Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies (CPS) announced that Jessica I. Monahan — a transportation policy expert who has secured federal funding for a range of nonprofits, local governments, Fortune 100 companies, emerging businesses, and government contractors — has joined its Washington D.C.-based lobbying team as a senior principal.
Yesterday, state House Democratic and Republican leaders met behind closed doors in the hopes of resolving once and for all the issue of chamber control before the new year — in particular, the scheduling of special elections to fill three vacant House seats. While Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton had previously attempted to schedule all three elections for February 7, Republican Leader Bryan Cutler sued in Commonwealth Court to prevent two of them from taking place on that date, favoring the existing May primary date. The two sides are still at an impasse. The Associated Press has more.
On Wednesday, State Senator Dan Laughlin circulated a co-sponsorship memorandum declaring his intent to introduce legislation that would amend the state constitution to require that Pennsylvania voters provide valid identification at the polls. If approved, the question would be put to voters in the form of a ballot measure. The legislation has been approved by both the state House and Senate in a previous session. PoliticsPA has more.
A 1995 state law requires that more than a thousand Pennsylvania government officials — including judges, executive branch officials, and state legislators — receive an annual cost-of-living pay increase. This year, this raise will also be applied to two statewide pension system leaders not articulated in the original law — the chairs of the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS). This year, the mandated raises will be 7.8% of current salaries. PennLive has more.
On Wednesday, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner maintained in a formal response to the Pennsylvania Senate that state Republicans’ efforts to impeach him are meritless and illegal, citing similar increases in urban gun violence to Philadelphia’s across the country. DA Krasner filed a suit with the Commonwealth Court requesting an intervention on his behalf earlier this month. His impeachment trial is currently scheduled for January 18. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
City Council recently approved a new business improvement district (BID) on North Broad Street, which is intended to help business and property owners in the neighborhood revitalize the area. The BID will be administered by North Broad Renaissance, a nonprofit dedicated to cleaning up and promoting the neighborhood, which hopes that the BID will provide a more stable source of funding for its efforts. Those who own property on Broad Street between Spring Garden and West Indiana Avenue will begin paying an annual fee based on the property’s assessed value in January 2024. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
In response to the high-profile Fern Hollow Bridge collapse earlier this year, Mayor Ed Gainey ordered an investigation into the integrity of Pittsburgh’s many bridges as a major part of his Comprehensive Bridge Asset Management Program. This week, the resulting report indicated that there are dozens of bridges with structural issues significant enough to warrant addressing in the next six months, with 27 requiring immediate attention. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has more.
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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.
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.
April 25, 2024
April 25, 2024
April 24, 2024
