced by a Democratic-aligned group, talking about why they are supporting President Joe Biden for re-election and why you shouldn’t back former President Donald Trump.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Joe Biden Faces Problem in His Birth State. “Biden is heading into an election year amid continuing poor approval ratings and concerns that his presumed 2024 Republican challenger, Donald Trump, is beating the president in several key swing states—including Pennsylvania, where Biden was born in 1942.” (Newsweek)

Lee Lands Endorsements From House Democratic Leaders. “Rep. Summer Lee had a pretty good day on Tuesday. The freshman Congresswoman from Allegheny County picked up endorsements from three House Democratic leaders – House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar – in her quest to retain the 12th Congressional District seat in Congress.” (PoliticsPA)

Tomasetti Announces Challenge to McCormick for GOP Senate Nomination. “Looks like the race for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate will not be a one-man race after all.” (PoliticsPA)

State

2. Gun Control Measures Advance Out Of Democratic-Controlled Pennsylvania House Committee

“Democrats in majority control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives advanced several gun control measures Wednesday, including one that would ban sales of automatic and semi-automatic guns, after years of standstill in the politically divided state government.

The bills were passed by the Judiciary Committee on party lines and await the full House’s consideration.

Even if the bills clear the House floor, however, they will likely face a cold reception in the state Senate; other gun control measures passed by the House last year did not even get called up in committee. Instead, senators have prioritized working with Democrats to boost funding for anti-violence and mental health programs.” (AP)

Related

Shapiro Offers Peek At 2024-25 Budget Plan Priorities. “A day shy of the one-year anniversary since he took office, Gov. Josh Shapiro on Wednesday gave a sneak peek at some of his top priorities for the upcoming budget.” (PennLive)

More People Are Now Eligible For Rent And Property Tax Rebates In Pennsylvania. Here’s What To Know. “The state’s rent and property tax rebate program now includes more older adults and adults with disabilities for the first time in years.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Bizzarro Criticizes Garrity For Endorsing Trump As She Demands Apology For ‘Insurrectionist Barbie’ Post. “State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, one of two candidates seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination for state Treasurer, said in a press release Wednesday that incumbent Republican Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity should be “barred from public office,” and compared her to Benedict Arnold.” (Penn Capital-Star)

SD-49: Erie Democrat King, A Staff Member For U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, Enters State Senate Race. “Erie resident Selena King, a staff member for U.S. Sen. John Fetterman and the former chairwoman of the Erie County Democratic Party’s Black Caucus, is running for Pennsylvania Senate and will challenge former party chairman Jim Wertz in the April 23 Democratic primary.” (Erie Times-News)

HD-140: A Quick Guide To PA’s House District 140 Special Election. “Voters in Bucks County will head to the polls in February to elect a new state representative in an election that will determine control of the state House.” (City & State)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Which Local Officials Ran Afoul Of The Pennsylvania Ethics Act in 2023?

“Eleven Pennsylvania public officials and employees admitted to significant conflicts of interest in 2023.

The violations of the State Ethics Act occurred in Crawford, Allegheny, Beaver, Lawrence, McKean, Northampton and Montgomery counties. They involved municipalities, sewer and water authorities, school districts and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, according to the State Ethics Commission.” (Erie Times-News)

Related

Lawmakers Told School Guidance Counselor Reforms Needed To ‘Finally Bring Pennsylvania Into The 21st Century’. “School guidance counselors in Pennsylvania frequently are monitoring hallways and lunchrooms or substitute teaching rather than doing the jobs they were trained to do, to the detriment of students.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Casey, Fetterman, Deluzio and Lee Press VA Pittsburgh Healthcare For Answers On Challenges, Quality Of Care. “Democratic members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation are pressing the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System to address staffing, communication and other challenges they say are impacting the quality of care for almost 85,000 veterans.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Burns Supports Anti-Sanctuary City Bill. “State Rep. Frank Burns recently signed on as the lone Democratic co-sponsor, to date, of a Pennsylvania House of Representatives bill that would prevent municipalities and counties from designating themselves as sanctuary cities.” (Johnstown Tribune-Democrat)

Homelessness, Suicide Among Social And Emotional Ills Ailing PA Students: School Professionals. “Persistent depression, homelessness, substance use, divorce, suicidal thoughts — student service professionals stressed to lawmakers in the Pennsylvania House on Wednesday that troubles weighing heavily on adults are burdens shared by school-age kids every day.” (CNHI News)

New Lackawanna County Commissioners Say County Faces Massive Financial Problems. “Lackawanna County government entered 2024 with $19 million in unpaid bills and may fall short of cash to pay all its expenses again this year,” (Scranton Times-Tribune)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

  • Ruth Ann Dailey: Haley, DeSantis, Kennedy, West, Stein, Please, Please Keep Running!
  • John Baer: The Unwanted Trump-Biden Race Is On. Is Our Electoral System Failing?
  • Wall Street Journal: Mr. Smith’s Lousy Tax Deal.
  • Meredith Elizalde: I thought holding my son as he died would be my hardest moment. It wasn’t.
  • Larry Miller: Philadelphia’s Crime Wave Doesn’t Stay In Philadelphia.
  • Selena Zito: Teaching A Master Class In American Exceptionalism
1 Thing

5. “Hi, It’s The White House Calling”

Biden makes pitch for reelection to Lehigh Valley small business owners - WHYY

Lauren and Juan Vargas were being presented with the opportunity of a lifetime.

All they had to do was answer the phone.

“Juan and I were sitting next to each other and his phone rang. And he goes, ‘This 202 number has been calling me pretty aggressively.’ And I said, and I quote, ‘Maybe you should answer it. What if it’s like, Joe Biden, and he wants to use the coffee shop for a campaign event?’”

They both laughed, and then Juan answered the phone.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

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