????  Today’s PoliticsPA Playbook. What Is The SAVE Act and What Does It Mean For You? Big-Money, Out-Of-State Donors and Grassroots Voters. Shapiro Unveils Housing Action Plan to Address Critical Needs. Girl Scout Cookies and Beer Pairings.

????  Your Morning Pick Me Up. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love. The Blues Brothers

????????  Presidents Day. We’re off for the Monday holiday but will return on Tuesday. 

PA Weather
☀️  Erie | Mostly Sunny, 34
????️  State College | Becoming Sunny, 31
☀️  Allentown | Sunny, 34

PA Sports 
????  Sixers (30-24) | Feb. 19 vs. Atlanta
????  Flyers (25-20-11) | Feb 25 at Washington
????  Penguins (29-15-12) | Feb 26 vs. New Jersey

????  Happy Friday. This is the first of two consecutive Friday the 13ths. That only happens about three times every 28 years.

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Top Story

1.   What Is The SAVE Act and What Does It Mean For You? 

“You may have heard that the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or SAVE Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday night. The bill requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. 

For those who have been demanding Voter ID for years, this is the commonsense solution to “restoring faith” in American elections. For those who are opposed to Voter ID, this is suppression of the vote by disenfranchising those most vulnerable.” | PoliticsPA

Elsewhere

Fetterman Lone Democrat To Support Homeland Security Funding Bill, As DHS Shutdown Looms. “Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman was the only Democrat to vote in favor of advancing a bill that would have provided a year’s worth of funding to the agency.” | AP

Even Trump’s Own Appointees Are Ruling Against ICE’s Mass Detention Strategy. “For six months, dozens of judges, including a large number from Pennsylvania, appointed by Donald Trump have rebuffed — and sometimes pointedly rebuked — his administration’s effort to lock up thousands of immigrants under a novel reinterpretation of decades-old deportation laws.” | POLITICO

Five Things I Think I Think. “Wow. Where did February go? I’m glad that we are not all (New England) Patriots and thankful that pitchers and catchers have reported to Clearwater and Bradenton. Here are five things I think I think on the Pennsylvania political scene.” | PoliticsPA

State

2.   Big-Money and Out-Of-State Donors Helped Josh Shapiro Raise $30 Million While Stacy Garrity Raised $1.5 Million From PA’s Grassroots

“Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro is racking up contributions from out-of-state billionaires as well as thousands of individual donors across the country. His likely Republican challenger, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, meanwhile, is capturing small-donor donations from Pennsylvanians.

Here are three takeaways from the first campaign finance filings in the race, tracking fundraising heading into 2026.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

Elsewhere

PJM To Extend Capacity Auction Price Cap For Two Years, Pennsylvania Governor Says. “Grid operator PJM Interconnection has agreed to extend a price cap on its capacity auctions for another two years following legal action by the state, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said in a post on X on Thursday. Shapiro said the move is expected to save 67 million Americans about $27 billion on their energy bills, bringing total savings for PJM customers to roughly $45 billion.” | Reuters

Shapiro’s Clergy Abuse Investigation Boosted His Reputation. Years Later, Some Survivors Feel He Abandoned Them. “A key step to delivering justice — establishing a two-year window for survivors with decades-old cases to sue their abusers and the institutions that protected them — remains unfinished.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

It’s Official: Glenn Thompson Announces Bid For 10th Term Serving PA-15 In Congress. “Rep. Glenn Thompson, a Howard Republican, announced Thursday he would seek a 10th term in the U.S. House of Representatives.” | Centre Daily Times

Pennsylvania Plans To Test Out Internet-Connected Pollbooks In 2026 Primary. “The move could have benefits for election administration, but some worry about security and perceptions.” | Votebeat Pennsylvania

Education Is Focus Of Debate In Allentown Special Election That Could Sway PA House Control. “The candidates, both of whom have history on the Allentown School Board, made education a focus of their pitch to voters.” | Allentown Morning Call

Around The Commonwealth

3.   Shapiro Unveils Housing Action Plan to Address Critical Needs

“Speaking in Philadelphia on Thursday, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Pennsylvania’s first-ever comprehensive Housing Action Plan to address critical housing needs across the Commonwealth, outlining the current state of housing, providing projections on housing needs, and offering nearly thirty strategic initiatives to ensure every Pennsylvanian has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing.

His goal – to position the Commonwealth as a national leader on housing access and affordability by 2035.” | PoliticsPA

Elsewhere

Amid Mixed Employment News For The Nation, Pennsylvania Is Third In The Country For Layoff Notices. “While Wednesday’s jobs report beat expectations for growth in January, about 4,000 Pennsylvania workers have received notices so far this year that they’ll be laid off. That puts the commonwealth third in the country, behind California and New Jersey, for the largest number of jobs eliminated or slated to be cut in 2026. ” | Penn Capital-Star

Budget Time, Part 1. “While it doesn’t always happen, there are times when the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania align ideologically. But one of the proposals in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026-2027 budget, a proposal that would create a $1 billion infrastructure fund that attacks the Commonwealth’s housing shortage through a bond issuance might sound familiar to those familiar with Mayor Cherelle Parker’s Housing Opportunities Made Easy plan.” | Philadelphia Sunday Sun

Neighbors of Planned ICE Detention Center In Berks County Say Opposition Crosses Political Lines. ““Drive around, and the one sign you’ll see is ‘No Warehouses,’ and that’s probably the consistent sign,” said Cindy Rightmyer, a precinct committee chair with the county Democratic Committee. “And it’s not political — it just says no warehouse.”” | Spotlight PA

Editorial

4.  What Do You Think?

• Mr. Shapiro Goes On The Campaign Trail (For President) | Jonathan D. Salant
• Josh Shapiro Is Helping Pennsylvanians Afford To Live Here | Austin Davis 
• Pashinski Served NEPA With Pride and Made An Honorable Decision | Wilkes-Barre Times Leader
• Harrisburg Just Can’t Quit The Sketchy Tax Revenue From Skill Games | Paul Davies
• Yes, Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Raises Taxes | Nathan Benefield
• What is The Republicans’ Single Biggest Weakness Heading Into The Midterms, And How Can It Be Overcome? | Mace, Singleton, Maddux, Kishi, Mercieca, Heye
• AI Data Centers Aren’t Just Another Factory — Especially in PA | Rod Williamson
• Who Do You Play For? | Lori Falce

1 Thing

5.   Brewers Offer Expert Tips For Pairing Beer With Girl Scout Cookies

“America’s tiniest but most effective sales reps are back in business. The Girl Scouts have started another season of cookie peddling, with a new variety – the Rocky Road ice cream-inspired Exploremores – in the catalog.

While kids usually enjoy these treats with a glass of milk, adults have taken to pairing them with a pint. Girl Scout Cookie beer pairings have become big business for breweries in the slow winter months, including spots like Evil Genius Beer Co. in Fishtown and Conshohocken Brewing.

So what’s the science behind matching the right beer to the right cookie? | PhillyVoice

Thank you for starting your 3-day weekend with us.
Make it a good one. See you Tuesday.