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🗞️ Headlines. Fetterman dashes GOP hopes for the SAVE Act. Shapiro and Trump’s New School Choice program. PA last in the country for teacher morale. Musikfest recognized as the best music festival in the country
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. Volunteers. Jefferson’s plane
Weather in Pennsylvania
🌧️ Girard | Mix for rain, 44
🌥️ Muncy | Rising Clouds, 46
🌥️ Pottstown | Rising Clouds, 49
Sports PA
🏀 Sixes (35-31) | Detroit 109-131 | Saturday vs. Brooklyn | Sun vs. Portland
🏒 Leaflets (31-23-11) | Minneapolis 3-2 (YES) | Sat versus Columbus
🏒 Penguins (32-18-15) | Vegas 2-6 | I was sitting in Utah
⚽ Union (0-0-3) | Saturday vs. Atlanta
🔈 What are we listening to?. In the latest episode of Voices of Reason, we take a closer look at one of the most debated issues in education and sports in Pennsylvania: the future of girls’ sports and the rights of transgender athletes. Host Steve Ulrich talks to you Senator Judy Ward AND Naiymah Sanchez from the ACLU-PA on their prospects.
💬 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 critical story
1. Fetterman dampens GOP hopes for SAVE Act, says he opposes bill ‘in its current state’
“Senator John Fetterman he spoke out against the controversial electoral law, which is a priority President Donald Trump Critics say it would disenfranchise millions of voters.
Republicans have touted the bill’s voter identification requirements as securing elections, but Democrats say it addresses an extremely infrequent problem of voter fraud and would instead harm low-income Americans, women and seniors who are unable to meet stricter ID requirements.” | PennLive
Elsewhere
Perpetuating the Trump voting law is pushing Republicans to the breaking point. “The Republican Congress is preoccupied with a difficult, almost impossible task: satisfying President Donald Trump’s desires for new federal voter ID laws.” | Traffic lights
Democrats have been losing to Republicans in state elections since Trump took office. “A blue wave may already be developing. Over the last 14 months, Democrats flipped 28 Republican-held state legislative seats across the country, meaning the GOP is indeed at risk of losing control of the House, and perhaps even the Senate, in the midterms. ” | POLICY
Mackenzie defends Iran attacks and calls for ICE reforms in 3rd Lehigh Valley telephone town hall. “U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie took questions from Lehigh Valley and Pocono residents on Wednesday night on topics ranging from U.S. military strikes in Iran to housing affordability and congressional stock trading” | Lehigh Daily News
Country
2. Shapiro has not decided whether he will join Trump’s New School Choice program
“Starting next year, federal taxpayers will be able to receive tax credits of up to $1,700 for donations to organizations that award K-12 scholarships.
But for any Pennsylvania kids to get money, Governor Josh Shapiro must say yes. | Questioner from Philadelphia
Elsewhere
Garrity presents PA’s vision during a campaign stop in Altoona. “Pennsylvania State Treasurer and Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity provided a sobering assessment of Pennsylvania’s current situation, citing national rankings that place the Commonwealth 38th in economic performance and 39th in education, while noting the state’s aging infrastructure and the presence of 3,000 failing bridges.” | Altoona today
Guerrilla shooting continues as Pennsylvania grapples with a $5 billion deficit. “How to build a financial bridge across the huge gap between potential spending and Pennsylvania’s revenue figures – estimated at approximately $5 billion or more – will be a significant challenge as budget negotiators prepare to work on the 2026-2027 spending plan.” | Central Square
PA gas taxes are among the highest in the nation. Where is higher. “The recent increase in gas prices due to the war in Iran has also brought attention to state gas taxes. Pennsylvania has the fourth highest tax on regular fuel in the country, and the Commonwealth also has the second most expensive tax on diesel fuel.” | Erie Times-News
Pennsylvania’s data center boom in numbers. “State legislators, county and municipal officials, and residents of areas where data centers are planned have discussed everything from high energy and water use driving up utility prices to electrical grid instability. These concerns come with high hopes.” | PA reflector
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Pennsylvania ranks last in the nation for teacher morale
“Education Week has published its latest look at teacher job satisfaction, providing an in-depth look at what teachers think about their profession.
The survey leads with a Teacher Morale Index, which ranges from -100 to +100. No state had actual negative morale, but Pennsylvania was the closest with a score of 1 on the index. Ohio and New Jersey are close behind with a rating of 5. The national average is 13, down from 18 last year. | Forbes
Elsewhere
Philadelphia Mayor Parker’s $7 Billion Budget – By the Numbers. “Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker delivered her third annual budget speech on Thursday morning, and the city’s 100th chief executive unveiled an approximately $7 billion budget proposal that includes plans to introduce new economic taxes on hotels and concerts to provide additional investment in homeless services, recovery facilities and public schools.” | City and state
City budget reopened with a $30-40 million deficit. “Mayor Corey O’Connor said Pittsburgh’s budget will reopen to address a looming $30 million to $40 million deficit. The city raised property taxes late last year to address the budget shortfall, but the additional revenue doesn’t come close to covering the costs. ” | Axios Pittsburgh
Bucks County GOP announces endorsed candidates for 2026. “The commission has selected a team of leaders and newcomers committed to fiscal responsibility, public safety and common sense management, county GOP leaders announced.” | Scrap
A PA city government employee claims he was fired for political reasons. “A Lycoming County employee claims he was fired in retaliation for running for supervisor and failing to sign the nomination petition of his opponent, the winning candidate.” | PennLive
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- US will regret Hegseth’s decision to end CMU military scholarships | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
- Governor Shapiro Provides Landmark Tax Relief for Working Pennsylvanians | Pat Browne
- Time to move on: Harrisburg must rebuild trust after a self-inflicted crisis | PennLive
- Lockdowns didn’t just flatten the curve. They crushed a generation | Beth Ann Rosica
- You can’t say that on campus | Thom Nickels
- Tough modern voter proposals force us to search for our real ID | Aaron Brown
- What you need to know about vaccine access in Pennsylvania | Senator Steve Santarsiero
- Pennsylvania Could Unlock $1 Billion in Education Grants – If Governor Agrees | Representative Martina White
1 item
5. Musikfest recognized by USA Today as the best music festival in the country
“Musikfest has once again been named best music festival by USA Today.
The festival was among 20 music festivals in the country nominated by the publishing house as part of the “10Best” series. Readers could vote for festivals starting last month, and the winner was announced Thursday.
Celebrated for the 43rd time, the 10-day festival takes place on the north and south sides of Bethlehem. Last year, a record 1.45 million people attended Musikfest, which features more than 500 performances, most of them free. Genres include rock, pop, country, indie, Latin, folk and jazz. | Morning talk in Allentown
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