????  Hump Day. 

????  Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. Rock The Casbah. The Clash

PA Weather
⛈️  Uniontown | Partly Sunny, PM Showers, storms, 83
⛈️  Lewistown | Partly Sunny, PM Showers, storms, 90
????️  Pittston | Partly Sunny, 88

PA Sports
⚾  Phillies (53-39) | San Francisco 3-4 | Wed vs. San Francisco
⚾  Pirates (38-55) | Kansas City 3-4 | Wed vs. Kansas City
⚽  Union (12-4-5) | Wed vs. NY Red Bulls

????  What We’re Hearing. In a survey of 677 Pennsylvanians, America In One Room found that 78% of respondents agreed that the state “should impose term limits on state legislators, where, after a certain number of terms, legislators may never run again or hold office.”

????  Congratulations to Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick and Fox News correspondent Jacqui Heinrich on their engagement.

????️  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.   Meuser Makes It Official. He Is Not a Candidate For Governor

“U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser (R-09) has decided not to contend for the Republican nomination for governor of Pennsylvania and challenge incumbent Gov. Josh Shapiro in the 2026 cycle.

In a late-night announcement, Meuser said ‘Continuing the progress we made is too important, which is why I have decided to remain in the U.S. House of Representatives, working with President Trump and our Republican majorities in both the House and Senate to pass his agenda and forgo a campaign for Governor of Pennsylvania.’” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

The Republican Strategy to Win Without Trump on the Ballot. “A political organization tied to House Republican leadership is pouring millions of dollars into polling and advertising in a new effort to fix a nagging problem for the party: Many of President Trump’s voters don’t show up for midterm elections when he isn’t on the ballot.” (Wall Street Journal)

DCCC: Bresnahan Dumped Stock Before Voting For Historic Medicaid Cuts. “Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Eli Cousin this week said U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr. “literally traded off of his vote” for the One Big Beautiful Bill to gut Medicaid.” (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader)

PA-03: Rabb Enters Race. “Pennsylvania state Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) announced that he is a candidate for the 3rd Congressional District seat to replace the retiring Rep. Dwight Evans.” (PoliticsPA)

Manheim Township Nurse Enters Race For Democratic Nomination Against Rep. Smucker. “Nancy Mannion, 68, has been a registered nurse for more than 40 years and has worked as a consultant for several hospitals. She filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday to declare her candidacy in the stark red 11th District.” (LNP)

State

2.   Perry, Other PA GOP House Members Ask Trump to Halt Cocoa Import Tariffs

“Republican U.S. House members from Pennsylvania generally fall in line with President Donald Trump but a state that’s home to Hershey and other big candy makers, they are drawing a hard line on cocoa.

“Cocoa inputs represent one of the largest costs to many of these companies so the additional costs associated with tariffs will put considerable strain on companies small, medium, and large,” the GOP lawmakers wrote in a letter. “This strain represents a threat to the domestic manufacturing jobs this administration is seeking to protect.”” (PennLive)

Elsewhere

Prices on Certain Goods, Services Could Rise As PA Lawmakers Consider Axing Some Sales Tax Exemptions. “Sales tax exemptions for everything from newspapers to legal services to candy cost the commonwealth billions every year, and at least one top policymaker says he’s open to getting rid of some as members wrestle with a significant budget deficit.” (Spotlight PA)

Two Decades After Pay Raise Scandal Rocked Harrisburg, Lasting Reform Remains Elusive. “On the 20th anniversary of a legislative pay raise scandal that upended the General Assembly, government watchdogs said undemocratic practices persist at the state Capitol.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Pennsylvania Is a Top 3 State For Government AI Readiness. “A new analysis from Code For America says the commonwealth’s proactive approach to AI “positions it as a leader in responsible AI adoption and innovation.”” (City & State)

PA Set to Enact Sunday Hunting Law After Intrigue Over Deer Urine. “Pennsylvania’s big push to overturn the state’s Sunday hunting ban took a last-minute detour into a world legislators likely never envisioned visiting: the scientific consensus on deer urine as a disease vector.” (PennLive)

PA House Republicans Tried to Force a Vote on a Transgender Athlete Ban. Democrats Blocked It. “Democrats on the panel re-referred the measure to the House Health Committee, effectively resetting the clock and avoiding a vote on the proposal itself.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Around The Commonwealth

3.  Philly’s City Worker Strike Ends 

“Sorry, rats. The “Parker piles” are about to disappear.

Philadelphia’s first major city worker strike since 1986 lasted eight days and four hours before Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Greg Boulware, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33, reached a deal for a new contract at about 4 a.m. Wednesday morning.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Elsewhere

Tensions Erupt Over Stop the Violence Fund as Pittsburgh City Council, Mayor Gainey Clash on Messaging. “Councilman Anthony Coghill claimed Gainey ‘was gaslighting’ and ‘stoked fear’ among community members.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

From Alerting Riders to Changing Google Maps, Here’s How SEPTA is Preparing For Service Cuts. “The transit agency’s planners have been putting together two fall schedules at the same time: One is normal. The other represents a 20% cut in service that would start Aug. 24.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

A County Councilman Wanted a Term Limits Question For Multiple County Elected Officials on the November Ballot. A Majority of His Colleagues Said No. “Allegheny County voters will have to wait until at least after this year on whether they want term limits for elected officials.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Editorial

4.  Speak Your Mind

• Bipartisan Push to Strengthen PA’s Disability Care System Must Succeed. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• What Does the Future of Diversity Look Like? (TribLIVE)
• A Nation Sold: ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Rewards the Rich, Punishes the Poor and Burdens Us All. (York Dispatch)
• Bresnahan Says ‘I Don’t Look at Them as Cuts’ (Chris Kelly)
• Stacy Garrity Can’t Champion Rural Hospitals While Cheering a Bill That Will Shut Them Down. (Meg Snead) 
• Socialism Will Not Save the Democratic Party. Its Historic Centrism Will. (Bernard S. Sharfman)
• Dear Sen. Fetterman, It Is Time For You to Resign. (Mireille Rebeiz)
• Fitzpatrick Is a (Frustrating) Firewall (Publius Pax)
• Be a Patriot, Not a Parrot. (Patrick J. Murphy)

1 Thing

5.   Want to Bowl in the Buff in PA This Weekend?

“If you are feeling good about yourself and maybe a little frisky too, perhaps bowling in the nude might be a thing that interests you.

If you have ever really wished you could go bowling in the nude, you are not alone. And we know that because the Pittsburgh Area Naturalists are hosting a nude bowling event on Saturday, July 12 at Crafton Ingram Lanes in Pittsburgh.” (PennLive)

Thanks for starting your Wednesday with us.
Have a great one and we’ll see you again tomorrow.