????  Goodbye to July. Get ready for August.

????  Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. Hard To Handle. The Black Crowes

PA Weather
⛈️  Oil City | Showers, Thunderstorms, 72
☔  Bellefonte | Showers, 78
⛈️  West Chester | Showers, Thunderstorms, 88

PA Sports
⚾  Phillies (61-47) | White Sox 3-9 | Fri-Sun vs. Detroit
⚾  Pirates (47-62) | San Francisco 2-1 | Fri-Sun vs. Colorado

????  What We’re Hearing. “We’ve done, obviously, our part. But it’s collectively not enough … to get it to the governor’s desk,” House Majority Leader Matt Bradford said. “The governor’s led. The House has passed [funding increases for mass transit]. The Senate has got to act. That’s where we’re at.”

????️  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.  As SEPTA Cuts Loom, Patience Is Wearing Thin For Democrats in Harrisburg

“Democratic lawmakers in Harrisburg say they have made their position clear on funding mass transit — and their patience is wearing thin.

“The governor’s frustrated. We’re frustrated,” House Majority Leader Matt Bradford said in an interview Monday. For weeks, Bradford, who represents many Philadelphia and collar county representatives at the negotiating table with Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman and Gov. Josh Shapiro, has met behind closed doors in attempts to hash out a state budget deal.

But as Pennsylvania’s top leaders continue to try to reach consensus between a narrow Democratic House majority and the GOP-controlled Senate, the budget is nearly a month overdue.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Elsewhere

A Bipartisan Senate Housing Bill Includes a National Version of a PA Home-Repair Program. “Sen. John Fetterman has sought to replicate state Sen. Nikil Saval’s Whole Home Repairs policy, which created a grant program for homeowners and small landlords to fix their properties.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Senate Confirms Emil Bove, Former Trump Personal Attorney, For Lifetime Post. “Emil Bove, who has served as a Justice Department official in the first few months of Trump’s second term, will take a lifetime post on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit despite Democrats’ concerns about his efforts to reshape the department in Trump’s image.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Fetterman Says Gaza Is Not a ‘Genocide,’ Calls GOP House Member ‘Crazy Pants’. “Fetterman, a Democrat who has frustrated progressives with his support for Israel, was questioned by reporters about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia joining Democrats in protesting the famine in Gaza as a “genocide.”” (PennLive)

Deluzio Continues Push For Rail Safety As Federal Safety Agency Calls For Deregulation. “The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration released an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking in June to solicit comments about potentially rolling back regulations of hazardous materials, including potentially allowing liquid natural gas (LNG) and ethylene to be transported by rail.” (WESA)

State

2.   Mastriano: “The Movement’s Out There”

“The last time that a defeated candidate for governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania waited four years for a second chance that led to victory was 55 years ago.

In 1966, Milton Shapp was defeated by Raymond P. Shafer by six percentage points in the Democrat’s quest to take the governor’s mansion. Four years later, Shapp became the first Jewish governor of Pennsylvania, routing Raymond J. Broderick by 13 points.

Fast forward to 2025 and Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano finds himself in a similar position to Shapp.” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

A Look at PA-07 Fundraising. “The 7th Congressional District in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley is perhaps the biggest battleground district in the United States and the party that holds the seat may also be the one that controls the majority in the U.S. House.” (PoliticsPA)

A GOP State Senator Wants to Raise Pennsylvania’s Minimum Wage to $11 Per Hour. “Sen. Dan Laughlin announced his plan Wednesday to introduce legislation that would gradually raise the wage in three phases.” (Penn Capital-Star)

PA Agency Orders 1000s of State Workers Back to Offices More Often. “The Department of Human Services (DHS) is planning to bring back thousands of employees who are primarily working from home to their offices, as the state continues to try to re-balance its post-pandemic workforce.” (PennLive)

Trump Policies Could Cut Health Care For 200,000 Pennie Users. “Republicans failed to extend tax credits for state-run health care marketplaces, which expire at the end of 2025. Nearly half a million Pennsylvanians use Pennie, and 200,000 are at risk under Trump’s new policies.” (The Keystone)

Around The Commonwealth

3.  Education Advocates Relieved As Trump Administration Releases $230 Million For PA Schools

“Hundreds of school districts across the commonwealth are breathing a sigh of relief this week, after the Trump administration said Friday it had completed a review of several programs and would soon release $230 million in congressionally approved spending. 

The administration had frozen billions in funding last month for the most vulnerable students across the country.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Elsewhere

SD-36: Jones Announces Candidacy For Lanco Senate Seat. “Rep. Tom Jones has decided to attempt a move from the State House to the State Senate.” (PoliticsPA)

PA Appeals Court: Embrescia Must Run For Re-Election This Fall For Allegheny County Council. “A state appellate court has ruled that At-large Allegheny County Councilman Mike Embrescia, a Republican, must run for re-election this fall — setting up a potential showdown between two opponents aiming to qualify for the November ballot. ” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Running to Run An Election: York County is Short of Poll Workers. “For all the anxiety riddling voter confidence across America since 2020, it is reasonable to think more than 2% of York County’s voting locations would host a competitive judge of elections race in November.” (York Dispatch)

Traditional Monday Deer Opener Would Return to Parts of PA Under Lawmaker’s Compromise Proposal. “Legislation introduced by state Rep. Eric Davanzo would create two start dates for the regular firearms deer season, determined by game commissioner districts.” (Spotlight PA)

Zucal Ready For ‘Uphill Battle’ to Unseat Allentown Mayor in November. “The race for Allentown mayor is back in business.” (LehighValleyNews)

Editorial

4.  Speak Your Mind

• Shapiro Refuses to Tell Us If He’ll Protect Women’s Sports. (Rep. Joe D’Orsie and Guy Ciarrocchi) 
• PBS Has a Future by Leaving the Past Behind. (Llewellyn King)

1 Thing

5.   Oreo, Reese’s Team Up to Create 2 New Products

“Two iconic brands are teaming up to create not one, but two new products for its fans to enjoy.

Reese’s and Oreo announced on Wednesday they are introducing a Reese’s Oreo Cup and an Oreo Reese’s Cookie, a “two-way delicious mash-up between America’s No. 1 candy and No. 1 cookie,” the brands said in a news release.” (USA Today)

Thanks for starting your Thursday with us.
One more work day until the weekend. We’ll see you tomorrow.