May 7: More Than Money

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Top Story

1. Money Isn’t Enough To Smooth Path For Republican Candidates Hoping To Retake The Senate

“Frustrated by the seemingly endless cash flowing to Democrats, Republicans aiming to retake the Senate have rallied around candidates with plenty of their own money.

The goal is to neutralize Democrats’ roughly 2-to-1 financial advantage, among the few bright spots for a party defending twice as many Senate seats as Republicans this year. But it also risks elevating untested candidates who might not be prepared for the scrutiny often associated with fiercely contested Senate campaigns.” (AP)

Related

Dickinson College Pulls Smerconish Commencement Address Invitation Over Comments. “Two weeks prior to its Commencement, Dickinson College has rescinded its invitation to national radio and television host Michael Smerconish to speak at the ceremony.” (PoliticsPA)

• Michael Smerconish Responds To Dickinson College Removing Him As Commencement Speaker. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Michael Smerconish Fires Back After Dickinson College Cancels His Commencement Speech. (PennLive)

White House Announces New Steps To Counter Antisemitism, Including On College Campuses. “The additional steps include new guidance from the Education Department’s Office of Civil Rights to every school district and college in the country, providing examples of antisemitic discrimination and other forms of hate that could prompt investigations over violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” (The Hill)

Koch-Backed PAC Spends Half-Million Dollars On Mackenzie’s Successful GOP Primary Campaign For Congress. “Ryan Mackenzie’s successful campaign to capture the 7th Congressional District’s Republican nomination received a boost that his opponents did not have – nearly a half-million dollars in outside spending from an influential conservative political action committee connected to billionaire David Koch and his company Koch Industries.” (Armchair Lehigh Valley)

State

2. Where Pennsylvania Has Lost Democrats Since 2008, And What It Means For The November Election

“For the first time in at least 16 years, the Democratic and Republican parties in Pennsylvania are within half a million registered voters of one another.

Since 2008, Democrats’ registration edge over Republicans has steadily shrunk — from a 12% advantage in April 2008 to about a 4% advantage in April 2024, according to a Spotlight PA analysis of Department of State data.

The number of people registered as independents or under a third party has also grown, from 11% of total registered voters in 2008 to 15% this year.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Senate Proposes ‘Historic’ Tax Cuts to Counter Democrat Spending Plans. “Investing three billion dollars means different things to different people. To Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman, it means giving it back to Pennsylvania citizens versus new spending by Democrats.” (PoliticsPA)

Overhaul of PA’s Equal Pay Law Clears House. “An overhaul of Pennsylvania’s Equal Pay Law — amending the statute to include race and ethnicity, protections for pay history, stiffer penalties, and more — passed the state House Monday on a party-line vote.” (PennLive)

PA House Committee Moves Health Insurance Cost-Cutting Bill As Part Of Budget Negotiations. “House Democrats on Monday moved forward with a bill that would facilitate a key part of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget plan — and potentially lower healthcare costs for hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians.” (PennLive)

Bills Mandating Medicaid Cover Doula Services, Blood Pressure Monitors Clear PA House. “Doula services and blood pressure monitors would each be covered under Medicaid as part of a targeted legislative effort to improve maternal health outcomes in Pennsylvania, particularly for Black mothers.” (CNHI News)

Xylazine Criminalization Headed To Governor’s Desk. “Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer expanding into the illicit drug market, will soon face more restrictions as Pennsylvania tries to combat overdoses and the social ills of drug abuse.” (The Center Square)

PA Senate Passes Bill To Let Energy Companies Bypass State Agencies For Building Permits. “It’s the latest attempt by Republican state lawmakers to speed up permitting by allowing outside parties to review applications, rather than state agencies, such as the Department of Environmental Protection.” (WESA)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Luzerne County Court Judges Will Decide On Six Mail-In Ballots That Could Alter State House Race Outcome

“A panel of Luzerne County court judges will decide soon whether six challenged mail-ballots in state 117th House District will count.

Meanwhile, the final fate of 14 uncounted provisional ballots also remained undetermined Monday. The county Board of Elections and Registration ruled 13 valid Friday, but a court appeal could change that.” (WVIA)

Related

Candidate Jamie Walsh In Court Seeking To Throw Out Six Mail Ballots Over Date Issue. “Republican state representative candidate Jamie Walsh appeared in the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Monday asking judges to throw out six mail ballots in his race because the voters did not fill in the final two digits of the year on the outer envelope.” (Times Leader)

York County Elections Director Resigns, Marking The Third Office Holder To Depart Since 2020. “York County needs an elections director — for the third time since 2020 and with six months to go before the presidential election.” (York Dispatch)

Despite Litigation, PA Counties Use Different Standards To Reject Mail-In Ballots. “Senior Assistant Montgomery County solicitor John Marlett said some 474 Montgomery County primary voters returned ballots with the wrong date.” (DV Journal)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Whether It’s Capitol Rioters Or Campus Occupiers, The Rule Of Law Must Prevail. (Kyle Sammin)
• Don’t Trust Politicians And Media When They Glorify Workers. (Greg Walker)
• How Pittsburgh Could Become A Cool City. (Keith C. Burris)
• The 2024 Electorate Is More Interesting Than Either Candidate. (George Will)
• Inflation Ravaging Pennsylvania Businesses. (Lowman Henry)
• Campus Protests Shine The Light On Failed Policies, Our Failed Education System, And Antisemitism. (Guy Ciarrocchi)
• What The Chester County Post-Covid Analysis Doesn’t Say. (Beth Ann Rosica)
• Why Do USGA and Oakmont Country Club Need State Money For U.S. Open? (Tribune-Review)

1 Thing

5. Living The Cheesy Life

“After eating his 1,000th cheesesteak, Jim Pappas found himself at a crossroads. There had been milestones and media attention along what he called his Cheesesteak Adventure — a self-assigned mission to consume and rate 1,000 cheesesteaks across the region — with coverage of his 275th, 500th, 999th, and final conquests. At one point, there was even a proposal for a TV show.

It all lined up with what Pappas believed he had been working towards: a late-life career change.” (Billy Penn)

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