May 17: The Race Starts Now

Finally Friday. Enjoy your weekend.

PA Weather






Upper St. Clair | Showers likely, 72






York Springs | Cloudy, 73






Blue Bell | Mostly Cloudy, 73

PA Sports






Phillies (31-14) | NY Mets 5-6 (11) | Fri-Sun vs. Washington






Pirates (20-25) | Chicago Cubs 5-4 | Fri-Sun vs. Chicago Cubs






Union (3-5-4) | Sat vs. New England

Daily Bruce. “I can’t talk now, I’m not alone. So put your ear close to the phone. ‘Cause this is the last dance, This is the last chance for hearts of stone.” – Hearts of Stone

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. It’s Not The Courtroom, It’s The Debate Stage: Biden And Trump’s Race Really Starts Now

“After months of relatively cautious campaigning, Joe Biden and Donald Trump are done playing it safe.

The debates that the two major-party candidates agreed to this week reflect an effort by both contenders to take control of the 2024 campaign, after weeks of intense focus on Trump’s trials, protest votes and, increasingly, the threat that they both could lose votes to a third-party candidate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.” (POLITICO)

Related

Can RFK Jr. Qualify For The Ballot In Pennsylvania? “Will you see the name of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on your general election ballot in PA? That has yet to be determined.” (PoliticsPA)

Justice Department Officially Proposes Marijuana Reclassification. “Once moved to Schedule III, marijuana would be on the same regulatory level as drugs such as ketamine and anabolic steroids. Rescheduling, however, does not legalize or decriminalize the drug.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

PA Doctors For Biden: Trump Will Take The State ‘Backwards’ In Healthcare. “More than 80 Pennsylvania physicians and other healthcare providers have signed a letter warning that former President Donald Trump would take the state “backwards” by targeting the Affordable Care Act and women’s reproductive care.” (PennLive)

Casey Showing Fewer County Visits Than Claimed. “It takes more effort to visit all of those 67 counties yearly. The three-term Democrat who is seeking reelection this year says he does, though his media output doesn’t show it.” (Broad + Liberty)

John Fetterman Was Open About His Depression. Now He Wants To Create A National Mental Health Commission. “The commission would produce reports each year. In its first year, it would study coverage of mental health services under federal health plans; reimbursement rates for mental health care services; and workforce challenges in the mental health field.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

State

2. National Political Themes Will Lead Off The Campaign For Pennsylvania’s Next Attorney General

“National political themes will lead off the campaign for Pennsylvania’s next attorney general, an office that played a major role — and gained national notoriety — in fighting lawsuits designed to keep Donald Trump in power after he lost the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden.

The nominees — Democrat Eugene DePasquale, the former twice-elected state auditor general, and Republican Dave Sunday, the twice-elected district attorney of York County — will carry forward messages they honed in their primary campaigns into their November general election contest.” (AP)

Related

PA Cyber Charters Show ‘Excessive Profiteering,’ Amassing Millions In Assets, New Report Says. “Pennsylvania’s four largest cyber charter schools, which enroll almost 75% of cyber charter students statewide, have been amassing hundreds of millions in assets, while school districts that fund them continue to raise taxes, a new report shows.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Court Dismisses Class Action Lawsuit Seeking Interest On Unclaimed Property From PA Treasury. “A federal judge in Philadelphia has dismissed a class action lawsuit against Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity that claimed the state’s unclaimed property law violates the Constitution because it does not require the treasury to pay interest to owners who reclaim their property.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Local Recovery Center Reacts To A Just-Signed Xylazine Law: ‘This Is Going To Be Very Bad’. “The two shook their heads in disapproval when they heard about the bill. Many experts worry the approach mimics futile patterns seen during the War on Drugs of persecuting the marginalized.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Around The Commonwealth

3. How Seriously Should We Take Polls Showing Biden And Trump Tied Among Young PA Voters?

“We don’t talk much about political polls here. And while I reserve the right to report on them down the road — especially when I want someone else to do my work for me — we probably won’t discuss them much in the future, either.

That’s because I, and many people I hear from, are neurotic enough as it is.” (WESA Politics)

Related

VP Debate at Lafayette College In Doubt As Campaigns Break From Organizers. “New uncertainty surrounds plans for Lafayette College to host the 2024 vice presidential debate as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have cut out the non-partisan organization that has planned presidential debates for decades.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Senate Session Recordings Publicly Inaccessible. “Though dozens of states make their legislative sessions viewable live and on-demand, Pennsylvania stands out. It’s one of only a few states that offer a live-streaming option but doesn’t make the recordings publicly accessible online.” (The Center Square)

Latinos Found Jobs And Cheap Housing In A Pennsylvania City But Political Power Has Proven Elusive. “Latinos seeking jobs and affordable housing have transformed Hazleton, Pennsylvania, in recent decades, but a federal lawsuit argues the way representatives are elected to their local school board is unfairly shutting them out of power.” (AP)

Can Kenyatta Johnson Be … Richard Nixon? “The twice-indicted and ultimately acquitted Council president has the unique opportunity to reform the scourge of councilmanic prerogative … and finally make us One City.” (Philadelphia Citizen)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• What Sen. Bob Casey Is Getting All Wrong About Antisemitism. (Will Bunch)
• The Right’s Careless, Reckless, Sneaky Propaganda. (David Mills)
• U.S. Rep. Scott Perry Twists History Beyond Recognition. (John Sigle)

1 Thing

5. Two of Pennsylvania’s Premier RV Campground Sites Make USA Today’s ’10Best’ List

“RV camping season is upon us, and two popular locations in Pennsylvania are ranked among USA Today’s “10Best RV campgrounds.”

Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park’s Camp and Resort, located in Mill Run, Fayette County, ranked fourth, while Lake Raystown Resort, located in Entriken, Huntingdon County, ranked right behind.” (Bucks County Courier Times)

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