June 7: Bad Day at the House

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What We’re Hearing. “Rep. Michael Schlossberg and other people on the House floor witnessed Rep. Stephanie Borowicz screaming “say her name” about a Jan. 6 rioter who was killed by U.S. Capitol police, prompting Schlossberg and Rep. Jordan Harris to intervene.”

Happy Birthday. Cake and candles for U.S. Rep. Susan Wild and state Reps. Kristine Howard and Tim Bonner. Early returns for Reps. Paul Friel (Sat.) and Roni Green (Sun.)

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Top Story

1. Some Republicans Booed Or Walked Out As PA House Recognized Jan. 6 Capitol Police Officers

“As the Pennsylvania House of Representatives recognized two police officers Wednesday who defended the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, several House Republicans booed or walked off the floor in protest and at least one state official yelled “traitor” at the men.

Lawmakers routinely bring special guests with them to be recognized, such as a local sports team that won a state championship, a school club, or a civic association. House Speaker Joanna McClinton typically reads the list of visitors, and House members applaud.

That wasn’t the case, when the two U.S. Capitol police officers visited Wednesday.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

Former Officers Who Defended The US Capitol On Jan. 6 Visited The PA House. Some GOP Members Jeered. “The GOP members’ shameful behavior was unbecoming of our institution for any guest, let alone two of the men responsible for defending our democracy during a dark day in our nation’s history,” House Speaker Joanna McClinton said. ”The Republicans’ disrespect, lack of patriotism and even common decency, epitomizes the poor behavior that so many in the MAGA movement have adopted.” (AP)

This Trump VP Candidate Came To Philly and Said Black Families Were Stronger During The Jim Crow Era. Now Rep. Byron Donalds Is In Trouble in D.C.. “In his struggle to fend off the furor he caused after suggesting Black families were stronger under Jim Crow segregation at an event in Philadelphia aimed at helping the GOP reach Black voters, a frustrated U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds told CNN Wednesday: “Let’s agree on something: I am, you know, obviously, one of the better communicators in the Republican Party.” Others — many others, it turns out — appear to disagree.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

How Congress Became the ‘Last Plantation’. “The book paints a pretty damning picture of the Capitol as a workplace. And though its publication last month came with none of the hype that accompanies a blockbuster Washington tome from a commercial publisher, it’s a study that denizens of the Beltway should take seriously — precisely because it couldn’t be written by political scientists, policy wonks or journalists.” (Politico)

After Two Years, Trump Returns To Arizona With A New Partner In Campaigning. “The town hall event also underscores a new campaign tactic: directly using outside organizations to lead canvassing efforts to turn out voters. Trump’s presence in the state, his first this cycle, is seen as an endorsement of Turning Point’s new “Chase the Vote” initiative. ” (NPR)

State

2. Immigration Advocates Deliver Letters To PA Senators In Response To Biden’s Executive Order

“More than a dozen immigrant rights organizations have signed a letter calling on President Biden and both Pennsylvania senators to stop the pursuit of legislation they say restricts asylum eligibility, closes the border and further militarizes immigration enforcement.

Outside Sen. Bob Casey’s Philadelphia office, Jasmine Rivera, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Immigrant and Citizenship Coalition, and others gathered themselves before walking the letter inside.

“We are calling on the senators and on the president to stop their attacks on the immigrant community both through their rhetoric and through policy,” Rivera said. ” (CBS Philadelphia)

Related

Pennsylvania Lawmakers Want To Allow First Responders To File PTSD Claims. “State Rep. Jennifer O’Mara is pushing to amend the state’s workers’ compensation law to allow first responders to file claims for post-traumatic stress injuries they get on the job. ” (CBS Pittsburgh)

‘Law and Order’ Depend On Your Political Outlook: Jan. 6 and Pitt’s Gaza Protests. “As we’ve seen with Jan. 6, your response to such events can be shaped by how you feel about the message. And when the message concerns Israel, the homeland for a faith whose adherents have been demonized and brutalized for centuries, things are especially fraught.” (WESA Politics)

Penn Bans Encampments While Citing ‘Commitment To Open Expression’. “Encampments and overnight demonstrations are not permitted and unauthorized overnight activities will be considered trespassing.” (WHYY)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Winners and Losers From First City Budget In Philly’s Parker-Johnson Era

“Clout loves a late night in City Hall. Things get a little loose when the people’s business requires our elected leaders to burn the midnight oil, as was the case when city budget negotiations went deep into Wednesday night.

At about 1 a.m. Thursday, Council’s Committee of the Whole unanimously approved a $6.37 billion compromise budget negotiated by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Council President Kenyatta Johnson. The budget is scheduled to get a final vote next week at Council’s last meeting before adjourning for the summer.

Here are the winners and losers from the new budget.” (Inquirer Clout)

Related

In Rural Pennsylvania, Crypto Mining Offers A Lifeline For Dying Gas Wells. “The situation adds to the growing concern about a potential surge in bitcoin mining — and its potential to increase air pollution — throughout Pennsylvania. Across the country, crypto mining is blamed for producing millions of tons of carbon dioxide and consuming vast amounts of electricity — more than some entire countries.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Nurse Practitioners Say They Could Ease Rural Health Care Shortage With More Authority, But Doctors Say It Won’t Work. “For the past decade, lawmakers in both parties have tried to give Pennsylvania’s roughly 20,000 nurse practitioners more leeway. Removing the doctor oversight restriction, they hope, could expand access to health care.” (Spotlight PA)

Montgomery County Commissioners Pass Anti-Discrimination Proclamation. “Commission chair, Jamila Winder, introduced an anti-discrimination proclamation which “denounces all forms of bigotry against our residents as well as visitors to the county.”” (CNHI News)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Can America Save Democracy When No One Is Even Reading About It? (Will Bunch)
• Why Do So Many People Hate And What Do We Do With Them? (David Mills)
• The Verdict Against Trump May Have Cost Him The Election. (Jonah Goldberg)
• Pennsylvania Isn’t Competitive – What Can We Do About It? (Reps. Joe D’Orsie and Mike Jones)
• It’s Time to End Period Poverty in Pennsylvania. (Aarushi Dedhiya)
• No Juice in Shapiro’s Energy Plan. (Carl Marrara)
• When Politics Comes Between Friends. (Thom Nichols)
• More Mental Health Treatment Options Are Start To Solving Many Social Problems. (Tribune-Review)
• Pennsylvania Republicans and Democrats Battle Over Mail-In Ballots. (Francis Wilkinson)
• Why a TikTok ban is Good for America. (Jonathan Rothermel)

1 Thing

5. America’s Epic Upset

This might be the only story on cricket you’ll ever see in the Playbook, but it’s worth your time.

One of the biggest upsets in cricket history happened in North Texas Thursday: The less-experienced U.S. team defeated cricket superpower Pakistan. It’s perhaps an American national team’s most stunning upset since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” over the Soviet Union.” (Axios)

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