🌬️  A Windy Wednesday. Still blowing out there.

🗞️  The PoliticsPA Playbook is compiled by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser, click here. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe for free.

PA Weather
☁️ Cranberry Twp | Mostly Cloudy, chance of snow showers, 24
⛅ Cogan Station | Partly Sunny, 24
🌤️ Collegeville | Mostly Sunny, 28

PA Sports
🏀 Sixers (14-20) | Wed vs. Washington
🏒 Penguins (17-17-8) |  Columbus 3-4 (SO) | Thu vs. Edmonton
🏒 Flyers (17-19-5) | Toronto 2-3 | Thu vs. Dallas

🔊 What We’re Hearing. “”There’s a reason H.R.29, the Laken Riley Act, is the first bill we’re voting on in the 119th Congress — and it’s not immigration reform. H.R.29 is carefully written to intentionally erode Constitutional protections, beginning with undocumented immigrants.” – Rep. Chrissy Houlahan

📱  Social Media. PoliticsPA has a number of social media outlets for you to get the latest political news from around the Commonwealth: Twitter | Bluesky | Facebook | LinkedIn

Top Story

1. Joanna McClinton Reelected Speaker of Pennsylvania House

“Rep. Joanna McClinton (D-Delaware/Philadelphia) was reelected Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as the chamber began its 2025-26 legislative session on Tuesday.

McClinton received a second term as Speaker after a 101-101 tie in the first ballot with Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford), the Republican chair. Following the vote, Topper withdrew his name from consideration, clearing the path for McClinton.” (PoliticsPA)

Elsewhere

Philadelphia’s Joanna McClinton Reelected As Speaker, Despite a 101-101 Tie in the PA House. “The Philadelphia Democrat, who was returned to the post in a voice vote, called for continued bipartisan cooperation in the chamber.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

House Session Opens With ‘Feel-Good Story’ of Bipartisanship Over Potential For Deadlock. “A dose of pragmatism and rule changes to give the minority Republican Caucus a fighting chance to advance its legislative agenda helped the chamber with an easy and orderly start to the 2025-2026 session.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Fetterman Cosponsors GOP-led Laken Riley Bill, One of the Few Democrats Backing It. “The bill would require that undocumented immigrants charged with theft be detained by federal authorities. It passed the House with Democratic support.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Deluzio, Boyle Vote With GOP on U.S. House Border Security Bill. “The U.S. House passed its first bill of the 119th Congress Tuesday, a measure that increases migrant detention and is named after a Georgia nursing student whose murder President-elect Donald Trump repeatedly tied to the Biden administration’s immigration policies.” (Penn Capital-Star)

State

2. Kim Ward Reelected Pennsylvania Senate President, and Broadly Outlines Republican Agenda

“On Tuesday, the first day of the new legislative session, the Republican-controlled Pennsylvania Senate reelected Sen. Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) as Senate President Pro Tempore.

In a speech to the Senate following her unchallenged reelection, Ward highlighted what she called “a lot of big items on our agenda in Pennsylvania.”

Issues Ward highlighted included many that Republicans and Democrats have struggled to compromise on in the past, including transportation funding, school choice and cost cutting.” (Penn Capital-Star)

Elsewhere

Who’s In Charge

• Kim Ward Reelected President Pro Tempore of PA Senate. (PoliticsPA)
• House Dems Select Leadership, Committee Chairs. (PoliticsPA)
• Senate Republicans Announce Leadership Team. (PoliticsPA)

Governor’s Office Forced to Reveal Why It Spent $368K on Private Law Firms. “An ethics investigation. Federal and state grand jury probes. Advice on taxes. These are the reasons the administration of former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf spent tens of thousands of public dollars to hire private law firms — information that both Wolf’s office and, for the past two years, top lawyers for Gov. Josh Shapiro have furiously fought to keep secret.” (Spotlight PA)

PA Treasurer Among 15 Nationwide Urging States to Divest Pension Funds From China. “Joining with the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board and other state officials, they argue ‘investments in China are no longer prudent investments’” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

What Happened With the Investigation Into Voter Registration Applications in York County? “Investigators from York and Lancaster counties are still looking into the drop-off of election materials a few weeks before the 2024 presidential election — although details about the probe remain scant.” (York Dispatch)

Around The Commonwealth

3. As Legal Case Takes Shape, U.S. Steel Wary of Activist Investors, Mill Shutdowns

“After a year spent tussling with its closest domestic rival, U.S. Steel may finally have the chance to publicly detail its frustrations with Cleveland-Cliffs, even as the Ohio steelmaker rejects allegations that it did anything inappropriate.

A lawsuit filed by the Pittsburgh steelmaker Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania alleges that Cliffs used public statements and backchannel negotiations to derail U.S. Steel’s proposed merger with Japan’s largest steelmaker, Nippon Steel.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Elsewhere

Sen. McCormick to Open Seven PA Regional Offices. “He said in a statement that the Harrisburg office opened on Monday and that the other six will be opened by the end of next week.” (PennLive)

Sam DeMarco Leaving Allegheny County Council to Join Sen. Dave McCormick’s Office. “The county’s GOP chair has been a member of council since 2016 and was elected party chair in 2019.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Newly Retired Berks Legislator Reflects on Time in Harrisburg. “As many new legislators are sworn in, Rep. Mark Rozzi is celebrating his retirement from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.” (WFMZ)

New Susquehanna County Commissioner Sworn In. “Susquehanna County Commissioner Judy Herschel stepped down for a new position. Veteran and former educator Robert McNamara will serve out her term.” (WVIA)

Editorial

4. What’s On Your Mind

• Donald Trump, Jimmy Carter, and the End Of An Age When Morality Mattered In Politics. (Solomon Jones)
• The Consequences of America’s Broken Moral Compass. (David Reel)
• End of Tollbooths a Step Toward Sanity For the Turnpike. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
• Mark Zuckerberg’s Speech Mea Culpa. (Wall Street Journal)

1 Beverage Thing

5. The Best Hot Chocolate Ever

“Here’s how to make the best hot chocolate ever!

In this video I show you how to make three levels of rich, creamy hot chocolate—perfect for any chocolate lover! Whether you’re new to making hot drinks, looking to upgrade, or ready to master a luxuriously thick Italian hot chocolate, follow along to create your ultimate hot chocolate, with each recipe bringing more warmth, comfort, and flavour.” (Fitwaffle Kitchen)

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