📖 Today’s #PoliticsPA Guide. Alex Pretti’s murder forces AP U.S. senators to test party lines. The most critical issues in the PA governor’s race. Former employees accuse the Pennsylvania Gaming Commission of a toxic and retaliatory work culture. An American bald eagle takes center stage in the Super Bowl.
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Sports PA
🏀 Sixes (24-21) | Apple pie 93-130 | Tuesday vs. Milwaukee
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🔈 What we hear. PA-09 Democratic Candidate Rachel Wallace announced that her campaign raised over $250,000 in the fourth quarter – more than three previous challengers Representative Dan Meuser together.
🔈 What do we also hear?. Six Democratic members of Congress signed on H.Res. 996 calling for impeachment Director of Internal Security Kristi Noem – Representatives Boyle, Evans, Dean, Scanlon, Lee AND Deluzio.
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The most critical story
1. Alex Pretti’s murder forces AP US senators to test party lines
“US senators from Pennsylvania, Republicans Dave McCormick and Democrat John Fettermanthey spoke about killing Alex Pretti37, by federal agents in Minneapolis. Both seem to be pushing slightly against their party’s lines.
McCormick issued a statement Sunday calling for a “full investigation” into the shooting that killed Pretti.
Meanwhile, Fetterman has been perhaps the most staunch supporter of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement program among congressional Democrats.” | Penn Capital Star
Elsewhere
Fetterman says he won’t vote to shut down the government over ICE funding. “U.S. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania said Monday that he will not join a last-minute effort to cut funding to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.” | WHY
Josh Shapiro’s memoir is full of inspiration and featherlight on political content. “Mid-career political memoirs — like Amy Klobuchar’s The Joy of Politics and Gavin Newsom’s soon-to-be-published Young Man in a Hurry — are about protecting the present and setting the stage for the future. And for an ambitious, centrist Democrat like Shapiro, that means going diplomatic.” | Washington Post Office
Shapiro’s up-to-date memoir explores the central role of Judaism in his life and politics. “In ‘Where We Keep the Light,’ the swing democrat offers his most intimate look at the central place of Judaism in his understanding of the world.” | Jewish insider
Poll: American voters want significant reforms in the primaries. “Very majorities of Americans in both parties support requiring states to make congressional primaries open to all voters, according to a new poll sponsored by Unite America and shared first with Semafor. Seven in 10 registered voters surveyed in a nationwide survey conducted by RealClear Opinion Research want to make the primaries accessible, while only 20% oppose it.” | Traffic lights
Country
2. What are the most critical issues in the AP governor’s race?
“There will be plenty of verbal sparring in this year’s governor’s race, but what are the most critical issues Pennsylvania voters want Democrats to address? Governor Josh Shapiro and a putative Republican Party claimant state Treasurer Stacy Garrity address?
Well, if recent polls provide an correct picture, the economy and health care will be at the top of voters’ lists from now until Election Day on November 3.’ | PennLive
Elsewhere
PA Latino lawmakers want greater protections for immigrants and call on Shapiro to end his cooperation with ICE. “Leaders of the state Legislative Latino Caucus are calling on Gov. Josh Shapiro to use the “full scope of his executive and administrative authority” to protect immigrant communities, including ending cooperation with ICE and prohibiting the sharing of sensitive personal information with federal immigration authorities. | PennLive
After the ICE shootings, AP MP calls for reforms or freezing of funds. “A group of Pennsylvania Democrats is pushing Congress to halt funding for federal immigration authorities until officials implement security reforms and accountability measures to prevent overspending.” | USA Today Network
Why Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro Guest on Colbert Won’t Trigger the FCC’s Equal Hour Rule. “Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro is a guest on Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show Monday and FCC Chief Brendan Carr can’t do anything about it or as a result.” | Hollywood reporter
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Two former employees accuse the Pennsylvania Gaming Commission of a toxic and retaliatory work culture
“Two former Pennsylvania Game Commission employees say the commission’s Harrisburg headquarters had a toxic work environment in which its human relations department felt emboldened to target employees with harassment while senior management looked the other way. The commission called the claims “disingenuous.”
Both women say that as health concerns became part of their professional lives – whether through disclosures, requests for accommodations or related discussions – they faced increasing criticism and discipline. One left, the other was fired.” | Wide + Freedom
Elsewhere
Philadelphia lawmakers want to limit cooperation with ICE and ban agents from wearing masks. “Philadelphia lawmakers intend to consider legislation that would make it more difficult for ICE to operate in the city, including limiting the sharing of information, restricting operations on city-owned property and prohibiting agents from concealing their identities.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
McClinton exercised her power carefully as PA House Speaker. Now she speaks out on behalf of home care workers. “On a freezing day in January, Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton delivered food to a West Philly home, just minutes from her district office, and listened as Sheila Alexander discussed the mosaic of care she had created for herself.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
GOP U.S. House candidate in PA Swing raises ICE funding issue. “One of the most vulnerable Republicans in Congress in Pennsylvania is fighting his Democratic challenger over ICE operations in Minnesota after a deadly weekend of violence.” | PennLive
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
1 item
5. Lincoln the Bald Eagle soars into the Super Bowl spotlight
“Lincoln, Philadelphia’s beloved bald eagle, is going to the Super Bowl.
Message management: Lincoln appears in up-to-date 60-second Budweiser “American Icons” spot from Oscar-nominated director Henryk Alex-Rubinaired during Super Bowl LX.
Catch up: The famed 27-year-old raptor began his second act as a “good luck charm” by escaping during national anthem home games. | Axios Philadelphia
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