First Read – Nov. 30, 2023

WEATHER: Philadelphia: sunny, high of 49; Harrisburg: sunny, high of 50; Pittsburgh: mostly sunny, high of 51.

FROM CITY & STATE:

* An in-depth interview with Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin – the longest-serving district attorney in the history of the county – focuses on the development of cannabis laws and local enforcement.

NEW THIS MORNING:

* The Pennsylvania legislature has quietly paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past five years to settle sexual harassment and other claims against lawmakers and staffers, Spotlight PA reports.

* Pennsylvania is trying anew to help voters using mail-in ballots avoid mistakes that might get their ballot thrown out in 2024’s presidential election and beyond. In a new directive yesterday, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration asked counties to start using a standard set of instructions to explain how to complete mail-in ballots, among other steps, the Associated Press reports.

* Since February, the state House has passed legislation to increase Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $15 per hour, prevent gun suicide, require background checks to buy rifles and shotguns, and provide a cost-of-living adjustment to octogenarian retirees who receive a pension from the state. Those bills remain untouched in Senate committees – with only three voting session days before the winter recess, the Capital-Star reports.

* As Republican Dave McCormick looks to unseat Democratic Sen. Bob Casey next year, both have been talking a lot about China and the threat they say the superpower poses to national and state economic interests, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

* State Rep. Ed Neilson, chair of the House Transportation Committee, is sponsoring legislation to extend and expand the use of automated speed enforcement systems across the state, WITF reports.

* The base salary of Pennsylvania’s 253 state legislators is the third highest in the nation behind New York and California, but when benefits are added, it likely pushes them into second place, PennLive reports.

* A dispute between Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh and Coroner Timothy Warco over a fatal police shooting in the spring led to a raid on the coroner’s office Tuesday morning, the Tribune-Review reports.

* State lawmakers are looking at best practices for regulating newly announced hydrogen hubs, which are planned to be near Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and are meant to demonstrate how to make and use clean-burning hydrogen in sectors that create a lot of pollution, like the steel industry and manufacturing, StateImpactPA reports.

* Four Pennsylvania environmental groups have signed on to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s appeal of the Commonwealth Court ruling that bars Pennsylvania from joining a multi-state carbon credit program known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative or RGGI, the Capital-Star reports.

* Philadelphia City Council is poised to ban the wearing of ski masks in certain public spaces this week, a move that police say could help them solve more crimes and stop more pedestrians they suspect of being involved in criminal activity, the Inquirer reports.

EDITORIAL PAGES:

* The Tribune-Review sees the recent federal court ruling on counting undated and misdated ballots as a teachable moment on how to get mail-in voters to fill out their ballots properly – and on how those votes need to be counted even if a mistake on the date was made.

* The Inquirer wants an overhaul of the Separations Act, the outdated, 110-year-old law that was originally intended to protect tradespeople from being underbid by general contractors for public construction projects, but which now just slows down building projects.

NATIONAL POLITICS:

* Nearly 90 House Republicans say they plan or are likely to support voting to expel George Santos from Congress. That means it’s a near-certainty the indicted lawmaker will be out this week, Politico reports.

* Henry A. Kissinger, a scholar, statesman and celebrity diplomat who wielded unparalleled power over U.S. foreign policy throughout the administrations of Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Gerald Ford, and who for decades afterward proffered opinions that shaped global politics and business, died yesterday at his home in Connecticut, the Washington Post reports.

TODAY’S SKED:

8:30 a.m. – The Philadelphia City Council Committee on Appropriations will meet. This remote hearing may be viewed on Xfinity Channel 64, Fios Channel 40 or here.

10 a.m. – The Philadelphia City Council will meet. This remote hearing may be viewed on Xfinity Channel 64, Fios Channel 40 or here.

10 a.m. – The Pittsburgh City Council Committee on Hearings will meet. City-County Building, Pittsburgh.

1 p.m. – The Philadelphia City Council Committee on Education will meet. This remote hearing may be viewed on Xfinity Channel 64, Fios Channel 40 or here.

1:30 p.m. – The Pittsburgh City Council Committee on Hearings will meet. City-County Building, Pittsburgh.

7 p.m. – Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney will join 6abc, Welcome America, Visit Philadelphia and sponsors for a festive evening featuring entertainment from Grammy-nominated artist Jordin Sparks, the cast of Disney's “Frozen” and local talent as Philadelphia lights its 55-foot tree. The mayor will deliver remarks via a prerecorded video. North Apron, City Hall, Philadelphia.

KICKER: 

“I don’t have the time nor the inclination to participate in the coroner’s theatrical nonsense meant for television cameras and political operatives.” – Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh on the grave dispute between his office and that of Coroner Timothy Warco, via the Tribune-Review