Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies (CPS), the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, announced the addition of Matthew Murray as a principal to its expanding strategic communications practice.
On Monday, the Democratic-led state House voted to forward their state budget bill to the Senate, where GOP leadership is skeptical of full passage. While the House’s proposal is poised to cut state spending by approximately $900 million, the Republican-led Senate does not think cuts go far enough.
State Senators Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland/Dauphin/Perry) and Tracy Pennycuick (R-Berks/Montgomery) have introduced legislation to create a statewide “Commonwealth Opportunity Zone” that would fast-track permits and ease regulations to position Pennsylvania as a national leader in AI and data center development. Tri-State Alert has more.
As speculation grows about a potential 2026 gubernatorial run by Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity—as well as a potential early endorsement by the Pennsylvania GOP—Pennsylvania unions are voicing their support for incumbent Governor Josh Shapiro (D), despite previous union support for Garrity during her 2024 treasurer campaign.
Four Pennsylvania voters have requested the State Supreme Court to reevaluate the Commonwealth’s closed primary system, which purportedly excludes 1.4 million independent voters from voting in primaries, arguing that the current system is unconstitutionally restrictive to unaffiliated voters. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
On Monday, Pennsylvania Secretary of State Al Schmidt unveiled a new ballot design that will more clearly articulate signing instructions to reduce the number of rejected provisional ballots. According to Votebeat, 30% of the state’s 100,000 provisional ballots were rejected during the 2024 General Election due to technical errors.
The Pittsburgh-based Community Justice Project has filed suit in Commonwealth Court arguing that the state’s property tax system does not possess uniform standards in its assessments across all 67 counties. The lawsuit alleges that 70% of the state’s counties impose “unfair and regressive assessments” due to the antiquated system. WESA has more.
A new state report shows that more than half of Pennsylvania’s acute care hospitals lost money or barely broke even in 2024, with health leaders warning that federal Medicaid cuts will worsen financial instability and threaten access to care. PennLive has more.
With major 2026 events approaching, Pennsylvania lawmakers are advancing policy changes but still need to secure nearly $65 million in state funding to support America’s 250th celebration and other high-profile festivities. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
Philadelphia’s white collar City workers union, AFSCME District Council 47, and Mayor Cherelle Parker (D) reached a tentative contract agreement on Tuesday. The successful negotiations prevented what could have been the second strike in Philadelphia this month. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
In an opinion piece for City & State Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Katayun Jaffari argues that sufficient state funding for SEPTA is imperative to provide the public access to the state’s courts. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
Philly Bike Action’s new “Laser Vision” app allows Philadelphians to report parking violations directly to the Philadelphia Parking Authority by submitting a picture of the offense.
The Pittsburgh City Council postponed a decision on a proposed public safety training center at a former VA hospital site, citing community concerns and unresolved questions about the project’s scope, funding, and future use. WESA has more.
The Allegheny County Board of Health approved a proposal allowing the county to clean up outdoor health hazards on neglected properties and recover costs through property liens, with the measure now heading to County Council for a final vote. PublicSource has more.
Allegheny County Manager John Fournier admitted that local officials still have not fully grasped how federal funding cuts will affect the county’s services. Fournier, however, did confirm that Allegheny County will not be able to make up for the lost federal dollars. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review has more.
This week, Carnegie Mellon University hosted the inaugural Pennsylvania Energy & Innovation Summit, convened by Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA). During the summit, President Donald Trump announced $90 billion in planned AI and energy investments across the Commonwealth. While the timeline and details of many projects remain unclear, organizers say the initiatives aim to revive the state’s industrial base and position it as a leader in next-generation technologies. WESA has more.
During a visit to West Pittston, Vice President JD Vance praised the Trump administration’s economic policies and the newly passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act, highlighting tax cuts and tariffs aimed at boosting American industry. However, he avoided addressing the bill’s controversial Medicaid and food stamp cuts, which Democrats argue could harm vulnerable communities and rural hospitals. WVIA has more.
Senate Republicans passed a bill to rescind $9 billion in previously approved foreign aid and public broadcasting funds, including support for NPR and PBS, with a narrow 51-48 vote. The measure, which now heads to the House, has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats who argue the cuts would harm global aid efforts and local media, especially in rural communities. WHYY has more.
With bipartisan backing, a bill proposed by the Pennsylvania Delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate could relocate the Department of Energy’s office to Pennsylvania. PennLive has more.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has demanded that Pennsylvania and at least eight other states turn over troves of voter information—potentially including voter registrations, election equipment, dates of birth, driver license numbers, and social security numbers—that private data critics say are exclusively protected by states and cannot be compiled by the federal government. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.
Pennsylvania has joined multistate lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s cancellation of Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster mitigation grants and the withholding of $230 million in federal education funds owed to the state. Governor Josh Shapiro and other state leaders argue the actions violate constitutional spending powers and jeopardize critical public safety and education programs.
Gov. Shapiro ranks fifth among potential 2028 Democratic presidential hopefuls, tying U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) at 7% and trailing California Governor Gavin Newsom (12%), former Vice President Kamala Harris (13%), and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (16%). PennLive 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.
July 17, 2025
July 17, 2025
July 16, 2025
