Scranton Joe

Hi, It’s Tuesday. The deadline to request a mail ballot is today at 5 p.m.

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What’s Happening Today. President Joe Biden will make remarks at the Scranton Cultural Center at 2 p.m. The PA House is in session.

Today’s Springsteen Lyrics. “And the girls in their summer clothes, In the cool of the evening light, The girls in their summer clothes, pass me by.”

Happy Birthday. Cake and candles for Rep. Mindy Fee.

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Top Story

1. Biden To Make Economic Address In Scranton

“President Joe Biden will make his eighth trip to Pennsylvania on Tuesday, visiting Scranton where he will make a major economic address.

Biden is expected to talk about his agenda for the middle class, while painting Republican rival Donald Trump‘s plan as one that favors the wealthy and powerful.

The campaign will focus on communicating its message on taxes and the economy directly to voters in Pennsylvania and other battleground states over the coming months. Biden will make stops in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia over the next two days after visiting Lackawanna County.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

McCormick Secures Trump Endorsement For U.S. Senate. “If at first you don’t succeed … Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick picked up the endorsement of Donald Trump during the former President’s campaign stop in the Lehigh Valley.” (PoliticsPA)

• A Conversation With Dave McCormick. (PMA Perspective)

Casey Has Big Cash Advantage Over McCormick, Latest Campaign Finance Filings Show. “Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey has nearly double the available cash of Republican challenger Dave McCormick, who has put nearly $2 million of his own money into this year’s campaign.” (PennLive)

• Senate Democrats Plot $79M Advertising Onslaught To Hold On In November. (POLITICO)

January 6 Rioters Want The Supreme Court To Let Them Off The Hook From Obstruction Charge. “The Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday from a former Pennsylvania police officer who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a case that could undermine federal charges against more than 350 rioters.” (CNN)

New Group Linked To California Dems Hits Fitzpatrick — From The Right. “A newly established outside group with ties to California Democrats is hitting Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) as not conservative enough, seeking to boost his GOP primary opponent for a Pennsylvania swing seat.” (POLITICO)

This PA GOP Group Is Trying To Convince Republicans To Embrace Mail Voting. Trump Makes That Difficult. “Manning a vote-by-mail booth earlier this month at a gathering of conservatives in Camp Hill, Pa., beleaguered Arnaud Armstrong had a difficult message for his fellow Pennsylvania Republicans. They can embrace mail voting or they can keep losing elections.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

State

2. The Race For PA Attorney General Is All About Larry Krasner

“Much of this year’s race for Pennsylvania attorney general has focused on one man: Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.

Krasner, a progressive DA who was first elected in 2017, has become a boogeyman to Republicans in Harrisburg, who blame him for Philadelphia’s high crime rates. His unapologetic demeanor and focus on criminal justice reform have also pushed away some fellow Democrats.

And candidates from both parties running for attorney general have a lot to say about him.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

PA Primary Preview: Democrats For Attorney General. “Five candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination for Attorney General. The position has been viewed recently as a stepping stone to the Governor’s mansion, as both Josh Shapiro and Tom Corbett served as AG prior to assuming the executive position.” (PoliticsPA)

PA Primary Preview: Republicans For Attorney General. “Two candidates are vying for the Republican nomination for Attorney General. The position has been viewed recently as a stepping stone to the Governor’s mansion, as both Josh Shapiro and Tom Corbett served as AG prior to assuming the executive position.” (PoliticsPA)

Voters in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District Weigh In On Upcoming Election. “Shifting party preferences in Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District could be a bellwether for how voters in swing districts might feel nationwide.” (USA Today)

PA-07: Lehigh Valley Congressional Candidates Spend $1.6M And It’s Not Even The Primary Yet. “Pennsylvania hasn’t hosted its 2024 primary election yet, but the four candidates for the Lehigh Valley’s congressional seat have already spent a fortune in their efforts to win it.” (LehighValleyNews.com)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Democratic-Aligned Voter Registration Website Harvests Personal Data For Partisan, Political Messaging

“If you were to visit the website Vote.pa, you can enter your personal information, and the website will register you to vote with the Pennsylvania Department of State.

But don’t be surprised a few weeks later if the website is also sliding into your text messages urging you to vote for your local Democratic candidate, or maybe begins sending you even more political mailers than you already get each fall.” (Broad + Liberty)

Related

Pennsylvania’s Top Election Official Begins Daily Election Updates Ahead Of Primary. “Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt on Monday held the first of several planned informational live streams that will be held daily leading up to the April 23 primary elections. The goal, Schmidt said, is to ensure transparency.” (Penn Capital-Star)

HD-100: Cutler-Nissley Primary Race Approaching $500,000 In Spending; Cutler Sees Donations Spike. “Primary challengers often struggle to raise money in races against well-established incumbents. But political newcomer Dave Nissley, the Sadsbury Township business owner running against state Rep. Bryan Cutler in next Tuesday’s primary, has raised $129,000 for his campaign and is benefiting from significant independent spending by multiple conservative organizations based outside Lancaster County.” (LNP)

SD-45: Both Parties Have Contested Primaries To Replace Retiring PA Sen. Jim Brewster. “Both Democrats and Republicans are picking their nominees to replace retiring Pennsylvania Sen. Jim Brewster, a Democrat in the 45th state senatorial district that stretches from Plum and Monroeville into the Mon Valley to Elizabeth and forward and westward into the South Hills to Castle Shannon.” (CBS Pittsburgh)

A Jury Has Been Selected In Former Labor Leader John Dougherty’s Third Federal Trial. “The jury’s conclusion in Dougherty’s latest criminal trial could potentially result in more prison time for the man once considered a political kingmaker and most powerful labor leader in the state.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Pennsylvanians Still Waiting For Their Promised $1B In Property Tax Relief Or Are They? “It has been 20 years since then Gov. Ed Rendell promised an annual $1 billion in property tax relief would be coming in a few years — and depending on how you count it, the day may have finally arrived.” (PennLive)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• The Jan. 6 Riot Reaches the Supreme Court. (Wall Street Journal)
• ​​A Progressive Jew’s Take On the PA-12 Race. (Aviva Lubowsky)
• The Politics Of Steel Are Center Stage In Pennsylvania. (Salena Zito)
• I Need A Republican Hero. Liz Cheney Is One Of The GOP’s Last Few. (Robert S. Nix)
• The Lies About The Border Americans Choose To Believe. (Adriana E. Ramírez)
• Collaboration Is Key To Developing PA Public Education System That Effectively Serves All. (Winston E. Cleland)

1 Big Thing

5. Philly Sees 37% Drop in Homicides

“The number of homicides in major American cities is falling at its quickest pace in decades following huge jumps during the pandemic, Axios’ Russell Contreras writes.

Why It Matters: The nation is on track to see one of the lowest levels of violent crimes and homicides since President Obama was in office.

Polls show crime is a top concern ahead of the 2024 election — and it’s an issue where Republicans regularly edge Democrats.

But falling homicide rates could take steam out of the crucial GOP advantage.” (Axios)

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