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4️⃣ Things. 4 important questions before budget negotiations. AP House approves ban on cell phone operate in schools. Allegheny County faces ongoing budget problems. Pretzel Hurts.
🎶 Your morning, pick me up. And she was. Talking heads
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Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (30-29) | Tuesday vs. San Diego
⚾ Pirates (32-28) | Tuesday in Houston
What’s happening today. The AP House meets at 11 a.m. and the AP Senate begins session at 1 p.m.
What we hear. House Majority Forward is launching a major eight-figure advertising campaign across television, online and streaming, starting in four Pennsylvania districts (PA-01, 07, 08 and 10). It’s a straightforward affordability proposal linking Republicans to Trump on gas, grocery and utility costs. Watch the ad against Representative Rob Bresnahan.
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 important story
1. 4 important questions ahead of Pennsylvania budget negotiations
“As Pennsylvania’s June 30 budget deadline approaches, lawmakers will need to confront structural deficits and find modern sources of revenue.
Will Pennsylvania’s budget be implemented on time? Will lawmakers reach agreement on modern revenue sources? What will happen to Pennsylvania’s Rainy Day Fund? What political wish list items will be included in the final budget?” | City and state
Elsewhere
Inflation concerns fuel. Negative view of the state’s economy. “As Gov. Josh Shapiro and state lawmakers grapple with crafting the state’s 2026-2027 budget, respondents to the Spring 2026 Keystone Business Climate Survey largely favor aligning spending with projected revenues rather than dipping into the state’s rainy day fund to cover the deficit.” | Lincoln Institute
Race in Bucks County for Congress to put forward multimillion-dollar PAC spending. “Bob Harvie said the House super PAC to elect Democrats, called the House Majority PAC, has committed about $13 million in ad buys as it aims to unseat Republican Brian Fitzpatrick in a district that includes all of Bucks County and part of eastern Montgomery County.” | Bucks County Courier Times
Senator McCormick will host a summit in Cumberland County to boost Pennsylvania’s defense industry. “Sen. Dave McCormick will host the 2026 Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit in July at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, aimed at increasing defense industry spending and creating jobs in Pennsylvania.” | PennLive
Democrats believe their secret sauce in 2026 is targeting Trump and Republicans for ‘corruption’. “Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro condemned corruption during his keynote evening address to supporters in Bucks County last month. And then he did it again. And again. ” | NBC News
Country
2. PA House approves cell phone ban in schools
“The state House voted Monday to ban students from using cellphones during class time at the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Mandy Steele (D-Allegheny) applies to both public and private schools and allows exceptions for students with individual learning plans, medical needs, language barriers or family members with documented medical conditions. School principals would also have the ability to create exceptions for reasons not specifically addressed in the policy, including teaching considerations.
A similar bill already passed the GOP-controlled state Senate in February with near-unanimous support.” | Penn Capital Star
Elsewhere
Garrity calls for data center development to be ‘paused’ during visit to Luzerne County. “Republican gubernatorial candidate Stacy Garrity, who first called for a recess on Thursday, questioned local officials about how the industry could impact their communities. Developers have proposed about 30 data center campuses in northeastern and north-central Pennsylvania communities. | WVIA
AP law forces tax dollars to go to print newspapers. “You may have seen them when looking through the notices in a print newspaper. Then again, given the decline in newspaper subscriptions across the country, you may not. Regardless, newspapers continue to publish legal notices because Pennsylvania law requires it. ” | Wide + Freedom
House staffer Megan Griffin-Shelley narrowly wins primary to replace state Rep. Mary Jo Daley. “Griffin-Shelley edged out environmental lawyer Jason Landau Goodman — who admitted to entering the race on Friday — by 105 votes, according to data provided Thursday by the Montgomery County Board of Elections after counting provisional ballots.” | Questioner from Philadelphia
Why Some of PA’s Largest Data Center Projects Won’t Have to Follow Governor’s New Rules. “Governor Josh Shapiro last week unveiled new guardrails for data center development in Pennsylvania. However, the new GRID rules, short for Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development, will not apply to some of the largest projects already proposed.” | PennLive
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Despite a significant tax escalate, Allegheny County faces ongoing budget problems
– Acting Allegheny County Comptroller Amy Weise Clements warns that the county’s recent property tax escalate provided only fleeting financial relief and that rising costs, the end of federal pandemic aid and continued spending increases could make it more hard to balance the budget in the coming years.
“Stability and growth will be key to restoring the county’s financial stability, but belt tightening will also likely be necessary,” Weise Clements said. | Grandstand overview
Elsewhere
Parker wants huge tech companies to pay. The clock is ticking and she encounters resistance. “The Philadelphia City Council must give preliminary approval to the budget plan by Thursday. Parker’s proposed tax increases appear to be the biggest sticking points. ” | Questioner from Philadelphia
A loophole in Pennsylvania law has pitted fire companies and county treasurers at odds over online lotteries. “Center County’s chief financial officer has warned fire companies that run online lotteries that their gaming licenses could be revoked, a serious concern that could force them to choose between forgoing needed revenue or risking financial penalties.” | PA State College Spotlight
Protesters are gathering in six counties on Monday to demand that Meuser keep City Hall. “The 64th edition of Mondays with Meuser in Lebanon County was the first time a simultaneous protest was held in six of the 12 counties in U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser’s 9th District, organizers said Monday.” | LebTown
Editorial
4. What do you think about it?
- Trump’s Game Plan to Take Back America: Tell the Narrative | Harlan Ullman
- You can’t make this up | Wally Nunn
- Dark money wins when political parties face an identity crisis | Jim Nowlan
- Former Erie Republican Party Chairman Condemns Trump’s Deal with IRS, ‘Slush’ Fund | John Mizner
1 item
5. A York pizza maker’s obsession led to the invention of boli pretzels
“Mike Stantzosowner of Crazy Tomato in West York, was looking for something that would make his pizzeria stand out. After four years of experiments, he created boli with pretzels, a combination of Italian and German specialties, consisting of preparing stromboli from pretzel dough. USA Today Network
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