April 11: Court is Back

Thursday, Thursday. Thanks for reading the PoliticsPA Playbook.

PA Weather


Meyersdale | Showers, 64


Snow Shoe | Showers, 63


Doylestown | Cloudy, 71

PA Sports


Sixers (45-35) | Fri vs. Orlando


Flyers (36-32-11) | Thu vs. NY Rangers


Penguins (36-30-12) | Thu vs. Detroit


Pirates (9-3) | Thu vs. Philadelphia


Phillies (6-6) | St. Louis 4-3 | Thu vs. Pittsburgh

What We’re Hearing. Gov. Josh Shapiro and his wife, Lori, attended a state dinner with the Japanese Prime Minister Fumio-Kishida and his wife at the White House on Wednesday. It is the first time a PA governor has attended a state dinner at the White House since 2016.

Happy Birthday. Cake and candles for Rep. Dan Frankel.

Politics – PA Style. 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. After Defeat In Undated-Ballots Case, Voting Rights Plaintiffs Seek New Ruling In Federal Appeals Court

“After a court defeat last month, Pennsylvania voting rights organizations are trying to convince a larger group of federal appellate judges that the state shouldn’t be allowed to reject mail ballots that lack a proper date on their return envelopes.

The plaintiffs, led by the NAACP, are appealing a March 27 ruling from a three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and are seeking an opinion from the full court. A favorable outcome for the NAACP could prevent thousands of mail ballots from going uncounted this November, but it would not happen in time for the April 23 primary, the plaintiffs’ lawyers said.” (Votebeat)

Related

In Erie Case, NAACP, Others Seek Review Of Federal Appellate Ruling On PA Mail-In Ballots. “Civil rights groups want the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to revisit a decision that bans counting of undated or misdated mail-in ballots in Pa. 3rd Circuit reversed ruling out of Erie federal court.” (Erie Times-News)

Congressional Primary Preview: PA-12. “One of the more contentious primary races in the Commonwealth has been in the 12th District as incumbent Rep. Summer Lee tries to hold off a challenge from Bhavini Patel.” (PoliticsPA)

As a Contested Pittsburgh Primary Nears, Climate Advocates Rally Around a Progressive Fracking Opponent, Rep. Summer Lee. “In the historic heart of Pennsylvania’s fossil fuel industry, Lee finds herself in a hotly contested primary against a moderate Democrat who is backed by a GOP-funded PAC.” (Inside Climate News)

2 Democrats Compete to Take on Republican Congressman Guy Reschenthaler. “While the race in one congressional district is getting lots of attention, there’s another contested primary in the Pittsburgh region. Democrats in the 14th District are picking a candidate to take on an incumbent Republican congressman.” (KDKA)

State

2. PA Republican Lawmakers Shun Shapiro’s Proposed Higher Education Consolidation And Pitch Their Own Plan

“Top Republican lawmakers on Wednesday said Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed consolidation of state-owned universities and community colleges isn’t going anywhere in the Legislature, and they pitched their own proposals to give financial help to students studying in high-demand fields such as nursing and law enforcement in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Shapiro unveiled a proposal in late January to put State System of Higher Education universities and community colleges — both dealing with enrollment declines — under a single, new organization. Because the concept would require new laws and Republicans control the state Senate, their willingness to negotiate was needed.

On Wednesday, they publicly shunned the concept.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Related

Race To Watch: Contested Primary Race For PA Treasurer. “Republican incumbent Stacy Garrity does not have a primary challenger. Democratic candidates Ryan Bizzarro and Erin McClelland are facing off to be the sole nominee.” (WHYY)

PA Election 2024: A Guide To Vetting Primary Legislative Candidates. “This year, all Pennsylvania House representatives and half of state senators will be on the ballot.” (Spotlight PA)

Consumers Would Be Notified Of AI-Generated Content Under Pennsylvania Bill. “Pennsylvania consumers would be notified when content has been generated by artificial intelligence, and defendants couldn’t argue that child sexual abuse material created by artificial intelligence isn’t illegal, under a bill the House passed Wednesday.” (AP)

Around The Commonwealth

3. PA’s School Funding Is Unconstitutional. A Professor Explains Why System Is Still Difficult To Change

“As depicted by the creative solutions and struggles of the staff of the TV show Abbott Elementary each week, the entire country is now aware that Philadelphia’s public schools are underfunded.

But many don’t know that even after factoring in poverty and local incomes, Philadelphia and other predominantly Black and brown districts in Pennsylvania receive less funding than predominantly white districts.

Roseann Liu, a visiting professor in Asian American Studies and Education Studies at Swarthmore College, said that if the entire state education funding budget was distributed equitably, the School District of Philadelphia would receive roughly $400 million more each year.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

Sara Innamorato’s First 100 Days Earn Praise, But Property Reassessment Crisis Looms Large. “She has taken a focus on economic development, but Allegheny County’s property valuation crisis isn’t going away.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

How Kensington, Growing Pains, And Unexpected Crises Defined Mayor Parker’s First 100 Days. “These are the moments that defined Parker’s first 100 days in office, and what they mean for the administration of Philadelphia’s first female mayor moving forward.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

PA’s $10M Student Teacher Stipend Program Launches On Thursday. “Anyone planning to do their student teaching in 2024-25 better set their alarms on Thursday to be ready around 9 a.m. when applications for stipends through Pennsylvania’s new $10 million Student Teacher Support Program become available.” (PennLive)

League of Women Voters Lehigh Valley Voters Guide: April 2024 Primary. “Here is a PDF version of a voters guide for Lehigh and Northampton counties, prepared in conjunction with the League of Women Voters, that appeared in the April 11 print edition of The Morning Call.” (Allentown Morning Call)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Endorsement: Eugene DePasquale in the Democratic Primary For Attorney General. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Road to Ruin: City Finances Need An Overhaul, Not A Task Force. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• PA Voters’ Thoughts About Biden Vs. Trump Matter More Than National Polls. (John Baer)
• Leftist Surge In Democratic Party Will Benefit Rep. Summer Lee. (Salena Zito)
• Gov. Shapiro’s Labor Agreements Will Harm Workers And Taxpayers. (Stephen Bloom)
• Abortion Is On The Ballot. But So Is Loyalty To Trump. (Mary C. Curtis)
• The April 23rd Republican Primary Election is More Than a Warmup. (Dwight Weidman)

1 Thing

5. Google Who? Gen Z Chooses Other Search Options

Gen Z is turning toward social media as a search engine, seeking quick, relatable answers amid dissatisfaction with Google’s results.

Driving the news: 46% of those ages 18-24 start their information quests by searching on Google, per data shared exclusively with Axios from YPulse, a youth research firm.

That’s compared with 58% of those ages 25-39. 21% of 18- to 24-year-olds start with TikTok, while 5% start on YouTube. (Axios)

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