🙂 Hello, Tuesday. And goodbye to February.

PA Weather
Grove City | Mostly Cloudy, Breezy, 43
Gettysburg | Partly Sunny, 53
Hellertown | Wintry Mix, 41

PA Sports
76ers (39-21) | lost to Miami, 101-99 | WED vs. Miami
Penguins (29-21-9) | TUE vs. Nashville
Flyers (23-28-10) | WED vs. NY Rangers

What We’re Hearing
John Fetterman’s absence could lead to the first veto of President Joe Biden’s presidency as Joe Manchin said he would support a Republican-led effort to undo a local D.C. law lowering mandatory minimum sentences for some violent crimes.

Happy Birthday
Cake and candles for Sen. Anthony H. Williams and Jessica Chau of Rep. Summer Lee’s office.

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Top Story

1. PA Lawmakers Consider Issuing a Subpoena to Norfolk Southern

“About 40% of the hundreds of thousands of railroad freight cars that roll through Pennsylvania annually carry hazardous materials, a rail industry official told lawmakers Monday, but the U.S. Constitution prevents the state from setting comprehensive rules for how they operate.

The testimony at a state Senate Transportation Committee hearing on the catastrophic Feb. 3 derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, came on the same day another committee scheduled a possible vote on issuing a subpoena to the CEO of Norfolk Southern, operator of the derailed train.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Related

PA Democratic Delegation Calls For Suspension Of Rail Rule. “Seven PA Democratic representatives called on Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to formally suspend a rule proposed by the Trump administration that allows for the transportation of Liquified Natural Gas by rail “without the necessary operational controls, equipment standards, and accident response protocols,” they wrote.” (POLITICO)

PA Senate Panel Learns There’s Little The State Can Do To Implement Own Rail Rules. “In light of the disastrous train derailment near the Pennsylvania-Ohio border earlier this month, the Pa. Senate Transportation Committee held a hearing Monday on railroad regulations — or, in many ways, the lack thereof.” (Tribune-Review)

‘Right Through Johnstown’: Counties Say They Prepare For Rail Emergencies, Hazardous Materials. “A Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic vinyl chloride was heading to Johnstown before crashing in East Palestine, Ohio, local authorities said.” (Tribune-Democrat)

Harrisburg

2. PA Senate Dems Urge Vote On House-Approved Proposals Providing Relief For Abuse Survivors

“Pennsylvania Senate Democrats argue that the upper chamber hasn’t fulfilled a commitment to providing relief for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, urging their Republican colleagues to pass a standalone bill letting now-adults file otherwise outdated lawsuits against their abusers.

And now that lawmakers in the upper chamber have returned to Harrisburg after more than a month-long break caused by organizational delays in the House of Representatives, Senate Democrats want Republicans to act on two pieces of House-approved legislation that propose a two-year window for survivors to pursue civil lawsuits against their abusers and the institutions that covered up their crimes.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

Related

Senate Democrats Call On GOP For a Vote On Giving Childhood Sex Abuse Victims Access to Justice. “Pennsylvania Democratic senators are calling on their Republican colleagues to give past survivors of childhood sexual abuse a chance for justice.” (PennLive)

PA House GOP Slams Dems Over Harassment, Rules. “The beginning of the newest regular session of the Pennsylvania House was delayed again Monday with a shift to a non-voting session day, moving Republicans to once more criticize Democrats for failing to organize.” (CNHI News)

‘Stay Tuned For Our Budget:’ PA Lt. Gov Davis Teases Shapiro’s Spending Priorities. “The question of how Pennsylvania policymakers will meet a state court’s mandate to fix the commonwealth’s school funding system could loom large when Gov. Josh Shapiro makes his first budget address to a joint session of the state House and Senate next week.” (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

See How Your PA County Ranks On Voter Friendliness. “Where you live in Pennsylvania determines many of the options you have to cast a ballot and ensure it was counted, resulting in vastly unequal access.” (Spotlight PA)

Charter School Reform Has Become Like ‘Groundhog Day’ In PA, Advocates Say. “More than 90% of Pennsylvania school boards have passed a resolution urging the General Assembly to take action to alter the way charter schools are funded and to impose stricter accountability and transparency rules.” (PennLive)

Around The Commonwealth

3. No Updates On Fetterman’s Condition

“U.S. Sen. John Fetterman is being briefed on Senate business and news but his staff said Monday they have “no real news” about his health as he remains hospitalized for depression.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Related

Top Five Questions Surrounding Biden Student Debt Relief Fight At Supreme Court. “President Biden’s student loan plan will get its final shot at victory Tuesday at the Supreme Court when the majority-conservative court prepares to hear arguments that will determine the fate of up to $20,000 in debt relief for millions of Americans.” (The Hill)

GOP Leaders Signal Support For David McCormick In PA’s 2024 Senate Race. “A football legend who held a gun to his ex-wife’s head. Rivals who nearly brawled during a televised debate. A venture capitalist who voiced sympathy for the Unabomber. And that’s just to name a few.” (AP)

After Midterm Losses, PA Republicans Warm Up to ‘Ballot Harvesting,’ Mail-In Voting. “MAGA Republicans in Pennsylvania often refer to the debunked conspiracy film “2000 Mules” to bolster their assertions that the 2020 election outcome was fraudulent.” (PhillyBurbs.com)

Philly Progressives Are Building a New Political Machine. 2023 Will Test It. “Over the past six years, progressives in Philadelphia have scored a series of victories that have shaken the city’s political scene, and this year, they’re looking for their biggest win yet: the mayor’s office.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Is There a Front-Runner In The Philly Mayor’s Race? “Mayoral elections aren’t like high-profile Senate or presidential races. We don’t have tons of polling to gauge how people are feeling about the candidates, so it can be hard to say who is pulling away from the pack in this huge field.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

What Darrell Clarke’s Resignation Means For The 2023 Election. “The City Council president announced he will not run for reelection in the 5th District, which he has served since 1999. Philly 3.0’s engagement director lays out how that will affect Council races this spring.” (Philadelphia Citizen)

Allegheny County Democrats Prepare For Endorsement Meeting. “In a year of transition, the Allegheny County Democratic Committee’s endorsement meeting could provide some insight into the direction the County may take over the next year.” (PoliticsPA)

Lancaster County Government Bans Tik-Tok For Employees Over Security Concerns. “Lancaster County government is banning the use of a popular video sharing social media app on any devices employees use for county business, citing cybersecurity concerns.” (LNP)

Coal Township Asks PA Supreme Court to Hear Permit Fee Case, Claiming Kickback Scheme. “Coal Township has petitioned the highest court of Pennsylvania to review a lower court’s order that found in favor of Northumberland County regarding excessive permit fees during the construction of the county jail.” (Daily Item)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

• Democrats Put Political Expediency Above Accountability in Harrisburg. (Christine Flowers, Broad + Liberty)
• Depression Doesn’t Have to Stop or Kill John Fetterman. (Jeffrey Gerritt, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• PA Is Ready to Help With Medicaid Changes. We Need Your Help Too. (Val Arkoosh, PA Capital-Star)
• God Bless The Pitch Clock. And Pizza-Box Bases. Baseball Is Fun Again. (Rick Reilly, Washington Post)
• The GOP’s 2024 Presidential Debate Pledge. (Wall Street Journal)
• Where Is All The Education Money Going? (David P. Hardy, Tribune-Review)
• Regulate ‘Skill” Games; Fix Lobby Laws. (Lewistown Sentinel)

1 Thing

5. Inflation for the Tooth Fairy?

The Tooth Fairy’s payout for a single lost tooth is at a record high with the average gift reaching $6.23. That’s a 16.2 percent boost from 2022 and a 379% increase since 1998.

The numbers come from Delta Dental’s 2023 annual poll which surveyed 1,000 parents of kids 6–12.

The company predicts that it is possible that by 2048 the Tooth Fairy could be leaving as much as $30 under the pillow for a single tooth. (Axios)

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