📖 Today’s PolitykiPA Guide. What is the SAVE Act and what does it mean for you? Big money, out-of-state donors and grassroots voters. Shapiro lays out a housing action plan to address key needs. Girl Scout cookies and beer pairings.
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. Everyone needs someone to love. Blues Brothers
🇺🇲 President’s Day. We’re leaving on Monday, but we’ll be back on Tuesday.
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☀️ Erie | Mostly sunlit, 34
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Sports PA
🏀 Sixes (30-24) | February 19 vs. Atlanta
🏒 Flyers (25/20/11) | February 25 in Washington
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The most crucial story
1. What is the SAVE Act and what does it mean for you?
“You may have heard that on Wednesday evening, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE Act. The bill requires individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
For those who have been demanding voter ID for years, this is a common-sense solution that “restores faith” in American elections. For those who oppose voter ID, this is voter suppression by disenfranchising the most vulnerable.” | PolitykaPA
Elsewhere
Fetterman Lone Democrat to support homeland security funding bill amid impending DHS closure. “John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the only Democrat to vote in favor of the bill that would have provided year-round funding for the agency.” | AP
Even Trump appointees oppose ICE’s mass detention strategy. “For six months, dozens of judges, many of them from Pennsylvania, appointed by Donald Trump, rejected – and sometimes pointedly rebuked – his administration’s efforts to lock up thousands of immigrants in a novel reinterpretation of decades-old deportation laws.” | POLICY
Five things I think I think about. “Wow. Where did February go? Glad we’re not all (New England) patriots and grateful that pitchers and catchers reported to Clearwater and Bradenton. Here are five things I think I’m thinking about the Pennsylvania political scene. ” | PoliticsPA
Country
2. Big money and out-of-state donors helped Josh Shapiro raise $30 million while Stacy Garrity raised $1.5 million from AP Citizens
“Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro solicits donations from out-of-state billionaires as well as thousands of individual donors from across the country. His likely Republican rival, State Treasurer Stacy Garrityin the meantime, he is collecting small-donor donations from Pennsylvanians.
Here are three takeaways from the race’s first campaign finance requests, tracking fundraising through 2026.’ | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
PJM will extend the capacity auction price cap for two years, says Pennsylvania’s governor. “Network operator PJM Interconnection has agreed to extend the price cap on its capacity auctions for another two years following state legal action, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro announced in a Thursday post on X. Shapiro said the move is expected to save 67 million Americans about $27 billion on their energy bills, bringing total savings to PJM customers to about $45 billion.” | Reuters
Shapiro’s clergy abuse investigation improved his reputation. Years later, some survivors feel he has abandoned them. “A key step toward justice – establishing a two-year window for survivors in decades-old cases to sue perpetrators of violence and the institutions that protected them – remains unfinished.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
It’s official: Glenn Thompson is announcing a bid for a 10th term in Congress serving PA-15. “Rep. Glenn Thompson, a Howard Republican, announced Thursday that he will seek a 10th term in the U.S. House of Representatives.” | Daily Times Center
Pennsylvania plans to test internet-connected surveys in elementary schools in 2026. “This move could benefit election administration, but some worry about security and perception.” | Vote for Pennsylvania
Education is the main topic of debate in Allentown special election that could affect control of the PA House of Representatives. “The candidates, both with experience on the Allentown school board, focused on education in their remarks to voters.” | Morning talk in Allentown
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Shapiro presents a housing action plan to address key needs
“Speaking in Philadelphia on Thursday, Governor Josh Shapiro announced Pennsylvania’s first-ever comprehensive housing action plan to address critical housing needs across the Commonwealth, outlining the current state of housing, providing projections of housing needs, and offering nearly three dozen strategic initiatives to ensure every Pennsylvanian has access to sheltered, stable, and affordable housing.
Its goal is to position the Commonwealth as a national leader in housing access and affordability by 2035. | PoliticsPA
Elsewhere
Amid mixed employment reports across the country, Pennsylvania ranks third in the nation for layoff notices. “While Wednesday’s jobs report exceeded expectations for January growth, about 4,000 Pennsylvania workers have received layoff notices so far this year. That ranks the Commonwealth third in the nation, behind California and New Jersey, for the most jobs eliminated or scheduled for reduction in 2026. ” | Penn Capital Star
Budget Time, Part 1. “While this does not always happen, there are times when the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania align ideologically. However, one of the proposals included in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s 2026-2027 budget, a proposal to create a $1 billion infrastructure fund that would combat the commonwealth’s housing shortage by issuing bonds, may seem familiar to those familiar with Mayor Cherelle Parker’s housing options Easy Plan.” | Philadelphia, Sunday, Sunday
Neighbors of a planned ICE detention facility in Berks County say the opposition crosses political lines. “You drive around and the only sign you’ll see is ‘No Magazines,’ and that’s probably a consistent sign,” said Cindy Rightmyer, precinct committee chairwoman for the county Democratic Committee. “And it’s not political – it just says no magazines.” | PA reflector
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
1 item
5. Brewers offer expert advice on pairing beer with Girl Scout cookies
“America’s smallest but most effective sales reps are back in business. Girl Scouts kicked off another cookie-selling season by introducing a new variety to the catalog – Exploremores inspired by Rocky Road ice cream.”
While children usually enjoy these treats with a glass of milk, adults have started pairing them with a mug of beer. During the winter, pairing Girl Scout Cookie beers has become substantial business for breweries, including places like Evil Genius Beer Co. in Fishtown and Conshohocken Brewing.
So what’s the science behind matching the right beer with the right cookie? | Philadelphia
Thank you for starting your 3-day weekend with us.
Do it right. See you on Tuesday.
