First Read – July 29, 2024

WEATHER: Philadelphia: partly sunny, chance of storms, high of 88; Harrisburg: hot, high of 94; Pittsburgh: mostly sunny, chance of showers, high of 88.

FROM CITY & STATE:

* Vice President Kamala Harris’ entrance as the Democratic nominee could have a large impact on the commonwealth’s preferences – here’s how a Kamala Harris-Josh Shapiro ticket would fare in Pennsylvania. 

* Ahead of his appearance at our Affordable Housing in Pennsylvania Summit next week, executive director of the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh, Caster D. Binion talked with City & State about his agency’s work and what options are on the horizon to alleviate the housing crisis.

NEW THIS MORNING:

* Politicos nationwide say a short list has emerged for Kamala Harris’ running mate pick: Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, PennLive reports. 

* With a new national spotlight on Shapiro’s environmental record, commonwealth residents directly affected by his decisions on fracking speak out, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports.

* Shapiro, riding high on Democratic momentum, energized supporters for Harris at a rally Saturday in south-central Pennsylvania, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

*  Sen. John Fetterman announced yesterday that he has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and is experiencing minor symptoms, The Hill reports.

* Pennsylvania hunters will soon see a growth in state game lands, as the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners approved adding a little over 5,200 acres, WESA reports.

* The Pennsylvania Supreme Court declined to consider an appeal from state Rep. Mike Cabell regarding write-in votes cast in the GOP primary in the district, Politics PA reports.

* A Pennsylvania group is asking voters to refuse support for Harris in November’s elections until the Biden administration brings about a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, WHYY reports. 

*Activists with ties to groups like the Democratic Socialists of America have launched the No Genocide Josh website, urging Harris not to pick Shapiro, the Delaware Valley Journal reports.

* Pittsburgh Regional Building Trades Council, a labor organization representing thousands of trades workers, announced Friday its endorsement of U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio’s bid for a second term, the Union Progress reports.

* U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. said Friday that he has joined two fellow Democrats and two Republican senators in co-sponsoring a bipartisan Abandoned Well Remediation Research and Development Act, Senate Bill 429, The Indiana Gazette reports.

EDITORIAL PAGES:

* The Capital-Star has an op-ed by Nick Field, who asks: a high-water mark, or an indication of a red tide in November? That’s the key question as we examine the Pennsylvania Republican Party’s latest voter registration gains.

* The Inquirer’s Kyle Sammin writes that political prognosticators all say Shapiro is among the top contenders for the potential VP spot, which raises a question. First: Would he even want the job?

* The Times has an op-ed by state Rep. Rob Matzie, who writes that access to health care and the cost of prescription drugs are a pain point for many Pennsylvanians, which is why the state House and Senate recently passed legislation to hold pharmacy benefit managers accountable. 

NATIONAL POLITICS:

* Kamala Harris pulled in $200 million in her first week as a presidential candidate, Politico reports. 

* Until the very end, some people close to Donald Trump tried to talk the former president out of picking Sen. JD Vance as his running mate, the Washington Post reports.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: to  Al Schmidt, secretary of the commonwealth … and to state Rep. Patty Kim … Want to wish someone a happy birthday in our newsletter? Email their name, job title and upcoming birthday to editor@cityandstatepa.com.

MOVING ON: Have a career change or life event to announce? Email us: editor@cityandstatepa.com.

TODAY’S SKED

10 a.m. – House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee meets, Room G50, Irvis Office Building, Harrisburg. Watch here.

1 p.m. – House Democratic Policy Committee meets, Goodwill, 118 52nd St., Pittsburgh. 

KICKER: 

“(Shapiro’s) done everything just the opposite of what he said he was going to do. I mean, everything he’s been doing is for industry. The hell with the people.” – Ray Kemble, a Dimock resident whose water remains undrinkable from fracking-related contamination, via the Capital-Star