????  Good Morning. It’s Wednesday.

????  Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. Everyday Is A Winding Road. Sheryl Crow

PA Weather
☀️  Meyersdale | Mostly Sunny, 83
☀️  Jersey Shore | Mostly Sunny, 85
☀️  Lansdale | Mostly Sunny, 85

PA Sports
⚾  Phillies (58-43) | Boston 4-1 | Wed vs. Boston
⚾  Pirates (41-61) | Detroit 8-5 | Tue-Wed vs. Detroit

????  What We’re Hearing. “Is this an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars? Because now he’s hiring staff for showtime, when what we really need is substance,” said state Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill.

????  What We’re Also Hearing. “Pennsylvania firefighter union chief Bob Brooks is gearing up to run as a Democrat in toss-up PA-07, per two Pennsylvania Democratic sources. Brooks, a 20-year veteran of the Bethlehem FD, would be the fourth major candidate running against GOP Rep. Ryan Mackenzie.”

????  DYK? This is the 14th time in the last 21 years that state lawmakers have been late on a state budget.

????️  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.   In 7th District, Medicaid Cuts Emerge As Early Campaign Issue

“After President Trump’s budget bill passed, Democrats and health care groups launched ads against U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in the 7th Congressional District, saying his yes vote has set up rural hospitals for closures and for seniors, veterans and disabled children to lose health care.

The 2026 midterms may be 15 months away, but Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act has emerged as a wedge issue in the race for control of Congress.” (Armchair Lehigh Valley)

Elsewhere

U.S. Olympic Committee Bans Trans Women From Competing in Women’s Sports. “The new policy indicates that the national governing bodies of sports federations in the U.S. must now follow the committee’s lead, the New York Times reports.” (Axios)

Pennsylvania Lawmakers’ Proposed Bill Aims to Capitalize On U.S. Steel-Nippon Deal. “State Sen. Nick Pisciottano, state Rep. John Inglis, and multiple other elected officials in Harrisburg recently proposed a bill known as Fueling Opportunities for the Revitalization, Growth, and Efficiency of Steel (FORGES), which aims to help steelmaking facilities in Pennsylvania.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

John Fetterman Introduces Bill to Block Businesses From Going Cashless. “The Pennsylvania Democrat introduced the “Payment Choice Act of 2025″ last week. The bill would require any in-person business at a physical location to accept cash in amounts up to and including $500 per transaction.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

State

2.   Shapiro Nearly Doubles the Number of Staffers Dedicated to Communicating His Agenda

“You can learn a lot about Gov. Josh Shapiro from his social media accounts. Or, at least, you can see what the potential presidential contender and his staff want you to know.

From short clips in which he touts his support for raising the minimum wage and preserving abortion rights to videos in which he reacts to residents’ messages, the scope of the Pennsylvania governor office’s social media operation has broadened significantly since Shapiro, a first-term Democrat, took office in 2023.

Shapiro’s social media machine is fueled by a staff that has nearly doubled in size since his predecessor, Gov. Tom Wolf, left office.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Elsewhere

Fun With Maps: PA Voter Registration by County (July 2025). “While Republicans are seeing red and Democrats are feeling blue, it is independent and third-party voters that continue to show increases in the latest voter registration numbers from the Department of State.” (PoliticsPA)

What’s At Stake Over Proposed Increase in Mass Transit Funding in PA? . ““If they cut the 32 bus especially, there goes my job. There goes my place to live. It’d put my freedom on the line.”” (Penn Capital-Star)

Electric Grid Operator Says Settlement of Complaint Filed by Shapiro Tamped Down Prices. “The just-completed wholesale capacity auction resulted in an auction “clearing price” of $329.17 per megawatt day. That figure was right at a new “cap” established in a settlement that was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission following Mr. Shapiro’s complaint.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Defendants Argue to State’s High Court That a Pennsylvania DA Has Been Misusing the Death Penalty. “Two men accused of homicide and facing a potential death sentence if convicted asked Pennsylvania’s highest court Tuesday to restrict a county prosecutor’s pursuit of the death penalty, accusing him of misusing it to pressure defendants into guilty pleas or get them to turn state’s evidence.” (AP)

Around The Commonwealth

3.  This PA College Made Dramatic Cuts to Avoid Closure. Experts Say Its Financial Future Is Still Murky

“Albright College says it ended its recent fiscal year with a more than $10 million surplus, zeroing out its deficit by slashing operational costs, eliminating half of its full-time staff, and selling unused property and other assets.

Albright’s financial struggles are not unique. It is one of several small colleges or universities in Pennsylvania grappling with major challenges due to declining enrollment, an issue facing higher education nationwide.” (Spotlight PA)

Elsewhere

The Battle for the Bible in Trump’s America: Christianity, Capitalism, and the Poor. “As Project 2025 reshapes the nation, faith leaders in Pennsylvania are reclaiming religion from extremists — one root canal, one prayer, one protest at a time.” (LA Progressive)

After Years of Secrecy, Penn State Board Discloses Details of Closed-Door Meetings. “The disclosures are mandated by a recent legal settlement between the university and Spotlight PA over alleged violations of the Sunshine Act, the state law that sets the transparency rules for public bodies.” (Spotlight PA State College)

Radnor Votes 6-0 to Become Sanctuary City. “The commissioners voted to bar Radnor police from assisting federal immigration enforcement, passing a resolution that blocks cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during non-criminal investigations.” (DV Journal)

Editorial

4.  Speak Your Mind

• State Lawmakers Blow Past Budget Deadline Again, But Others Pay the Consequences. (LNP)
• A False Claims Act Can Help Fill Pennsylvania’s Budget Gap. (Eric Weitz) 
• PA Is Better Off When Americans and Chinese Learn, Trade, Research, and Innovate Together. (Eric Hartman and Jessica Sun)
• Dwight Evans’s Legacy in Philadelphia Started With a Clipboard, Not a Title. (Chad Dion Lassiter)
• Young Voters Are Shifting Right, and It’s Upending Western Elections. (Tom Rodriguez)
• The Pro-Worker, Pro-Family Path: How Republicans Can Strengthen Pennsylvania. (Publius Pax)
• Environmentalists Don’t Want to Talk. (Jeff Nobers)

1 Thing

5.   Chainsaw-Sliced Sandwiches

“You can always get your sandwich customized at Sheetz, but only this Friday can you get them cut in half by a chainsaw.

The intrigue: Sheetz will have influencer Jenna Ceriani, aka ChainsawJenna, on-site in Cranberry slicing burgerz, meltz, and wrapz with a high-powered chainsaw for every customer who purchases a Liquid Death beverage with their sandwich.” (Axios Pittsburgh)

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