Health Care – The Pennsylvania Patriot

June 24 advisory: Trump calls out the Lehigh Valley

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:01:16 +0000

Happy Garba Day.

Headlines. Trump endorses Mackenzie, skips Garrity at Macungie Stop. A novel tactic for changing electoral rules. AP’s network of fraudulent Facebook pages spreads democratic messages. The Underground Donut Tour is coming to Pittsburgh

Your morning, pick me up. Allentown. Billy Joel

Weather in Pennsylvania
Irwin | Sunny, 78
Williamsport | Sunny, 82
Scranton | Sunny, 80

What’s happening today. Both the State House and Senate meet at 11 a.m.

What we hear. This is the result of the Impact Research (D) PA-08 survey Paige Cognetti AND Rob Bresnahan in a virtual survey tie worth LV 500. Cognetti has a 46-45% lead over Trump in the district in 2024 +9.

What we also hear. Originally from Chambersburg General Chris Donahuewho for the past 18 months has commanded the US Army in Europe and Africa – the command responsible for army operations on both continents – suddenly leaves the service and becomes was to announce his retirement today– says an American official.

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 crucial story

1. Trump endorses Mackenzie, skips Garrity at Macungie Stop

“President Donald Trump on Tuesday, stopped in the Lehigh Valley at the Mack Truck plant in Macungie.

While the president talked about many things and introduced many people, one major figure from the state of Pennsylvania was left out. The one he supported.

State Treasurer Stacy Garrity” | PoliticsPA

Elsewhere

Trump punches Mackenzie during the president’s visit to Mack Trucks. “President Donald Trump returned to the Lehigh Valley on Tuesday for the first time since reclaiming the Oval Office, calling on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act and criticizing “stupid ocrats” in an 83-minute speech.” | LehighValley News

Pennsylvania is key to the battle for the house. “In a democracy, every vote counts. But a vote in Pennsylvania tends to carry a little more weight. Once again, the nation’s signature swing state will be key to the fall election cycle, and the results of the November midterm elections will provide an early answer to several important questions looming in 2028.” | TIME

Trump will headline McCormick’s July defense and innovation summit. “Sen. Dave McCormick has once again leveraged his support of President Donald Trump to Pennsylvania’s advantage. A year after the president headlined McCormick’s 2025 Energy and Innovation Summit in Pittsburgh, Axios reports that Trump will headline the senator’s Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit on July 15 at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle. | PoliticsPA

Fetterman casts only Democratic “no” vote as Senate passes measure blocking U.S. action against Iran. “On Tuesday, the Senate voted to block U.S. military action in Iran for the first time as the war approaches its fourth month. The war powers resolution passed with a 50-48 vote. Senator John Fetterman was again the only Democrat to vote negatively.” | PennLive

Teamsters back Bresnahan after members backed Cognetti. “Less than two months after endorsing Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti in her race against U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan at the Pennsylvania Teamsters Conference, the union now supports Bresnahan’s re-election campaign.” | Key

(*24*)Country

2. Trump is trying a novel tactic to change election rules

“The Trump administration is trying to employ federal funds to assert control over how elections are conducted at the state level, a novel tactic that comes after a series of courtroom defeats and the apparent defeat of the Election Security Act in Congress.

The Department of Homeland Security said officials are considering using grant funds awarded to states – along with the threat of withholding them – to “address core national security priorities,” which includes changes to U.S. election security and infrastructure. ” | known

Elsewhere

Josh Shapiro is the most popular politician among Philadelphians – by far. “In a new Suffolk University/Philadelphia Inquirer poll, 62% of Philadelphians have a favorable view of Shapiro, a double-digit increase compared to any other political figure included in the poll.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

Garrity calls for seven debates against Shapiro. “If two is company and three is a crowd, what is seven? That is the number of gubernatorial debates that Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity wants to hold against incumbent Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro during the 2026 general election campaign. ” | PoliticsPA

Voices of reason: a look at the F&M survey. “In this episode of Voices of Reason, host Steve Ulrich talks to pollster Berwood Yost, F&M Poll Director, about a range of topics related to the survey and how people in the Commonwealth are pessimistic about where we are and where we are going.” | PoliticsPA

Perry proposes cutting funding for the Peace Corps and other foreign aid programs. “Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry (R-10) has proposed amendments to the U.S. House Appropriations Act that would reduce funding for the Peace Corps and other foreign aid programs in fiscal year 2027.” | Penn Capital Star

Around the Republic of Poland

3. A network of fraudulent Facebook pages in Pennsylvania promotes a democratic message and is financed by a four-layer shadowy chain

“When a Pennsylvanian scrolls past “Pennsylvania Moms” or “Black PA” on Facebook or Instagram, they see what looks like a community — neighbors sharing frustrations with rising prices, celebrating black culture, asking questions about maternity leave. They don’t see the scheme and the political money they have absorbed.” | Wide + Freedom

Elsewhere

Kosierowski revealed that she had breast cancer. “State Rep. Bridget Malloy Kosierowski revealed Tuesday that she has breast cancer. The Waverly Twp. Democrat said she was recently diagnosed in a short video posted to social media. Kosierowski, who represents the state’s 114th House District, said her cancer was detected during screening and urged others to get tested. | Scranton Times Tribune

Rural emergency care is struggling to keep up with demand for people in ICE custody. “Last Saturday morning, emergency responders drove out of a Pennsylvania immigration detention center with sirens wailing, past more than 20 protesters demanding the detention center be closed. It was the second trip that day for a Moshannon Valley EMS crew to the Geo Group facility. The number of immigrant detainees the crew serves has increased by 44% since President Donald Trump returned to office.” | known

The county council is laying the groundwork for increased spending despite warnings of budget constraints. “The Allegheny County Council approved two resolutions Tuesday that could result in major changes to the 15-member legislative body — one that would remove the spending cap and another that would allow council members to use county funds to hire their own staff and rent district offices.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper

Poll: Philadelphians feel unthreatening and see a cleaner city under Mayor Parker – but schools remain a major problem. “The vast majority of Philadelphians feel safe in their neighborhoods and more than 40% believe the city has become cleaner under Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s leadership, according to a new poll that suggests city residents see significant progress on the mayor’s key campaign promises.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

Editorial

4. What do you think about it?

1 item

5. Underground Donut Tour expands to Pennsylvania with the launch of the New Pittsburgh Tour

“The Underground Donut Tour, the world’s top-rated donut tour, is excited to announce the launch of its newest experience, the Pittsburgh Sweet Treats, Coffee & City History Walking Tour. The new tour marks the company’s second location in Pennsylvania, following the successful launch of its Philadelphia tour in 2019.”

The New Pittsburgh Experience showcases the city’s unique neighborhoods, affluent industrial heritage, impressive architecture and blossoming culinary scene. While exploring some of Pittsburgh’s most iconic locations, guests will be able to enjoy a curated selection of donuts and sweet treats. | EIN crimping wire

Thank you for starting Wednesday with us.
Have a nice day. See you tomorrow.

Beth Ann Rosica: Fifty-four years after Title IX, Pennsylvania girls are still waiting to vote

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:59:52 +0000

Beth Ann Rosica’s writings are a mix of news, opinion and analysis.

Today marks the 54th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark civil rights law passed to protect girls and women from discrimination and ensure equal opportunities in education. For decades, Title IX has opened doors for female students, expanded athletic opportunities, and protected gender-based rights and privacy. But in a stunning reversal of its original purpose, the law is now being used by some policymakers and school districts to weaken the protections it was intended to provide, leaving many girls and women wondering who, if anyone, is still willing to defend their rights.

Enacted in 1972, Title IX broadly applies to schools, colleges and universities receiving federal funds and was intended to prohibit sex discrimination in areas such as admissions, athletics, financial aid and scholarships, academic opportunities and housing. Birch Bayh, a Democratic U.S. senator from Indiana who sponsored and authored much of the legislation, described Title IX as a way to eliminate “the continuation of devastating and unjustified discrimination against women in the American educational system.”

Senator Bayh died in 2019 and would likely be surprised, if not shocked, by current interpretations of Title IX, particularly in Pennsylvania.

Currently, in our community, female students must share bathrooms and locker rooms with male students. Girls are forced to compete with boys in high school sports, often losing out on college scholarship opportunities. Many school districts across the state have policies supporting or mandating this practice.

The situation has become so dire that some lawmakers are trying to pass the Women’s Sports Act to put an end to this nonsense interpretation of Title IX. While Democrats led the way in protecting girls and women 54 years ago, today, especially in Pennsylvania, they are failing women. Currently, Republicans, along with a few common-sense Democrats, are fighting to protect girls.

The Senate, sponsored by Republican Senator Judy Ward, passed the Save Women’s Sports resolution Work over a year ago, with every Republican vote “yes” joined by five brave Democrats. However, work on the bill has stalled due to various manipulation tactics used in the House of Representatives. Referred to by the company as “Committee Roulette”. Pennsylvania Family Councilmost Democrats in the House have spent the last year shuffling the bill to five different committees to avoid a vote by the full House.

Just last week, the House Health Committee again referred the bill to the Judiciary Committee, the same committee that sent the bill back to the Committee on Children and Youth Affairs last March. The chart below shows the antics used by some Democrats on various House committees. The bill has now been sent to five different committees and is being sent back to the same committees for a second time.

Pennsylvania Family Council Chief Strategy Officer Dan Bartkowiak outlined the chamber’s tactics.

“Five committees. Five referrals. Zero votes,” Bartkowiak said. “At this point, the House Health Committee should simply admit that they are running a game show called Committee Roulette… This is what governing looks like when political calculations matter more than transparency. If House Democrats are confident that Pennsylvanians agree with them, they should stop spinning their wheels, stop playing games with women and girls, and let their elected officials vote up or down on the Save Women’s Sports Act.”

Payton McNabb is a former college athlete who was hit in the head by a powerful spike from an opponent, resulting in a brain injury that ended her college sports career. He currently holds the position Independent Women ambassador and speaks out against boys participating in girls’ sports.

“As we celebrate the 54th anniversary of Title IX, it is disappointing that some lawmakers continue to delay votes on legislation to protect women’s sports,” McNabb said in response to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ antics. “Title IX was created to ensure equal opportunities for women and girls, and that promise depends on maintaining fair competition based on gender. As an athlete who has personally experienced the consequences of policies that ignore these differences, I believe that every girl deserves a fair and safe opportunity to compete. Delaying the vote does not change the reality that female athletes are asking their leaders to stand up for the protections Title IX was intended to provide.”

Holly Magalengo is a Bucks County mother of two teenage girls who filed a lawsuit on her daughter’s behalf because she was forced to compete against an athlete in multiple cross country and track and field events during high school. She attended a committee meeting last week with her daughters and left “furious.”

“My two daughters who participated were able to see in real time the complete failure of our democratic system,” Magalengo said. “The House Health Committee hearing revealed a disappointing failure of Democratic majority leadership. By actively avoiding a vote on this commonsense legislation, these officials are neglecting the basic responsibilities of their office.”

Magalengo works with parents across the state to aid educate people about what’s really at stake for girls and women.

“Our team remains focused on coordinating efforts with a politically diverse coalition of organizations dedicated to protecting women’s athletics and single-sex spaces. Pennsylvanians, from the far left to the moderates to the far right, are uniting around this issue. The current political climate in Harrisburg demonstrates exactly why legal challenges must continue to protect women until the Democratic majority stops stalling and sends these bills to the House for a full vote.”

Magalengo and the track team come together to advocate for the Save Women’s Sports Act. Photo courtesy of Magalengo.

Meanwhile, across Pennsylvania, girls and women regularly compete with and share bathrooms and locker rooms with boys and men, resulting in numerous complaints.

Recently, in the Upper Perkiomen School District, Jan Madeira filed a Title IX complaint because her daughter was upset after a student was allowed to utilize the girls’ bathroom in her presence. The district does not have a policy regulating the utilize of bathrooms; however, accepted practice appears to allow students to utilize the bathroom of their choice.

“Many parents are concerned about policies that allow biological males to use girls’ bathrooms because they believe these spaces should remain segregated by gender to protect the privacy and comfort of all students,” Madira said. “For many families, this is not about hostility towards a specific student; it is about recognizing that adolescent girls may feel uncomfortable sharing intimate spaces such as bathrooms and locker rooms with biological males. Parents are asking school leaders to develop policies that respect the dignity of each student while maintaining the privacy, safety and parental expectations of gender-separated spaces.”

Upper Perkiomen did not respond to a request for comment, and Madera is meeting with the district today regarding the complaint she filed.

Alexis Pasternak, a Haverford School District parent, filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights regarding policy for transgender students. Unlike Upper Perkiomen, Haverford’s policy specifically mandates that transgender students be allowed to utilize the bathroom and locker room of their choice, in addition to competing on the sports team of their choice.

Pasternak is also disgusted with the House’s tactics.

“In 2022, the HB972 Women’s Sports Integrity Act passed the House and Senate. Governor Wolf ultimately vetoed it, but at least we knew where our representative stood,” Pasternak said. “Why the Olympics this time? We deserve to know where our representatives stand in 2026 and whether any of this legislation should make it to Governor Shapiro’s desk, where he also sits.”

Bruce Chambers, a resident and former superintendent of the Great Valley School Board in Chester County, also filed a federal complaint against the district over a very similar policy like Haverford’s, which allows male students to utilize the girls’ bathroom and locker room and compete on the sports team of their choice.

“Last year, I filed a civil rights complaint against the Great Valley School District after reading that the Office for Civil Rights was already investigating school districts across the country that were implementing policies identical to those in Great Valley,” Chambers said. “It is common sense to note that Title IX is about gender, not what a student or student may think. Without common sense, the Great Valley School Board has developed a policy that states that transgender or gender expansive students may use the restroom and locker rooms that correspond to their gender identity and participate in sports teams and other activities that correspond to their identity, including sleeping on overnight trips.”

Both federal complaints are currently under investigation.

Fifty-four years ago, Title IX was a bipartisan promise that girls and women would no longer be treated as second-class citizens in education. Today that promise is being put to the test. The question facing Pennsylvania lawmakers is basic: Will they uphold the bill’s original purpose and protect the rights of female students, or will they continue to delay, evade and avoid responsibility? Girls across the Commonwealth deserve answers and they deserve a voice. History will remember who stood up for them and who stood in their way.

Beth Ann Rosica lives in West Chester and holds a Ph.D. in education and has dedicated her career to advocating for at-risk children and families. He deals with educational issues, including: Wide + Freedom. Contact her at [email protected].

June 22 Guide: Garrity focuses on upcoming tasks

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:57:16 +0000

Happy summer. It is the first full day after the summer solstice

Headlines. Garrity focused on demanding work. The state regulator’s report is still under wraps. A huge data center swallows a compact coal town in PA. Smith Coaching for Aspiring Teachers.

Your morning, pick me up. A wonderful day. Bill Withers

Weather in Pennsylvania
Pittsburg | Rains, storms, 78
Harriburg | Afternoon showers and thunderstorms, 79
Philadelphia | Rains and storms during the day, 84

What’s happening today. The House convenes for a vote at noon, and the Senate opens its session at 1 p.m.

What we hear. Governor Josh Shapiro is scheduled to take part in his second World Cup match and will watch the Iraq-France game in Philadelphia on Monday in the stands at Lincoln Financial Field. Shapiro is also expected to visit the FIFA Fan Zone ahead of the match.

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. Stacy Garrity on potentially being Pennsylvania’s first female governor: “It’s my least favorite thing to talk about”

“If elected in November, Stacy Garrity became the first female governor of Pennsylvania in the state’s 238-year history.

The state’s governor has never been a woman; no woman has been elected as a U.S. senator; and every time a woman ran for president, she lost the state. Over the past two centuries, Pennsylvania’s political glass ceiling has proven consistently resistant to cracks.

But on the campaign trail against Democrats Governor Josh ShapiroGarrity (62) said she didn’t attach much importance to it Questioner from Philadelphia

Elsewhere

AI proxy warfare could change Congress – before Congress changes AI. “Artificial intelligence industry groups are pumping money into the midterms in hopes of shaping future AI regulations. Across the country, AI and technology groups are trying to influence elections, from Senate races to local office, even as Americans see growing discomfort with the consequences the technology has on jobs, energy bills and society. ” | NPR

Ratings Changes: 11 House races are moving toward Democrats. “Another month and another round of ratings changes that will benefit Democrats. But according to a district-by-district analysis of the House battleground, the Republican majority in the House is not yet lost. However, Pennsylvania’s 8th District has moved from Tilt Republican to Toss-Up. ” | Roll call

PA has high special education needs. What federal change could mean. “Oversight of special education is being moved away from the U.S. Department of Education, federal officials announced, in a move many disability advocates have decried as potentially fragmenting critical programs. The change could have particular effects in Pennsylvania, which has one of the nation’s highest percentages of students with disabilities.” | USA Today Network

Country

2. Records show Watchdog’s elder abuse investigation was kept secret because Shapiro’s office maintains confidentiality

“For nearly two years, the Shapiro administration refused to say whether a state regulator under the governor’s jurisdiction was investigating Pennsylvania’s network of agencies that are designed to support older adults who are victims of abuse and neglect.

Records show, however, that state investigators prepared the report and delivered it to the governor’s office more than two years ago PA reflector

Elsewhere

Shapiro calls for inspection of ICE facility after district official unable to enter. “Pennsylvania’s governor is calling for an independent inspection of the largest ICE facility in the Northeast after state workers were denied entry last week.” | PennLive

State lawmakers are proposing bills aimed at keeping ICE officers out of “sensitive” spaces. “After Congress provided an additional $70 billion for Immigration, Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, State Senator Lindsey Williams and other lawmakers proposed a package of bills aimed at protecting sensitive places like schools, hospitals and polling places from immigration arrests.” | News from the Valley

Two education bills generate accountability, debate on opportunities. “Two education bills introduced just days ago are quickly making their way to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, sparking a sharp disagreement over whether they will provide needed accountability for school choice programs or undermine funding for the students who benefit from them.” | Central Square

Some private education leaders in PA are joining the GOP. They are pushing for the state to join the federal school choice program. “More than half of the 50 states have chosen to join the Trump administration’s new initiative to provide tax credits and expand school choice for students and families. However, Pennsylvania has not yet joined, and Gov. Josh Shapiro is under pressure from federal Republican lawmakers and community members to commit to the program” | Penn Capital Star

Around the Republic of Poland

3. “It Will Swallow the Future”: Huge Data Center Swallows Small PA Coal Town

“Giant plumes of steam billowing from the cooling towers of the Homer City coal-fired power plant have served as a local landmark and weather vane for decades.

In 2023, the couple stopped.

It was a familiar story in the coal towns of southwestern Pennsylvania.

What happened next was not.” | PennLive

Elsewhere

A year after a 36% tax augment, county council members will soon be able to secure more benefits and a bigger budget. “Some council members want voters to change the county charter to remove restrictions on their own spending, setting the stage for a radical transformation of the ‘citizen legislature.’” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper

Primary care physicians: Lessons from the military can support fill health care gaps in rural Pennsylvania. “Just as paramedics and doctors triage and stabilize patients who cannot immediately see a doctor, the new initiative would deploy primary care physicians under the supervision of licensed physicians to improve primary care in the Commonwealth’s rural communities.” | Penn Capital Star

The future of dementia in Pennsylvania may already be evident in Japan. “Pennsylvania’s population is aging. Adults 65 and older outnumber children and make up more than 20% of the state’s population. While this demographic shift is often discussed in the context of retirement trends and tax revenues, other implications run deeper: Age is the greatest risk factor for dementia.” | THAT’S ALL

Editorial

4. What do you think about it?

Candidates should welcome Questions | Grandstand overview
Fund your higher education responsibility now or lose your competitive advantage | Neeli Bendapudi, John Fry and Joan Gabel
Senate Bill 908 – A mandatory wage bill with consequences far beyond design | Warren Hudak
Pennsylvania is drowning in energy but lacking capacity: time to let utilities rebuild | Susan Shanaman
Pharmacy Benefits Manager Legislation Proposed by AP GOP Lawmakers Would Hurt Black and Brown Communities | Elena Rios
Orwell warned us and now we live | Marek S. Singel
The Sunshine State Can Provide PA with a Role Model | Wayne Brookhart
‘F… Around and Find Out’: Philly DA Krasner’s Campaign Slogan Comes Back to Haunt Him | Jonathan Turley

1 item

5. How Haverford High’s National Teacher of the Year coaches aspiring teachers

“As the newly named National Teacher of the Year at Haverford High School Leon Smith was celebrated on television: from CBS Mornings and Good Morning America to the Kelly Clarkson Show.

But as the lone black teacher when he started teaching at Haverford 25 years ago, Smith received a different reception. He experienced racism, he told a group of juvenile people interested in teaching, and if it weren’t for the black assistant principal who listened to him and supported him, he might not be teaching today.’ | Questioner from Philadelphia

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Family planning organizations – including one in Pennsylvania – are suing Trump administration over Title X funding announcement

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 01:39:53 +0000

Various birth control pills available at Planned Parenthood in Austin, Texas. The National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association and a Pennsylvania family planning organization sued the Trump administration on Thursday, accusing it of politicizing the Title X grant funding program. (Todd Wiseman / The Texas Tribune)

National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association and the Pennsylvania Family Planning Organization filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Health and Human Services Agency, accusing it of politicizing the Title X grant funding program and violating the intent of the law.

Lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and the national organization represent the National Family Planning Association and the Central Pennsylvania Family Health Council. The complaint says the Family Health Council is a network of 19 providers in 24 central Pennsylvania counties that provide family planning services to more than 31,000 low-income residents each year.

Clare Coleman, president and CEO of the National Association for Family Planning and Reproductive Health, told Stateline on Thursday that the organization chose the Pennsylvania-based network to participate in the lawsuit in part because it has been a recipient of funds since the beginning of the Title X program in 1970 and serves a enormous number of people.

“We are very grateful that they were willing to stand with us,” Coleman said.

The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Yvette Kane, an appointee of former Democratic President Bill Clinton.

Title X, established by Congress and signed into law by former Republican Party President Richard Nixon, is a grant program primarily targeting low-income or uninsured people, including people who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, who might otherwise not have access to family planning and reproductive health services. This includes services such as contraception, pregnancy tests, tests for sexually transmitted infections and medical examinations. Abortion services cannot be covered by Title X dollars.

The complaint concerns the above-mentioned 2027 Title X Funding Opportunity Noticewhich was released in April. Potential winners must submit applications by January for consideration in the next funding cycle.

The funding opportunity language states that all applicants must first complete an “adjustment review” to determine eligibility for the grant. This adjustment is based on priorities identified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, and the Office of Population Affairs. These priorities include ending diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and gender-affirming care. The complaint states that a decision regarding an applicant’s eligibility cannot be appealed.

Contraceptive services have plummeted after a “shutdown” hit clinics

Coleman said these priorities directly conflict with those outlined in the last round of funding under former President Joe Biden, whose administration emphasized the importance of health equity efforts and the inclusion of gender-affirming care for transgender patients. Coleman said this means funding may not be available to some applicants and will favor recent applicants.

“We believe the funding announcement is intended to favor providers that the administration would prefer to see in the program,” Coleman said, which could include clinics with a religious mission such as pregnancy crisis centers or major Catholic health care organizations.

The complaint also argues that these requirements are in direct conflict with the Title X statute, which requires HHS to consider factors such as the number of patients served, the degree of local demand for services, and whether the applicant can quickly and effectively utilize grant funds. Family planning organizations say the recent application process is designed to support the Trump administration’s political agenda rather than to fulfill Congress’s mandate to “offer patients a broad range of acceptable and effective family planning methods and services.”

Funding Notice Guidelines as well changes focus Title X grants, ranging from expanding access to services such as contraception to strengthening “family building” and helping clients “achieve a healthy pregnancy.” Clinics have been instructed to prioritize and promote natural family planning methods such as menstrual cycle tracking, which the Center for Pregnancy Prevention says is less effective than contraception. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

“(The Notice of Funding) allows defendants to select winners and losers based on political affiliation rather than merit and ability to provide quality Title X services,” the complaint says. “This is not how federal grants should be awarded, and this is especially not how Congress instructed defendants to award Title X grants.”

A hearing in the case is likely to be held in the coming weeks.

Stateline reporter Kelcie Moseley-Morris can be reached at: kmoseley@stateline.org.

This story was originally produced by state linewhich is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network that includes Pennsylvania Capital-Star, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

June 11 guide: Big money at the stadium

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:15:17 +0000

Good morning on Thursday morning. Did you lose sleep last night during the so-called greatest comeback in NBA playoff history?

Headlines. Top K Street companies and corporate giants sponsor the Congressional Baseball Game. Shapiro sharply criticizes Trump’s Canadian comments. Data centers are on the ballot. Harley-Davidson brings some production back to PA

Your morning, pick me up. Lawyers, guns and money. Warren Zevon

Weather in Pennsylvania
Stoneboro | AM Showers, partly bright, 86
Philipsburg | Partly bright, a few showers in the afternoon, 88
Phoenixville | Prime Minister Burze, 94

What we hear. Results from Emerson College Polling’s fresh national survey President Donald Trump has a 39% job approval rating and 55% disapprove of the job the president is doing. In the overall vote in the 2026 midterm elections, the Democratic candidate has a 10-point lead over the Republican candidate, 50% to 40%.

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 crucial story

1. Big Money at the Stadium: Top K Street Companies, Corporate Giants Sponsor Congressional Baseball Game

“The sponsors of the annual Congressional Baseball Game include the second and third largest lobbying firms by revenue, three of the four firms that spend the most on lobbying, and two firms that have recently attracted unwanted attention from members of Congress.

The contest pits Republicans against Democrats, with proceeds going to charity, but the winners also include crucial Washington lobbying firms, trade associations and corporations that have spent between $1,000 and $100,000 to get their names in front of lawmakers and staffers who cover their issues, and even more to host receptions at Nationals Park. | PoliticsPA

Elsewhere

PA-08: National Democratic Super PAC directs money to northeastern Pennsylvania as battle for Congress heats up. “The race for a key swing district in northeastern Pennsylvania has attracted the attention of a major Democratic super PAC that plans to spend about $50 million on ads targeting Republican tickets, according to the New York Times. | Questioner from Philadelphia

The moderate GOP group is supporting Democrat Stelson over incumbent Perry in PA-10. “Living up to its name, the moderate GOP group ‘Republicans Against Perry’ opposes Republican Scott Perry and supports Democratic challenger Janelle Stelson in the race for the 10th Congressional District seat.” | PoliticsPA

Republicans’ chances of losing control of the House: 3 election predictions. “As Republicans and Democrats choose candidates for the midterm elections, updated House ratings from three leading election forecasters indicate Democrats may be able to flip control of the chamber.” | Newsweek

Trump’s Philadelphia judicial nominee was sharply criticized by a Senate panel for hesitating to “tell the truth.”. “Antonio Pozos, a Philadelphia lawyer nominated by President Donald Trump to be a federal judge in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, told a Senate panel on Wednesday that former President Joe Biden won the most Electoral College votes in 2020, although he would not say whether Biden won the popular vote or if the Capitol was ‘attacked’ two months later.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

Country

2. ‘Inconsiderate and disrespectful’: Shapiro slams Trump’s Canadian comments as he signs trade pact with Ontario

“Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro he sharply criticized the avalanche of “disrespectful” comments he said the US made President Donald Trump he lobbied for Canada during meetings with Ontario Premier Doug Ford Wednesday and signed a trade partnership agreement.

“Hear me: I respect Canadian sovereignty. Beyond reckless rhetoric, the Trump administration’s tariffs pose a real threat to both of our economies. ” | CTV News

Elsewhere

Postal Service not delivering absentee ballots to states that do not submit voter rolls, under Trump’s directive plan. “State election officials may soon face a difficult choice: turn over voter rolls to the Trump administration or risk the Postal Service losing its supply of mail-in ballots.” | CNN

Pennsylvania Democrats Force Vote on Minimum Wage Hike. “Senate Democrats filed a discharge petition on Wednesday that would force Republicans to vote on a bill to raise the minimum wage in Pennsylvania.” | abc27

Marijuana Law Restructuring Bill Failed by Senate in Rare Vote Failure. “What entity do you want to oversee your medical marijuana, and perhaps one day, your recreational offerings? It appears the Pennsylvania Senate thought it knew the answer — until suddenly it did.” | PennLive

At least six states said “no” to Trump’s state fairs. “President Donald Trump’s Big Birthday Party in America Faces More Hurdles as At Least Six States Plan to Not Participate in the Great American State Fair. At Least Three Other States, Including Pennsylvania, Remain Uncommitted” | known

Around the Republic of Poland

3. Data centers are in the spotlight – A Pennsylvania candidate won the presidential election by keeping it in the spotlight

“As proposals for energy-hungry data centers that could power the artificial intelligence boom emerge across the country, communities are protesting against them.

It’s no different in Dallas, a Pennsylvania town of just 2,500 people west of Scranton. A lifelong resident of the region there Fern has learnedA Democrat in a swing county with a affluent coal-producing legacy President Donald Trump won 60% of the vote in 2024, is running her third campaign in five years for the House of Representatives on a platform where she outlines her opposition to data centers.’ | Capitol and Main

Elsewhere

‘We don’t need them here’: Senator Coleman urges residents to ‘keep order’ against data centers. “Public outrage can be a powerful tool in residents’ fight against data centers in the Lehigh Valley, state Sen. Jarrett Coleman told residents Wednesday during a virtual town hall.” | LehighValley News

Meet the women at the forefront of the people-driven campaign against data centers. “Technology is more than just screens and machines. The reality, Maia Woluchem said, is that technology is in neighborhoods and backyards. For the past two years, her team has been studying how investments in artificial intelligence are changing the Pennsylvania landscape.” | 19

The proposal to resign before running for another public office has no support in Lehigh County. “Supporters say this measure will help prevent elected officials from using the benefits of office to seek higher office while also attending to their official duties.” | Tioga Publishing House

As measles resurfaces, Pennsylvania leaders say vaccine declines at thousands of schools will be made public. “As measles cases in Pennsylvania skyrocket to levels not seen in decades, state officials say they will release vaccination rates in schools statewide, enabling parents to track the safety of their children’s schools.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper

Editorial

4. What do you think about it?

The Case for Civic Realism in Philadelphia | Terry Tracy
Why is Trump fueling up in MAGA country? These Dems found the right answer | Greg Sargent
As the Trump era moves from assets to liabilities, will this be a turning point in his second term?| John Baer
Gerrymandering will only get worse | Grace Segers
Democrats Ignore Candidates Who Could Win in 2028 | Dace Potassium
Democrats and the Platner standard | Wall Street Journal
Doctor Chatbot see you now | Grandstand overview
When politics intersects with professional sports | David Marshall
Here’s a policy consultation memo under the Protect College Sports Act that no one commissioned | Kyle Saunders

1 item

5. Harley-Davidson brings some motorcycle production back to Pennsylvania

“Harley-Davidson is bringing some motorcycle production back to Pennsylvania.

In a statement Tuesday, the company said it plans to move production of the Revolution Max motorcycles back to the United States and move that production to Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. This applies to Harley’s Pan America, Sportster S and Nightster models.

According to the company, Harley plans to produce more than 100,000 motorcycles in 2027 at its factory in York, Pennsylvania. | Wisconsin Public Radio

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Bye. A Senate committee introduces bills to protect social services programs

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 21:05:47 +0000

Preventing fraud in social services programs like child welfare and Medicaid has been a hallmark of the Trump administration’s second term. (Photo: Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight)

State senators have introduced three bills aimed at protecting Pennsylvanians who rely on state programs for health care, child care and food assistance, respectively.

Each bill passed unanimously on Tuesday without any major objections during a 22-minute meeting.

Senate Bill 362 increases penalties related to “skimming,” which involves stealing card information from people enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and stealing their benefits.

Support independent reporting on Pennsylvania government that impacts communities across the state.

The proposal, authored by Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Northampton), creates a recent crime in state code against people who employ, trade or possess devices related to skimming. Theft of benefits for the first time is a third-degree felony, while subsequent thefts are made a second-degree felony under revised language added Tuesday.

Anyone convicted of defrauding SNAP using this method will also be permanently barred from the program.

“These are benefits designed to help families put food on the table. They support children, seniors, people with disabilities and working families who are trying to get by,” Boscola said in remarks submitted to the committee. “When criminals steal these benefits, they are stealing from the people who can least afford them and the taxpayers who fund these programs.”

It is worth noting that stolen benefits are arduous to replace, meaning many families are left without them if they become victims. Condition heading towards benefit cards with a chip, but this process will take several months.

Child Welfare Fraud Prevention, Medicaid

The committee’s chairman, Sen. Michele Brooks (R-Mercer), sponsored two other bills aimed more at preventing fraud in other social services programs. first, Senate Bill 1372reimplements the annual report. The state Department of Human Services will cease operations in 2022, Brooks said.

The report must include inspections, investigations, enforcement actions, and payment integrity activities for child care centers, group home and family centers, and residential and day treatment centers.

“This bill restores the reporting the department previously provided and adds payment integrity information so policymakers and the public can better understand how the system works,” Brooks added.

Pennsylvania is scrutinizing fraud prevention as the feds investigate Medicaid

She noted that the state continues to submit information for federal review, reporting that a January 2025 federal government report found that improper payment occurred in just under 11% of cases in 2022, compared to the national average of 4%.

However, the review looked at 276 cases and included payments of $165,658. It was determined that $3,739 was inappropriate – or 2%.

Although the vote was unanimous, Minority Committee Chairman Sen. Art Haywood (D-Montgomery) shared his concerns through a proxy, saying more work may be needed.

Senate Bill 1373 would require some Medicaid providers to register for National Provider Identification (NPI) numbers, Department of Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh said took place last month.

“We want to implement this as quickly as possible. However, we have asked the Department (of Social Welfare Policy) to give providers enough time to ensure there are no gaps in care,” Brooks said after the meeting. “It’s not about trying to take care away from people. It’s about protecting people’s care.”

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Arkoosh estimated it would take the next two or three years to implement this requirement, but providers without an NPI were recently deemed “high-risk” providers by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

This same category has also been the subject of intense scrutiny by the Trump administration in other states, namely Minnesota, California and New York, with mixed results. The administration recovered billions but later admitted that “significant error” in their accusations against New York. Critics dismissed the initial crackdown as partisan for attacking Democrat-led stateswhich prompted the administration to expand its scope.

The proposal to introduce a non-productive investment requirement has long been discussed in the Community but has generated relatively little movement. Gov. Josh Shapiro, as a former state attorney general, recommended that the state move toward this requirement back in 2019. as part of the package recommendations on combating fraud.

Previous draft of the NPI Act failed to obtain support after his master leaves office in 2024.

“We wanted to show that we definitely need to implement this,” Brooks said. “We want to say that the General Assembly supports this and it should be done.”

Guide 6/8: Can the ‘blue wave’ change the AP congressional map?

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 22:56:28 +0000

Welcome Monday. Rise and shine.

Headlines. Could PA see a recent congressional map before 2028? The PA Supreme Court will decide on arcade games. It serves public transport outside gigantic cities. Why Pittsburgh is the most American city.

Your morning, pick me up. Crazy little thing called love. Dwight Yoakam

Weather in Pennsylvania
Lake Conneaut | Sunny, 87
Everett | Sunny, 83
Slatington | Mostly radiant, 78

Sports PA
Phillies (35-30) | Chicago White Sox 9-5 | Monday in Toronto
Pirates (34-32) | Atlanta 2-3 | Kills vs. LA Dodgers

What we hear. District Attorney Larry Krasner will hold a press conference to release an open letter to Philadelphia Mayor Chelle Parker at 11:00.

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 vital story

1. Democrats launched a plan to redraw congressional maps in as many as 13 states

“Democrats are setting the stage to continue their redistricting efforts in as many as 13 states before 2028, redrawing congressional lines to provide potentially dozens of additional House seats, according to an internal strategy memo obtained exclusively by TIME. To pursue this plan, party strategists have a list of fewer than two dozen state legislative seats they must flip in this year’s midterm elections.”

Democrats are still reeling from the first round of redistricting wars that began last year. Republicans appear to have been better at manipulating maps, so Democrats plan to be more aggressive on the redistricting front ahead of 2028, and capitalizing on favorable electoral conditions in 2026 is key.” | TIME

Elsewhere

What Rabb’s victory in Philadelphia could mean for Democrats’ 2028 battle to replace John Fetterman. “The euphoria at Chris Rabb’s election night last month hadn’t even begun to fade before the democratic socialist and his supporters — dancing and hugging after winning a rarely open congressional seat in Philadelphia — began talking about an even greater goal.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

The Justice Department failed to take normal steps to protect the 2026 election. “President Donald Trump says, ‘if you don’t have a fair vote, you can’t really have a nation.’ But five months before the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress, his Justice Department canceled election integrity training sessions for prosecutors and FBI agents, removed a 281-page guide to prosecuting election crimes, fired most of the lawyers in the Public Integrity Section and did not replace the director of the election crimes division. | known

Mackenzie opposes voting to limit Trump’s war powers with Iran, saying it makes America less protected. “Hours after the U.S. House of Representatives voted to limit President Donald Trump’s powers to wage war on Iran, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie criticized his colleagues for obstructing U.S. negotiators’ attempts to broker a peace deal in the three-month conflict.” | LehighValley News

Rep. Smucker is voting against a bill that would send aid to Ukraine and impose sanctions on Russia. “Despite previous comments supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia, U.S. Republican Lloyd Smucker voted against a new loan package for the Eastern European country on Thursday, a vote in line with Republican Party leaders who said the measure was flawed and would not achieve its intended goals.” | LNP

Country

2. Skill or luck? The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will decide on lucrative slot games

Will taxation and regulation of skill games be included again in the budget process? (JASON ARDAN – CITIZENS’ VOICE)

“Are they games of skill or luck, or both?

The state Supreme Court will soon decide the fate of so-called arcade machines, slot machine-like devices that have spread in recent years to bars, convenience stores and gas stations in northeastern Pennsylvania and across the state. Lower courts have ruled that these are not gambling devices that can be regulated under current state law.

Unlike slot machines in casinos, which are taxed at around 54%, skill games remain untaxed and unregulated. | Voice of Citizens

Elsewhere

Garrity addresses Homer and school choice issues in a wide-ranging interview. “State Treasurer Stacy Garrity brought her campaign to Indiana on Friday, stopping at the Gazette on the way between appearances in Pittsburgh and Warren County. The Republican candidate for governor touched on a wide range of topics, from school choice to energy development in Homer City, as she pushed to unseat Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro. Latrobe Bulletin

Why won’t the Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor say she supports marriage equality? “Stacy Garrity has repeatedly refused to clarify her position on same-sex marriage while maintaining a conservative approach to LGBTQ+ issues.” | Spokesman

‘I’m tired of being kicked in the teeth’: Firefighters union leader wants to shake up Congress. “Pennsylvania’s Bob Brooks is one of many working-class Democrats on the ballot – can he beat a Koch-backed challenger?” | Guardian

The GOP bill would enact PA law based on the Trump administration’s data center agreements. “Last winter, the Trump administration signed agreements with tech companies and 13 governors, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, whose states rely on PJM Interconnection’s power grid, pledging to put people in front of data centers. A GOP lawmaker in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives now says these agreements provide a solution to the commonwealth’s energy crisis.” | Penn Capital Star

Around the Republic of Poland

3. How does the AP budget serve public transport outside metropolitan nodes?

“While money earmarked for transit systems in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas – by far the state’s two largest – are under tight squeeze, money earmarked for dozens of smaller systems across the state could essentially become hostage as politicians squabble over funding for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or SEPTA, and Pittsburgh Regional Transportation.

About 87% of the money will go to the governments of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. In total, SEPTA is expected to receive more than $1 billion from the state. The next largest, Pittsburgh Regional Transit, will receive at least $500 million.

But how would other public transit systems across the state fare?” | USA Today Network

Elsewhere

The failure of Mayor Parker’s tax on Uber was her biggest legislative defeat to date. Here’s what went wrong. “The budget fight showed that Parker’s tough negotiating style won’t always work with a City Council that is increasingly willing to abandon its burdens.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

As vaccination rates in Pennsylvania schools decline, measles cases are skyrocketing in the largest outbreak in three decades. “In total, the virus has infected at least 60 people in six counties this year – the most in the state in three decades. Only six other states have had more cases this year.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper

Longtime Philly state senator Anthony Williams is running for the last time and will not commit to a full term. “The veteran Philadelphia state senator has not committed to completing another four-year term, which has left him open to the possibility of choosing a successor if he decides to retire early.” | Questioner from Philadelphia

Five GOP entries could appear on the PA House of Representatives ballot in Allegheny County this fall. “The Allegheny County Republican Party is celebrating a successful effort that will put Republicans in five additional House races this year.” | THAT’S ALL

Editorial

4. What do you think about it?

1 item

5. Why Pittsburgh is the most American city

“We didn’t play a big role in the founding of America. We’re not close to being the greatest city, and our accent is like no other in the country, but Pittsburgh still makes a strong case for being the most American city.”

Why it matters: The nation’s 250th anniversary is approaching, and cities across the United States are commemorating their role in building America.

It’s time to address the Pittsburgh issue. | Axios Pittsburgh

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LFG! Make it great.

“Medical conscience” laws would allow healthcare providers to deny more healthcare services

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:54:16 +0000

Conservative lawmakers in many states are pushing to expand medical conscience protections for doctors, hospitals, pharmacists and other providers as cultural battles over health care have erupted in recent years. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Legislation in at least eight states would expand the rights of doctors, nurses, hospitals and even insurance companies to refuse to provide or pay for care — from contraception and fertility services to medical marijuana and childhood vaccines — that conflicts with their religious or moral beliefs.

In most states, the so-called the law of medical conscience whose primary purpose is to prevent providers or hospitals from having to participate in abortion. But conservative lawmakers in many states are pushing to expand such protections as cultural battles over health care have erupted in recent years.

Supporters say these measures protect providers from being sued, fired or demoted for adhering to their deeply held beliefs. In recent years, at least five states have passed expanded medical awareness laws.

“There is no political advantage in requiring people to engage in practices that violate their beliefs,” said Bill Duncan, a specialist in constitutional law and religious liberty at the Sutherland Institute, a conservative think tank in Salt Lake City that supports Utah’s medical conscience law.

“The right kind of legislation is to allow for accommodation of those beliefs,” Duncan said.

But critics warn that the measures are so broad that they will allow doctors, pharmacists, hospitals and insurers to deny almost anything, undermining patients’ expectations for comprehensive and informed care.

This year, conservative lawmakers in at least eight other states (Kentucky, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia) introduced expanded medical conscience legislation. Many of these efforts are supported by national anti-abortion groups such as Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian legal defense organization.

The debate crystallized last month in Tennessee, which already has an expanded medical conscience law. A local woman told Nashville TV station WSMV that at Ascension St. Hospital. Thomas Midtown was already on a drip and preparing for sterilization surgery when hospital staff told her the surgery would not proceed. She added that the hospital’s medical ethics committee quoted “duty to protect her sacred fertility“

The hospital is part of Ascension, one of the largest nonprofit Catholic health care systems in the country, and follows a set of Catholic Church directives that list direct sterilization among procedures it calls “intrinsically immoral.”

It is unclear why the woman was admitted for surgery in the first place. Similar cases of refusal of sterilization surgery have been reported in: Michigan AND Wisconsin.

Ascension did not respond to Stateline’s request for comment.

Last summer, a pregnant woman stood up at a northeast Tennessee town hall and declared that she was in her condition. modern law – which had gone into effect three months earlier – allowed her doctor to refuse prenatal care when he learned that she and her partner were not married.

“This health care provider told me that because of this bill, they didn’t feel comfortable treating me because I was an unwed mother, and that went against their Christian values,” she said in a widely shared video from the town hall.

Doctors for pharmacists

Many conservative-led states already offer protections to health care providers who choose not to participate in abortions. But expanded protections are needed as more scenarios emerge that could violate someone’s religious freedom or conscience, said Duncan of the Sutherland Institute.

“There may be other situations that haven’t actually happened because the legal issues are quite new and people haven’t been asked to do these things in the past,” he said, citing services such as gender-affirming care. With broader state regulations, “we can create a general template to figure out how to approach this.”

Duncan said Utah’s bill is a good-faith effort to balance the rights of healthcare providers and patients. For example, it would require providers to prominently post statements on their websites and at reception desks informing patients about services they do not offer. The announcement would have to include a state website listing providers offering these services.

However, notification may not make much difference in rural communities with few providers or for people whose insurance is accepted only at one area hospital or by a confined number of doctors.

Caitlyn Jasumback, immunization outreach program manager for the Public Health Association of Utah, warned that the Utah bill – passed by the Legislature passed and sent to the governor – could lower vaccination rates by allowing providers to refuse to offer or even discuss certain vaccines with patients.

The bill’s broad scope means it touches every aspect of health care, Jasumback said.

“What people may not consider is that while your doctor may support vaccinations or any other service you use, other staff involved in that care may decline to participate,” she said.

“A nurse may refuse to administer the vaccine. A pharmacist may refuse to give it out. An employee may refuse to help prepare documentation.”

National groups like the American Medical Association support healthcare providers acting in accordance with their conscience but retaining that freedom is not unlimited: It is AMA policy that physicians are expected to provide emergency care, honor patients’ informed decisions, and not discriminate against individuals.

Before Idaho passed a wide-ranging law on medical conscience Last March, Republican state Rep. Bruce Skaug, the House sponsor, put the bill on the list types of services that a provider could refuse, including physician-assisted death, dispensing marijuana or mind-altering drugs, gene editing, gender-affirming care such as surgery or puberty-blocking drugs, and “injectable products.”

Mistie DelliCarpini-Tolman, Idaho state director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, told lawmakers that Idaho’s law would also allow a pharmacist to refuse to dispense antidepressants, an insurer to refuse to cover contraception or a doctor to refuse services to gay couples or their children.

“It’s not a free ticket”

Last month, Kentucky state senator Sen. Reginald Thomas, a Democrat, asked the Republican sponsor of the Kentucky event Act on medical conscience whether it would allow a doctor with “sincerely held” racist beliefs to refuse care to a black patient.

The bill sparked heated debate in the Kentucky Senate before it passed the Senate without Democratic support. He currently serves on the House of Representatives committee.

Thomas told lawmakers the bill “builds on biases that we have fought hard to end in this country” and “opens the door to discrimination protected by law.”

The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Sen. Donald Douglas, who is also a physician, and other supporters have pointed out that it only allows conscientious objections to the provision of certain services, not the care of specific patients.

Like other medical conscience laws, it would not apply to emergency care that doctors and hospitals are required to provide under federal law.

“Not treating patients is not a free ticket for health care providers,” Douglas told fellow lawmakers.

Douglas and other advocates also argue that providing protections from criminal and civil liability would make their states more attractive places for providers to practice, helping to reduce shortages of doctors and nurses.

In Tennessee, Democratic state Sen. Aftyn Behn is trying to limit the scope of his state’s law. Behn introduced A Bill it would prevent health care providers and insurers in Tennessee, which has a strict abortion ban, from using the law to refuse to provide pregnancy-related services. Planned Parenthood supports the bill.

Behn said medical conscience laws could create a slippery slope toward criminalizing certain types of health care. Hundreds of women in recent years they heard criminal charges for proceedings related to pregnancy and pregnancy loss.

“Right now, all of this is in the realm of professional agency and responsibility,” Behn said. “But as soon as it crosses the threshold where someone has been arrested, for me that’s the point of no return.”

It is unclear how many providers, hospitals and insurers will take advantage of the provisions providing broader immunity for denial of care. Jasumback of the Utah Public Health Association believes such providers are “few and far between.”

And yet, she said, they still create barriers to care. Even if the patient can find the same procedure with another doctor or in another hospital, it is still an additional burden: another visit, additional payment, more days off from work, organizing additional child care or transport.

“It’s not really about opposing conscious conservation,” she said. “It’s really just showing the concept of true informed consent and wanting to provide patients with all the information they need so they can make the most informed decision about their health and the health of their children.”

Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at: avollers@stateline.org.

Pennsylvania among 29 states and D.C. that currently reject federal vaccine guidelines

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 13:53:00 +0000

(*29*)A sign at a Wisconsin pharmacy announces vaccine availability in December. Wisconsin is among states that now rely on non-federal sources for childhood vaccine guidance because the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has downplayed the importance of vaccines. (Photo: Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner)

Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia are now rejecting at least some federal vaccine guidance as the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to downplay the importance of vaccinating children under U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to research by KFF, a nonprofit health policy organization based in California and Washington.

The tally as of March 10 reflects states that have announced they will go their own way on childhood vaccines since last May, when Kennedy began making changes to the vaccination schedule. These changes ended a reduction in recommended routine vaccinations for children, from 13 to 7, as of January.

The up-to-date state-by-state recommendations reflect a partisan divide, as all states with Democratic governors have rejected federal childhood vaccine guidelines, while many Republican states have not.

In February, Virginia announced it would not follow CDC guidelines, a change following the inauguration of Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who took over from a Republican predecessor. Spanberger campaigned on the issue, saying she would not support phasing out childhood vaccinations.

In Florida, the state Senate passed a bill on March 9 making it easier for parents not to vaccinate their children, although House leaders said they would not consider similar bill despite support from Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

In Louisiana this is the state adopted the policy for not promoting vaccines and not running clinics. Republican U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, a doctor who reluctantly agreed to Kennedy’s confirmation despite opposing his views on vaccines, is fight the original fight.

In February, fifteen Democratic-led states sued Kennedy in federal court, seeking to overturn the up-to-date vaccine guidelines. A preliminary hearing will be held on May 29.

Some states have formed formal alliances to share health information. The Northeast Public Health Collaborative, made up of Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and New York, said in January that it would continue to follow guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics rather than the federal government.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released its 2026 vaccination schedule, which maintains the pre-HHS overhaul schedule. Twelve medical professional organizations approved Academy schedule.

Governors from 14 states have formed another alliance to share public health information, including vaccines. The CDC’s updated guidelines “create confusion and introduce unnecessary barriers for families who want to protect their children from serious illnesses,” the Governors Public Health Alliance said in a January report press release. All of the governors are Democrats, although the group claims to be nonpartisan.

Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at: thenderson@stateline.org.

Bye. Home health care workers encouraged by signs of Republican support

thepennsylvaniapatriot.com — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 02:51:03 +0000

Home health care advocates gather on the steps of the Capitol in Harrisburg, March 24, 2026. Despite a widening support base, the state has not prioritized reimbursement rates for these workers. (Photo courtesy of Becky Jacobs/Pennsylvania Homecare Association)

This story was updated March 25, 2026 at 5:05 p.m., with information from the state Department of Human Services.

Letters from 70 Democratic lawmakers earlier this year, he urged Gov. Josh Shapiro to boost reimbursement rates for home health care workers in his proposed budget, which he refused to do. Also House Speaker Joanna McClinton (Philadelphia). presented her position.

On the other side of the industry, however, the industry hasn’t gained the same support, although a growing number of Republicans are joining the cause.

Rep. David Rowe (R-Union) addresses the crowd at the RFK Jr. rally. in Harrisburg on January 21, 2026 (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

“It allows individuals to stay in their homes… (and) have personal caregivers who allow them to get out and be part of the community,” said Rep. David Rowe (R-Union). “It really just improves people’s quality of life.”

Rowe, whose mother was a home health nurse and has a sister-in-law who works in the field, tied his support for rate increases to increased accountability measures, particularly reducing waste and fraud.

“We know there are large numbers of fraudulent applicants in these programs. If we can remove these individuals from the program and save the state several billion dollars, we could easily use those savings to increase our reimbursement rates, making Pennsylvania competitive and ensuring that those caring for the most vulnerable in our communities can afford to live and work in Pennsylvania,” he said.

Pennsylvania has the lowest hourly reimbursement rate among neighboring states at $20.63, despite being the fifth oldest state in the nation. AND Medicaid fraud explained from health policy experts at KFF notes that “the majority of monetary losses from fraud are borne by providers.”

Mia Haney, CEO of the Pennsylvania Homecare Association, addresses the crowd on March 25, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Becky Jacobs/Pennsylvania Homecare Association)

Mia Haney, CEO of the Pennsylvania Homecare Association, said the commonwealth’s fee rates are not regularly reviewed or adjusted. It placed responsibility in the hands of the legislature, which controls the budget and sets budgetary appropriations.

“Our booming population continues to grow, which means this problem is only going to get worse. So we really need to reflect on the adequacy of rates every year,” Haney said. “We saw Republican and Democratic leaders say, ‘We understand this is a serious problem.’”

The current state budget – passed in November, 135 days after the June 30 deadline – was included $21 million for some home health care workers employed directly by Pennsylvania residents.

However, increases were not included for 94% of carers employed by agencies. The latest proposed spending plan does not include any novel investments.

Skip the minimum wage boost

Democrats in the House of Representatives for the third time in four years adopted a bill increasing the minimum wage in the state from $7.25 per hour to $15.

According to A: Doing this for home health care workers would require a state investment of more than $800 million Commonwealth studywhich shows that it would cost the same to raise the wage to just $14.58. For employers to do this without state dollars would be unsustainable, Haney said.

Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-Allegheny) directly questioned Department of Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh about the discrepancies during the February budget hearing, noting that the Shapiro administration publicly supports the boost to $15 and citing the report’s findings.

“We think the trend is that by January 2027 it will be $15 an hour,” Arkoosh said.

She continued by saying that the 2023 study looked at the costs of benefits and time off, not just wages.

“It was a much more holistic look at pay,” Arkoosh said. “So it’s some apples and oranges.”

DHS pointed to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which determines the state’s home health and personal care advisor average hourly rate for 2024 at a price of $14.70. The agency added that DHS does not set wages but does set rates paid to Medicaid managed care organizations. They then negotiate rates with home care agencies, which set hourly rates with their employees.

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In a statement to the Capital-Star, Robinson said he supports the reimbursement rate boost.

“Pennsylvania’s population is aging, and as a result, there is an increasing need for home health care and nursing home workers to provide daily care to seniors, ensuring our loved ones can age in place and with dignity. Their role in the health care industry is absolutely critical, which is why, on behalf of the Pennsylvania Homecare Association, I advocated in the Senate to increase the reimbursement rate to promote stability in the industry,” he said.

Haney said wages have increased to keep pace with market forces, but “we have really stretched the agencies as far as we can.”

“If (agencies) continue to raise wages, something else comes into the system. And unfortunately it becomes a measure of quality and oversight,” she said. “Because there is literally nowhere to get the money. And we don’t want that to happen.”

High-quality agencies may also choose to opt out of Medicaid altogether due to low reimbursement rates, she continued. They can also opt for state disability programs, which pay almost double, at about $40 an hour compared to $20 for older Pennsylvanians.

“We have nannies under 16 who make more per hour than direct workers, and it’s hard work. It’s not easy,” Haney said. “It’s the kind of job that can seem thankless in many ways.”

Another budget cycle

Democratic budget leaders continue to make home health care agencies a priority, most recently under Appropriations Chairman Rep. Jordan Harris (R-Philadelphia). submitted the official version Shapiro’s spending plan.

He urged opposing Republicans to point to specific areas that should be cut, including nursing homes and school districts and home health agencies.

Appropriations Chairman Rep. Jordan Harris (Philadelphia) said Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget reflects many of House Democrats’ priorities shortly after the bill was formally filed on March 24, 2026. (Photo by Whitney Downard/Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

As for rate increases, Harris said he’s “happy to do it. We just need people to come to the table with us to finance it.”

“There are people (in home health care) who can work in other industries and make much more than they make now, and they also take care of the most vulnerable people in Pennsylvania,” he said. “I think they deserve a raise.”

Overseas, Republican-controlled West Virginia increased rates for home health care slow last year, giving a boost to an industry dedicated to helping people get out of bed, eat a meal or take a bath.

But not in Pennsylvania.

“Everyone right now is just looking at each other and saying, ‘Where are we going to get this funding?’ Because this is so significant — $800 million is a rock to climb this mountain,” Haney said. “But we have hundreds of thousands of jobs behind us. So this is a boulder worth pushing.”

Haney introduced home health care as preferred option for older people and is a way to keep aging Pennsylvanians well and secure.

“What will happen is that someone will be seriously injured or die because they don’t have access to these services… ignoring this issue is simply putting people at risk,” Haney said.