Pennsylvania Perspective for Thursday, April 13, 2023

April 13, 2023

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Seeks to Regulate Skill Games, Impose Related Tax

State Senator Gene Yaw of Williamsport has circulated a co-sponsorship memo proposing further regulations on skill video games, as well as the establishment of an additional tax, potentially bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars to the commonwealth. The Center Square Pennsylvania has more.

Merck KGaA to Invest $300 Million in Eastern Pennsylvania Facility Expansion

EMD Electronic, a subsidiary of German multinational healthcare company Merck KGaA, will be receiving $300 million from its parent company to expand its specialty gas production facility in eastern Pennsylvania. The hope is that expansion will attract the growing semiconductor industry to the area. The Associated Press has more.

City of Chester Risks Disincorporation Over State of Finances

The dire state of the City of Chester’s finances could possibly lead to its disincorporation as a municipality should a solution not be implemented by the end of 2023. WHYY has more.

Our Revolution Endorses Progressive Candidates in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh

Our Revolution, a national progressive grassroots-funded organization, has endorsed former City Councilmember At-Large Helen Gym in Philadelphia’s mayoral race and State Representative Sara Innamorato for Allegheny County Executive in Pittsburgh. PoliticsPA has more.

 

Philadelphia

YouthBuild Philly Breaks Ground on a New Permanent Home for Public Charter School

Congratulations to Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies client YouthBuild Philly on securing a new permanent home for the YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School. The three-floor, 36,000-square-foot building will allow for the continued improvement and increased impact of its six existing vocational training tracks. WHYY has more.

Former City Councilmember Green Drops Out of Mayoral Primary Race

Former City Councilmember At-Large Derek Green announced today that he is dropping out of the mayoral race, citing fundraising challenges. His former City Council colleague and mayoral competitor Maria Quiñones Sánchez recently exited the race for the same reason. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

FOP Endorses Grocer Jeff Brown for Mayor

Jeff Brown has secured the endorsement of Philadelphia’s Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5 (FOP), the second of his municipal union endorsements. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

Philadelphia to Conduct Independent Impact Study on Proposed Center City Sixers Arena

Philadelphia is planning on conducting an impact study on the proposed Sixers arena on surrounding neighborhoods in Center City. The Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation will be accepting study proposals through April 28. The news comes soon after Comcast Spectacor CEO Daniel Hilferty’s suggestion that the franchise could “reimagine” their existing home in South Philadelphia. WHYY has more.

Pew Releases Annual “State of the City” Report

Pew Charitable Trusts published its annual “State of the City” report on Wednesday, shedding light on the city’s employment, income, education, and public safety trends, among others. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

 

Pittsburgh

Allegheny County Council Challenger Lobs Attacks at Incumbent

On Wednesday, candidate Joanna Doven held a news conference during which she directed a series of ad hominem attacks against incumbent Allegheny County Councilwoman Bethany Hallam related to the details of the latter’s arrest in March 2013. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has more.

EPA Awards $10 Million to Allegheny County for Electric Buses

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $10 million to Allegheny County for the purchase of four electric buses as part of an ongoing effort to improve regional air quality. WESA has more.

 

Federal

Senator Fetterman to Chair First Subcommittee Hearing

Next week, U.S. Senator John Fetterman will be co-chairing his first subcommittee hearing on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other nutrition programs included in the Farm Bill. USA Today has more.

Representative Kelly Throws Support Behind Federal Judge’s Abortion Pill Ruling

U.S. Representative Mike Kelly has joined 68 of his Republican Congressional colleagues in support of a recent ruling by a Texas federal judge to overturn the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone, widely known as the abortion pill. He is the only federal legislator from Pennsylvania to do so. PoliticsPA has more.

Representative Lee Calls for Increased Federal Rail Safety Regulations

Following a recent train derailment in Pittsburgh — which itself followed the Norfolk Southern train derailment less than a mile from the Pennsylvania-Ohio border — U.S. Representative Summer Lee is calling for increased federal safety regulations for train operators in order to prevent future potential crises. WESA 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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