🙂 It’s Wednesday. Halfway through the week. Halfway through the month.

PA Weather
🌧️ Waynesburg | Scattered showers, 72
☔ Lancaster | Rain before noon, 65
☂️ Allentown | Early showers, 65

PA Sports
⚾ Phillies (30-13) | NY Mets 4-0 | Wed-Thu vs. NY Mets
⚾ Pirates (19-24) | Milwaukee 3-4 | Wed vs. Milwaukee
⚽ Union (3-5-3) | Wed vs. New York City FC

👂 What We’re Hearing. “Josh has wanted to be president since middle school. He’s relentlessly ambitious. The moves that he has made have been tactical all the way along. And quite frankly, who’s to stop him? He’s very very good as a politician.” – David N. Taylor, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association

🎸 Daily Bruce. “My tires were slashed and I almost crashed but the Lord had mercy. My machine she’s a dud, I’m stuck in the mud somewhere in the swamps of Jersey.” – Rosalita

🗞️ Pennsylvania. The Ultimate Swing State. Where can you find all the latest news on what’s happening in Keystone State politics? Sign up for the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’ll deliver all the latest headlines in an easy-to-read format every weekday at 8 AM. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and subscribe now.

Top Story

1. Once a Wedge Issue, Abortion Now A Rallying Cry For Biden, Democrats In Pennsylvania

“It wasn’t that long ago that a Democratic congressman representing a place like Beaver County would avoid talking about abortion as much as possible. Chris Deluzio, whose district includes Beaver alongside a swath of Allegheny County, is taking a different tack.

Traditionally, white working class Democrats have skewed more conservative on abortion. But many small-town Democrats have been trending toward Republicans regardless. And the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in the Dobbs case — which overturned the constitutional right to an abortion enshrined for a half a century by Roe v. Wade — reshuffled the deck for both parties. There are signs everywhere that an issue Democrats once avoided has become now a rallying cry.” (WESA)

Related

McCormick Pledges Only Two Terms If Elected. “Republican candidate Dave McCormick placed term limits on himself if he should win the U.S. Senate race against three-term Democratic incumbent Bob Casey, Jr., pledging to serve only two terms.” (PoliticsPA)

New List Rates The Most Bipartisan Members Of Congress—And The Least. “Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins and Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick were the most bipartisan members of Congress last year, according to a newly released analysis from the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University.” (Penn Capital-Star)

CNX Plans $1.5B Hydrogen Fuels Plant At Pittsburgh Airport, But Wants Federal Tax Credit To Build It. “The announcement comes as Biden’s administration decides how to tailor billions of dollars in tax credits in a massive effort to build out a hydrogen industry to be a cleaner alternative to fossil fueled energy and slash planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.” (AP)

State

2. Swing State Democrat Takes A Shot At Shaping A Winning Energy Policy

“Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s effort to advance clean energy in a state heavily dependent on fossil fuels has him facing a situation that mirrors President Joe Biden’s reelection challenge: showing that stewardship on climate issues doesn’t diminish his standing as a friend of labor.

If he succeeds, it could fuel support for Democrats’ green agenda — and Shapiro’s own political ambitions.” (POLITICO)

Related

PA Lawmakers Considering Expansion Of Smoking Ban In Casinos. “A renewed push is afoot to close loopholes in Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air Act that would end smoking in casinos – one of the last places smokers can light up inside.” (PennLive)

PA Gaming Makes More Than A Half-Billion Dollars In A Record Month. “In its most recent report, the board said revenue in March was about $554.6 million, eclipsing the previous monthly high of $534.2 million set in December 2023.” (PennLive)

PA Lawmakers Told Of Health Care System Woes; ‘More People Are Putting Off Care Than Ever Before’ “Insurance reimbursements for mental health care are smaller and slower to arrive than those for physical care. That dynamic has caused institutions that specialize in such care to close and force mental health patients who may be about to “escalate into crisis” to wait in traditional emergency rooms.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

State May Ban Non-Compete Agreements For Doctors, Nurses. “Currently, Pennsylvania is one of a dozen states with no restrictions on non-compete agreements.” (The Center Square)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Montco’s Mail Ballot Processing Issues Preview Consequences For November

“Montgomery County officials are working to remedy internal issues that contributed to 183 voters receiving the mail ballots just three days before the primary election last month — endangering their ability to return them on time.

But the county officials said another factor was out of their control — a state law that resulted in just 30 days for county election offices to prepare, print, and distribute ballots before the election.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Related

Cabell Replies To Luzerne County Filing Over Write-In Tally. “Michael Cabell filed a legal response Tuesday in his quest to tally write-in votes, if any, in his tight Republican race for state representative in the 117th House District. His filing describes the Luzerne County Election Board’s legal argument as “nothing but a red herring.”” (Times Leader)

Cyril H. Wecht, M.D., J.D. “On the occasion of the passing of the brilliant and controversial forensic pathologist, Dr. Cyril Wecht, we thought you would enjoy reading the story of his life in his own words. There will never be another like him.” (Pittsburgh Quarterly)

Dairy Farmers In PA Could See Financial Boost From Shapiro’s Proposed Insurance Subsidy. “The governor’s budget pitch includes $5.6 million to create a state subsidy that would lessen sign-up costs for the federal Dairy Margin Coverage Protection Program, which gives farmers direct payments to help them deal with volatile milk and feed prices.” (Spotlight PA)

Ousted Head Of Philly Health Care Workers’ Union Charged With Stealing To Illegally Support Democratic Campaigns. “Prosecutors say Chris Woods, ex-head of District 1199C of the National Union of Hospital and Healthcare Employees, illegally supported candidates in the May 2019 Democratic primary with union funds.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Senate Republicans Have Revealed Their True Colors In Pandering To The Rich. (Angela Valvano)
• A School Choice Revival in Pennsylvania. (Wall Street Journal)
• Between Trump and Biden, What Should Real Republicans Do? (John Danforth, William Cohen and Alan Simpson)
• Our Elections Have Integrity. These Politicians Do Not. (Jackie Calmes)
• Sports Gambling Creates A Windfall, But Raises Questions Of Integrity. (Jared Bahir Browsh)

1 Thing

5. Dolly’s Doughnut Collaboration

“Krispy Kreme is teaming up with the Queen of Country on its first-ever celebrity doughnut line.

The Dolly Southern Sweets Doughnut Collection — an ode to Dolly Parton — launched today and includes four limited-edition doughnuts. The confections will be sold at Krispy Kreme shops and select grocery stores nationwide.

The flavors, darling? First, the Dolly Dazzler Doughnut, a glazed doughnut dipped in strawberry icing — with gold, pink and white glitter sprinkles, and a chocolate “Dolly butterfly piece.” Also: Peachy Keen Cobbler Doughnut, Banana Puddin’ Pie and Chocolate Crème Pie. (Axios)

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