Wow. Where did February go?

We are halfway through the month … too cold for my tastes … but the news never stops, does it?

I’m glad that we are not all (New England) Patriots and thankful that pitchers and catchers have reported to Clearwater and Bradenton.

Here are five things I think I think on the Pennsylvania political scene.

1. The Pennsylvania state budget will be signed, sealed and delivered by June 30.

Yep, that’s a bold statement, given that last year’s budget was not signed until November 12. That statement may even be considered standing out on the end of the plank with the IFO estimating a $6.7 billion deficit as the Commonwealth stares down the barrel of a structural deficit in its budget.

Yes, but it is an even-numbered year. Why does that matter?

There are 203 state representatives and 25 state senators up for election this November. Add to that a gubernatorial race between the sitting governor and the state treasurer.

It is in the best interests of the state legislators to get this done so all remaining time can be devoted to a fall campaign. Can it get done by the end of June? I’ll say that the early negotiations are a sign of progress to come sooner than later. One can only hope that my guess is accurate.

2. Who impressed me at the PA-03 congressional forum?

PoliticsPA, along with the Center City Residents’ Association, sponsored a forum for the candidates hoping to replace Rep. Dwight Evans in the 3rd Congressional District on Monday night. There were five Democratic candidates running in the nation’s bluest district – State Sen. Sharif Street, Rep. Morgan Cephas, Dr. Ala Stanford, Dr. Dave Oxman, and Pablo McConnie-Saad – along with the endorsed Republican candidate Alex Schnell.

The 90-minute forum was respectful and informative, showing that, yes, the day’s issues can be discussed without vitriol.

I felt that two candidates made the most of the moment, introducing themselves to a PCN statewide audience that may not have know much about them – Oxman and McConnie-Saad. Street, who received the endorsement of the 9th Ward Democrats earlier in the day, seemed to carry himself above the fray with the news, while Stanford spoke about her personal story to establish a connection with the audience.

One thing we know for sure … a Democrat will win the seat – again.

3. Making Numbers Sing and Dance

It was Mark Twain who popularized the line, “Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics.”

Since the beginning of time, numbers have been used to make a point, or discredit the same. It’s been said that politicians, in particular, can make numbers “sing and dance.”

Case in point, Republicans who are in favor of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility or SAVE act point to poll numbers that show 83 percent of those surveyed support requiring all voters to show government-issued photo identification to vote.

The drum-banging comes from social media drones who remind you that you need an ID to accomplish everyday tasks such as opening a bank account, verifying eligibility to work, picking up prescriptions and signing legal documents.

The same survey showed 4 in 5 respondents want to make early, in-person voting available to voters for at least two weeks prior to Election Day. Don’t hear as much on that one, do you?

Or the 3 in 4 that was to make Election Day a national holiday?

Or the 59% that want to automatically register all citizens to vote?

While we all (except for political writers) enjoy polls, this is your reminder that polls 1) are a snapshot in time, and 2) are cherry-picked to support the “cause of the day.”

Please take them with the necessary grain of salt.

4. Could Pennsylvania Alone Win Control of the U.S. House?

That is certainly within the realm of possibility.

At a minimum, there are four seats in play in the Commonwealth, including two that The Cook Political Report calls toss-ups.

The Lehigh Valley race in PA-07 and the Capitol District race in PA-10 are the two toss-ups. The PA-08 seat in NEPA leans Republican, while the Bucks County seat in PA-01 is likely Republican.

Could Pennsylvania Democrats flip seats and oust Reps. Ryan Mackenzie, Rob Bresnahan and Scott Perry? Will Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick beat back another challenge to his seat or will PA Dems make it a clean sweep?

Says here that at least two seats will change hands, while a third will come right down to the wire. Would a reelection victory for Gov. Josh Shapiro along Dems to ride his coattails across the finish line? Will low-interest GOP voters turn out when Trump is not on the ballot?

The party in power – read, GOP in 2026 – always loses seats in Congress. While the Senate still appears to be safely in Republican hands, for now, the House is poised to turn blue for the 120th Congress.

Once again, prepare thyself for a long, long election season in the Commonwealth.

5. Some thoughts on ICE

While I believe that most everyone wants our laws to be followed when it comes to immigration, I think we have to agree that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have gone too far.

While ICE officers are law enforcement, I don’t seem to see our local and state law enforcement officers wearing masks over the face. Or failing to display warrants. Or giving due process?

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to bless ICE’s actions and the ripple effects are far reaching. But even President Donald Trump seems to realize a line has been crossed with the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. The president sent in “border czar” Tom Homan to reduce the temperature in Minneapolis, but American cities are still on edge and Pennsylvania is making preparations should the administration target the Keystone State next.

Earlier Thursday, Senate Democrats voted to block a motion to advance a House-passed bill to fund DHS, putting Washington on the brink of a partial government shutdown that will affect more than 260,000 federal employees. On a side note, Sen. John Fetterman, who has a long-standing policy of voting against government shutdowns, was the only Democrat to vote for advancing the measure.

As a result, funding for key agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Coast Guard will lapse on Saturday without further action from Congress. The agencies that are the main targets of Democratic fury, however, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), will be able to continue operations without much disruption.

Is this what we want? Is this what you voted for?

This isn’t about “owning the Libs.” This is about who we are as a country. In the words of the First Lady, “Be Better.”