🤩 I’ve Got Friday On My Mind. Hope you weather the weather this weekend.

PA Weather
☀️ Murrysville | Mostly Sunny, 36
☀️ Chambersburg | Sunny, 37
☀️ Langhorne | Sunny, 37

PA Sports
🏈 Steelers (9-7) | Sat vs. Baltimore
🏈 Eagles (11-5) | Sun vs. NY Giants
🏀 Sixers (23-10) | Fri vs. New York
🏒 Flyers (19-13-6) | Columbus 2-3 (SO) | Sat vs. Calgary
🏒 Penguins (19-14-4) | Boston 6-5 | Sat vs. Buffalo

What’s Happening Today
President Joe Biden will deliver a campaign address at Montgomery County CC at 3:15 p.m.

What We’re Hearing
“When there are major events that happen in this country’s history, the next national election becomes a moment when the people of that country render a judgment about it. We believe that in 2024, [Jan. 6] will be that moment.” – Biden campaign senior adviser

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell.

Start Your 2024 Smart
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. Gonna be a big year.

Top Story

1. Biden, In Valley Forge Speech, To Hit Trump Hard As Threat To Democracy

“President Biden is scheduled to arrive outside Philadelphia on Friday afternoon to deliver his first speech of this election year, attempting to cast the 2024 presidential campaign as a battle for the future of American democracy and portray former president Donald Trump as its chief antagonist.

He plans to speak from a community college in Blue Bell, Pa., about 10 miles from Valley Forge National Historical Park, where George Washington mobilized troops during the Revolutionary War to fight for democracy some 250 years ago.

Top Biden advisers say the speech is intended as “the opening salvo for this campaign,” depicting events that occurred three centuries ago as well as three years ago, and that Biden will blast Trump for rejecting the will of the American electorate in 2020.” (Washington Post)

Related

Biden Will Set 2024’s Soaring Stakes in His Beloved, Divided Pennsylvania. “The president is returning to the battleground state for a speech near Valley Forge aiming to define this year’s election as a fight for democracy.” (New York Times)

Advocates Who Won PA Education Lawsuit Call For A $2 Billion ‘Down Payment’ On Fair Funding. “Advocates who fought for and won a historic court ruling declaring Pennsylvania’s education funding system unconstitutional said Thursday that they’re ready to go back to court if state lawmakers and Gov. Josh Shapiro fail to make a significant down payment on a solution.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Sen. Bob Casey Says Proposed Rule Could Hurt Efforts To Develop Hydrogen Industry In PA. “U.S. Sen. Bob Casey says Pennsylvania could miss out on a burgeoning hydrogen industry if the Biden administration doesn’t adjust its proposed rules for a clean energy tax credit.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

‘Absolutely Eradicate Hamas,’ Senate Candidate David McCormick Says. “After returning from a trip to Israel, the Republican, who is running against Sen. Bob Casey, discussed Israel, Ukraine and the need to confront Iran.” (Jewish News Syndicate)

State

2. Pittsburgh Political Predictions For 2024: The Headaches For Local Leaders Have Only Begun

“The great thing about New Year’s predictions is that hardly anyone ever goes back to see whether they came true. Even if they don’t, there are almost never any consequences when it turns out that you had no idea what you were talking about. It’s the closest most of us will ever get to being on a Sunday-morning political talk show.” (WESA Politics)

Related

Cherelle Parker’s Inauguration Included An Awkward Shout-Out And High-Profile Scuffle; Joe Biden Comes To Town. “Philadelphia had a shared experience Tuesday — difficulty getting into Mayor Cherelle Parker’s inauguration at The Met on North Broad Street, where the line to enter stretched around the block as the curtain was set to go up.” (Philadelphia Inquirer Clout)

• Who’s Who In Mayor Cherelle Parker’s New Administration. (Billy Penn)

PA Treasury Touts Cost Cutting. “With the start of 2024, the Pennsylvania Treasurer wants residents to know how it’s cut costs for taxpayers in 2023.” (The Center Square)

PA Legislators’ Bill Would Ban ‘Sanctuary’ Cities, Counties For Undocumented Immigrants. “State Rep. Ryan Warner, a Fayette County Republican, co-introduced a bill in November that was assigned to the House Judiciary Committee.” (PennLive)

HD-103: Davidson Joins Growing List of Candidates. “Long-time Democratic staffer Nate Davidson has announced that he will launch his campaign for the state House 103rd Legislative District seat on January 14.” (PoliticsPA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. DuBois Paid More Than $307,000 In Legal Fees Related To City Manager Corruption Investigation, Records Show

“DuBois has spent at least $274,00 in taxpayer money to cover the legal bills of former City Manager Herm Suplizio, who is accused of stealing roughly double that amount from the Pennsylvania city, its annual festival, and a local nonprofit over nearly a decade.

The city has also spent more than $32,000 on legal representation for other people associated with DuBois who were interviewed as part of the corruption probe.

City Council approved the payment for Suplizio’s legal defense during its March 27, 2023, public meeting by a 4 to 1 vote and without discussion.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

7 Politics Stories The Philadelphia Region Should Watch For In 2024. “It’s a new year, and though Philadelphia just elected a new mayor, it’s almost time for campaign season once again. Here are seven ongoing things we’re watching in the political world.” (CBS Philadelphia)

As Republicans Applaud, Democrat Zappala Sworn In For 7th Term As Allegheny County District Attorney. “Stephen A. Zappala Jr. was sworn in as Allegheny County district attorney for a seventh time on Thursday in a ceremony attended by Democrats but also by many Republicans — a representation of the coalition of voters the Democrat needed to hang onto his job as the county’s top prosecutor for four more years.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Allegheny County D.A. Zappala Continues Probe Of Pittsburgh’s Contract Procedures. “Though the contentious 2023 election is over, it appears Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey is still in the sights of the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office.” (WESA)

Felony Charges Refiled Against Former State Representative. “Former Lycoming County commissioner Rick Mirabito surrendered to a District Judge on Wednesday to face felony charges of burglary and trespassing plus a misdemeanor charge of theft.” (PoliticsPA)

County Democrats Announce 2024 Candidates Seeking Its Endorsement. “Lancaster County Democrats on Thursday released their list of candidates seeking the group’s endorsement for the 2024 election, and with no more than a single Democrat putting in a bid in any county race, the committee’s support will be uncontested.” (LNP)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Dem Polling Project Shows How Much Republicans Have Yet To Learn. (Broad + Liberty)
• Mayor Parker Has Pledged ‘One Philly.’ Here’s How To Get There. (Linda S. Wallace)
• 10 Recommendations For Philadelphia’s New Mayor. (Gardner A. Cadwalader)
• Before Trump, An Illegitimate Supreme Court Stands In The Way Of Democracy. (Will Bunch)
• Unemployment Is At Record Lows. Why Are People Down On The Economy? (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Anniversary of Attack on U.S. Democracy. (Jim Shultz)
• Don’t Be Fooled: Pennsylvania College Degrees Still Offer Transformative Value To Students. (Thomas P. Foley)

1 Thing

5. ‘Like Butter’

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding unveiled the 2024 PA Farm Show Butter Sculpture, a 1,000-pound diorama in dairy titled, A Table for All: Pennsylvania Dairy Connects Communities. The sculpture was designed and crafted by Jim Victor and Marie Pelton of Conshohocken to reflect the 2024 Farm Show theme, “Connecting Our Communities.”

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