3/4 Playbook: Shapiro’s Business-Friendly Brand

March 4, 2026 | 8:20 AM EST

Steve Ulrich

???? Today’s PoliticsPA Playbook. Shapiro’s Business-Friendly Brand Has Drawn Millions From CEOs. A Skill Game Tax In PA Would Generate Billions. But Who Would Pay? Grassroots Resistance to Data Centers Rises. Best Public Golf Courses in PA

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Top Story

1. As Josh Shapiro Seeks Reelection, His Business-Friendly Brand Has Drawn Millions From CEOs

“A Florida developer who is building data centers in Pennsylvania. A Chicago crypto trader whose company was sued by the Biden administration. And a Southwestern Pennsylvania coal magnate whose firm received a permit from state regulators last year to expand operations — and is now seeking approval to open a new mine.

These are some of the dozens of CEOs backing Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, as he seeks a second term this fall in Harrisburg — with an eye on a possible run for president in 2028.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

Elsewhere

Fetterman Prepares To Vote ‘No’ On Reining In Trump On Iran As Other Democrats Decry ‘Unnecessary’ War. “U.S. Sen. John Fetterman has spent the days since the onset of the attacks repeatedly praising President Donald Trump’s decision to intervene — becoming, as he similarly was after the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the only Senate Democrat to do so.” | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Iran War Opponents Seek Critical Vote From Congressman Fitzpatrick. “U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick released a statement Feb. 28 that neither explicitly supported nor condemned the attack on Iran. But he didn’t say whether he supported the military strike on Iran, which Trump said he authorized in part to help overthrow Iran’s government.” | Bucks County Courier Times

How Have Iran Strikes Affected Trump Approval Rating? See US, PA Polls. “What is Trump’s approval rating at the beginning of what he predicts will be a several-week operation in Iran? Here is what to know in national polls as well as what Pennsylvanians are saying.” | USA Today Network

State

2. A Skill Game Tax In PA Would Generate Billions. But Who Would Pay?

“Pennsylvania could pocket more than $1 billion each year in revenue by regulating and taxing skill games, the slot-like terminals tucked in many convenience stores and bars around the commonwealth.

Lawmakers have debated imposing a levy on these machines in recent years, but their proposals have fizzled amid partisan disagreement and forceful pushback from the gaming lobby.” | USA Today Network

Elsewhere

State House Democrats: PA Needs To Prioritize Universal Pre-K. “Research indicates that a quality pre-kindergarten education prepares children for kindergarten and beyond.” | Penn Capital-Star

Demand For Student Teacher Stipends Outstrips Supply As Shapiro Proposes Boosting Program. “A stipend aimed at getting more student teachers into Pennsylvania schools and easing the commonwealth’s educator shortage is working, education advocates and experts say.” | Spotlight PA

Attorneys General Demand GoFundMe Prove Removal Of Plagiarized Web Pages Using Charities’ Information. “Attorney General Dave Sunday, along with 23 attorneys general and charitable regulators, sent a letter to GoFundMe, after reports that — in efforts to maximize profits — plagiarized donation web pages for charities nationwide without their prior knowledge or consent.” | Sunbury News-Item

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Files Closure Notice With Pennsylvania. “The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s planned closure will affect 171 workers, according to a WARN notice filed Tuesday with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.” | TribLive

Around The Commonwealth

3. Grassroots Resistance to Data Centers Rises in Pennsylvania

“Plans to build more than 50 data centers in Pennsylvania face opposition from a growing network of community groups, environmental activists and state lawmakers from both major parties.

Driven by concerns about the industry’s huge electricity demands, heavy water consumption, use of polluting diesel generators for backup power and industrialization of rural areas, an increasing number of grassroots groups are mobilizing in an attempt to stop or at least delay the massive buildout.” | Inside Climate News

Elsewhere

Inside Philly’s High-Stakes Charm Campaign to Lure the 2028 Democratic National Convention. “It was at the end of last year in the hazy stretch between Christmas and New Year’s when time doesn’t feel real, and some of Philly’s top Democrats were huddled around a secret proposal, racing to meet a deadline.” | Philadelphia Inquirer

Half of Americans Support Abolishing ICE in Record Poll. “It’s the first time in YouGov’s polling history that support for abolishing ICE has reached 50%, capping a steady rise since January amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.” | Axios

How Pittsburgh-Area Governments Partner — Or Don’t — With ICE. “In recent weeks, WESA has reported several stories about high-profile immigration arrests in the Pittsburgh suburbs of Springdale, Oakmont, and elsewhere. What should you know about that debate if it comes to your neighborhood?” | WESA

Editorial

4. What Do You Think?

The Keystone Conflict: The Four Battles for the House Majority | Christopher Nicholas
Humiliation Is Pervasive In Politics – And Potent | Stacey Goddard and Roxanne Euben
Peace Through Strength — Why President Trump’s Action On Iran Was Necessary | Sen. Doug Mastriano
MAGA Cultists, It’s Time To Enlist! | Dick Polman
Corporate Hospital Monopolies Driving PA’s Health Care Crisis | Adam L. Buckalew
Kelly Says New Tax Laws Reward Those Who Work Hard | Rep. Mike Kelly
Casinos Are Struggling – But Skill Games Aren’t The Reason | Peter Zaleski
Government By Bystander | Chris Kelly

1 Thing

5. Best 25 Public Golf Courses in Pennsylvania

“Pennsylvania is one of the strongest states in America for golf. Each of its major metros of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh boasts one of the country’s great championship courses: Merion Golf Club’s East Course and Oakmont Country Club, respectively.

The state is also home to a raft of solid public courses, from muni gems to more upscale country-club-for-a-day layouts and a handful of quality resort layouts.

Golfers’ Choice measures what every day golfers think makes a course great, including playability, enjoyment, value and service, not just architectural prestige or pedigree.” | GolfPass

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Steve Ulrich

Ulrich has worked as managing editor of PoliticsPA since January 2022 after spending two years as the Director of Elections in York (Pa.) County. Prior to that, he spent 35 years as a college athletics administrator. Send email to [email protected]