Wow. Where did February go?
It’s the middle of the month… too cool for my taste… but the news never ends, right?
Glad we’re not all (New England) patriots and grateful that pitchers and catchers reported to Clearwater and Bradenton.
Here are five things that I think are concerning the political scene in Pennsylvania.
1. The Pennsylvania budget will be signed, sealed and delivered by June 30.
Yes, this is a bold statement, considering that last year’s budget was only signed on November 12. This statement could even be considered outstanding, considering that the IFO estimates the deficit at $6.7 billion, while the Commonwealth of Nations is staring down the barrel of a structural deficit in its budget.
Yes, but it is an even year. Why does this matter?
There are 203 state representatives and 25 state senators running in the November election. Add to that a gubernatorial race between the incumbent governor and state treasurer.
It is in the best interest of state legislators to complete this so that all remaining time can be devoted to the fall campaign. Will it be possible to do it by the end of June? I will say that early negotiations are a sign of progress that will happen sooner or later. One can only hope that my guesses are correct.
2. Who impressed me at the PA-03 congress forum?
PoliticsPA, together with the City Center Residents Association, organized a forum for candidates looking to replace Representative Dwight Evans in the 3rd Congressional District on Monday evening. Five Democratic candidates ran in the country’s bluest district – the state Senator Sharif Street, Representative Morgan Cephas, Dr. Unfortunately, Stanford, Dr. Dave OxmanAND Pablo McConnie-Saad – along with the supported Republican candidate Alex Quick.
The 90-minute forum was respectful and informative, showing that yes, current issues can be discussed without profanity.
I felt like two candidates made the most of this moment by introducing themselves to a statewide PCN audience that may not have known much about them – Oxman and McConnie-Saad. Street, who had won the endorsement of the 9th District Democrats earlier in the day, seemed untroubled by the news, while Stanford talked about her personal story to connect with the audience.
We know one thing for sure… a Democrat will win the seat – again.
3. Making the numbers sing and dance
It was Mark Twain who popularized the phrase “Lies, damned lies and statistics.”
Since the beginning of time, numbers have been used to emphasize or discredit this point. It is said that politicians, especially, can make numbers “sing and dance.”
An example would be Republicans who support the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE point to polls showing that 83 percent say respondents support requiring all voters to show government-issued photo identification when voting.
The drumbeat comes from social media drones reminding us that we need an ID card to perform everyday tasks like opening a bank account, checking job eligibility, picking up prescriptions and signing documents.
The same survey found that 4 out of 5 respondents want to make early, in-person voting available to voters at least two weeks before Election Day. You don’t hear much about it, do you?
Or maybe a 3v4 that was supposed to make Election Day a national holiday?
Or maybe the 59% who want to automatically register all citizens to vote?
While we all (except political writers) enjoy polls, we’re reminded that polls 1) are a snapshot in time and 2) are selected to support the “cause of the day.”
Please take them with the necessary pinch of salt.
4. Whether Pennsylvania could take control of the U.S. House of Representatives on its own?
This is certainly within the realm of possibility.
There are at least four seats in play in the Community, including two The Cook Policy Report calls for undermining.
The Lehigh Valley race in PA-07 and the Capitol District race in PA-10 are two draws. The PA-08 seat in NEPA is likely to be Republican, while the Bucks County seat in PA-01 is likely to be Republican.
Could Pennsylvania Democrats flip seats and remove Ryan Mackenzie reps, Rob Bresnahan AND Scott Perry? Will be Representative Brian Fitzpatrick will fend off another challenge to his seat, or will the PA Dems make it a pristine victory?
It says here that at least two places will change hands and the third one will be completed. Would a re-election victory be for Governor Josh Shapiro along Dems to ride his coat to the finish line? Will low-interest GOP voters turn out when Trump is off the ballot?
The ruling party – read GOP in 2026 – always loses seats in Congress. While the Senate appears to still be in Republican hands, the House may go gloomy for now ahead of the 120th Congress.
Once again, prepare for a long, long election season in the Commonwealth.
5. Some thoughts on ICE
While I believe most people want our immigration laws to be followed, I think we have to agree that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have gone too far.
Even though ICE officers are law enforcement, I don’t think our local and state law enforcement officers are wearing face masks. Or failure to produce warrants. Or ensuring due process?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to bless ICE’s actions, and the impact is far-reaching. But even President Donald Trump he seems to realize that a line has been crossed in the event of death Renee Good AND Alex Pretti. The president sent a “border czar” Tomek Homan lower temperatures in Minneapolis, but American cities remain in a arduous situation and Pennsylvania is making preparations if the administration targets the Keystone State next.
Earlier Thursday, Senate Democrats voted to block a House-passed DHS funding bill, putting Washington on the brink of a partial government shutdown that will affect more than 260,000 federal workers. By the way, Senator John Fettermanwho has long voted against a government shutdown, was the only Democrat to vote in favor of it.
As a result, funding for key agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Coast Guard will expire on Saturday without further action from Congress. However, the agencies that are the main targets of Democrats’ fury, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), will be able to continue operations without major disruption.
Is this what we want? Is this what you voted for?
This isn’t about “having Libs”. This is about who we are as a country. As the First Lady said, “Be better.”
