4/11: If It’s Smucker, It Has to be Good
Lanco Rep Demands Fiscal Responsibility. Here is the PoliticsPA Playbook
April 11, 2025
2 Comments
Lanco Rep Demands Fiscal Responsibility. Here is the PoliticsPA Playbook
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Looks Like We Made It. Enjoy the weekend. We will.
The PoliticsPA Playbook is compiled by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser, click here. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe for free.
Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere. Alan Jackson and special guest
PA Weather
Carnegie | Mostly Cloudy, 51
Steelton | Rain, 47
King of Prussia | Rain, 49
PA Sports
Phillies (8-3) | Atlanta 2-4 | Fri-Sun vs. St. Louis
Pirates (5-8) | Fri-Sun vs. Cincinnati
Flyers (32-37-9) | Sat vs. NY Islanders | Sun vs. Ottawa
Penguins (32-35-12) | Fri vs. New Jersey | Sun vs. Boston
Penn State | Boston University 1-3 (NCAA semifinal)
Sixers (24-55) | Fri vs. Atlanta | Sun vs. Chicago
Union (4-1-2) | Sat vs. NY City
PA Money | Futures (as of 7:38 a.m.)
Dow 🔼 +108.00 | NASDAQ 🔼 +63.50 | S&P 🔼 +17.75
“Lloyd Smucker isn’t a member of the House Freedom Caucus. He doesn’t do fire-breathing Fox News hits. And he doesn’t talk trash about Republican congressional leaders. In no way, in fact, has the 61-year-old Pennsylvania lawmaker ever been considered among the House GOP’s many problem children.
Until now.
A committed fiscal conservative, Smucker has emerged in recent months as a key player in high-stakes negotiations over the GOP legislative agenda, where he has locked arms with the well-known rabble-rousers in the Freedom Caucus to push for drastic cuts in federal spending.” (Politico)
Elsewhere
PA Congressional Reaction to House Budget Bill. “House Republicans came together to pass a budget resolution on Thursday that was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Pennsylvania’s delegation voted along party lines. Here are some of their reactions.” (PoliticsPA)
McCormick Pushes For Term Limits on Members of Congress. “Just three months into his role as freshman U.S. senator, Republican Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania says too many lawmakers are making a career out of their service on Capitol Hill.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
PA Democratic Leaders Say Little After Trump Again Threatens to Defund ‘Sanctuary Cities’. “As President Donald Trump warned Thursday that he was “working on papers” to direct the government to pull federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities, Pennsylvania Democrats stayed largely mum.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Rep. Evans Violates Federal Conflicts-of-Interest and Insider Trading Law. “Another Pennsylvania congressman has raised eyebrows with his stock trading.” (PoliticsPA)
After Calling For a New Review, Trump Now Says He Opposes Any U.S. Steel Deal to Japan. “In a televised cabinet meeting on Thursday, President Donald Trump doubled down on his statement from the day before that he doesn’t want U.S. Steel sold to a Japanese company, but that he would entertain an investment that might turn into something else.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
“The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or SAVE requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
“Requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections is a solution to voter fraud.”
“The House has just passed one of the worst pieces of voting legislation in American history.”
Talk about a difference of opinion.” (PoliticsPA)
Elsewhere
Shapiro Says PA Mass Transit Agencies Face “Dire Situation,” Criticizes Trump Tariffs. “Gov. Josh Shapiro addressed three key issues facing the state and beyond on Thursday during an appearance in Philadelphia. Two tied into the state’s response to actions made by President Donald Trump’s administration: Tariffs and immigration. The third emphasized his support for funding increases for mass transit, as a potential budget fight looms.” (Penn Capital-Star)
U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie Sticks Up For Trump, Musk on National Stage in CNN Town Hall. “The first-term Lehigh Valley Republican praised President Donald Trump for reducing inflation even as the stock market swung wildly in the aftermath of tariff announcements over the past week.” (LehighValleyNews)
SEPTA’s Proposed Cuts Are ‘Catastrophic,’ Say Philly Leaders. “As SEPTA proposed slashing nearly half its service, people across the region expressed shock Thursday at realizing the depth of a fiscal crisis that could cripple the transit network.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
State Lawmaker Wants Share of Political Ad Bonanza. “Pennsylvania generated $1.2 billion in political advertising in 2024. State Rep. Robert Matzie, D-Armbridge, thinks the state should get a piece of that action.” (Times Observer)
PA Supreme Court Hears Arguments For Pittsburgh’s Jock Tax Collection. “The fee often called the “jock tax” is a 3% charge applied to income out-of-state athletes and performers make while using PPG Paints Arena, PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
“Public officials in 16 states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration Thursday to restore access to pandemic relief aid for schools, saying the Education Department’s abrupt halt of hundreds of millions of dollars of promised funding will force cuts to vital services.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan by a coalition of 16 Democratic attorneys general, led by New York’s Letitia James, plus Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, also a Democrat. It claims the administration’s refusal to release the aid violates federal law because it reversed a prior decision to allow states to access the money through March 2026.” (AP)
Elsewhere
Focus Groups: Pennsylvania Swing Voters Voice Tariff Confusion. “Most Pennsylvania swing voters in our latest Engagious/Sago focus groups stuck by President Trump through this week’s drama over tariffs and the stock market, but say he must better explain his strategy and how long Americans should prepare for pain.” (Axios)
Peduto: Pittsburgh Can’t Sue UPMC, Nonprofits Into Contributions. “Nonprofit contributions have reemerged as an issue in this year’s mayoral election campaign, as looming city budget shortfalls collide with the city’s decades-long quest to get its major tax-exempt organizations to help fill fiscal gaps.” (Public Source)
Congressional Republicans Announce Probe of Penn For Tuition and Financial Aid Decisions. “Republican leaders in Congress on Thursday announced an investigation of the University of Pennsylvania and the other seven Ivy League private universities for alleged collusion in raising tuition rates and discrimination in financial aid decisions.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
“Young people are starkly divided by who they vote for, what they do for fun and where they get their news and information, according to new Axios-Generation Lab polling.
Why it matters: Gen Z and young millennials exemplify how social media, news and podcasts have fragmented America into competing realities.” (Axios)
Are You Listening To? Voices of Reason, the podcast from PoliticsPA and Broad + Liberty.
Thank you for starting your morning with us.
And reading the PoliticsPA Playbook
Looks Like We Made It. Enjoy the weekend. We will.
The PoliticsPA Playbook is compiled by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser, click here. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe for free.
Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere. Alan Jackson and special guest
PA Weather
Carnegie | Mostly Cloudy, 51
Steelton | Rain, 47
King of Prussia | Rain, 49
PA Sports
Phillies (8-3) | Atlanta 2-4 | Fri-Sun vs. St. Louis
Pirates (5-8) | Fri-Sun vs. Cincinnati
Flyers (32-37-9) | Sat vs. NY Islanders | Sun vs. Ottawa
Penguins (32-35-12) | Fri vs. New Jersey | Sun vs. Boston
Penn State | Boston University 1-3 (NCAA semifinal)
Sixers (24-55) | Fri vs. Atlanta | Sun vs. Chicago
Union (4-1-2) | Sat vs. NY City
PA Money | Futures (as of 7:38 a.m.)
Dow 🔼 +108.00 | NASDAQ 🔼 +63.50 | S&P 🔼 +17.75
“Lloyd Smucker isn’t a member of the House Freedom Caucus. He doesn’t do fire-breathing Fox News hits. And he doesn’t talk trash about Republican congressional leaders. In no way, in fact, has the 61-year-old Pennsylvania lawmaker ever been considered among the House GOP’s many problem children.
Until now.
A committed fiscal conservative, Smucker has emerged in recent months as a key player in high-stakes negotiations over the GOP legislative agenda, where he has locked arms with the well-known rabble-rousers in the Freedom Caucus to push for drastic cuts in federal spending.” (Politico)
Elsewhere
PA Congressional Reaction to House Budget Bill. “House Republicans came together to pass a budget resolution on Thursday that was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Pennsylvania’s delegation voted along party lines. Here are some of their reactions.” (PoliticsPA)
McCormick Pushes For Term Limits on Members of Congress. “Just three months into his role as freshman U.S. senator, Republican Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania says too many lawmakers are making a career out of their service on Capitol Hill.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
PA Democratic Leaders Say Little After Trump Again Threatens to Defund ‘Sanctuary Cities’. “As President Donald Trump warned Thursday that he was “working on papers” to direct the government to pull federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities, Pennsylvania Democrats stayed largely mum.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Rep. Evans Violates Federal Conflicts-of-Interest and Insider Trading Law. “Another Pennsylvania congressman has raised eyebrows with his stock trading.” (PoliticsPA)
After Calling For a New Review, Trump Now Says He Opposes Any U.S. Steel Deal to Japan. “In a televised cabinet meeting on Thursday, President Donald Trump doubled down on his statement from the day before that he doesn’t want U.S. Steel sold to a Japanese company, but that he would entertain an investment that might turn into something else.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
“The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or SAVE requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
“Requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections is a solution to voter fraud.”
“The House has just passed one of the worst pieces of voting legislation in American history.”
Talk about a difference of opinion.” (PoliticsPA)
Elsewhere
Shapiro Says PA Mass Transit Agencies Face “Dire Situation,” Criticizes Trump Tariffs. “Gov. Josh Shapiro addressed three key issues facing the state and beyond on Thursday during an appearance in Philadelphia. Two tied into the state’s response to actions made by President Donald Trump’s administration: Tariffs and immigration. The third emphasized his support for funding increases for mass transit, as a potential budget fight looms.” (Penn Capital-Star)
U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie Sticks Up For Trump, Musk on National Stage in CNN Town Hall. “The first-term Lehigh Valley Republican praised President Donald Trump for reducing inflation even as the stock market swung wildly in the aftermath of tariff announcements over the past week.” (LehighValleyNews)
SEPTA’s Proposed Cuts Are ‘Catastrophic,’ Say Philly Leaders. “As SEPTA proposed slashing nearly half its service, people across the region expressed shock Thursday at realizing the depth of a fiscal crisis that could cripple the transit network.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
State Lawmaker Wants Share of Political Ad Bonanza. “Pennsylvania generated $1.2 billion in political advertising in 2024. State Rep. Robert Matzie, D-Armbridge, thinks the state should get a piece of that action.” (Times Observer)
PA Supreme Court Hears Arguments For Pittsburgh’s Jock Tax Collection. “The fee often called the “jock tax” is a 3% charge applied to income out-of-state athletes and performers make while using PPG Paints Arena, PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
“Public officials in 16 states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration Thursday to restore access to pandemic relief aid for schools, saying the Education Department’s abrupt halt of hundreds of millions of dollars of promised funding will force cuts to vital services.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan by a coalition of 16 Democratic attorneys general, led by New York’s Letitia James, plus Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, also a Democrat. It claims the administration’s refusal to release the aid violates federal law because it reversed a prior decision to allow states to access the money through March 2026.” (AP)
Elsewhere
Focus Groups: Pennsylvania Swing Voters Voice Tariff Confusion. “Most Pennsylvania swing voters in our latest Engagious/Sago focus groups stuck by President Trump through this week’s drama over tariffs and the stock market, but say he must better explain his strategy and how long Americans should prepare for pain.” (Axios)
Peduto: Pittsburgh Can’t Sue UPMC, Nonprofits Into Contributions. “Nonprofit contributions have reemerged as an issue in this year’s mayoral election campaign, as looming city budget shortfalls collide with the city’s decades-long quest to get its major tax-exempt organizations to help fill fiscal gaps.” (Public Source)
Congressional Republicans Announce Probe of Penn For Tuition and Financial Aid Decisions. “Republican leaders in Congress on Thursday announced an investigation of the University of Pennsylvania and the other seven Ivy League private universities for alleged collusion in raising tuition rates and discrimination in financial aid decisions.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
“Young people are starkly divided by who they vote for, what they do for fun and where they get their news and information, according to new Axios-Generation Lab polling.
Why it matters: Gen Z and young millennials exemplify how social media, news and podcasts have fragmented America into competing realities.” (Axios)
Are You Listening To? Voices of Reason, the podcast from PoliticsPA and Broad + Liberty.
Thank you for starting your morning with us.
And reading the PoliticsPA Playbook
Looks Like We Made It. Enjoy the weekend. We will.
The PoliticsPA Playbook is compiled by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser, click here. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe for free.
Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere. Alan Jackson and special guest
PA Weather
Carnegie | Mostly Cloudy, 51
Steelton | Rain, 47
King of Prussia | Rain, 49
PA Sports
Phillies (8-3) | Atlanta 2-4 | Fri-Sun vs. St. Louis
Pirates (5-8) | Fri-Sun vs. Cincinnati
Flyers (32-37-9) | Sat vs. NY Islanders | Sun vs. Ottawa
Penguins (32-35-12) | Fri vs. New Jersey | Sun vs. Boston
Penn State | Boston University 1-3 (NCAA semifinal)
Sixers (24-55) | Fri vs. Atlanta | Sun vs. Chicago
Union (4-1-2) | Sat vs. NY City
PA Money | Futures (as of 7:38 a.m.)
Dow 🔼 +108.00 | NASDAQ 🔼 +63.50 | S&P 🔼 +17.75
“Lloyd Smucker isn’t a member of the House Freedom Caucus. He doesn’t do fire-breathing Fox News hits. And he doesn’t talk trash about Republican congressional leaders. In no way, in fact, has the 61-year-old Pennsylvania lawmaker ever been considered among the House GOP’s many problem children.
Until now.
A committed fiscal conservative, Smucker has emerged in recent months as a key player in high-stakes negotiations over the GOP legislative agenda, where he has locked arms with the well-known rabble-rousers in the Freedom Caucus to push for drastic cuts in federal spending.” (Politico)
Elsewhere
PA Congressional Reaction to House Budget Bill. “House Republicans came together to pass a budget resolution on Thursday that was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Pennsylvania’s delegation voted along party lines. Here are some of their reactions.” (PoliticsPA)
McCormick Pushes For Term Limits on Members of Congress. “Just three months into his role as freshman U.S. senator, Republican Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania says too many lawmakers are making a career out of their service on Capitol Hill.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
PA Democratic Leaders Say Little After Trump Again Threatens to Defund ‘Sanctuary Cities’. “As President Donald Trump warned Thursday that he was “working on papers” to direct the government to pull federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities, Pennsylvania Democrats stayed largely mum.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Rep. Evans Violates Federal Conflicts-of-Interest and Insider Trading Law. “Another Pennsylvania congressman has raised eyebrows with his stock trading.” (PoliticsPA)
After Calling For a New Review, Trump Now Says He Opposes Any U.S. Steel Deal to Japan. “In a televised cabinet meeting on Thursday, President Donald Trump doubled down on his statement from the day before that he doesn’t want U.S. Steel sold to a Japanese company, but that he would entertain an investment that might turn into something else.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
“The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or SAVE requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
“Requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections is a solution to voter fraud.”
“The House has just passed one of the worst pieces of voting legislation in American history.”
Talk about a difference of opinion.” (PoliticsPA)
Elsewhere
Shapiro Says PA Mass Transit Agencies Face “Dire Situation,” Criticizes Trump Tariffs. “Gov. Josh Shapiro addressed three key issues facing the state and beyond on Thursday during an appearance in Philadelphia. Two tied into the state’s response to actions made by President Donald Trump’s administration: Tariffs and immigration. The third emphasized his support for funding increases for mass transit, as a potential budget fight looms.” (Penn Capital-Star)
U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie Sticks Up For Trump, Musk on National Stage in CNN Town Hall. “The first-term Lehigh Valley Republican praised President Donald Trump for reducing inflation even as the stock market swung wildly in the aftermath of tariff announcements over the past week.” (LehighValleyNews)
SEPTA’s Proposed Cuts Are ‘Catastrophic,’ Say Philly Leaders. “As SEPTA proposed slashing nearly half its service, people across the region expressed shock Thursday at realizing the depth of a fiscal crisis that could cripple the transit network.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
State Lawmaker Wants Share of Political Ad Bonanza. “Pennsylvania generated $1.2 billion in political advertising in 2024. State Rep. Robert Matzie, D-Armbridge, thinks the state should get a piece of that action.” (Times Observer)
PA Supreme Court Hears Arguments For Pittsburgh’s Jock Tax Collection. “The fee often called the “jock tax” is a 3% charge applied to income out-of-state athletes and performers make while using PPG Paints Arena, PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
“Public officials in 16 states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration Thursday to restore access to pandemic relief aid for schools, saying the Education Department’s abrupt halt of hundreds of millions of dollars of promised funding will force cuts to vital services.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan by a coalition of 16 Democratic attorneys general, led by New York’s Letitia James, plus Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, also a Democrat. It claims the administration’s refusal to release the aid violates federal law because it reversed a prior decision to allow states to access the money through March 2026.” (AP)
Elsewhere
Focus Groups: Pennsylvania Swing Voters Voice Tariff Confusion. “Most Pennsylvania swing voters in our latest Engagious/Sago focus groups stuck by President Trump through this week’s drama over tariffs and the stock market, but say he must better explain his strategy and how long Americans should prepare for pain.” (Axios)
Peduto: Pittsburgh Can’t Sue UPMC, Nonprofits Into Contributions. “Nonprofit contributions have reemerged as an issue in this year’s mayoral election campaign, as looming city budget shortfalls collide with the city’s decades-long quest to get its major tax-exempt organizations to help fill fiscal gaps.” (Public Source)
Congressional Republicans Announce Probe of Penn For Tuition and Financial Aid Decisions. “Republican leaders in Congress on Thursday announced an investigation of the University of Pennsylvania and the other seven Ivy League private universities for alleged collusion in raising tuition rates and discrimination in financial aid decisions.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
“Young people are starkly divided by who they vote for, what they do for fun and where they get their news and information, according to new Axios-Generation Lab polling.
Why it matters: Gen Z and young millennials exemplify how social media, news and podcasts have fragmented America into competing realities.” (Axios)
Are You Listening To? Voices of Reason, the podcast from PoliticsPA and Broad + Liberty.
Thank you for starting your morning with us.
And reading the PoliticsPA Playbook
Looks Like We Made It. Enjoy the weekend. We will.
The PoliticsPA Playbook is compiled by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser, click here. Was this email forwarded to you? Subscribe for free.
Your Morning Pick-Me-Up. It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere. Alan Jackson and special guest
PA Weather
Carnegie | Mostly Cloudy, 51
Steelton | Rain, 47
King of Prussia | Rain, 49
PA Sports
Phillies (8-3) | Atlanta 2-4 | Fri-Sun vs. St. Louis
Pirates (5-8) | Fri-Sun vs. Cincinnati
Flyers (32-37-9) | Sat vs. NY Islanders | Sun vs. Ottawa
Penguins (32-35-12) | Fri vs. New Jersey | Sun vs. Boston
Penn State | Boston University 1-3 (NCAA semifinal)
Sixers (24-55) | Fri vs. Atlanta | Sun vs. Chicago
Union (4-1-2) | Sat vs. NY City
PA Money | Futures (as of 7:38 a.m.)
Dow 🔼 +108.00 | NASDAQ 🔼 +63.50 | S&P 🔼 +17.75
“Lloyd Smucker isn’t a member of the House Freedom Caucus. He doesn’t do fire-breathing Fox News hits. And he doesn’t talk trash about Republican congressional leaders. In no way, in fact, has the 61-year-old Pennsylvania lawmaker ever been considered among the House GOP’s many problem children.
Until now.
A committed fiscal conservative, Smucker has emerged in recent months as a key player in high-stakes negotiations over the GOP legislative agenda, where he has locked arms with the well-known rabble-rousers in the Freedom Caucus to push for drastic cuts in federal spending.” (Politico)
Elsewhere
PA Congressional Reaction to House Budget Bill. “House Republicans came together to pass a budget resolution on Thursday that was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Pennsylvania’s delegation voted along party lines. Here are some of their reactions.” (PoliticsPA)
McCormick Pushes For Term Limits on Members of Congress. “Just three months into his role as freshman U.S. senator, Republican Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania says too many lawmakers are making a career out of their service on Capitol Hill.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
PA Democratic Leaders Say Little After Trump Again Threatens to Defund ‘Sanctuary Cities’. “As President Donald Trump warned Thursday that he was “working on papers” to direct the government to pull federal funding from so-called sanctuary cities, Pennsylvania Democrats stayed largely mum.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Rep. Evans Violates Federal Conflicts-of-Interest and Insider Trading Law. “Another Pennsylvania congressman has raised eyebrows with his stock trading.” (PoliticsPA)
After Calling For a New Review, Trump Now Says He Opposes Any U.S. Steel Deal to Japan. “In a televised cabinet meeting on Thursday, President Donald Trump doubled down on his statement from the day before that he doesn’t want U.S. Steel sold to a Japanese company, but that he would entertain an investment that might turn into something else.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
“The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or SAVE requires individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
“Requiring proof of citizenship to register for federal elections is a solution to voter fraud.”
“The House has just passed one of the worst pieces of voting legislation in American history.”
Talk about a difference of opinion.” (PoliticsPA)
Elsewhere
Shapiro Says PA Mass Transit Agencies Face “Dire Situation,” Criticizes Trump Tariffs. “Gov. Josh Shapiro addressed three key issues facing the state and beyond on Thursday during an appearance in Philadelphia. Two tied into the state’s response to actions made by President Donald Trump’s administration: Tariffs and immigration. The third emphasized his support for funding increases for mass transit, as a potential budget fight looms.” (Penn Capital-Star)
U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie Sticks Up For Trump, Musk on National Stage in CNN Town Hall. “The first-term Lehigh Valley Republican praised President Donald Trump for reducing inflation even as the stock market swung wildly in the aftermath of tariff announcements over the past week.” (LehighValleyNews)
SEPTA’s Proposed Cuts Are ‘Catastrophic,’ Say Philly Leaders. “As SEPTA proposed slashing nearly half its service, people across the region expressed shock Thursday at realizing the depth of a fiscal crisis that could cripple the transit network.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
State Lawmaker Wants Share of Political Ad Bonanza. “Pennsylvania generated $1.2 billion in political advertising in 2024. State Rep. Robert Matzie, D-Armbridge, thinks the state should get a piece of that action.” (Times Observer)
PA Supreme Court Hears Arguments For Pittsburgh’s Jock Tax Collection. “The fee often called the “jock tax” is a 3% charge applied to income out-of-state athletes and performers make while using PPG Paints Arena, PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
“Public officials in 16 states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration Thursday to restore access to pandemic relief aid for schools, saying the Education Department’s abrupt halt of hundreds of millions of dollars of promised funding will force cuts to vital services.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan by a coalition of 16 Democratic attorneys general, led by New York’s Letitia James, plus Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, also a Democrat. It claims the administration’s refusal to release the aid violates federal law because it reversed a prior decision to allow states to access the money through March 2026.” (AP)
Elsewhere
Focus Groups: Pennsylvania Swing Voters Voice Tariff Confusion. “Most Pennsylvania swing voters in our latest Engagious/Sago focus groups stuck by President Trump through this week’s drama over tariffs and the stock market, but say he must better explain his strategy and how long Americans should prepare for pain.” (Axios)
Peduto: Pittsburgh Can’t Sue UPMC, Nonprofits Into Contributions. “Nonprofit contributions have reemerged as an issue in this year’s mayoral election campaign, as looming city budget shortfalls collide with the city’s decades-long quest to get its major tax-exempt organizations to help fill fiscal gaps.” (Public Source)
Congressional Republicans Announce Probe of Penn For Tuition and Financial Aid Decisions. “Republican leaders in Congress on Thursday announced an investigation of the University of Pennsylvania and the other seven Ivy League private universities for alleged collusion in raising tuition rates and discrimination in financial aid decisions.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
“Young people are starkly divided by who they vote for, what they do for fun and where they get their news and information, according to new Axios-Generation Lab polling.
Why it matters: Gen Z and young millennials exemplify how social media, news and podcasts have fragmented America into competing realities.” (Axios)
Are You Listening To? Voices of Reason, the podcast from PoliticsPA and Broad + Liberty.
Thank you for starting your morning with us.
And reading the PoliticsPA Playbook
What Should Happen With the U.S. Department of Education?
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