🪖 Tuesday. All roads lead to Carlisle and Defense Peak.
Headlines. The budget ignores hard policy questions. Defense Industry Congregates in Pennsylvania. The Department for Education is targeting Cheltenham. How PA Bird-In-Hand got its name.
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. People must be free. Rascals
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What’s happening today. The Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summitwhich is hosted by Senator Dave McCormickA two-day course begins at the US Army War College in Carlisle.
What we hear. Collection data is starting to be published. In PA-01, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick raised $1.3 million in Q2, while in PA-07, Bob Brooks he also earned $1.3 million. In PA-08, Paige Cognetti over $2 million was raised.
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. AP adopts $50.8 billion budget that sends more money to poorest schools, ignores hard policy issues
“Governor Josh Shapiro signed a $50.8 billion budget that includes huge modern investments in education but does not address regulation of skill games or other pressing policy issues.
The budget does not change the state’s fiscal reality – it spends more money than it brings in. It also does not take into account any modern revenue-generating policy changes, such as modern taxes on tech companies backed by lawmakers from both major parties.” | PA reflector
Elsewhere
AP passes $50.8 billion budget, but key questions remain. “Some of Pennsylvania’s toughest challenges remain unresolved after Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the 2026-2027 budget on Sunday following a rare weekend session of the General Assembly.” | Lehigh Valley Public Media
Here’s what’s in — and what’s not in — Pennsylvania’s $50.8 billion budget. “Pennsylvania’s new $50.8 billion state budget was stretched into more than 600 pages of legislation and took effect on Sunday. New data center regulations, new education funding and more were approved in the sweeping spending package. But some of the most pressing issues facing the General Assembly were conspicuously left out of the final agreement.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
- How did Pennsylvania escalate its rainy day fund in this year’s budget? | USA Today Network
- Pittsburgh-area legislators and advocates celebrate PA budget victories | WESA
- Local legislators comment on the passage of the $50.8 billion state budget | Wilkes-Barre Times leader
- ‘Fiscally responsible’ budget takes billions off the books, says Diamond | Central Square
- How AP’s modern budget could impact Lancaster County state races in November | (*14*)LNP
- What Pennsylvania’s school funding escalate means for Pittsburgh-area districts | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
- Pennsylvania’s budget includes an additional $157 million for Philadelphia schools| Chalkbeat
Country
2. Defense industry flocks to Pennsylvania as U.S. weapons stockpiles hit modern low
“Major defense industry players as well as Trump administration officials will gather at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, starting Tuesday as concerns grow that the county’s weapons stockpile is dangerously low following a series of attacks on Iran.
President Trump himself will join Wednesday’s roundtable as part of the two-day Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit he will host Senator Dave McCormick.
Keystone State companies produce thousands of parts in the U.S. military supply chain, playing key roles in the production of ships, vehicles and weapons, according to a modern report from logistics company Exiger. | New York Post Office
Elsewhere
Bresnahan calls for CDL reforms after the Schuylkill crash that killed a soldier. “In the wake of a fiery crash in Schuylkill County that killed a Pennsylvania state trooper earlier this month, U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan reiterated his support for proposed legislation to prevent people in the country illegally from obtaining commercial driver’s licenses.” | Scranton Times Tribune
PA Taxpayers Paid $34 Million for Legislators’ Sophisticated and Unnecessary Technology. “Under their leadership, the four caucuses of the Pennsylvania Legislature – House Republicans, House Democrats, Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats – are purchasing, operating and overseeing their own technologies rather than collaborating on contracts.” | PennLive
PA Legislature awards millions in no-bid contracts with unclear billing. “According to the Pennsylvania Legislature, there are no regulations requiring bidding for construction work or technology services, which means it can and does select vendors for multi-million dollar projects behind closed doors.” | PennLive
AP lawmakers have just days to set sentencing guidelines for murder cases. Hundreds of cases are on the line. “State lawmakers left Harrisburg on Sunday without approving a new sentencing structure for second-degree murder convictions, all but ensuring Pennsylvania would miss a court-imposed deadline to change a law that the state’s highest court found unconstitutional because it prohibited judges from assessing individual guilt.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Around the Republic of Poland
3. The Department for Education attacks Cheltenham for failing to address sexual misconduct
“Secretary of Education Linda McMahon warned in a letter to a Dear Colleague that schools receiving federal dollars must protect students from sexual misconduct under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Title IX – a federal law prohibiting sex discrimination – or risk losing federal funding.
The department’s Civil Rights Division announced an investigation into 20 school districts, including the Cheltenham School District, that it suspects they are not adequately handling inappropriate sexual conduct between staff and students based on reports submitted to the 2023-2024 Civil Rights Dataset. | POLICY
Elsewhere
PA responds to DOJ letter threatening criminal charges for violating federal voting laws. “Pennsylvania’s top election official responded, as requested, to a federal Justice Department inquiry last week suggesting he could be prosecuted on suspicions of noncitizen voting.” | PennLive
Democrat Stelson’s campaign reports raised nearly $2 million in second quarter in key U.S. House race. “Democrat U.S. House candidate Janelle Stelson raised nearly $2 million in the second quarter, giving her nearly $4.5 million in cash, her campaign said Monday.” | PennLive
Three Philadelphia City Council districts are emerging as key battlegrounds in the 2027 election. “All 17 City Council members appear poised to run for re-election next year, but a wave of challengers is brewing to take on the old guard.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
In the event of a sudden reversal, the county council could abandon its plan to remove its own spending cap. “The Allegheny County Council is changing course and moving to repeal controversial legislation it passed weeks ago to eliminate the spending cap and clear the way for taxpayer-funded expansion.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
1 item
5. Quirky Towns in Pennsylvania: Exploring the History of Odd Names
“With over 2,500 municipalities, including boroughs, towns, and cities, as well as countless unincorporated villages and hamlets, Pennsylvania is full of town names that sound a bit odd.
If you’ve ever wondered how Forty Fort, Bird-in-Hand, and Jersey Shore got their names, we’ve got the story for you. | Key
Thank you for starting your Tuesday with us.
Seize the day. See you tomorrow.
