PoliticsPA Playbook: Planes, Trains and Automobiles

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⚾ Pirates (16-19) | Colorado 5-3 | Mon-Wed vs. LA Angels
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📱 What We’re Listening To. The latest Voices of Reason podcast has dropped. Our topic is Election Integrity and our guests include Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt, along with Jeff Greenburg, Jerry Feaser, Annie Mendoza and Guy Ciarrocchi.

📅  What’s Happening Today. The House convenes at noon, while the Senate begins business at 1 p.m.

🎂  Happy Birthday. Belated cake and candles for Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik (Sun.)

🎸  Daily Bruce. “Sparks light on E Street when the boy prophets walk it handsome and hot” – The E Street Shuffle

🗞️  PA Political News Delivered Right to Your Inbox. Did you know that the PoliticsPA Playbook reaches over 7,200 subscribers? Add your name to the list and we’ll deliver all today’s PA political headlines in an easy-to-read email format by 8 AM. And it’s free. Subscribe now.

Top Story

1. The GOP Wants to Punish Colleges. It’s Unclear How Much It Can

“In response to pro-Palestine protests, Republicans have threatened everything from taking federal funding away from universities, deporting students who have been involved and arresting those who refuse to comply.

But other than holding hearings where public officials and university representatives are blasted with questions, it’s unclear if Congress can accomplish these goals. Some of their ideas could run into serious legal challenges, and others could die in a Democratic-controlled Senate.

That’s not to say free speech experts aren’t worried — and they’re already discussing what to do should these lawmakers succeed in passing new legislation or finding creative ways to punish certain campuses.” (NOTUS)

Related

McCormick Speaks Out on Pro-Palestinian Protesters Occupying Universities. “As a pro-Palestinian encampment and protest at the University of Pennsylvania continues, Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick is calling on the university to put an end to the illegal demonstration.” (DV Journal)

Gen Z Is Turning Out In 2024 – And The Split Is Not What You’d Think – VoR Podcast Ep. 4. “Pennsylvania’s recent primary election data reveals a significant trend: approximately 8-9% of the votes cast were from new primary voters.” (Broad + Liberty)

Some Cities Allow Noncitizens To Vote In Local Elections. Their Turnout Is Quite Low. “Three cities in Vermont now allow non-U.S. citizen residents to vote in local elections. Winooski is one of those municipalities. It just held its third local election with noncitizen voting. Municipalities that allow noncitizen voting in local elections have seen similar low voter registration rates and turnout. Local leaders are trying to parse out why.” (WHYY)

State

2. Gov. Josh Shapiro Uses PA’s State Plane Much More Than Predecessor

“In his first year in office, Shapiro surpassed Gov. Tom Wolf’s busiest air travel year, racking up $270,000 in fuel, maintenance, and personnel expenses during almost 150 hours of flight time in 2023. Wolf used the aircraft most in 2018, the last year of his first term, in which he spent a little more than 77 hours in the air, costing $136,000. Former GOP Gov. Tom Corbett’s busiest flight year was 2014, in which he spent almost 84 hours in the plane, costing taxpayers $103,000.

The reasons for the trips aren’t always clear despite a state law requiring agencies to report their “public purpose.” But piecing together Shapiro’s incomplete public schedule, public media reports, and flight logs shows that he has used the plane to travel to a mix of public announcements, private meetings with officials across the country, and even a Phillies playoff game.

Some government watchdogs say the resulting travel expenses are way too high.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Proposed State Legislation Over Guns At Airports On Hold As Talks With Law Enforcement Continues. “Legislation drafted to reduce the number of guns confiscated by the Transportation Security Administration at Pittsburgh International Airport has been sent back to the drawing board.” (Tribune-Review)

Pennsylvania Game Commission Headed Toward A Reckoning. “The Pennsylvania Game Commission looks ahead with a new executive director, but recent turmoil has legislators even more skeptical of the agency’s competence. The commission has its sights set on tightening up policies and working more with the legislature, but critics want deeper changes.” (The Center Square)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Some Philly Democrats Worry The City Party Isn’t Prepared For November — And That Could Cost Joe Biden

“More than 500,000 Democrats in Pennsylvania’s bluest city didn’t vote in last month’s primary.

Turnout in Philadelphia, a perennial problem for Democrats, is sure to be higher in November. But the number of city voters who head to the polls could make or break President Joe Biden’s reelection chances.

With six months to go until a high-stakes presidential election, the turnout challenge for Democrats is compounded by waning enthusiasm for Biden, including some in the party protesting him, generational and ideological divides in the city party, and lingering tensions over how the local party is run.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

HD-117: Cabell, Walsh Race Comes Down to Provisional Challenges. “File this one under the category, “Every Vote Matters.”” (PoliticsPA)

Outcome of Luzerne County State House Race Remains Unclear After Election Board Meeting. “The Republican nominee for the state 117th House District seat will remain unknown until at least Tuesday and maybe longer.” (WVIA)

• Walsh Asks Court To Reject 6 Ballots With Incomplete Date In 117th District Race; Hearing Set For Monday. (Hazleton Standard-Speaker)

Montco Says It Cleared a $100 Million Tax Backlog. No One Will Say How Long The County Was Behind. “Questions remain about how one of the wealthiest and most populous counties in the state developed such a large backlog — accounting for roughly six months of work, based on past audits of the inheritance checks the county processes per year.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Defense Officials Abandon Plan For Flyover Zone in PA Wilds. “The Bureau rescinded their proposal to create a low-flying training zone Duke Military Operating Area (MOA) in parts of Elk, Cameron, Clinton, McKean, Potter, and Tioga counties.” (CNHI News)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Give 911 Operators The Title, And The Benefits, They Deserve. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• The Pro-Life Movement Now Embarrasses The Republican Party. (Michelle Goldberg)
• Why MAGA Seeks To Control Local GOP Committees. (Ann S. Womble)
• America Needs A Functioning Congress. (Mark Singel)
• Bipartisan Legislation Is A Good First Step In Rolling Back Government Drug Price Controls. (Robert Campbell)
• Opportunities For Education Reform Are ‘Limitless.’ (Wayne Brookhart)
• ​​The Smear Campaign Against ‘Christian Nationalists.’ (Ralph Reed)
• Who Stole the Media’s Swagger? (POLITICO)

1 Thing

5. Mister Softee Goes High Tech

“Childhood summer memories are sweet, among them chasing after a Mister Softee ice cream truck rolling down your street. But you don’t have to chase anymore. There’s an app for it.

The New Jersey-based ice cream seller has outfitted its fleet with tracking software, easily accessible by downloading the Mister Softee tracking app, said a representative at Mister Softee world headquarters in Runnemede in South Jersey. The app is available in the Apple app store and on Google Play.

The Mister Softee jingle is a soundtrack of summer in Bucks County. While you may recognize the tune, the lyrics are largely unknown. They were written in 1960 as a radio jingle by the late Lester Waas, according to the company’s co-owner, James Conway.

“The creamiest, dreamiest soft ice cream/You get from Mister Softee/For a refreshing delight supreme/Look for Mister Softee …”” (Bucks County Courier Times)

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