WASHINGTON, September 28, 2026 — Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, the bipartisan government relations and communications affiliate of international law firm Cozen O’Connor, today announced the addition of Alex Calabro as principal in its Washington, D.C., office.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is urging business owners to remove skill game machines from their establishments before an October 13 compliance deadline to avoid potential criminal prosecution and machine confiscation. The warning follows a June state Supreme Court ruling that classified the widespread gaming terminals as illegal gambling devices, initiating a 120-day safe harbor period for the state legislature to create a regulatory framework. However, lawmakers have yet to reach a consensus on how to manage or tax the industry, meaning that starting October 14, law enforcement will begin taking action against any unlicensed establishments that continue to house the machines, emphasizing that simply unplugging the devices does not satisfy legal compliance.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to determine whether its March ruling that struck down mandatory life without parole sentences for second-degree murder applies retroactively to individuals currently serving that punishment. Taking up the appeal of Jerome Coffey, a Philadelphia man convicted in a 1992 killing, the court’s decision will dictate whether roughly 1,100 inmates statewide can seek resentencing. The move follows the failure of the General Assembly to pass new sentencing legislation during a 120-day window previously provided by the court.
The Independent Fiscal Office (IFO), the state agency responsible for providing revenue projections and impartial analysis for state legislators, has released its monthly revenue update for the month of September, showing that actual collections were $384 million, or 8.6%, higher than IFO projections, and fiscal-year-to-date (FYTD) collections of $11.22 billion are $452 million, or 4.2%, above estimate. The report also shows that revenues of $4.84 billion reflect an increase of $784 million, or 19.3%, compared to the same month in the prior year. View the report here.
Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor has introduced a preliminary 2027 budget that relies on $26.6 million in reserve funds to balance the upcoming year without tax increases or layoffs, but projects the city will completely deplete its savings and face a $38 million deficit within five years if structural changes are not made. Mayor O’Connor attributed the dire financial forecast to the previous administration, alleging they utilized inaccurate revenue estimates and funded recurring salaries with one-time grants, resulting in a $250 million discrepancy over the five-year outlook. To mitigate the crisis, the administration proposes eliminating more than 20 vacant positions, decreasing annual pension allocations by $10 million, and liquidating the Stop the Violence and Housing Opportunity trust funds to move their unspent balances into the general fund. While City Controller Rachael Heisler expressed concern over the pension reductions and highlighted external economic vulnerabilities, the mayor emphasized that these austerity measures, alongside lobbying the state and federal governments for new revenue options, are necessary to preserve essential municipal services.
The Allegheny County Health Board unanimously approved a revised 12-week paid parental leave policy, advancing the legislation to the County Council for final consideration. Following public feedback on an initial 18-week proposal, the updated measure includes new exemptions for small businesses with fewer than 15 employees and increases the eligibility requirement to six months of employment. Under the plan, eligible workers would receive their full wages during the leave period, up to a maximum of $4,200 per week. If approved by the council, businesses will have one year to implement the changes, potentially making Allegheny the first county in the nation to enact a paid leave mandate in the absence of a corresponding statewide policy.
State Representative Russ Diamond (R-102), minority chair of the House Gaming Oversight Committee, is calling for former Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey to resign from his recently appointed position on the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, citing an ongoing district attorney’s investigation into Gainey’s mayoral administration. An unsealed search warrant affidavit detailed allegations that Gainey’s administration exploited no-bid contracting processes to benefit political supporters and potentially committed securities fraud by misrepresenting the city’s financial stability. While no criminal charges have been filed against the former mayor, Gainey, a Democrat who joined the gaming board for a two-year term after losing his 2025 re-election bid, has not commented on the resignation demand.
Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) joined 33 other senators in sending a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin, demanding an end to agency activities they argue undermine state and federal election administration. The lawmakers accused the secretary of promoting election conspiracy theories, unlawfully pressuring states to release sensitive voter data by threatening to withhold security grants, and improperly deploying federal agents to investigate unsubstantiated claims of widespread noncitizen voting. In addition to calling for the release of withheld funds, the coalition demanded that the department produce evidence to back its fraud allegations and formally commit to keeping immigration officers away from polling locations during the upcoming midterms.
The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act in a 77-22 vote, with Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) both supporting the measure. The legislation aims to establish national standards for college athletics, including regulations for name, image, and likeness compensation, scholarship guarantees, five-year eligibility periods, and transfer limitations, while granting the NCAA limited antitrust protection and capping major conferences at 19 teams. The legislation now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives, where its future remains uncertain as the chamber is on recess until after the November midterm elections.
Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) has begun sending campaign fundraising appeals through email networks associated with Republican candidates and committees, further emphasizing his growing political estrangement from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Recent emails sent from domains like “gopsquad.com” featured messages urging donors to help Senator Fetterman “reject Socialism and the Anti-American way of life,” with one email even listing Republican Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) as the sender and claiming Senator Fetterman is “basically a Republican now.” Despite establishing a joint fundraising operation with Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) and drawing intense criticism from fellow Democratic lawmakers, Senator Fetterman continues to insist he has no intention of switching parties, maintaining he is a “lifelong Democrat” who still votes with the party on most partisan matters.
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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.
October 1, 2026
October 1, 2026
September 29, 2026
