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🗞️ Headlines. What can Democrats do about John Fetterman? AP House Democrats are presenting the same budget proposal as the governor’s. Who should pay for local state police security? The world’s longest cheese sandwich.
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The most vital story
1. John Fetterman, under fire from other Democrats, breaks with the party’s dictates and often sides with Trump
“John Fetterman he was known, unfortunately, as the guy who had a stroke.
And maybe a man who always wore a hoodie.
It has changed dramatically.” | Fox News
Elsewhere
Fetterman’s support for Trump’s DHS nominee further worsened his needy relationship with Democrats: ‘He has to go’. “Malcolm Kenyatta – a former opponent and ally of Fetterman who said he was “behaving like Donald Trump’s p-intern” – is among Democrats stepping up their criticism.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Democrats Josh Shapiro and Wes Moore face challenges on their way to the White House. “As Democrats begin to evaluate the 2028 presidential field, some of the party’s most closely watched figures face a more immediate test: re-election in 2026.” | Hill
Fitzpatrick and Suozzi talk about ways to end the partial shutdown. “NPR’s Michel Martin talks to Republican Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Democratic Republican Tom Suozzi of New York about possible solutions to a partial government shutdown.” | NPR
Country
2. AP House Democrats present an identical budget proposal to Shapiro’s
“Weeks later Governor Josh Shapiro presented the commonwealth’s $53.2 billion spending plan for next fiscal year, House Democrats shared their own vision – identical to Shapiro’s.
Chairman of Appropriations Representative Jordan Harris (Philadelphia) formally filed the bill with the Legislative Services on Tuesday, highlighting his caucus’s connection to Pennsylvania’s chief executive. | Penn Capital Star
Elsewhere
Scialabba announces his resignation as member of the Butler County House of Representatives. “Butler County Republican Stephenie Scialabba announced her resignation from the 12th Legislative District seat on Tuesday, effective March 31.” | PoliticsPA
PA House (again) approves minimum wage augment. “Stop me if you’ve heard this before. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted to pass comprehensive legislation to raise the minimum wage for workers statewide.” | PoliticsPA
Reps. Kinkead and Green are introducing legislation to bind the legislature’s COLA to minimum wage increases. “Annual cost-of-living increases calculated based on lawmakers’ salaries will be applied to Pennsylvania’s minimum wage under legislation introduced today by State Reps. Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny) and Roni Green (D-Philadelphia).” | PoliticsPA
PA lawmakers are considering optional digital driver’s licenses, photo IDs and vehicle registration cards. “While digital documents would function the same as the physical version and would be REAL ID compliant, drivers would be required to present a physical driver’s license during a traffic stop. This would also be required for the transfer of vehicle title. However, electronic registration cards would be permitted.” | New news about the castle
As the industry booms, Pennsylvania lawmakers are taking the first step to regulate data centers. “Data centers have become a flashpoint across the Philadelphia region and state as residents fear the negative impact mass energy users will have on the power grid and water access.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Who should pay when the state police are the local police in Pennsylvania?
“Pennsylvania State Police covers the two-thirds of the state’s municipalities that do not have their own police department, so the statewide agency is responsible for local patrols in more than 1,300 localities across the state.
This service costs $0 for municipalities, which is a far cry from the $100,000 or more it might cost a municipality or town to join a regional department. A municipality with its own department usually pays millions for insurance USA Today Network
Elsewhere
Attorney Zappala serves a sealed search warrant on the City of Pittsburgh. “The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office issued a search warrant for the city of Pittsburgh on Monday, TribLive has learned. The subject of the search is unclear, as is the scope of the prosecutor’s investigation. The warrant has been sealed for 60 days, according to the District Attorney’s Office.” | TribLive
Currently employed – US Congressman. “Citizen’s Ultimate Job Interview will feature the top four candidates to fill Democratic Rep. Dwight Evans’ seat in Pennsylvania’s Third District. Here’s our community-sourced description of the position they hope to fill.” | Citizen of Philadelphia
Benyo is leaving his position as Lehigh County Elections and Registration Officer. “Timothy Benyo left his position to work for the Committee of the Seventy, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group that focuses on issues affecting voters. Benyo’s departure leaves the county without a top clerk less than two months before the May 19 primary election for the 7th Congressional District, 16th and 18th State Senate Districts, and 22nd and 187th House Districts. | Lehigh Valley Chair
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
1 item
5. Longest line at the Philadelphia airport? Cheesecakes, not safety
“Travellers passing through Philadelphia International Airport on Monday could expect long security lines, but the longest line was for cheesesteaks.
Organizers say they have set a recent Guinness World Record for the longest row of cheesecake sandwiches as 1,291 people lined up in the departures lounge to celebrate National Cheesecake Day. The display far exceeded the previous benchmark of 500 sandwiches. | Related press
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