TGIF. It’s Friday. Do you know where your legislator will be this weekend?
Headlines. Could Boyle and Smucker chair the House Budget Committee? Progress towards an agreement on the state budget? Did the senator make money selling land in an AI data center? Reese’s Pieces Chocolate Chip Cookie Center.
Your morning, pick me up. It takes two. Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock
Weather in Pennsylvania
West Mifflin | Showers and thunderstorms, 82
Elysburg | Afternoon showers, 86
Dorneyville | Mostly shadowy, 86
Sports PA 
Phillies (52-42, 3GB) | Cincinnati 1-0 | Friday-Sunday in Detroit Pirates (47-47, 12.5 GB) | Atlanta 5-10 | Friday-Sunday vs. Milwaukee
What’s happening today. The Senate will meet at 8 p.m. The House of Representatives will vote on Sunday at noon.
What we hear. A PAC majority poll in the House of Representatives points to the Democratic candidate Bob Brooks with a 47-43% advantage over the Republican incumbent Representative Ryan Mackenzie in PA-07.
Tips. PoliticsPA is Pennsylvania’s leading source of unbiased political news and analysis. Tips and press releases can be sent to steve@politicspa.com.
PoliticsPA Guide was developed by Steve Ulrich. To read in your browser click here.
The most crucial story
1. Could Pennsylvania control both top leadership positions on the House Budget Committee?
“Does it take two to make a dream come true?
Pennsylvania could find itself with two members of Congress at the top of the food chain on the House Budget Committee.
One sec Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-02) is currently the committee’s ranking member, the battle is on to see who will be the next top Republican, and in the mix is Representative Lloyd Smucker (R-11).” | PoliticsPA
Elsewhere
Fetterman and McCormick Campaigns are teaming up on a joint fundraising committee. “U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick may be on opposite sides of the issue, but their campaigns have joined forces to create a joint fundraising committee.” | PoliticsPA
Trump fires all members of the Election Assistance Commission, leaving the agency unable to operate. “President Donald Trump fired all three remaining members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission on Thursday, abruptly rendering the only federal agency devoted exclusively to election administration unworkable at a time when Trump was seeking to change federal voting rules.” | Let him vote
Cognetti is proposing to Congress a stock trading ban, time limits and other reforms as part of the oil campaign. “Democratic congressional candidate Paige Cognetti on Thursday unveiled an eight-point anti-corruption reform plan that she plans to get passed if elected.” | WVIA
Country
2. Progress towards a novel state budget? Signs pointing to yes
“It is not quite white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel yet, but there are signs that state budget talks are making progress, with a possible conclusion early next week.
The GOP-controlled state Senate, which adjourned on June 30 to call President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (Westmoreland), schedules committee hearings for Friday afternoon, with a voting session scheduled for Saturday.
The Democrat-majority state House will hold an appropriations hearing Saturday evening, and the full Assembly will convene at noon Sunday.” | PoliticsPA
Elsewhere
The Pennsylvania Legislature will likely recommit to funding mass transit. “Last year, an interim solution eased the pressure to find long-term funding for transit agencies, setting up another high-stakes fight in the future.” | Inside climate news
How “games of skill” exploded across Pennsylvania and sparked a multimillion-dollar political fight. “Parx Casino and Pace-O-Matic have spent millions fighting over gaming policy in Pa. Lawmakers must now decide who wins. ” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Sales Tax Holiday Part of the Budget Debate. “The proposed state sales tax holiday, if enacted, would be the first in a quarter-century in Pennsylvania.” | CapitolWire
Governor Shapiro Open to ‘Radical Reform’ of the US Supreme Court. “I think we need a radical reform that actually ensures that people’s voices are heard and that people’s voices are represented in the three branches of government,” he continued. “We don’t have that right now.” | PhillyDaily
Around the Republic of Poland
3. State senator made $30 million in real estate sales for massive data center expansion
“A Pennsylvania state senator made money from last year’s $30 million property sale to a developer building a massive, controversial data center project in Cumberland County.
Professional real estate agent and chairman of the state Republican Party, Greg Rothman said it was not involved in the June 2025 sale to the data center developer. However, he confirmed that RSR Realtors – the company founded by his father and which he chairs – through its connections with the previous owner of the property “received a property fee solely for the sale of the land.” | PA reflector
Elsewhere
Voices of reason: AI data centers. “In this episode of Voices of Reason, AI data centers are the hottest topic in the Commonwealth. Should we rush to win the AI race against China or slow down our efforts?” | PoliticsPA
PASSHE increases tuition depending on the state budget and increases three-year degrees. “For the second year in a row, Pennsylvania’s public university system voted Thursday to raise tuition, promising that the increase would be refunded if additional funds were received in the state budget.” | PennLive
In a referendum, voters would ask whether the Council should have minority representation. “Efforts are underway to hold a referendum on expanding the Delaware County Council to include up to two new minority party members.” | Delco Times
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- Trump’s all-out attack on free and fair elections undermines confidence in democracy | Questioner from Philadelphia
- Matching the crime to the time of the crime in Pennsylvania | John Wetzel
- What Trump’s Communism Is Missing About Democrats and Democratic Socialists | Gracey Abernethy and Amy Sherman
- Lawmakers face a choice: Invest $110 million in diminutive businesses now or watch Pennsylvania’s economy collapse later | Dan Betancourt and Varsovia Fernandez
- Lehigh Valley vote on energy bill | Oliver Bateman
- Thanks to data centers, PA can reinvent itself | Christopher Brooks
- Heroic Stand 6abc | Larry Platt
1 item
5. Review: I tried Reese’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Pies and ate them by the handful
“In the world of Hershey chocolate confections, Reese’s stands out from the rest. Whether you like original cups, enjoy the crunch of a Take 5 bar, or swallow handfuls of mini cups, there is little to complain about when it comes to the sweet and piquant combination of peanut butter and chocolate. Hand on heart, the best Reese’s candies are the melt-in-your-mouth Reese’s Pieces. They are slightly crunchy from the candy shell, but filled with silky peanut butter on the inside. Even without a bit of chocolate, they are perfectly balanced and completely delicious.
Now Reese’s hopes to up its snack game with the first U.S. update of the classic Reese’s Pieces candy in over a decade, and promises Reese’s fans will love the combination of silky peanut butter with a crunchy chocolate cookie inside. | To go
Thank you for starting your weekend with us.
Look forward to working on a possible state budget agreement.
