⚡ Hola Wednesday! Be weather-aware later this afternoon and this evening.
PA Weather
⛈️ Harborcreek | Showers, T-storms, 80
🌤️ Boalsburg | Partly Sunny, chance of T-storms, 87
☀️ Avoca | Mostly Sunny, 91
PA Sports
⚾ Phillies (52-27) | Detroit 1-4 | Wed vs. Detroit
⚾ Pirates (38-41) | Cincinnati 9-5 | Wed vs. Cincinnati
👂 What We’re Hearing. The head of the National Transportation Safety Board said that Norfolk Southern repeatedly tried to interfere with the agency’s investigation into the East Palestine derailment.
🗓️ What’s Happening Today. The House and Senate convene at 11 AM.
🗞️ Today’s Headlines >> Your Inbox. Where can you find all the latest news 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 weekday at 8 AM. And it’s free. Add your name to the list and subscribe now.
Top Story
1. PA Black Voters Want More Black History, Less Book Banning
“More than half of Black voters in Pennsylvania oppose banning books from public school libraries and most want African American history taught in schools, according to a recent exclusive USA TODAY/Suffolk University poll.
Almost 70% of the 500 voters polled said they opposed or strongly opposed banning certain kinds of books in schools, while about 96% of voters polled said they supported teaching African American history in schools.” (USA Today)
Related
Trump Campaign Accuses Democratic Group of ‘Election Interference’ — For Quoting Trump. “The ad, running on some websites in the state, is paid for by PA Values super PAC, and listed as such, but is framed to viewers as coming from Trump.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Rep. Summer Lee Introduces Legislation To Create Right To Vote In Federal Elections. “The Right to Vote Act would allow Americans to challenge in court “any policy that unduly restricts ballot access,” and make it more difficult for states to implement policies that make it harder to participate in elections.” (Penn Capital-Star)
Pennsylvania Jewish Dems Accuse GOP Senate Nominee of Profiting From ‘Antisemitic’ Online Platform. “In Pennsylvania’s fiercely contested Senate race, Sen. Bob Casey and Jewish elected officials are charging his GOP challenger with profiting off his investment in Rumble, a video platform that has amplified far-right antisemitism and Holocaust denial.” (Forward)
Bob Casey’s Pro-Life Betrayal. “One challenge that pro-lifers face today is that pro-abortion sentiment on the political left has metastasized and mainstreamed. Case in point: Bob Casey, who has in the past presented himself as a “pro-life Democrat,” has officially abandoned even the pretense thereof.” (National Review)
Lafayette College Will Not Hold VP Debate in Fall. “The excitement surrounding a possible Vice Presidential debate coming to Lafayette College and Easton on September 25 went by the wayside on Monday.” (PoliticsPA)
PA-01: Internal Survey Shows Ehasz Closing On Fitzpatrick. “New polling from progressive research firm Upswing Research & Strategy shows the race in Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District is getting tighter.” (PoliticsPA)
State
2. Shapiro, State Legislators Seek Compromise On Education Funding
“Ahead of the June 30 deadline to finalize the $48 billion state budget, legislators on both sides of the aisle are pushing their priorities for a deal that will change the way Pennsylvania funds public education.
The pending change comes after the Commonwealth Court ruled in 2023 that the state’s public education funding formula was inequitable and unconstitutional and directed Gov. Josh Shapiro and the state Legislature to resolve the problem.” (WHYY)
Related
House Passes Bill To Ensure Access to Contraceptives in Pennsylvania. “In a bipartisan vote of 133-69, the Pennsylvania House passed legislation that would add state-level protections for contraceptive access in the Keystone State.” (PoliticsPA)
- Bill To Ensure Access To Contraception Advances In Pennsylvania, Aided By Dozens Of Gop House Votes. (AP)
RSLC Unveils $38M Plan to Win State Legislatures. “While the eyes of most voters are focused on the presidential race with an occasional glance to a U.S. Senate race, the Republican State Leadership Committee has unveiled a $38 million plan to defend its state legislature majorities and take back those in which it is in the minority.” (PoliticsPA)
PA Senate Committee Votes To Block Funding To Colleges That Divest From Or Boycott Israel. “The Senate state government committee voted on Tuesday to advance a bill that would block state funds from going to colleges and universities that boycott or divest from Israeli companies for political reasons.” (Penn Capital-Star)
PA’s Only Black Republican Elected To State Government Didn’t Attend Trump’s North Philly Rally. “Pennsylvania Auditor General Tim DeFoor, the first person of color to hold a statewide row office, has continually distanced himself from Trump during his tenure as the state’s fiscal watchdog.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Around The Commonwealth
3. Key Swing Group Is Up For Grabs In Battleground PA: Nikki Haley’s Voters
“Richard Speicher and Mary Gensheimer are lifelong Republicans and lifelong residents of Erie County. A yard sign that was, until recently, on their front lawn in their suburban home displayed the political homelessness they feel in their party and their community.
The couple represents a critical bloc of voters — in this key county in a battleground state and across the country — who are up for grabs heading into what’s expected to be an extremely competitive general election. While many of these voters will ultimately come home and support the GOP ticket, others are weighing backing President Joe Biden — or casting another protest vote in November.” (NBC News)
Related
Podcast: Philadelphia Pride With Rue Landau. “June is a time to recognize the contributions of the LGBTQ community. We sit down with the first openly gay member of Philadelphia City Council for a unique perspective on what she is hearing across the city in the final 130 days of this historic election cycle.” (Kitchen Table Politics)
York County Hires New Elections Director, Promoting From Within Office. “Bryan Sheaffer has been with the office since 2021, most recently served as acting director following the departure of Julie Haertsch.” (York Dispatch)
Emily Cook Appointed Full-Time Luzerne County Election Director. “Cook had served as acting election director since former director Eryn Harvey resigned in February.” (Citizens Voice)
Officials Take Steps to Ensure Election Integrity in Tioga County. “Election and party officials in Tioga County, Pennsylvania met in a private meeting on Tuesday, June 25th, to talk about concerns people had about election integrity as the November 2024 election approaches.” (WENY)
Editorial
4. What’s On Your Mind
1 Thing
5. Mo’ne Davis Returns To Diamond To Honor Black Baseball Pioneers
“When Mo’ne Davis received the invitation to participate in the inaugural Hall of Fame East-West Classic, she had to think about it. She hadn’t played baseball in years and knew the competition would be stiff. Plus, she was in her final semester of graduate school at Columbia University and wasn’t sure if her class schedule would permit the trip. In the end, the opportunity was too special to pass up on.
Davis, 23, sported a Kansas City Monarchs jersey for the game, a nod to her South Philly-based youth team, the Anderson Monarchs, which is named after the former Negro League franchise. Nearly 10 years after her two-hit shutout in the Little League World Series, she entered in the fifth inning, replacing Dexter Fowler in center field, and promptly caught a line drive.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)
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