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What We’re Hearing
“Their willful noncompliance violates multiple standards of conduct and subjects them to discipline.” – Jan. 6 Select Committee Report

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Top Story

1. House Select Committee Asks For Ethics Action Against Rep. Scott Perry

“The U.S. House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6th, 2021 attacks on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald J. Trump has referred U.S. Rep. Scott Perry’s refusal to comply with a subpoena to the House Ethics Committee for possible sanction.

The Ethics Committee referral is not a call for criminal prosecution; this committee is an internal House panel that handles discipline of House members for various rules and other infractions.” (PennLive)

Related

The Jan. 6 Committee Referred Two Pennsylvanians For Potential Ethics Or Criminal Charges. “Two Pennsylvanians figured prominently in the findings of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol as the panel released a summary of its investigation Monday and made referrals for potential criminal and ethics charges.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

PA Rep. Scott Perry Could Face Ethics Committee For Refusing Jan. 6 Subpoena. “As Donald Trump learned that he might face criminal charges for his efforts to overturn the presidential election of 2020, midstate congressman Scott Perry learned that he might face sanctions from the House Ethics Committee for his role in that scheme.Perry’s name is mentioned 22 times across 16 pages in a report released Monday by the House Jan. 6 Select Committee.” (WITF)

Harrisburg

2. How A PA State Senate Race Could Throw The House Into More Chaos

“If House Republicans are successful in getting the special elections for two Allegheny County-based House districts delayed until May, the results of a Senate special election could lead to a whole new level of chaos in the power struggle in the state House.

The move to delay those special elections has led to widespread speculation that the House GOP will try to muscle through a vote on proposed Constitutional amendments — including a measure specifying there is no right to abortion in the state Constitution.” (Capitolwire)

Related

What Josh Shapiro’s Transition Team Says About How He’ll Govern. “The transition team helping governor-elect Josh Shapiro prepare for office is wide-ranging and, in some cases, controversial, offering a glimpse into the way he hopes to govern the commonwealth and court members of the GOP in the legislature.” (Spotlight PA)

Salisbury, Gergely Tabbed By Allegheny Dems. “Abigail Salisbury, president of the Swissvale Borough Council, and Matt Gergely, McKeesport’s finance director, were chosen as the nominees on the Democratic side for the state House openings in the 34th and 35th Districts during a Sunday meeting of the Allegheny County Democrats.” (PoliticsPA)

Allegheny County GOP Chooses State House Nominees. “The committee tabbed Clay Walker in the 32nd, Robert Pagane in the 34th and Don Nevills in the 35th District.” (PoliticsPA)

Special Election Candidates Selected For 3 State House Races. “The fields have been set in three pivotal special elections in Allegheny County, with the local branches of the Democratic and Republican parties selecting their candidates in the races.” (Tribune-Review)

Reader Poll: We asked you who should be the majority party in the PA State House on January 3? Forty-seven percent said Republicans (It’s Simple Math), while 45 percent opted for Democrats (We won 102 contests). Eight percent said their heads hurt and the courts should decide. Thanks for participating.

Around The Commonwealth

3. Broken Borough

“After Tioga hired the cop who killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice, long-simmering personal grudges and infighting exploded and brought local government in the tiny Pennsylvania borough to a halt.” (Spotlight PA State College)

Related

Pittsburgh City Council Approves $800M Budgets For Next Year. “Pittsburgh City Council on Monday unanimously approved the city’s 2023 operating and capital budgets, as well as an updated American Rescue Plan Act spending plan.” (Tribune-Review)

Allentown City Council Fails To Appoint A New Member To Vacant Seat. What Happens Now? “None of the 13 applicants to Allentown city council’s vacant seat secured the four votes needed to win the spot, meaning the seat will remain empty for the time being.” (Morning Call)

Berks County Seeking Applicants For Commissioner Seat. “The position is open due to the announcement that Commissioner Kevin Barnhardt will resign on Jan. 9. The longtime commissioner is leaving the post to take over as the county’s new chief operations officer.” (Reading Eagle)

Former PA Attorney General Kathleen Kane Acquitted In Drunken Driving Case. “A Lackawanna County judge acquitted former Attorney General Kathleen Kane of drunken driving and careless driving after a one-day bench trial in Scranton.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• Former State Attorney General Kathleen Kane Acquitted Of DUI Charge. (Times-Tribune)

Ethics Board Says Philly Judge Ruled On Cases Early For Trip. “A Philadelphia judge attempted to rule on dozens of traffic citations before the scheduled hearing date because she planned to be in Florida that day, according to a report made public Monday by the Pennsylvania body that handles complaints of judicial misconduct.” (Associated Press)

PA Marijuana Pardon Project To Clear Few Applicants’ Records. “Pennsylvania’s one-time effort to pardon people with certain low-level marijuana convictions resulted in roughly 230 applications reaching the governor’s desk — a fraction of the more than 2,600 people who applied.” (Axios Philadelphia)Editorial

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• Automatic Pay Raises Are Unfair To Taxpayers. (Tribune-Review)
• We Need State Lawmakers To Get Down To Business. (Reading Eagle)
• Recount’s Cost Matters – And It’s Irresponsible To Pretend Otherwise. (Williamsport Sun-Gazette)

1 Thing

5. The Belsnickel

“First there is the tapping and scratching in the darkness outside the window.

A few seconds of silence later, the door bursts open revealing a soot-coated, bearded guy, dressed in ragged clothing and furs, and carrying a bundle of birch switches. He’s loud and cantankerous.

It’s the Belsnickel, demanding to know whether the children have been naughty or nice this year.”

Background: The German immigrants, who became known as the Pennsylvania Dutch, brought the idea to America, and the Belsnickel has persisted in the Pennsylvania Dutch regions of the U.S. (PennLive)

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