Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies (CPS), the government and public affairs affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced Tamara Hinton has signed on to lead its fast-growing strategic communications practice.
Yesterday, the state House at long last passed its session rules, which included reforms that grant the chamber’s minority party, currently Republicans, more agency in the legislative process. Session rules are typically voted on at the first order of business in January, but an ongoing dispute over chamber leadership that was eventually resolved by three Allegheny County special elections last month prevented this routine procedure from occurring in a timely fashion. WITF has more.
The Pennsylvania Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee voted yesterday to subpoena Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw to testify at a hearing regarding the recent East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment and subsequent public health and safety concerns. The hearing will take place March 8. PoliticsPA has more.
Though the state House has finally moved past its leadership disagreement from earlier this year, a partisan divide in the General Assembly still remains. This divide has most recently manifested itself in the ongoing debate between House Democrats and Senate Republicans over a childhood sexual abuse statute of limitations reform bill passed by the Senate in January, which was bundled with two controversial and unrelated constitutional amendments. PennLive has more.
An anonymous witness has corroborated the story of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 32BJ lobbyist Andi Perez, who in a January meeting organized by then-House Speaker Mark Rozzi revealed that she had been sexually harassed by Representative Mike Zabel, whom she did not name publicly at the time. Some are now calling for Rep. Zabel to resign, though he has not yet publicly responded to the allegations. SpotlightPA has more.
Earlier today, Mayor Jim Kenney gave the final budget address of his term, and the first in-person budget address since March 2020. The presentation of his $6.1 billion proposed budget was punctuated throughout with reflections on his administration’s accomplishments over his two-term tenure. The proposal largely sticks to the status quo, while offering new measures to tackle the city’s gun-violence epidemic and address economic inequality during Mayor Kenney’s final months in office. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
On Wednesday evening, WHYY, Billy Penn, and the CeasefirePA Education Fund hosted a mayoral forum during which eight candidates discussed their plans to address the city’s gun violence crisis, if elected. Topics ranged from city programs and community policing to potential changes to Philadelphia Police Department leadership. This evening, the Philadelphia Orchestra, Kimmel Center, and City & State Pennsylvania will be hosting a mayoral forum on Philadelphia’s performing arts and culture economy.
The Philadelphia Flower Show, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s signature annual event, is returning to the Pennsylvania Convention Center this weekend with a fresh perspective after two years of hosting the event outdoors. PennLive has more.
Yesterday, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) unveiled plans to purchase 10 fuel-cell electric transit buses to its fleet. The buses, which will cost an estimated $17 million, will be able to generate their own electricity, and are part of SEPTA’s overarching efforts to work toward the goal of a zero-emissions fleet. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
Darwin Leuba and Corey O’Connor, the two declared Democratic candidates for Allegheny County controller, participated in a candidate forum to address issues such as accessible transit and the protections for the environment. O’Connor is the current acting county controller, while Lueba serves as the auditor of O’Hara Township. The Pittsburgh Union Progress has more.
The candidate pool for various Pittsburgh City Council seats skews far younger than it has in elections past, with many hoping to bring a “fresh perspective” to the city’s legislative body. The current median age of challengers is 31, whereas the median age of current Council members is over 50. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has more.
On Wednesday, Governor Josh Shapiro paid a visit to Pittsburgh-based aerospace company Astrobotic Technology, whom he lauded for their lunar landing equipment’s impending trip to the moon in May. During the visit, the Governor also highlighted Astrobotic as the type of science and technology company that Pennsylvania should be investing in, hinting at a potential priority that may be included during next week’s budget address. The Pittsburgh Tribune Review has more.
On Tuesday, the White House released fact sheets on how Bipartisan Infrastructure dollars are being spent in different states. Projects of note in Pennsylvania include the Lehigh Valley International Airport terminal expansion, intersection and sidewalk upgrades in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, and investment in clean buses for SEPTA. View other state fact sheets here.
On Wednesday, a bipartisan U.S. Senate group — including Pennsylvania Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman — introduced rail safety legislation in response to the recent Norfolk Southern derailment in Ohio. If passed, the legislation will require rail companies to give advance notice to emergency response officials about the transport of hazardous materials, require routine inspections of said materials, and require crews of at least two people per train. CBS has more
Principal
Principal
Legislative Analyst
Executive Vice President
Principal
Managing Director
Principal
Government Relations Associate
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 18, 2024
April 16, 2024
April 16, 2024
