????  Wednesday. Let’s Go.

????️  In Today’s PoliticsPA Playbook. Vance Touts Economic Outlook in Visit to Lehigh Valley. PA Postpones Pennie Enrollment Deadline. Data Centers Have A Political Problem — And Big Tech Wants To Fix It. The Rabbit of Seville Turns 75.

????  Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. Jingle Bells. The incomparable Ella Fitzgerald

PA Weather
????️  Black Lick | Partly Sunny, 43
????️  Mansfield | Mostly Cloudy, 40
????️  Trexlertown | Partly Sunny, 43

PA Sports
????  Flyers (17-9-6) | Montreal 4-1 | Thu at Buffalo
????  Penguins (14-9-9) | Edmonton 4-6 | Thu at Ottawa
????  Sixers (14-11) | Fri at New York

????  What’s Happening Today. President Trump will address the nation tonight at 9 p.m.

????  What We’re Hearing. Sen. Dave McCormick says he is “opposed to rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. Says recreational marijuana has become “more dangerous, more addictive, and more impactful on the body than it’s ever been.”

????  What Else We’re Hearing. The DCCC is launching a new billboard campaign holding Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-07) accountable for soaring health care costs being unleashed on hardworking Pennsylvanians ahead of the holiday season.

????  The PoliticsPA Playbook is compiled by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser, click here. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe for free.

Top Story

1.   Vance Touts Economic Outlook In VP’s 1st Visit to the Lehigh Valley

“Vice President JD Vance celebrated the nation’s economic outlook during a stop at a Uline Shipping Supplies warehouse Tuesday, saying that strengthening the economy has been the driving motive through the first 10 months of President Donald Trump’s second term.

Standing before giant banners reading “Lower prices, bigger paychecks,” Vance highlighted a new jobs report that showed the American economy created 61,000 new jobs in November. While not an especially rosy figure — it’s the sixth lowest monthly total since January 2024 — it marks an improvement from the loss of 105,000 jobs in October.” | LehighValleyNews

Elsewhere

‘Bring the Temperature Down’: A Q&A With U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio. “The Pennsylvania congressman spoke about a video that caught the attention of the president, death threats and political violence in America.” | City & State

Republicans Push Mail-In Voting For The Midterms In Defiance Of Trump. “In Pennsylvania, where Republicans poured $16 million into boosting the number of GOP voters using mail ballots in 2024, the state party chair called it “a priority” for 2026. The nonprofit Citizens Alliance, which aided efforts to get Republicans to return their mail ballots in Pennsylvania last year, is planning to knock 750,000 doors ahead of the midterms to encourage infrequent voters to embrace the practice.” | POLITICO

Respect States’ Rights, New Bipartisan Group Of Legislative Leaders Tells Feds. “The Assembly of State Legislative Leaders, which includes more than 40 lawmakers from 30 states, unanimously approved a 449-word declaration on the importance of states’ ability to legislate independently.” | Penn Capital-Star

State

2.  As Congress Debates ACA Subsidies, PA Postpones Enrollment Deadline

“Pennsylvania officials have postponed to the end of December the deadline for enrolling in the commonwealth’s Affordable Care Act marketplace as consumers navigate federal uncertainties and the possibility of sharp cost hikes.

The last day for signing up for Pennie coverage was originally Dec. 15, but program administrators said they wanted to give consumers more time to weigh their options and choose the right plan for their households. The deadline now is Dec. 31.” | USA Today Network

Elsewhere

PA Gaming Board Warns Casinos Against Prediction Market Apps, Wants State To Tax Sports Trades. “Pennsylvania’s gaming board is warning licensed operators not to dabble in the “Wild West” of online prediction markets, as courts and regulators continue to wrangle with betting apps that are operating outside of states’ purviews.” | PennLive

Education Secretary Linda McMahon Meets With PA Legislators To Discuss Potential Closure of US Department of Education. “U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon met earlier this month in Harrisburg with Pennsylvania Republican legislators to talk about giving states control of educational programming by dismantling the U.S. Department of Education.” | LNP

Around The Commonwealth

3.   Data Centers Have A Political Problem — And Big Tech Wants To Fix It

“Tech companies and lobbyists are investing millions of dollars to tackle a new political problem for the industry: Data centers, the lifeblood of the growing AI economy, are becoming toxic with voters.

Alarmed by elections that candidates won by campaigning against new data centers, the industry is taking out ads and funding campaigns to flip the narrative and put data centers in a positive light — spinning them as job creators and economic drivers rather than resource-hungry land hogs.” | POLITICO

Elsewhere

Caregivers in PA Are Celebrating A Rare Pay Boost, But Long-Term Funding Issues Linger. “Public funding for child care, home services for older adults, and disability support will increase under Pennsylvania’s latest budget, but caregivers and business leaders expect longstanding pay and staffing problems to persist without deeper state investments.” | Spotlight PA

Pittsburgh City Council President Considers Cuts And Tax Increase For 2026 City Budget. “As an end-of-year deadline looms, Pittsburgh City Council President Dan Lavelle says he and other councilors are considering amendments to the city’s 2026 budget that could include both a tax increase and spending cuts.” | WESA

Editorial

4.  What Do You Think?

• Pennsylvania Energy Will Make America Affordable Again | Howard Lutnick
• Go-It-Alone Politics Too Often Lonely | York Dispatch
• Gov. Shapiro’s RGGI Exit Is Smart, Balanced Leadership | Michael Nutter
• Where Are Those Manufacturing Jobs? | Wall Street Journal
• Pennsylvania: Center Stage, Again, in 2026 | Guy Ciarrocchi
• Waste of the Day: Taxpayers Subsidize Football Coach Severance | Jeremy Portnoy
• It’s Time To Build The Ark | Publius Pax
• Resign to Run Without Reform | Jon Geeting

1 Thing

5.   The Rabbit of Seville Celebrates 75 Years

“75 years ago yesterday, the Chuck Jones masterpiece Rabbit of Seville was released. 

If you are of a certain age, chances are Bugs Bunny introduced you to opera.” 

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Hope you enjoyed going down memory lane. See you here tomorrow.