🐪 Good morning on Wednesday morning.
Headlines. Shapiro pushed for recent data centers. Then public opinion changed. House Agreed to Tax Big Tech Digital Ads What PA Budget Plan Would Do to Close School Funding Gap Five Historic Places to Visit in PA.
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. Neutron Dance. Pointer Sisters
Weather in Pennsylvania
⛈️ Hollidaysburg | Rains, storms, 85
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Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (36-31) | Toronto 2-3 | Wednesday in Toronto
⚾ Pirates (34-33) | Los Angeles Dodgers 3-12 | Wednesday vs. LA Dodgers
⚽ USMNT | Friday – Paraguay
What’s happening today. The state House and Senate meet at 11 a.m.
What we hear. Governor Josh Shapiro will travel to Toronto today and tomorrow to “strengthen economic ties between Pennsylvania and Canada – the Commonwealth’s largest international trading partner.”
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 essential story
1. Shapiro pushed for recent data centers. Then public opinion changed
“A year ago, in Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro he stood before a crowd in Berwick, Columbia County, and exclaimed that it was a good day.
The governor said Amazon plans to invest at least $20 billion to build data center campuses in the state, and the company has promised to create more than a thousand well-paying high-tech jobs.
However, the political winds towards data centers have changed since last year.” | Allegheny Front
Elsewhere
Stacy Garrity, Republican candidate for Pennsylvania governor, works with acquitted sexual assault defendant. “Donor and organizer of the Republican candidate for governor of Pennsylvania Stacy Garrity has faced accusations of sexual assault and harassment throughout his political career in Pennsylvania.” | known
PA Dem state senators call for ‘shutdown ICE’ after U.S. Senate passes DHS bill. “Just days after the U.S. Senate passed a bill that could send the Department of Homeland Security an additional $70 billion for immigration enforcement, a group of Pennsylvania state senators called for “taking ICE out of Pennsylvania” as part of a recent legislative initiative.” | USA Today Network
PAC that spent $1.7 million on PA-07 Democratic primary may have violated campaign finance law, FEC complaint says. “The Lead Left PAC, which spent more than $1.7 million to influence the outcome of the May 19 Democratic primary in the 7th Congressional District, appears to have violated federal campaign finance laws by spending money on ads created by two ‘front companies,’ according to a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission.” | Lehigh Valley Chair
Country
2. House of Representatives Agrees to Tax Big Tech Digital Ads Designed to Help Seniors Pay Property Taxes
“The state House approved legislation Tuesday to tax tech giants’ ad platforms, but with a significant change: The revenue will now go toward covering property taxes collected by seniors.
The just-passed bill would expand the state’s 5% gross receipts tax to cover online advertising served to users in Pennsylvania, which is estimated to bring in about $500 million a year to the state.’ | PennLive
Elsewhere
The House of Representatives has introduced a bill to allow counties to vote early by mail. “A long-term request from county election officials took a step closer to an answer on Tuesday when the state House advanced a bill to allow counties to send out absentee ballots early.” | PoliticsPA
Lawmakers urge AP Senate to split playoffs between public and private high schools. “House lawmakers are urging the state Senate to pass legislation that would allow Pennsylvania’s governing body for high school athletics to split playoffs for public and private schools.” | Penn Capital Star
Philadelphia state legislators will continue to push to close Mayor Parker’s requested tax loophole as AP budget talks progress. “Pennsylvania lawmakers could still provide additional revenue to Philadelphia, even after the City Council last week largely rejected Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s proposed tax increases for the next fiscal year.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Amid the confusion over fraud, Bill would ban PAs from using text messaging to collect debts. “Lawmakers want to ban state agencies from using text messaging to collect debts, saying the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s recent move to collect delinquent tolls using this method could cause confusion and put people at greater risk of fraud.” | Penn Capital Star
Around the Republic of Poland
3. What the PA budget plan would do to close the $4.5 billion school funding gap
“Governor Josh Shapiro the proposed budget would be another step toward closing a $4.5 billion funding gap that courts have found harms Pennsylvania students in lower-wealth communities.
Supporters say the money has already paid off for schools across the commonwealth by enabling districts to provide full-day kindergarten, reduce class sizes and improve math and literacy programs.
They just wish aid would come faster. They note that at this rate, it will take another seven years to bring underfunded schools up to normal levels. ” | USA Today Network
Elsewhere
US Steel pledges up to $2.5 billion to modernize Mon Valley Works. “US Steel plans to invest up to $2.5 billion to modernize its Mon Valley Works facilities, which is expected to generate $1.7 billion for the state,” according to a Monday report from the steel giant. | AP
PA Affordable Care Act enrollment continues to decline. “Nearly 1 in 3 Pennsylvanians who had health insurance under the Affordable Care Act in 2025 dropped coverage by the end of May, many because of significantly higher premiums, the state’s online insurance marketplace announced Tuesday.” | Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper
Philadelphia progressives made gains in Democratic district elections. However, party chairman Bob Brady is well positioned for re-election. “The internal politics of the Democratic Party in Philadelphia have become a key battleground between progressive upstarts and the establishment.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
A predator who prays? Women complain of sexual harassment by chaplain at PA ICE facility. “Two women detained at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center have filed sexual assault complaints against the facility’s chaplain, Mark Melhorn, who continues to work at the center among more than 1,500 inmates.” | PennLive
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- Residents Deserve a Voice on the Future of Pennsylvania’s Data Centers | Senator Rosemary Brown
- A Short Note on Black Politics PA 12 2026, 2027, 2028… | Fred Logan
- Spending a week counting votes is a mistake New York Times
- Does Trump care about the 2026 midterm elections? They care about Him | Jason L. Riley
- Hollywood vs. Pennsylvania: The Battle for the White House | Zach Kennedy
- Do Good by Pennsylvania Children – Apply for the Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program | Senator Anthony Williams
- Harrisburg, aid seniors stay at home | Steven Mack
- The Amish Argument Against Artificial Intelligence | Chris Kelly
1 item
5. Five historic places to visit in Pennsylvania during the nation’s 250th anniversary
“From Lake Erie to the hills of Pittsburgh to the battlefields of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania offers many unique, fantastic views.
Here are some of the state’s most valuable views, brought to you by the USA Today Network” | Beaver County times
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