News & Brews February 2, 2023

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What’s in a word? Is the House ‘working’?

As House Speaker Mark Rozzi refuses to organize his chamber, Republicans have noted that Democrats are not showing up for work. Democrats claim, however, that they are working and “have been busy engaging” in their districts. Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Tom Mehaffie (who often sides with Democrats) is taking heat for refusing to join Republicans in forcing the chamber back to work. This led to a protest outside his office yesterday.

Op-Ed: Pa. should join other states, nations in voter ID

Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (Berks and Montgomery counties) writes in Broad & Liberty, “Pennsylvania’s failure to enact a key component of election integrity has put it behind not only a vast majority of states and most developed countries, but behind many developing nations as well.” And for opponents of voter ID, she notes, “Academic studies and large surveys conducted of non-voters by both liberal and conservative entities consistently show voter ID laws don’t keep people from voting regardless of their age, sex, race, income and education.”

Committee hearing today on workforce development

Today at 1:30 p.m., freshman GOP state Rep. Stephenie Scialabba (Butler County) will hostHouse Republican Policy Committee hearing on “empowering our workforce.” Among those scheduled to testify are:

  • Right at Home President and CEO Stacy Hepinger
  • Domenico’s Ristorante General Manager Filippo Lombardo
  • Pa. Workforce Development Association Executive Director Carrie Amann
  • Builders Guild of Western Pa. and Pittsburgh Works Together Executive Director Jeff Nobers

The hearing will be live-streamed here.

Shapiro makes more cabinet announcement

Yesterday, Gov. Shapiro nominated Philadelphia School District Chief Operating Officer Reggie McNeill to be Secretary of General Services. Shapiro also appointed Lucas Miller as Inspector General, PennLive reports, “Miller served as inspector general under former Gov. Tom Wolf and has been with that office for more than 23 years, heading up several of its bureaus and interacting with all aspects of the office.” Miller’s appointment does not require Senate confirmation, while McNeill’s nomination does.

Shapiro joins Punxsutawney Phil

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Gov. Josh Shapiro is just the third sitting Pa. governor to attend the Gobbler’s Knob Groundhog Day celebrations. In 2003, Gov. Ed Rendell attended, as did Gov. Tom Corbett in 2012. As for Phil, well, he’s there every year. And his shadow predicted six more weeks of winter.

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