May 14: Spending v. Saving

Hello, Tuesday. Which one gives you more pause? Mark Zuckerberg turning 40 or George Lucas turning 80 today?

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What We’re Hearing. “We’re going to hold firm in making sure that we don’t put the commonwealth into any kind of fiscal tailspin.” – Sen. Scott Martin

Happy Birthday. Cake and candles for Reps. Parke Wentling and Robert Merski.

Daily Bruce. “Lost track of how far I’ve gone, How far I’ve gone, how high I’ve climbed. On my back’s a sixty pound stone, On my shoulder a half mile line.” – The Rising

Pennsylvania. The Ultimate Swing State. Where can you find all the latest news on what’s happening in Keystone State politics? Sign up for the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’ll deliver all the latest headlines in an easy-to-read format every weekday at 8 AM. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and subscribe now.

Top Story

1. ‘Anything’s Possible’: Martin Unsure State Lawmakers Will Pass A Timely Budget

“State Senate Appropriations Chair Scott Martin on Monday echoed his past reservations about Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal for next year and made no promise that lawmakers would bring the budget in on time.

Martin, the Martic Township Republican who holds significant sway over the state’s budget bills, said at the monthly Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon that he and his caucus take issue with Shapiro’s pitch to use $3 billion of the state’s fiscal reserves to fund aspects of his $48.3 billion proposal, which would reduce reserves from $14 billion to $11 billion.

That spending path, Martin has said, could drain the state’s stockpile in just a few years.” (LNP)

Related

NYT/Inquirer/Siena Poll Shows Chinks in Biden Armor. “Another day, another poll. But another survey that provides reasons for worry for President Joe Biden’s campaign.” (PoliticsPA)

A New Democratic Ad Campaign Targets One Of Trump’s Most Loyal Blocs: Rural Voters, Including In PA. “The ads, from American Bridge 21st Century, began airing Monday in the northern battleground states of Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. They are aimed at swing voters in smaller media markets that are less saturated with political advertising and where they hope to reach people, especially women, who may be on the fence.” (AP)

RFK Jr. Is Defying The Odds — Against Getting On Ballots Around The Country. “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. campaign is beating ballot access expectations. The campaign turned in more than twice the signatures needed to qualify for the ballot in Texas, which requires more than 100,000 signatures from registered voters. Kennedy and his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, are now on the ballot in four states.” (POLITICO)

Nursing Home Concerns Bigger Than Casey, McCormick Squabble. “A squabble between Sen. Bob Casey and his Republican challenger Dave McCormick over nursing homes reveals wider problems in the commonwealth’s health care system.  While the focus is on staffing mandates, Pennsylvania health care across the board has worker shortages, funding issues and accessibility problems with which to deal.” (The Center Square)

State

2. Shapiro Orders State Employees To Avoid ‘Scandalous’ Conduct Amid Gaza Protests, Raising Free Speech Concerns

“Amid protests over the war in Gaza, Gov. Josh Shapiro has quietly revised his administration’s code of conduct to bar state employees from engaging in “scandalous or disgraceful” behavior — actions that could lead to discipline or termination, Spotlight PA has learned.

The vaguely worded update, which went into effect last week without the public fanfare of some executive orders, is raising alarm among First Amendment advocates concerned that it could be used to unconstitutionally curtail free speech.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Shapiro Signs Order to Enhance, Expand Opportunities For Pennsylvanians Seeking Career in Public Service. “Gov. Josh Shapiro signed his first Executive Order of 2024, establishing the Hire, Improve, Recruit, Empower (HIRE) Committee to expand opportunity for Pennsylvanians seeking a career in public service.” (PoliticsPA)

DePasquale Promises To Use Attorney General’s Office To Protect Abortion Access. “Former Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale told The Keystone in a recent interview that he wants to protect abortion access for all women, and that includes those traveling to the commonwealth.” (The Keystone)

GOP Lawmakers Make Renewed Pitch For School Vouchers in PA. “School vouchers are heading back to the budget negotiation table in the Pennsylvania Capitol again with seemingly little change in the entrenched positions on this contentious issue.” (PennLive)

Taxing And Regulating Skill Games A Definite Maybe In PA’s 2024-25 Budget. “Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, has included revenue in his $48.3 billion state budget for 2024-25 from the games that are unlike games of chance in that skill levels can increase the more they are played. Republican lawmakers also are calling for taxing and regulating this form of gaming.” (PennLive)

Around The Commonwealth

3. GOP Registrations Continue to Rise in Commonwealth

“If you are trying to read the “tea leaves” for clues to how the 2024 presidential election will turn out in the Commonwealth, you could do worse than looking at the voter registration rolls.

PoliticsPA looked at the latest voter registration data from the Department of State and based on the numbers alone, Republicans continue to cut into Democrats’ numerical lead and the inroads reinforce Pennsylvania’s new state slogan – the “Swingiest of the Swing States.”” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Luzerne County Files Legal Response In Cabell Write-In Appeal. “Representing the county election board, Assistant Solicitor Gene Molino filed the document detailing the position that Republican write-in votes should not be tallied for incumbent Michael Cabell because his name appeared on that party’s ballot.” (Times Leader)

PA Counties Finish Second Audit Of Primary Results Before State Certification. “Pennsylvania’s primary results are still unofficial. To be approved, counties go through several processes to make sure everything worked well. A big step is auditing votes to make sure they were counted correctly on primary night. Counties finished the process Friday, the last major hurdle before Monday’s certification deadline.” (WESA)

County Elections Manager: Primary Was ‘Calm Before The Storm’ Of November General Election. “Allegheny County Elections Manager David Voye told the county’s Board of Elections — consisting of county Executive Sara Innamorato, and at-large County Council members Sam DeMarco and Bethany Hallam — that turnout for the primary was finalized at 27% or 28%.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Pittsburgh May Have Violated City And State Ethics Code By Paying Former Employee Via PayPal. “Mario Ashkar, accused in connection with a string of antisemitic incidents on the North Side, has been receiving payments since June 2023, internal messages show.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Less Interest In Politics, More Interest In Lifestyle. (David Shribman)
• Public Employee Unions Took Over Michigan. Now They’re Eyeing PA. (Andrew Holman)
• Cyril Wecht Changed Forensics And True Crime. (Tribune-Review)

1 Thing

5. Liam, Olivia Remain Most Popular

“Liam and Olivia have for a fifth year together topped the list of baby names for brand new boys and girls born in the U.S. in 2023. And Mateo joins the top 10 baby names list for the first time.

Liam has reigned supreme seven years in a row while Olivia has topped the girls’ list for five, after unseating Emma, previously No. 1 for five years.

After Liam, the most common names for boys are, in order: Noah, Oliver, James, Elijah, Mateo, Theodore, Henry, Lucas, and William. And after Olivia, the most common names for girls are Emma, Charlotte, Amelia, Sophia, Mia, Isabella, Ava, Evelyn and Luna.” (AP)

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