👋 Hello July. This holiday week promises to be full of excitement.
Weather in Pennsylvania
☀️Pittsburgh | Sunny, 77
☀️ Harrisburg | Sunny, 78
☀️ Philadelphia | Mostly clear, 81
Sports PA
⚾ Phillies (55-29) | Miami 7-6 | Tuesday-Thursday vs. Chicago Cubs
⚾ Pirates (40-43) | Atlanta 4-2 | Tuesday-Thursday vs. St. Louis
⚽ Union (4-8-8) | Montreal 2-4 | Wed vs. Chicago
🗓️ What’s happening today. The Supreme Court announces its final decisions this term at 10 a.m. The state House convenes at noon and the Senate gives the hammer at 3 p.m.
🗞️ Today’s Headlines >> Your inbox. Where can you find the latest on what’s happening in Keystone State politics? Sign up for the PoliticsPA Playbook. We’ll deliver all the latest headlines in an easy-to-read format every working day at 8 am. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and sign up now.
The best story
1. The U.S. Supreme Court reverses a precedent that strengthened the position of federal agencies
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned a precedent that for decades had constrained the courts’ authority to challenge executive branch regulations, a decision that was immediately criticized for potentially undermining the decisions of the agency’s scientists and experts.
The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s rule and struck down a rule known as Chevron deference.
This precedent gave federal agencies broad authority to apply their own judgment to resolve any ambiguities left by Congress in federal statute.” (Penn Capital Star)
Related
Democrats seek solace or substitute as they ponder Biden’s future. Republicans say the choice is clear“The debate was a chance for the Democratic nominee to assuage concerns that he was mentally up to the task, an issue that dogged his campaign. It did not work.” (Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper)
John Fetterman’s Fitness to Serve Questioned After 2022 Senate Debate, Wants Democrats to ‘Break Free’ After Biden’s Poor Performance“For Fetterman, the doubts and outright panic from some Democratic circles about Biden are reminiscent of the criticism he faced after a difficult 2022 Senate debate against his then-opponent, GOP nominee and renowned surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz.” (Business information)
McCormick suggests the Cabinet should consider Biden’s 25th Amendment“In a Friday morning interview on KDKA radio, U.S. Senate candidate Dave McCormick suggested that Americans should be concerned about their current president after Joe Biden’s performance during the debate with Donald Trump.” (PoliticsPA)
Country
2. Terrified Pennsylvania Democrats go into cleanup mode after Biden’s failed debate
“Thirty minutes into the debate Thursday night, some Democrats in Pennsylvania were already panicking about President Joe Biden debate on running against the former president Donald Trump.
One Democratic consultant received a text message from an agent asking her what the rules would be to nominate Pennsylvania. Governor Josh Shapiro replace Biden at a convention in Chicago in August. (Biden would have to decline the nomination to expedite this highly theoretical process.)
Others silenced the alarm, noting that debates generally do not change the rules of the game.” (Questioner from Philadelphia)
Related
Shapiro Endorses President Biden“The governor of the nation’s largest swing state staunchly defended the 46th president, acknowledging Biden had a bad night but reminding voters of the “chaos” of former President Donald Trump’s administration.” (PoliticsPA)
- Josh Shapiro is emerging as a potential candidate in the Democratic debate to replace Joe Biden. (Pittsburgh Postal Newspaper)
- Reader Survey: 51% of PoliticsPA readers say Joe Biden will continue his business.
Scott Perry’s campaign shares, then deletes anti-Semitic meme on social media. “The meme post, reported by Jewish Insider with the comment “Says it all,” depicts a group of Jewish bankers with exaggerated hooked noses sitting at a Monopoly board, perched on hunched naked figures. (PennLive)
Despite minor opposition, Senate promotes Bogen to Health Secretary“After 18 months as acting health secretary, Debra Bogen is one step closer to confirmation.” (Central Square)
More funding could go to Pennsylvania’s public housing program“State lawmakers are arguing over what to do with Pennsylvania’s $14 billion budget surplus. The leading candidate for a slice of the pie is increased funding for the affordable housing program.” (PA reflector)
Around the Republic of Poland
3. Dauphin County elected official resigns after 6 months in office in chaos
“The Dauphin County Clerk of Courts elected resigned Friday after months of chaos under her leadership and one business day before a hearing was scheduled to determine whether she had met deadlines set by the presiding judge earlier this year.
According to the Chief Justice, her first deputy clerk also resigned, while the second was fired on Friday. Scott Evans. It is unclear who will be appointed to lead the office in the near future. County commissioners will likely choose an acting official. Under Pennsylvania law, the governor selects a deputy. (PennLive)
Related
How a Lancaster Mom Convinced Gov. Josh Shapiro to Increase Funding for Disabled Adults. “The state’s home- and community-based services system has a waiting list of 13,000 people, leaving many families unable to work or take breaks from care.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Former Philadelphia trade union president sentenced to 4 years in embezzlement case. “Brian Burrows was sentenced to four years in prison for his role in what federal prosecutors say was the embezzlement of more than $600,000 in union funds.” (Philadelphia Tribune)
Williamsport audits 2020 for second year in a row, with auditors unable to comment on financial statements. “The auditing firm cannot comment on the accuracy of Williamsport’s 2020 financial statements due to the city’s financial mess, the firm said in an audit of the city’s finances for the year.”(WVIA)
Joan L. Specter 1934-2024. “Joan L. Specter, 90, former Philadelphia City Council member, entrepreneur, gourmet baker and wife of the late U.S. Senator Arlen Specter, died Saturday, June 29.” (“Philadelphia Inquirer”)
Editorial
4. What do you mean
- To serve his country, Donald Trump should drop out of the race. (Questioner from Philadelphia)
- The debate points to the need for reform: age limits for high-level positions. (Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
- Biden was doomed to fail in the debate. He cannot be allowed to fail in November. (Kyle Sammin)
- Biden is a patriot. He should do something patriotic and step aside. (Jonathan Zimmerman)
- The Empire Is Naked: The Debate Where America Bared It All. (Brandon McGinley)
- He is who we thought he was – Joe Biden fails the test. (Andy Bloom)
- Was the presidential debate the worst in history?Grandstand overview)
- A final proposal for truly equitable public school funding in Pennsylvania. (LNP)
1 item
5. Bobby Bonilla Day
“The calendar says July 1, and that means one thing: It’s time for Mets fans everywhere to wish each other Happy Bobby Bonilla Day! Why? On Monday, the 61-year-old Bobby Bonilla will receive a check for $1,193,248.20 from the New York Mets, which he has done and will do every July 1 from 2011 through 2035.
In 2000, the Mets agreed to buy out the remaining $5.9 million on Bonilla’s contract. However, instead of paying Bonilla $5.9 million at that time, the Mets agreed to make annual payments of nearly $1.2 million for 25 years beginning July 1, 2011, including a negotiated 8% interest.
Bonilla last played for the Mets in 1999 and his last major-league appearance for the Cardinals was in 2001, but he will receive his salary until 2035 (when he will be 72). (ESPN)
