June 4: Donation Drop

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What We’re Hearing. Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein’s campaign announced she’s nearly reached Pennsylvania’s criteria to make the 2024 election ballot, drawing the long-shot presidential candidate closer to taking votes away from her challengers.

What’s Happening Today. Both the House and Senate are in session.

Happy Birthday. Cake and candles for Reps. Kate Klunk and Greg Vitali.

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Top Story

1. How a Drop in Small-Dollar Donations Is Shaking Up Both Parties

“In a stark reversal from recent political history, both parties have seen a significant decline this election cycle in the small-dollar contributions they harvest via text and email, largely from rank-and-file voters of modest means. Gone are the days when any candidate could expect to rake in small donations, according to Republican and Democratic digital strategists. Instead, only the smartest campaigns — and the perennial guests on Fox News — see the type of cash influx that was routine five years ago.

“We have squeezed every last penny in a period of time when the pennies are harder to come by,” said John Hall, a GOP digital strategist.” (NOTUS)

Related

Former U.S. Capitol Officers Injured In Jan. 6 Attack To Stump For Biden In Pittsburgh. “Police officers who were injured in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol will travel to Pittsburgh and other cities in Pennsylvania this week to criticize former President Donald Trump’s alleged role in the attack.” (Tribune-Review)

The Proud Boys Are Back: How The Far-Right Group Is Rebuilding To Rally Behind Trump. “The Proud Boys say recruitment is growing and they’re ready to serve again as Donald Trump’s unofficial protection force.” (Reuters)

Your Thoughts on the Trump Verdict. “If you are a Trump supporter, does the NYC verdict make you more likely to vote for the 45th President of the United States in 2024? Or does it make you less likely to back him in November? Either way, we’d like to know. Vote in our unscientific online poll through Thursday morning. And feel free to add your comments below about the verdict and its impact.” (PoliticsPA)

State

2. The Countdown to a New State Budget Has Begun

“It’s budget season in Pennsylvania and that means that jockeying between Democrats and Republicans is in full force when it comes to the Commonwealth’s 2024-25 financing bill.

And with 11 planned session days scheduled between today and the end of the month, expect to hear phrases such as “investing in Pennsylvania” and “fiscally responsible budget” a lot during the upcoming weeks.” (PoliticsPA)

• Budget Season Arrives In Pennsylvania Capitol As Lawmakers Prepare For Debate Over Massive Surplus. (AP)

Related

Payments to PA Residents Harmed By Train Derailment Catastrophe Would Be Tax-Exempt Under Proposed State Law. “Compensatory payments made to Pennsylvania residents harmed by the 2023 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals would be exempt from state tax under a proposal that advanced in the Senate on Monday.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Primary Election Results Certified by DOS; 117th GOP Race Hangs in Balance. “After all 67 counties certified their results to the Department of State, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt certified the results of Pennsylvania’s 2024 primary election Friday.” (PoliticsPA)

LGBTQ+ Advocacy Group Forms To Fight Discrimination. “The group, Fairness Pennsylvania, seeks to ensure that “LGBTQ+ people can be open, honest and safe at home, at work, and in the community,” according to its website.” (PennLive)

Hearing Turns Into Target Practice As Lawmakers Grill PA Game Commission Officials. “Growing concerns over a lack of transparency and accountability from the Pennsylvania Game Commission as it sits with more than $500 million in its coffers has state lawmakers demanding change.” (PennLive)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Proposed Scholarships Would Make Going To College Cheaper In PA, But There’s A Catch

“Pennsylvania lawmakers are entering into budget season with the joint goal of making it more affordable to attend college in the commonwealth. As with most issues in the Capitol, Democrats and Republicans have different ideas about how to do it.

The GOP majority in the state Senate is pitching new scholarships that target “in-demand” occupations and offer money in exchange for post-grads living in Pennsylvania.

Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro has set his sights on Pennsylvania’s 10 state-run and 15 community colleges, pitching a major overhaul that would combine the two systems, boost funding, and eventually cap tuition at $1,000 per semester for many families.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Pennsylvanians Want To Make It Easier To Build Housing, But The Politics Are Complicated, New Polls Show. “The poll showed a strong majority of the respondents in favor of building more homes quickly over preserving local government control over development.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Allentown City Council Plans To Hire Former FBI Investigator in Pawlowski Case To Investigate Alleged City Hall Discrimination. “Allentown City Council could vote Wednesday to hire former FBI agent Scott Curtis, who led the investigation into former Mayor Ed Pawlowski’s pay-to-play schemes, to conduct an investigation into alleged city hall workplace discrimination.” (Allentown Morning Call)

Reading City Council Mulls Idea Of Government Study Commission. “Reading City Council held a discussion during its Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday on the possibility of forming a study commission to review the current form of government under the home rule charter.” (CNHI News)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Does Penn State Worship Too Much At Its Football Altar? (Tribune-Review)
• Donald Trump Isn’t Alone When It Comes To Crying ‘Rigged’ Over An Outcome He Doesn’t Like. (Jonathan Zimmerman)
• Reassessment Isn’t Just For Pittsburgh. The Suburbs Are Drowning, Too. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Convict Trump’s Obsession with Hillary Clinton. (Adriana E. Ramírez)
• Using Math to Analyze the Supreme Court Reveals an Intriguing Pattern. (Sarah Isgur and Dean Jens)
• Summer Sizzle: State Budget Process Heats Up. (Lowman Henry)
• Regardless of the Trump Verdict, Biden is in Trouble. (Keith Naughton)
• Politicians Have Failed Students and Taxpayers. (Guy Ciarrocchi)
• Do The Right Thing. (Greg Maresca)

1 Thing

5. Stealing The Show

For once, members of Congress weren’t the ones acting out on the House floor.

Guy Rose — 6-year-old son of Rep. John Rose (R-Tenn.) — spotted a C-SPAN camera and stole the show as his father spoke yesterday.

Watch the video.

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