Pennsylvania Perspective for Thursday, November 12, 2026

Pennsylvania

PA House Elects 2027-28 Leadership

During their return to session on November 9 and 10, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives held leadership elections for the upcoming 2027-28 legislative session. House Democrats voted to retain their entire previous leadership slate, returning Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia/Delaware) as Speaker, Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery) as Leader, Mike Schlossberg (D-Lehigh) as Whip, Rob Matzie (D-Beaver) as Caucus Chairman, Tina Davis (D-Bucks) as Caucus Secretary, Leanne Krueger (D-Delaware) as Caucus Administrator, Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie) as Policy Chairman, and Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia) as Appropriations Chairman. House Republicans re-elected Jesse Topper (R-Bedford/Fulton) as Leader and selected a new leadership team to advance a conservative agenda, choosing Tim O’Neal (R-Washington) as Whip, Jamie Barton (R-Schuylkill/Berks) as Appropriations Chairman, Martina White (R-Philadelphia) as Caucus Chairman, Clint Owlett (R-Tioga/Bradford) as Caucus Secretary, Marla Brown (R-Lawrence) as Caucus Administrator, and David Rowe (R-Snyder/Union/Mifflin/Juniata) as Policy Committee Chair. Regional Democratic delegations also selected their chairs for the new session, with Rep. Ben Waxman (D-Philadelphia) chosen to lead the Philadelphia delegation, Rep. Lindsay Powell (D-Allegheny) elected to head the Allegheny and Southwest delegation, and Rep. Manuel Guzman Jr. (D-Berks) retaining his position as chair of the Central Pennsylvania delegation.

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PA House Committee Advances Censure of Rep. Bernstine

An effort to formally censure state Representative Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence) over alleged homophobic remarks made at a Harrisburg bar stalled in the state House. While the House Rules Committee unanimously approved the censure resolution, the measure was not brought to the full chamber for a final vote before lawmakers adjourned. The delay followed internal debates regarding due process, a lack of modern precedent, and whether House disciplinary rules apply to incidents outside of official government functions. Representative Bernstine, who recently won reelection and previously stepped down from his committee assignments, reportedly issued an apology to his Republican colleagues without admitting guilt. The resolution remains in limbo and will expire if the full House does not hold a final voting session before the current legislative term ends.

$7.8 Million Child Labor Settlement with Walmart

Pennsylvania officials have secured a $7.8 million settlement with Walmart following a statewide investigation into widespread child labor law violations. The inquiry, launched in February 2025 after reports of minors sustaining workplace injuries, initially audited eight store locations and uncovered infractions such as minors working without mandatory permits, exceeding legally permitted hours, missing required breaks, and a failure to notify school districts regarding their employment status. In addition to the financial penalty, which marks the largest child labor enforcement action in state history, Walmart must implement stricter compliance measures, including specialized manager training, updated workplace rights postings, and periodic record submissions, and will be subject to doubled fines for any future violations.

High Compliance in Skill Game Removals

Following a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling that classified skill games as illegal slot machines, the Pennsylvania State Police report a 99.4 percent compliance rate among businesses ordered to remove the devices. After the expiration of a 120-day safe harbor period in mid-October, authorities visited over 12,000 locations statewide and found that nearly all had voluntarily removed the machines, seizing only 14 devices and nearly $2,000 from the few remaining non-compliant sites. The statewide enforcement sweep comes after state lawmakers failed to pass proposed legislation that would have taxed and regulated the industry. The State Police noted that investigations into non-compliant businesses are ongoing and warned establishments that adopting alternative sweepstakes-style machines could still result in criminal gambling charges.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia Orders Foster Care System Review

Following the death of 10-year-old foster youth Malayshia Allford, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker issued an executive order establishing an independent committee to thoroughly review the city’s foster care system. The newly formed 15-member advisory committee, composed of child welfare, medical, and legal professionals, has 120 days to evaluate policies regarding foster home selection, licensing, and oversight. City officials condemned the systemic failures that allowed the initial tragedy, and Councilmember Curtis Jones proposed requiring social service workers to wear body cameras during home visits to properly document children’s living conditions and better ensure their safety.

NRA Sues Over Philadelphia Gun Permit Age Limit

A federal lawsuit filed by the National Rifle Association (NRA), the Firearms Policy Coalition, and an 18-year-old resident is challenging Pennsylvania’s law that requires applicants to be at least 21 years old to obtain a gun permit. Because Philadelphia is the only municipality in the state mandating a permit to publicly carry a firearm, the plaintiffs argue the age restriction effectively strips 18- to 20-year-olds of their Second Amendment rights to self-defense. The lawsuit names the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania State Police commissioners as defendants and seeks a fast-tracked ruling based on recent federal court precedents that extend gun rights to younger adults. The suit asserts the restriction leaves young adults vulnerable in the state’s most violent city, although local data indicates Philadelphia’s violent crime and homicide rates have recently declined to historic lows.

Pittsburgh

Mayor Corey O’Connor Presents 2027 Budget

During his first budget address, Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor proposed a $727 million operating budget and $145 million capital budget for 2027 that includes no tax increases but relies on significant cuts and a $28 million draw from city reserves to help plug a projected $250 million five-year deficit. Breaking from the previous administration’s optimistic fiscal assurances, Mayor O’Connor acknowledged the city’s severe financial challenges, proposing controversial measures such as reducing pension contributions by $10 million annually and eliminating dedicated funding for the Housing Opportunity Fund and the Stop the Violence Fund, a move that sparked protests from community advocates outside City Hall. Despite the dire forecast and the necessity of tapping the rainy day fund, Mayor O’Connor and his chief of staff, Dan Gilman, expressed confidence that strategic management, continued external fundraising, which has already secured nearly $100 million in private and nonprofit partnerships, and potential assistance from state and federal lawmakers will allow Pittsburgh to maintain core services and eventually stabilize its finances. City Council must approve a final budget before the end of the year.

Federal

Democratic Challengers for Senator Fetterman’s 2028 Seat

As Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) faces mounting criticism from his own party regarding his voting record and alignment with Republicans, multiple Democrats are preparing potential primary challenges for his seat in 2028. Ahmed Moor, a Palestinian American writer and democratic socialist, became the first candidate to officially launch a campaign, focusing on expanding social services, ending the war in Iran, and withdrawing United States aid from Israel. U.S. Representatives Madeleine Dean (D-PA-4) and Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) are also considering entering the race. Senator Fetterman has repeatedly stated that he will remain a Democrat and has not publicly stated whether he intends to seek reelection in 2028.

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