Hello Tuesday.

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76ers (14-12) | TUE vs. Sacramento
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What We’re Hearing
“What will it take for Bill McSwain to open an investigation?” – Scott Perry text

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Rep. Maureen Madden.

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Top Story

1. Cutler Sworn In, Claims House Majority Role

In a public ceremony at the Capitol on Monday, Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) was sworn-in to office and claimed the mantle of House Majority Leader.

“Last week, Rep. Joanna McClinton and the House Democratic Caucus conducted an unprecedented, illegitimate, and illegal power grab by claiming they have a majority in the Pennsylvania House after one of their members passed away and their quest for political power forced two more of their members to resign, dropping their total of members eligible to take office down to 99,” Cutler said. (PoliticsPA)

Related

Cutler Takes Oath As Republican Leader Days After Dems Declare Control Of Special Elections. “Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, was sworn in as House Republican leader on Monday in the latest act of brinkmanship over control of the General Assembly’s lower chamber.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

PA House GOP Leader Bryan Cutler Says ‘The Math’ Makes Him Majority Leader. “House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler took the oath of office on Monday, asserting his claim to the title of majority leader in the 203-member Pennsylvania House of Representatives where 101 Republicans can be seated to the Democrats’ 99.” (PennLive)

PA Has Two Self-Proclaimed House Majority Leaders. So What Now? “The House of Representatives leadership situation at the Capitol in Harrisburg is becoming increasingly awkward.” (Beaver County Times)

Washington

2. Freedom Caucus Chair Scott Perry’s Work To Overturn 2020 Election Included A ‘Cyber Team’ And An Italian Job

“It had been one week since the 2020 presidential election and three days since news outlets called the race, and Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) was frantically working to reverse President Trump’s loss.

TPM has obtained the 2,319 text messages that Mark Meadows, who was President Trump’s last White House chief of staff, turned over to the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack. Today, we are publishing The Meadows Texts, a series based on an in-depth analysis of these extraordinary — and disturbing — communications.” (Talking Points Memo)

Related

McCormick Taking Steps That Hint At Potential 2024 PA Senate Campaign. “Dave McCormick isn’t saying if he’s mulling another Senate run in Pennsylvania in 2024, but the Republican candidate who came within a thousand votes of winning the 2022 GOP Senate nomination in the crucial northeastern battleground state is making moves that signal a possible campaign may be in the works.” (Fox News)

A Q And A With U.S. Rep. Susan Wild. “City & State spoke with Wild in an exclusive interview ahead of her taking her seat in the 118th Congress next month, discussing her unique reelection bid and what priorities are on the horizon in a new House of Representatives.” (City & State)

Around The Commonwealth

3. SD27: Special State Senate Contest Set

The matchup appears to be set for the special election in the 27th state Senate District for the seat vacated by the resignation of John Gordner.

Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-Northumberland/Snyder), who currently holds the 108th District seat in the state House, was selected as the Republican nominee on the ballot during a Sunday party session.

Patricia Lawton, a speech pathologist from Columbia County, was selected over the weekend to represent the Democratic Party on the ticket during the special election, scheduled for January 31. (PoliticsPA)

Related

GOP and Democratic Candidates Chosen To Compete For Open PA Senate Seat. “Candidates to fill the open Senate seat representing a five-county northeastern Pennsylvania district have been chosen by their respective committee members in the Republican and Democratic parties.” (PennLive) 

Allegheny County Council Member Liv Bennett Announces Run For County Executive. “Allegheny County Council member Liv Bennett announced plans to run for county executive on Monday. Rich Fitzgerald, who currently holds the office, is term limited and cannot run again.” (WESA)

• Olivia Bennett Enters County Executive Contest, Vows To Deliver On Progressive Reforms. (Pittsburgh City Paper)

Kevin Carter Enters Pittsburgh Controller’s Race, Hoping To Bridge Gap Between City And Schools. “Pittsburgh school board member Kevin Carter hopes to graduate to a seat in city government, by running for city controller.” (WESA)

Don’t Vote For Just One: Ranked Choice Voting Is Gaining Ground. “Ranked choice voting has seen steady success in recent years. Nationwide, 62 jurisdictions have adopted the voting method, including Alaska and Maine in statewide races and New York City for local races. And with the 2024 presidential primaries looming, ranked choice voting advocates see an opening to gain broader appeal.” (Stateline)

Josh Shapiro’s Campaign For Governor Got A Boost From Daughter Sophia. “Whether it was a savvy social media strategy or creative in-person events, the brainpower behind Students for Shapiro’s well-received youth outreach belonged to Shapiro’s daughter, Sophia.” (Teen Vogue)

Dunmore Council Approves 23% Tax Hike. “Borough council unanimously approved a nearly 23% property tax increase Monday night — a move borough officials say will keep the town financially solvent while avoiding layoffs and additional debt.” (Times-Tribune)

Clarion County Commissioner Heasley Won’t Seek Reelection. “Clarion County Commissioner Ed Heasley, in a letter to news media outlets, said he will not seek another term in office.” (The Derrick)

Editorial

4. Opinion

• Philadelphia’s Voter Turnout Is Down. That’s Bad For Democracy. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Attack On Philadelphia DA’s Office A Dangerous Distraction. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Big Commercial Farms Are Taking Notes On How PA’s Family-Owned Farms Have Diversified, According To One Lender. (Joseph N. DiStefano, Philadelphia Inquirer)
• The Link Between Politicians And Anti-LGBTQ+ Violence (Rob Schofield, PA Capital-Star)
• Reset This: Change How We Teach Civics In America. (Molly Andolina, The Hill)
• Republicans Have A Very Strange Idea Of Self-Interest. (Walter Shapiro, Roll Call)
• In PA, Independent Voters Take Center Stage. (David Thornburgh, Tribune-Review)
• State Should Grow More Of Own Teachers. (Times-Tribune)
• Midterms Showed Voters Wanted Governance Not Gridlock. (Josh Siegel, Morning Call)

1 Thing

5. Hometown Heroes: Cookies For Caregivers

In Scott McKenzie and Jeremy Uhrich’s central Pennsylvania kitchen, baking and delivering cookies is a year-round labor of love for the two friends.

McKenzie and Uhrich are the founders of “Cookies for Caregivers,” an organization dedicated to giving freshly baked treats to hometown heroes. The group was started during the 2020 pandemic and has now given away more than 100,000 cookies in their hometown of Huntingdon.