Pennsylvania Perspective for Thursday, September 22, 2022

September 22, 2022

Cozen Public Strategies Ranks Second in Annual List of Top 50 Pennsylvania Lobbyists

City & State Pennsylvania has named its top 50 Pennsylvania lobbyists of 2022, with Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies leading the pack at number two. See more at City & State Pennsylvania.

 

Pennsylvania

State House Passes New Election-Related Legislation

The House has passed two new election-related bills this week. One bill will require election officials to purge the names of voters who have died from voter rolls by cross-referencing voter information with state death records, while the other mandates additional procedures to ensure ballot security during transit between polling locations. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.

Legislative Inaction on Income Eligibility Negatively Impacting State Rebate Program; Older Pennsylvania Residents Suffering the Consequences

Thousands of elderly Pennsylvania residents are at risk of losing their property tax rebates — despite little having changed about their financial situations. The number of rebates paid out by the program has reportedly declined 25% over the past decade, due in large part to the stagnant income eligibility, which does not factor in annual inflation-related increases to Social Security benefits. Spotlight PA has more.

All Electricity Used by DCNR Will Be Renewable by 2030

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) announced Wednesday that all of the electricity it uses, whether produced internally or purchased from another source, will be renewable by 2030. PA Media has more.

 

Philadelphia

Sharon Vaughn, Jimmy Harrity Likely to Win Election to At-Large City Council Seats Due to Anticipated Democratic Backing

Democratic ward leaders are expected to formally back City Council staffer Sharon Vaughn and former aide to State Senator Sharif Street Jimmy Harrity in their respective special elections for at-large City Council seats. The seats were recently vacated by former Councilmembers Derek Green and Allan Domb — the former of whom is running for mayor, and the latter of whom is considering doing so. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

City Council Announces New Leadership, Committee Chair Assignments

Philadelphia City Council has announced the new assignments for leadership and committee chair positions in light of recent resignations. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

Likely Successor of Councilmember Quiñones-Sánchez Earned City Council Nomination Through Key Support From Philadelphia Democrats

Quetcy Lozada, the former chief of staff to then Councilmember Maria Quiñones-Sánchez, is likely to win the special election in November to succeed her mentor as the representative for District 7. Her rise to prominence is due in large part to backing from major players in the Philadelphia Democratic party — a feat in and of itself. Billy Penn has more.

Crozer Health to Permanently Close Delaware County Memorial Hospital

According to internal communications obtained by WHYY, Crozer Health plans to close the emergency department of Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Drexel Hill. The move comes in the wake of ChristianaCare’s decision to back out of a deal to acquire Crozer Health in August, and is expected to leave many residents without an easily accessible emergency room. WHYY has more.

Confounding “Protest” by State Representative Rabb at Dr. Oz Campaign Event Draws Criticism Online

On Monday, Democratic State Representative Chris Rabb attended a discussion on gun violence hosted by Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Dr. Mehmet Oz in Germantown, baffling many. Representative Rabb has stated that he attended in protest, though he remained notably quiet throughout the event, adding to confusion. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

 

Pittsburgh

Global Clean Energy Action Forum Kicks Off in Pittsburgh

On Wednesday, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm welcomed thousands of conference attendees to the Heinz History Center for the official kick-off of the Global Clean Energy Action Forum. Pittsburgh was a natural choice as the host city for the conference, given its rapid transformation from a carbon-emitting industrial center to a more environmentally conscious and diverse economy. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has more.

Pittsburgh Youth Climate Activists Demand Fossil Fuel Divestment

Members of the Pittsburgh Youth Climate Council, Fossil Free Pitt, and Sunrise Movement Pittsburgh have come together to organize a Climate Strike in the hopes of garnering the attention of Global Clean Energy Action Forum attendees and urging local universities like Carnegie Mellon to divest from fossil fuels. WESA has more.

PoliticsPA Hones in on Allegheny County in Pennsylvania House Preview Series

PoliticsPA has updated its series profiling Pennsylvania State House candidates, with the most recent installment focusing on races in Allegheny County. Read more about the races to watch here.

 

Federal

City & State Pennsylvania Release List of Endorsements for U.S. Senate Race

Key endorsements are sure to play a vital role in the candidates voters choose when they go to the polls in November. City & State Pennsylvania has released a rundown of the important political power players, organizations, and unions that have endorsed Democrat Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman and Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz in their race for the coveted Pennsylvania U.S. Senate seat. Read more here.

State Building, Trades Union Endorses Lieutenant Governor Fetterman in Senate Race

Democratic candidate for U.S. Senator John Fetterman has won the endorsement of Pennsylvania’s State Building & Construction Trades Council. The Council’s support has historically been important in the outcome of state-wide and federal races. PennLive has more.

Authors

About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.

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