☀️ Good morning. It’s Tuesday.
Headlines. There are obstacles on the way to signing the PA budget. Will Shapiro and Garrity debate? Pittsburgh is racing to tax gaming terminals. Is Philadelphia the “Paris of America”?
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What’s happening today. President Donald Trump comes to Pennsylvania stopping at the Mack Truck facility in Macungie tout the economy. The House convenes for a vote at 11 a.m., and the Senate opens its session at 1 p.m.
What we hear. The longest-running gun violence prevention group, Brady: United Against Gun Violence, and its political arm, Brady PAC, announced his support With Paige Cognetti in PA-08.
Tips. PoliticsPA is Pennsylvania’s leading source of unbiased political news and analysis. Tips and press releases can be submitted [email protected].
PoliticsPA Guide was developed by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser click here.
The most significant story
1. One week before the deadline, obstacles appear on the way to signing the AP budget
“Pennsylvania’s current budget expires one week from Tuesday, with the close of the 2025-26 fiscal year on June 30. Any optimism that the up-to-date budget will be in effect by then is best described as lukewarm, even with last year’s four-month stalemate still fresh in lawmakers’ minds.
This does not mean a Democratic-majority House of Representatives, a Republican-majority Senate, and a Democratic Party Governor Josh Shapiro I won’t push through and sign the contract until next week. However, the statements made so far were not binding.” | PennLive
Elsewhere
Pennsylvania’s budget is scheduled to be released on June 30. Will lawmakers implement it? “Pennsylvania’s budget is due by June 30, a constitutional deadline the state has missed as of 2021. What to know about the 2026-2027 budget proposed by Gov. Josh Shapiro and now in the hands of the General Assembly.” | USA Today Network
Deluzio emphasizes the need for Democrats to fight for the American dream. “In a Monday interview with the Pennsylvania Press Club, Republican Chris Deluzio made the case for what Democrats can do to fight for middle-class people. “Fighting for the American Dream must be at the heart of what we do every day in Washington, every day in every election,” said the congressman from western Pennsylvania. | PoliticsPA
Republican PACs Pumped Money into Democratic Primary Elections in Pennsylvania and Other States: Report. “Politico reported that the Conservative Party of America PAC, a super PAC, funded the Real Change PAC and the misleadingly named Lead Left PAC, which spent more than $4 million on Democratic House primary elections in Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey, Nebraska and Maine.” | PennLive
Fetterman celebrates decision to close ICE detention facilities in Pennsylvania. “U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) thanked the Department of Homeland Security on Monday for withdrawing plans to use two warehouses in Pennsylvania as detention centers.” | WHTM
Country
2. Shapiro and Garrity Both say they’re willing to debate this year’s governing race
“For the first time since 2018, Pennsylvanians can have the chance to see their gubernatorial elections come together face-to-face for debate.
Spokespeople for the incumbent Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro and Republican challenger Stacy Garrity told Spotlight PA that both candidates are willing to participate in at least one debate leading up to November’s general election.
Neither wanted to discuss potential details, such as what organization might host him or who they would accept as a moderator. | PA reflector
Elsewhere
Skill games debate, GOP support pose problems for Garrity campaign. “When it ruled that so-called ‘arcade games’ are illegal gaming devices, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court put officials in Harrisburg on high alert. Many officials, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, are running against the clock trying to set rules – and tax rates – for the industry. Meanwhile, Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity appears to be in no rush to take a stand, even though she is a prominent supporter of arcade industry rallies in support of it.” | THAT’S ALL
Shapiro touts the economic impact of the World Cup in Pennsylvania. “Hours before France and Iraq kick off their World Cup match in South Philadelphia, Gov. Josh Shapiro appeared at the FIFA Fan Festival at Lemon Hill. He expects the World Cup to have a significant economic impact on Pennsylvania.” | Central Square
Amid growing outrage, data centers have become an election issue for PA lawmakers. “Ahead of the November election, some vulnerable Republican state senators are supporting data center regulations, citing increased concerns from voters in their districts.” | PennLive
Parker is asking lawmakers to double the school renovation fund to $250 million. “Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker has called on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to double funding for school districts to modernize aging buildings as the Philadelphia School District moves forward with a $3.3 billion plan to modernize 169 school buildings.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Democratic-backed EITC bill clears Pennsylvania House of Representatives. “The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed Democratic-backed legislation to increase oversight of the state’s Education Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, which would redirect funds to students in low-income areas and low-performing schools, expand eligible uses to include child care, and tighten data collection and reporting requirements.” | CapitolWire
Around the Republic of Poland
3. The City Council is racing to tax gaming terminals before the state steps in
“A recent ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court forced the city of Pittsburgh into a mad rush to approve a up-to-date tax that would primarily apply to skill games before state lawmakers created their own regulations.
Alderman Anthony Coghill hopes to pass legislation he introduced last month that would impose a tax on mechanical entertainment devices — which include video slot machines, but also pool tables, jukeboxes, dartboards and claw machines — to provide a up-to-date revenue stream potentially worth millions of dollars. | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Elsewhere
Lancaster County Democrats are attracting national donors in competitive AP House and Senate district races. “Donations from as far away as the West Coast helped Columbia Democrat Brad Chambers and East Petersburg Democrat James Malone outpace their Republican rivals in fundraising ahead of the summer.” | LNP
Next steps regarding slavery exhibit at Independence Mall remain unclear. “After months of legal wrangling over a slavery exhibit at the President’s House in Philadelphia, a federal appeals court sided with the Trump administration. But what visitors will see there on July 4 remains unclear.” | Axios Philadelphia
‘The boom is coming’: Western Pennsylvania coal towns are ground zero for AI data centers. “If you listen to a Pittsburgh Pirates game on the radio, almost every other ad features a local union looking to recruit apprentices. It’s the clearest sign yet of the once-in-a-generation blue-collar resurgence sweeping western Pennsylvania. But the force behind this boom is controversial.” | PennLive
New graduates can find more jobs in Pittsburgh. “Pittsburgh jumped into the top 20 for regions where new graduates can find jobs last year, according to a new study.” | Axios Pittsburgh
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
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5. Philadelphia has been called “The Paris of America.” Here’s what French fans in town for the World Cup think
“Some people call Philadelphia the “Paris of America.” Really.
It may be arduous for locals to understand this title, but there is some truth in the comparison – mainly due to the architectural similarities of the cities. With France in town to face Iraq in the World Cup, here are some of Philadelphia’s Paris connections and what French fans think of the comparison. | Questioner from Philadelphia
Thank you for starting your Tuesday with us.
Have a nice day. See you tomorrow.
