Pennsylvania Perspective for Thursday, May 23, 2024

May 23, 2024

Pennsylvania

Gov. Shapiro Announces New PA Tourism Campaign

On Monday, Governor Josh Shapiro visited Lackawanna County to announce “the Great American Getaway,” a new brand and a marketing campaign to promote Pennsylvania’s diverse attractions and accessibility to major East Coast cities and bolster tourism. Tourism currently generates approximately $76 billion in revenue for the commonwealth each year. WVIA has more.

Race Data from Traffic Stops Would Not Be Public Under New PA Law

Gov. Shapiro is set to sign a bill requiring law enforcement to collect traffic stop data, including drivers’ race or ethnicity, but exempts this data from public access under the Right-to-Know Law. Spotlight PA has more.

State House Restored to Full Strength with Swearing in of Rep. Olsommer

Jeff Olsommer (R-Wayne/Pike) was sworn in as the 203rd member of the state House on Tuesday, restoring the chamber to its full strength after an April special election to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Joe Adams in February. PoliticsPA has more.

State House Passes Child Care Tax Credit Bill

The state House passed a broadly bipartisan bill Tuesday to provide tax credits to employers who contribute to workers’ child-care expenses, with the goal of alleviating economic strains for parents and guardians while simultaneously addressing low wages for child care workers. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.

State House Committee Advances Bill to Require State to Pay Municipal Stormwater Fees

The state House Local Government Committee advanced a bill Tuesday that would require the state government to pay municipal stormwater fees in order to address existing financial burdens local governments due to the state’s nonpayment. Spotlight PA has more.

PA Republicans Push to Overcome Mail-In Voting Skepticism Ahead of General Election

The 2024 presidential election in Pennsylvania hinges largely on whether the Republican Party can execute a significant shift in strategy regarding mail-in voting, which could determine the outcome in this critical swing state. PublicSource has more.

 

Philadelphia

City Council May Subpoena Mayor, Investigate Back-to-Office Policy

City Council members introduced legislation today that would allow the legislative body to subpoena Mayor Cherelle Parker and her administration to testify about the proposed development of a triage center in Fairmount, as well as a resolution to evaluate the impact of the mayor’s back-to-office policy on the City workforce.

City Council Committee Moves to Make EDP Permanent

Yesterday, City Council’s Housing, Neighborhood Development & The Homeless Committee advanced legislation that would remove the end date for the City’s eviction diversion program (EDP). The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

Philadelphia to Host “TED Democracy” Talks in 2026

Gov. Shapiro announced “TED Democracy,” a series of talks on democracy’s importance and its shaping over the past 250 years, during a visit to Philadelphia Tuesday. The talks are one of several events that will commemorate the nation’s Semiquincentennial in 2026. WHYY has more.

Reparations Task Force Holds Inaugural Meeting

The Philadelphia Reparations Task Force, which was created by City Council in 2023 to develop recommendations on reparations for Black Philadelphians affected by slavery and institutional racism, met for the first time on Tuesday. The Philadelphia Inquirer has more.

 

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh to Host 2026 NFL Draft

Pittsburgh has been selected to host the 2026 National Football League (NFL) Draft, with the Steelers aiming to showcase Pennsylvania’s football heritage while meeting the event’s new hosting standards. WESA has more.

Penn Hills School District Recovery Plan Successful Thus Far

Five years after the implementation of a recovery plan, Penn Hills School District achieves financial stability, meeting state requirements to graduate from Financial Recovery Status, with continued monitoring and academic focus to sustain progress. WESA has more.

 

Federal

PA Congressional Vulnerability Rankings

Pennsylvania’s pivotal role as a battleground state applies as much to its competitive U.S. Congressional contests as it does to the highly anticipated presidential race. PoliticsPA has more on current vulnerability rankings.

U.S. Senate Hopeful McCormick Talks Border Policy

Following a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick sat with PoliticsPA to discuss border policy and the bipartisan border security bill.

U.S. Rep. Evans Recovering from Minor Stroke

U.S. Representative Dwight Evans (PA-03) announced that he is receiving inpatient treatment after a minor stroke and expects to return to Washington in about six weeks. The Philadelphia Inquirer 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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