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.
Governor Shapiro’s trademark PAyback program — which guarantees timely processing of state permits or fee refunds — has significantly reduced processing times in the Departments of State and Environmental Protection, with only a few permits not meeting the turnaround timeframe. PennLive has more.
Amidst ongoing disagreements in the legislature over election law reforms, Pennsylvania election officials are preparing for more court battles ahead of a likely Biden-Trump rematch. During an address to the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania this week, Governor Josh Shapiro emphasized their crucial role in managing elections, advocating for the new Election Threats Security Task Force unveiled last week. In other election-related news, Spotlight PA has an explainer on the electronic tablets that will be making their first appearance in some Pennsylvania counties during this April’s primary elections.
In addition to selecting the nation’s next president, Pennsylvanians will be electing a new attorney general, treasurer, and auditor general this November. Pennsylvania’s statewide row offices have historically served as stepping stones to higher political offices, including the governorship. GoErie has more.
On Wednesday, workers testified during a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing on the stagnant minimum wage in Pennsylvania, highlighting personal struggles and advocating for an increase, with some proposing a raise to $18 an hour and advocating for the repeal of the preemption law preventing local minimum wage adjustments. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.
State Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll stated Governor Josh Shapiro’s proposed $283 million transit funding increase would benefit all Pennsylvania counties and address historical disparities between rural areas and urban transit agencies. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.
Pennsylvania counties will be required to disclose how they spent their allocation of opioid settlement funds, with the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust planning to review the information privately, despite a court order mandating compliance with the state’s Sunshine Act. Spotlight PA has more.
State legislators questioned Pennsylvania Education Secretary Khalid Mumin about Governor Shapiro’s $1.1 billion proposal to equalize funding for public schools, with some Republican lawmakers raising concerns about potential forced spending increases for high-performing districts and mergers for rural ones. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.
The Pennsylvania State Employees’ Retirement System is reducing its investment into private equity due to market challenges, aiming for $800 million in new investments in 2024 compared to the previous target of $1.1 billion, reflecting a difficult year for liquidity and aiming to balance overexposure without missing out on potential returns. The Wall Street Journal has more.
The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) has released its annual Pennsylvania Electricity Update for 2023. Pennsylvania remained the top exporter of electricity across all states in 2023. The report can be viewed here.
Mayor Cherelle Parker has announced that her administration will not allocate any of the $180 million opioid settlement funds for services facilitating safer drug use, potentially impacting syringe exchange programs and demonstrating a marked divergence from former Mayor Jim Kenney’s approach to the issue. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
Mayor Cherelle Parker will present her first budget plan next week, which is expected to focus largely on her campaign promises to make Philadelphia safer, cleaner, and greener. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
United by Flowers, the 2024 iteration of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s (PHS) annual Philadelphia Flower Show, will be showcasing vibrant floral arrangements and landscape designs at the Pennsylvania Convention Center through March 10. WHYY has more.
On Wednesday, Allegheny County’s housing standards regulations were updated for the first time in more than 25 years to enhance safety and clarify roles, but do not go far enough to protect vulnerable tenants according to some advocates, prompting calls for further reform. PublicSource has more.
This week, Pittsburgh City Council tentatively approved an $8.3 million investment in expanding affordable housing for the homeless and at-risk groups, though some members criticized the administration’s allocation of funds and alleged that there was a lack of communication. WESA has more.
Pittsburgh city officials and community leaders gathered Monday afternoon to advocate for citywide commitment to reducing traffic deaths by implementing traffic-calming measures, doubling the city’s investment in these projects, and prioritizing areas with the highest rates of traffic-related accidents and injuries. WESA has more.
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is expanding its operating hours, with most branches open until 8 p.m. at least three nights a week. The expansion, funded by the Allegheny Regional Asset District and adding a total of 93 hours of service per week system-wide, is one of the largest in its history. WESA has more.
This evening, President Joe Biden will give his annual State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, with several officials set to accompany Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation, including Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker and Darlington Township Board of Supervisors Chair Mike Carreon. City & State Pennsylvania has more.
This week, U.S. Senator John Fetterman introduced a federal version of Pennsylvania’s bipartisan Whole-Home Repairs Act, aiming to expand the successful state program nationwide to address the housing shortage. City & State Pennsylvania has more.
Large-dollar donors in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania favor former President Donald Trump over other presidential candidates, with his campaign receiving $2.4 million compared to $992,000 for Nikki Haley and $2.1 million for President Joe Biden. Axios Philadelphia has more.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s (SCOTUS) ruling protecting former President Donald Trump from ballot disqualification also potentially benefits U.S. Representative Scott Perry, who has faced similar challenges to his candidacy in Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.
Earlier this week, U.S. House candidate Laurie MacDonald withdrew from the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District to launch a write-in campaign for the Republican nomination, alleging corruption within the Democratic Party. PoliticsPA 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
