/*! elementor – v3.23.0 – 05-08-2024 */ .elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff} .elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:clear}.elementor-widget-text-editor: not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px} .elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px }.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:line-block}
1⃣ Regards. The long weekend is just one day away.
Pennsylvania Weather
St. Mary’s | Mostly shadowy, rain showers in the afternoon, 79
New Freedom | Partly radiant, chance of showers, 79
Old Forge | Mostly Cloudy, 81
Sports PA
Phillies (78-55) | Houston 0-10 | Thu-Sun vs. Atlanta Pirates (62-71) | Cubs 10-14 | Friday-Sunday vs. Cleveland
Union (6-9-11) | Columbus 0-1 | Saturday vs. NY Red Bulls
What do we hear“Pennsylvania is a must-win state. We’ve seen in every election cycle how important this state has become.” – Lara TrumpRNC Co-Chairs
Did you know?? Today’s Emerson College Swing State poll in Pennsylvania shows Kamala Harris and Donald Trump at 48 percent each. Senator Bob Casey Jr. has a four-point lead over Dave McCormick, 48-44 percent.
You asked for PA News. We deliver. Where can you find the latest news on what’s happening in Keystone State politics? Sign up for the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’ll deliver all the latest headlines in an easy-to-read format every weekday at 8 a.m., and it’s free. Add your name to the list and sign up now.
The most essential story
1. Pennsylvania’s Uneven Economic Recovery Could Help Trump
“Pennsylvania’s economy has not seen the same post-pandemic recovery as other parts of the country, which could pose a challenge for Vice President Kamala Harris as he seeks to earn the trust of voters in the state, who have said the economy is their top priority.
According to the New York Times, Philadelphia added 1,783 more jobs in 2023 than in 2019, up 0.3%, but Pennsylvania has largely failed to keep up with the construction and manufacturing booms other states have seen. Allegheny County is the only large county in the country where total employment has fallen by more than 5% since 2019. (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
Elsewhere
Donald Trump said he ‘brought steel back’ to Johnstown four years ago. He’ll return Friday to bolster his base“Johnstown has not seen a return to steel production under Trump or Biden. It’s the type of town that could help decide the race between Trump and Harris.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
- Lara Trump says GOP will spend money on ‘must win’ Pennsylvania (Bloomberg)
- Trump warns of ‘massive fraud’ with mail-in voting; campaign urges Pennsylvania voters to apply the option. (PennLive)
Vance: Kamala Harris ‘Can Go to Hell’ “Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance criticized Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in Erie Wednesday afternoon as she discussed the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.” (PoliticsPA)
- J.D. Vance says Harris will hurt the trucking industry and raise costs during campaign visit to Erie. (Erie Times-News)
Fetterman uses profanity, insults to mock JD Vance in press release“Democratic U.S. Sen. John Fetterman has a reputation for being rude, and on Wednesday he channeled that energy into attacking Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance.” (Greensburg Tribune-Review)
Decision 2024: Prosecutor General Elections“Democrat Eugene DePasquale and Republican David Sunday face off in race for state’s highest legislative seat” (City and state)
Country
2. Auditor Criticizes PA Over Medicaid-Funded Prescription Charges
“An audit by Pennsylvania’s elected financial regulator found there were deficiencies in the state agency’s oversight of fees paid to pharmacy benefit managers under the Medicaid program, but those claims have been hotly disputed by state officials.
A report published on Wednesday by Auditor General Tim DeFoor said the Department of Human Services allowed $7 million in improper “price spreading” in the Medicaid program in 2022. Price spreading is the difference between the amount the pharmacy benefit manager reimburses the pharmacy for a prescription and the amount it collects from the health plan.” (AP)
Elsewhere
Now that Erie is 25% immigrant, a multiracial coalition could swing Pennsylvania’s state senate“Erie has flipped between Obama, Trump and Biden in recent years, so Pennsylvania’s high-profile state Senate race will likely be a marker of what happens nationally.” (Payout Report)
School choice stance is tough for rural GOP lawmakers“Any risk to what could be not only the strongest bond holding the community together, but also one of the leading employers in the region, could jeopardize the incumbent’s position.” (CNHI News)
McCormick’s Senate campaign, trying to score points, picks the wrong Philadelphia“They got Philadelphia mixed up. In a breathtaking attempt to score political points in Pennsylvania’s increasingly combative U.S. Senate campaign, U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick’s social media handlers appeared to confuse news reports of a series of shootings in Philadelphia, Mississippi, with our own.” (PennLive)
McCormick Touts ‘Bobflation’; Hershey Park Offers Answer“In a case of live fact-checking, Hershey Park has rejected claims by Republican senatorial candidate Dave McCormick that Sens. Bob Casey Jr. and Kamala Harris are raising the prices of Pennsylvanians’ favorite foods and experiences, at least in their area.” (PoliticsPA)
Deluzio, Fetterman present protectionist policies of “Making things here”“U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio and Sen. John Fetterman have unveiled a pro-worker agenda they say will encourage more domestic manufacturing.” (WESA)
Around the Commonwealth of Nations
3. Where is my absentee ballot?
“It is rare that you have to wait for a piece of mail.
Think about it. Bills, flyers, catalogs… not much that would make you run to the mailbox every day.
However… let me present to you for your consideration – a humble ballot.” (PoliticsPA)
Elsewhere
Chester’s plans to save city from bankruptcy by selling water systems are met with opposition“The governor’s plan to throw a financial lifeline to the bankrupt city of Chester and its struggling pension funds by selling water assets will apparently face a dam of resistance.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
Initial revenue projections for Pittsburgh show decline in 2025“It is currently projected to decline by 5.6% in 2025, but see a slight rebound of about 1.6% year-over-year after that, according to a statement from the mayor’s office. An hour and a half later, the administration revised the calculations to a projected decline of 5.5% in 2025, but a slight rebound of about 1.7% after that.” (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
‘Get out of our way’: Speakers defend Chermak, Gaughan maintains criticism of minority affairs commissioner. “In a Sunday op-ed about the potential impact of a likely 2025 county property tax increase, the Democratic majority commissioner accused Chermak, a Republican minority commissioner in this and previous administrations, of ‘being asleep at the wheel’ as county finances deteriorated over the past four years.” (Scranton Times-Tribune)
Former Luzerne County Clerk of the Court who Partnered with Child-For-Cash Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion“Former Luzerne County District Attorney Jill Moran pleaded guilty Wednesday to avoiding paying federal income taxes on legal fees she earned as owner and operator of The Powell Law Group in Drums, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced.” (Voice of the Citizens)
Luzerne County mailbox owners must protect county from ‘whatever happens’“Luzerne County Chief Counsel Harry W. Skene has informed both absentee ballot drop box operators not located on county property that they must agree to release the county from liability for ‘anything that occurs in connection with the drop box’ during the upcoming Nov. 5 general election.” (Leader of the times)
After white supremacist march in Harrisburg, experts say most area leaders are showing how to respond“While many residents and political leaders follow best practices for responding to hate groups, U.S. Rep. Scott Perry does not.” (WITF)
Editorial
4. What do you mean
- Hey, Pennsylvania voters, ready to decide who will win the White House?Jan Baer)
- RFK Jr., Trump, and the Cynicism of Conspiracy Theories. (Jonathan Zimmerman)
- We are counting on counties to protect the vote. (Philip Hensley-Robin)
- Shapiro Discovers a Way to Fight High Drug Prices—Could It Help Kamala Harris? (Paul Alexander)
- If Donald Trump wants to win, more politics and less personal attacks. (Jennifer Stefano)
- Warning about extremism from former white supremacist. (Tony McAleer)
1 thing
5. Reduction in the level of loyalty rewards for hotel guests
“Hotel loyalty programs are becoming increasingly popular, which means hotels have pulled back on actual rewards, Wall Street Journal reports.
To get discounts, upgrades and other benefits, you now need to collect more points than before, especially at popular destinations.
“These programs have gone the same way as the airlines” John Ollilawho analyzes travel loyalty programs, told the WSJ. “They have become less rewarding for those who stay at their hotels, with more emphasis being placed on revenue generated through various partnerships and credit cards.”
Thank you for starting your morning with us.
Please invite your friends
to subscribe to the PoliticsPA handbook
