Sunday, February 18, 2024

Top 10 Stories: Harrisburg/PA Politics Reported By Local News Media Last Week

Because In Politics Everything Is Connected To Everything Else--

-- Gov. Shapiro

-- Tribune-Democrat: Shapiro Defends Spending From Surplus As PA Republicans Warn About Structural Deficit

-- TribLive: Shapiro, Visiting Allegheny County, Blasts Republican Critics Of Budget Proposal 

-- Post-Gazette: Shapiro Talked Budget, US Steel, Main Street During Allegheny County Visit

-- WESA: Shapiro Talks Up Main Street Investments, Gets Some Shopping Done In Mt. Lebanon, Allegheny County

-- Spotlight PA - Stephen Caruso: Shapiro Wants To Tax ‘Skill’ Gamblilng Games, First He Must Navigate PA’s Wealthy, Warring Gambling Interests 

-- Post-Gazette: PA Lawmakers Examine Public Safety Issues Connected To ‘Skill’ Gambling Games

-- Post-Gazette: Talk Of Shapiro’s Presidential Potential Simmers As Report Biden Raises Questions For Some

-- Spotlight PA - Steven Caruso: Shapiro Accepted $1,650 In Event Tickets From PA Lobbyist Michael Brunelle

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shapiro Has Strong Words For US Steel Over Proposed Deal

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: If Josh Shapiro Wants To Compete With Ohio, He Needs To Imitate Ohio - By Commonwealth Foundation

-- Politics PA: Shapiro Expands Paid Parental Leave For Commonwealth Employees


-- Budget 2024

-- Tribune-Democrat: Shapiro Defends Spending From Surplus As PA Republicans Warn About Structural Deficit

-- The Center Square: Republican Budget Hawk Fears Shapiro Spending Plan May Trigger Future 46% Income Tax Hike

-- Spotlight PA - Stephen Caruso: Shapiro Wants To Tax ‘Skill’ Gambling Games, First He Must Navigate PA’s Wealthy, Warring Gambling Interests 

-- Post-Gazette: PA Lawmakers Examine Public Safety Issues Connected To ‘Skill’ Gambling Games

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: State Tax Credits Worth $400 Million Projected For Next Fiscal Year 

-- PA Taxpayers To Give $130.9 Million In Tax Credits To Subsidize Shell Petrochemical Plant In Beaver County; Total Expected To Be $1.17 Billion Thru 2042; No Regard For Environmental Compliance Record  [PaEN]

-- WNEP: Super Bowl Wagers Down 15% From 2023 In PA

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: House, Senate Ended 2023 Sitting On Surplus Of  $298.5 Million In Taxpayer Money In Their Legislative Accounts

-- PennLive - John Baer: PA Legislature Is Using Your Money To Set Records - For Itself [Nearly $300 Million In Their Legislative Accounts]

-- PennLive Guest Essay: Gov. Shapiro’s Budget Shoves Pennsylvania In The Wrong Direction - By Commonwealth Foundation


-- PA House/Senate

-- AP: Democrats Retain Majority In PA House 102-100 After Special Election

-- PA Capital-Star: Damage That Closed PA House Chamber Repaired Ahead Of Schedule

-- WESA: PA Lawmakers Try To Ban Guns From Polling Places

-- The Center Square: Solving ‘Skill’ Gambling Game Public Safety Concerns In Progress

-- Post-Gazette: PA Lawmakers Examine Public Safety Issues Connected To ‘Skill’ Gambling Games

-- WESA: PA Lawmakers Push To Make State CIO A Cabinet Position In Wake Of Hacks

-- PennLive - Jan Murphy: House, Senate Ended 2023 Sitting On Surplus Of  $298.5 Million In Taxpayer Money In Their Legislative Accounts

-- PennLive - John Baer: PA Legislature Is Using Your Money To Set Records - For Itself [Nearly $300 Million In Their Legislative Accounts]


-- US Senate/House

-- Post-Gazette - Salena Zito: Robert Casey Went To Washington, But Never Really Left Scranton

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Republican Candidate For US Senate Says US Economic Policy Should Be Based On Fair Trade, Not Free Trade

-- Post-Gazette: Western PA Republicans Vote To Impeach Homeland Security Secretary After Opposing Bipartisan Border Measure In Congress

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Western PA Republican Congressmen Should Stop Baseless Slinging Mud Against Biden’s Muslim Nominee For Federal Court, Retract Their Statements


-- 2024 Elections

-- Politics PA: Who Is On The Ballot In 2024?

-- PA Capital-Star: Candidates Running For Statewide Office In Pennsylvania

-- PA Capital-Star: PA Legislative Districts That Will Have Competitive Primaries In April

-- Post-Gazette - Ford Turner: Latest Crop Of PA House Candidates Show Incumbency Still Rules The Roost

-- PA Capital-Star: Candidates Running For Congressional Seats In Pennsylvania

-- Post-Gazette: PA Election Directors Seek Poll Workers For Presidential Primary

-- Post-Gazette Editorial: Decline In Poll Workers Worrying Symptom For Democracy

-- Politico: The Ominous News For Democrats In PA’s ‘Latino Belt’

-- AP: PA’s 2024 Primary Election Features Contests For Attorney General, Congress

-- TribLive Editorial: Election For Santos Seat Strikes Familiar Chord In PA


-- Election Reforms

-- Inquirer: This Group Is Working To Boost Faith In PA’s Elections Ahead Of November

-- PA Capital-Star: Feds Deliver Stark Warnings To State Election Officials Ahead Of November

-- WESA: PA Lawmakers Try To Ban Guns From Polling Places


-- National Politics

-- AP: Saving Democracy Is Central To Biden’s Campaign Messaging, Will It Resonate With Swing State Voters? [Northampton County Voters Weigh In]

-- PennLive: Ex-President Claims The Name Of Pennsylvania Will Be Changed If He Doesn’t Win 2024 Election


-- PA’s Role In Assault On US Capitol

-- Spotlight PA: PA Conservative Activist Heather Honey Is The Source Of False And Flawed Election Claims Gaining Traction Across The Country

-- MCall: Monroe County Brothers Charged With Crimes For Attacking Police During Assault On US Capitol


-- Miscellaneous State/Harrisburg Politics

-- Spotlight PA: State Treasurer Garrity’s Decision To Invest More PA Tax Money In Israel Bonds Draws Protect, Democratic Opposition


-- PA Politics Of Russian Invasion

-- AAA Gasoline Prices:  PA- $3.55   National- $3.28   Ohio- $3.32

-- WTAE: Gasoline Prices In Pittsburgh Up Nearly A Quarter In Past Month

-- TribLive: Refinery Issues, Change To Summer Gasoline Likely To Push Prices Higher, Analyst Says

-- Utility Dive: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission OKs Cold Weather Reliability Standards [Driven In Large Part By Natural Gas Infrastructure Failures In 2021]

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs Same As Last Week - 23

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Pittsburgh-Based EQT Could Curtail Some Natural Gas Production As Gas Prices Fade

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Drillers Cut Spending, Reduce Activity Amid Price Crash

-- Financial Times: Natural Gas Prices Plunge As US Set For Warmest Winter On Record

-- Natural Gas Intelligence: Global Natural Gas Prices Continue Freefall Amid Weak Demand, Warm Weather

-- Natural Gas Intelligence: US Pause On New LNG Natural Gas Export Facility Permits Could Help Balance Global Natural Gas Prices, Avoid Oversupply

-- TribLive Guest Essay: A Fossil Fuel Export Economy Is Wrong For America - By Tyson Slocum, Public Citizen

-- TribLive Guest Essay: Record Oil And Gas Production Means Energy And Economic Security - By Independent Petroleum Association Of America

-- Natural Gas Intelligence: 76% Increase In LNG Natural Gas Export Capacity Already Under Construction; US Group Fears Buildout Will Hurt American Businesses Urge ‘US Consumers First’ Policy  [PaEN]

-- Bloomberg TV: Canada’s Energy Minister: Period Of Using Natural Gas As Transition Fuel Should Be Short; Gas Should Not Replace Renewables; Canada Has Adopted Controls On LNG Exports The US Has Not  [PaEN]

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: A Political Battle Brews Over Natural Gas Exports Over Impacts To Gas Prices, Climate, Demand For Gas

-- Reuters: European Union Says Biden’s Pause On Approvals Of New LNG Natural Gas Export Facilities Will Have No Effect On US LNG Supplies To Europe Over Next 2 or 3 Years  [LNG Exports Are Expected To Double By 2030 On Already-Approved Projects] 

-- Bloomberg: Shell Lowers LNG Natural Gas Growth View As Demand Set To Peak In 2040s

-- Williamsport Sun Editorial: Liquefied Natural Gas Exports Should Be Encouraged; Pause On New LNG Export Facilities Is Another Attack On American Energy Independence  [?] 

-- WSJ: US Natural Gas Futures Extend Losses [2.12.24]

-- Bloomberg: European Natural Gas Approaches Oversold Levels As Demand Set To Recover

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Price To Average Higher In 2024, 2025 - EIA

-- Reuters: Brazil’s Hydro, Renewables Power Adds To Global Natural Gas Surplus 

-- WSJ: Diamondback Energy, Endeavor Reach Deal To Create $50 Billion Oil And Gas Behemoth

-- Reuters: Investors Dump Oil After BP Refinery In Indiana Shut Down Due To Electrical Failures


-- Oil & Gas Health Impacts

-- TribLive: Beaver County Man Sues Shell Petrochemical Plant, Claims Plant Spews Pollution 

-- The Energy Age Blog: Resident Files Lawsuit Against Shell Petrochemical Plant, Claims Plant Spews Pollution

-- TribLive Letter: Renewable Energy Investments Protect Jobs, Public Health - By Patrick Dooling

-- WTAE: Monitors Find High Levels Of Toxic Benzene Near Clairton Coke [Coal] Plant In Allegheny County 


-- Train Derailments

-- DEP: Interim Report On A Full Year Of Sampling Finds No Evidence Of Contamination In Western PA Related To Norfolk Southern Train Derailment  [PaEN] 

-- WPXI: No Evidence Of Contamination Found In PA From Norfolk Southern Train Derailment, DEP Says

-- PennLive: A Year After Norfolk Southern Train Derailment, Pair Monitor Waterways: ‘There’s Still Something Going On’

-- TribLive: Hostile Reaction Greets Biden During Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Visit

-- PittsburghUnionProgress.com: Biden Visits Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Site, But Doesn’t Declare Disaster

-- The Center Square: Biden: Norfolk Southern Train Derailment ‘An Act Of Greed’

-- AP: Biden Praises ‘Herculean Efforts’ To Rebuild At Site Of Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

-- Post-Gazette: Biden Commends Ohio Community’s Strength Since Norfolk Southern Train Derailment

-- Washington Examiner - Salena Zito: From Afghanistan To Norfolk Southern Train Derailment, Hawaii Wildfires, Biden’s Pattern Of Behavior Lacks The Empathy He Promised

-- Post-Gazette: Biden Should Use Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Visit To Push Bipartisan Rail Safety Reform

-- Post-Gazette: Norfolk Southern Boosted Lobbying, Political Giving After Ohio Train Derailment

-- The Allegheny Front: EPA Refuses To Test Inside Homes Near Norfolk Southern Train Derailment Site


-- Education

-- PennLive: Students In Dauphin County H.S. Spend Day In Lockdown Over Gun Inside School, With No Food Or Info

-- TribLive: College, University Endowments Rebound From Bad Year; Pitt Remains Largest In Western PA

-- Citizens Voice: Stop Keeping Secrets At Penn State, Publicly Debate Proposal To Name Football Stadium After Paterno


-- Health Care

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Rural PA Hospitals ‘On The Brink Of Disaster’


-- Law Enforcement

-- AP: PA Courts Say It Didn’t Pay Ransom In Cyberattack And Attackers Never Sent A Demand

-- WESA: PA Lawmakers Push To Make State CIO A Cabinet Position In Wake Of Hacks

-- AP: PA Supreme Court Takes Up Challenge To The State’s Life-Without-Parole Prison Sentences

-- Spotlight PA: DOJ Settlement Brings New Protections For People With Opioid Use Disorder In PA Courts

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Bill Protects Medical Marijuana Patients’ Gun Ownership Rights

-- Beaver County Times: PA Courts’ Digital Services Fully Restored After Cyber Attack


-- The Economy

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Shapiro Has Strong Words For US Steel Over Proposed Deal

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: If Josh Shapiro Wants To Compete With Ohio, He Needs To Imitate Ohio - By Commonwealth Foundation

-- The Center Square: Solving ‘Skill’ Gambling Game Public Safety Concerns In Progress

-- Post-Gazette: PA Lawmakers Examine Public Safety Issues Connected To ‘Skill’ Gambling Games


-- Other

-- Erie Times: Vanity License Plates PennDOT Said No To In 2023 For Violating Policy

[Posted: February 18, 2024]

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