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.
On Wednesday, Governor Josh Shapiro cabinet nominees Mike Carroll, Rick Siger, and Jason Kavulich were confirmed by a unanimous vote of the State Senate as transportation secretary, community and economic development secretary, and aging secretary, respectively. PennLive has more.
If Governor Josh Shapiro’s FY24 budget is passed as proposed, the number of Pennsylvanians who would be eligible to benefit from the state’s rent and property tax rebate program — which has been declining for more than a decade — would increase by 173,000 people. SpotlightPA has more.
The Democratic-controlled state House flexed its new progressive muscles again this week by passing legislation intended to broaden protections for LGBTQ+ people on Tuesday and to guarantee the right to organized labor and collective bargaining in Pennsylvania’s constitution on Wednesday. Both bills will likely face an uphill battle in the state Senate.
On Monday, the state Senate passed legislation that would ban safe-injection sites throughout the commonwealth. It is uncertain whether the bill will come up in the state House. The Associated Press has more.
Pennsylvania is one of nine states in the country that has closed primaries, which has led to an idiosyncrasy known as “cross-filing” — the act of a candidate concurrently running on two different parties’ tickets during the primary to increase their odds of making the general election ballot — for positions wherein the practice is not prohibited, such as many local school boards. While advocates claim that cross-filing can help bridge the partisan divide, others argue that it generates unnecessary confusion for voters. SpotlightPA has more.
On Wednesday, state legislators met with clear water advocates at the Capitol in Harrisburg in observance of Clean Water Education Week and in support of crafting legislation to reduce pollution in state waterways. The Pennsylvania Capital-Star has more.
According to 2021 tax data recently released by the Internal Revenue Services (IRS), approximately 14,000 people moved out of Pennsylvania in 2020, representing $1.86 billion in adjusted gross income. The Center Square has more.
After today, there are only 11 full days left before the Philadelphia mayoral primary, which means political influencers from the city and beyond are racing to add their two cents before the final buzzer. The following candidates have received the following notable endorsements within the past week:
This year’s budget hearings drew to a close this week, marking the real beginning of budget negotiations. As part of the budget, City Council leaders are discussing a 0.16% cut in Philadelphia’s Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) proposed in Mayor Jim Kenney’s FY24 budget. If passed, this would mark the second consecutive year BIRT has been lowered, though it would be by a considerably smaller amount. WHYY has more.
A bill recently passed by the Pennsylvania Senate may threaten Philadelphia’s ability to impose a commuter tax — part of the larger wage tax that the City relies on heavily — on suburban residents. The Associated Press has more.
According to Moody’s Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi, Philadelphia’s housing market is “about as weak as it gets” due to increasing mortgage rates, home overvaluation, and an overall lack of inventory. WHYY has more.
The recently reopened Building 21 has been closed once more, this time because of water damage. The West Oak Lane high school closed in March due to the discovery of damaged asbestos. ABC6 has more.
According to the results of a poll conducted by Pittsburgh Works and Public Opinion Strategies, progressive state Representative Sara Innamorato currently holds the lead in the Democratic primary race for Allegheny County Executive, with 32% of likely voting Democrats polled indicating their preference for her. Pittsburgh City Controller Michael Lamb and Allegheny County Treasurer John Weinstein each received 20%, with 18% still undecided. PoliticsPA has more.
Pittsburgh City Council heard testimony from mental and behavioral health services experts on Tuesday in a discussion that included an update about Second Avenue Commons, a homeless shelter that opened last year. WTAE has more.
Current leadership of the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) has come under fire for bad customer services and management by a former member of its Board of Commissioners, Catapult Greater Pittsburgh Executive Director Tammy Thompson. WESA has more.
This week, U.S. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania gave his first home-state television interview since his treatment for clinical depression at Walter Reed National Medical Center. During the interview, the senator opened up about his experience and affirmed his fitness for office, stating that he is “grateful to be feeling great.” KDKA has more.
Former head of the Philadelphia Proud Boys chapter Zachary Rehl was convicted Thursday morning for seditious conspiracy for his alleged orchestration of the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol. The Philadelphia Inquirer 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 24, 2024
April 24, 2024
April 23, 2024
