😎 We’re Just Dancing In The Dark. Enjoy the eclipse but remember that today is the last day to register for the PA primary.

PA Weather
☁️ Erie | Mostly Cloudy, 59
🌤️ State College | Partly Sunny, 62
🌥️ Scranton | Increasing Clouds, 63

PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (44-35) | Memphis 116-96 | San Antonio 133-126 (2OT) | Tue vs. Detroit
🏒 Flyers (36-31-11) | Buffalo 2-4 | Columbus 2-6 | Tue vs. Montreal
🏒 Penguins (36-30-11) | Tampa Bay 5-4 | Mon vs. Toronto
⚾ Pirates (8-2) | Baltimore 2-5, 5-4, 3-2 | Mon-Tue vs. Detroit
⚾ Phillies (4-5) | Washington 4-0, 5-2, 2-3 | Mon-Wed vs. St. Louis

What We’re Hearing
“Precisely the fact that we cannot control the hurtling of the Earth through space should focus our attention on making this planet as hospitable as possible to humankind, and to the creatures with whom we share it.” – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

What’s Happening Today
The PA House and Senate return to session.

Politics – PA Style
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Top Story

1. Leadership PACs Allow Special Interests To Donate Even More Money To Congress

“Along with hiring staff and setting up a congressional office, freshman U.S. Sen. John Fetterman wasted little time in establishing a political action committee to raise money over and above the amount he can take in for his regular campaign committee.

So did another first-term Democrat from Western Pennsylvania, U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio.

Neither even waited to be sworn into office before setting up what are known as leadership PACs.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Related

Super PACs Keep Testing The Limits Of Campaign Finance Law. “Advocates say lack of enforcement of campaign finance laws means groups can push the envelope with little fear of repercussions.” (POLITICO)

The Primary’s in Two Weeks. Pennsylvania Doesn’t Know How it Should Count the Ballots. “A former federal judge explains why courts aren’t the fastest or clearest way to solve election disputes.” (Governing)

The Electoral College Question Looming Over 2024. “Whether the GOP has maintained its Electoral College advantage could determine how close the Biden vs. Trump contest really is — and who wins in the end.” (NBC News)

Top Democrats Confident ‘Blue Wall’ In Midwest Will Save Biden. “Democrats are counting on what’s called the “blue wall” in the Midwest: Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, where Biden has seen an uptick in polling numbers and where his effort to rebuild domestic manufacturing is most likely to pay off.” (The Hill)

State

2. Some States Are Seeking To Restrict TikTok. That Doesn’t Mean Their Governors Aren’t Using It

“POV: You’re on TikTok, and so is your governor — even as your Legislature considers banning the app from state-owned devices and networks.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, is a prolific poster, with his efforts beginning on the campaign trail through a personal account. The first-termer is a rising star in the Democratic Party and is among governors building national profiles and possibly positioning themselves for a 2028 run for the White House.” (AP)

Related

Advocates Call For Shapiro To Extend Automatic Voter Registration To Social Service Agencies. “Applications via Pennsylvania public assistance agencies have declined over the last decade as overall registration boomed.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Republican Attorney General Candidates Make Primary Pitches To GOP Audience in Camp Hill. “The two Republican candidates for Pennsylvania attorney general shared their visions for the role during a forum at the conservative Pennsylvania Leadership Conference in Camp Hill.” (PennLive)

GOP PA Attorney General Candidates, Remarks From Garrity, And Straw Poll Wrap Final Day of PLC. “On the final day of the Pennsylvania Leadership Conference, the two candidates seeking the Republican Party nomination for state attorney general faced off in a cordial forum to explain to voters why they are seeking the office and their positions on the important issues. ” (Penn Capital-Star)

Opioids and Gun Violence Top Of Mind For PA Attorney General Candidates At Philly Forum. “Candidates running to become Pennsylvania’s next Attorney General – three Democrats and one Forward Party – say addressing the opioid epidemic, gun violence and public safety would be among their priorities as the state’s top law enforcement official.” (WHYY)

Around The Commonwealth

3. PA Congressional Primary Preview: PA-07

“In the fifth in our series, PoliticsPA takes a look at the Republican contenders for the 7th Congressional District nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives – Ryan Mackenzie, Maria Montero and Kevin Dellicker.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Shapiro Voted Early But Wouldn’t Reveal His Pick For Attorney General. “Gov. Josh Shapiro cast an early primary ballot Sunday to draw attention to a hotly contested attorney general race and the state’s early voting options.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

McCormick Returns To PA Leadership Conference, This Time As PA GOP’s Choice For Senate. “What a difference two years makes for Dave McCormick.” (PennLive)

PA House Primary Preview: Lehigh Valley. “In our continuing series previewing the primary, PoliticsPA takes a look at three races in the Lehigh Valley in the 131st, 136th and 183rd districts.” (PoliticsPA)

A ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Threatens Pittsburgh, Where Shrinking Tax Revenues Could Drain City Coffers In Just A Few Years, Records Show. “Tax revenue projections, detailed by the city Controller’s Office, are at odds with the public financial picture presented by Mayor Ed Gainey’s administration.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• In An Eclipse, A Wonderful Reminder Of What We Share. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• What We (Didn’t) Learn From The 2024 Budget Hearings. (Rep. Seth Grove)
• Why Both Campaigns Need All That Cash. (Carl P. Leubsdorf)
• Why ‘White Rural Rage’ Is a Threat to American Democracy. (Thomas F. Schaller)
• Drop Restrictive Rules And Let America Build Again. (Kyle Sammin)
• Meuser Way Off The Mark In Criticizing Funding. (Sunbury Daily Item)
• Why Republicans Will Regret Their Crusade Against Electric Cars. (Mike Murphy)

1 Thing

5. The Perfect Celestial Soundtrack to the Total Solar Eclipse

“If you’re lucky enough to find yourself in the path of totality Monday you’ll likely be tempted to focus on the visual experience, but what about the soundtrack to set the mood?

The team at St. Louis Public Radio has curated an eclipse-themed playlist to accompany your watch party or viewing adventure, featuring some obvious classics, punny perfection, and celestially code jams suited for your celebration.” (NPR)

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