Legislative
State can’t hide its deficit as ‘structural’
https://www.altoonamirror.com/opinion/editorials/2019/12/state-cant-hide-its-deficit-as-structural/
Reasonable and humane: Minimum wage bill is a step forward for workers
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/12/08/Reasonable-and-humane-Minimum-wage-bill-is-a-step-forward-for-workers/stories/201911230026
Guest Column: Time for ban on flavored vaping products
https://www.delcotimes.com/opinion/guest-column-time-for-ban-on-flavored-vaping-products/article_f018d3a8-19a2-11ea-ae20-4f3d371aadfc.html
EDITORIAL: Pennsylvania makes the right call in raising tobacco age
https://observer-reporter.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-pennsylvania-makes-the-right-call-in-raising-tobacco-age/article_7dc58d40-1534-11ea-96fe-1f0271c8f577.html
Energy
Track results of state tax giveaways
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/track-results-of-state-tax-giveaways-1.2568639
World dodges PA gas tax
https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/world-dodges-pa-gas-tax-1.2568641
Is shale development worth the costs? A CMU study says no.
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2019/12/08/shale-development-natural-gas-drilling-fracking-costs-health-study-pennsylvania-cmu/stories/201912060038
Editorial: Transportation woes and future of Pennsylvania
https://www.delcotimes.com/opinion/editorial-transportation-woes-and-future-of-pennsylvania/article_2ab527e1-29ce-5ffe-ba2a-74230547ddfd.html
Technology
State: Protect sensitive data during holiday shopping season
https://www.timesleader.com/news/765169/state-protect-sensitive-data-during-holiday-shopping-season
Liberty vs. security: Concerns about facial recognition tech must be addressed
https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/editorials/2019/12/08/Liberty-vs-security-Concerns-about-facial-recognition-tech-must-be-addressed/stories/201912070002
Education
Keep art integrated in education
https://www.heraldstandard.com/opinion/editorials/keep-art-integrated-in-education/article_2fda3026-1828-11ea-b94c-eb7adfa3b3b0.html
Cal U. denies having records it fought to avoid releasing
https://observer-reporter.com/news/localnews/cal-u-denies-having-records-it-fought-to-avoid-releasing/article_daeda946-1834-11ea-9223-b773c70d2555.html
New Department of Education data balances cost with prestige of schools
https://triblive.com/local/pittsburgh-allegheny/new-department-of-education-data-balances-cost-with-prestige-of-schools/
Child Abuse
We all have a role to play in preventing child abuse | Opinion
https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2019/12/we-all-have-a-role-to-play-in-preventing-child-abuse-opinion.html
Surge of new abuse claims threatens church like never before
https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-clergy-sex-abuse-lawsuits-20191207-ap62bp227ja6zhk4h5huumtoze-story.html
Deer Hunting
CWD testing offers peace of mind
https://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2019/12/cwd-testing-offers-peace-of-mind/
‘Lynch mob of social media came down on Brookville’: Hunting town feels hunted over deer-torture video
https://www.pennlive.com/crime/2019/12/lynch-mob-of-social-media-came-down-on-brookville-hunting-town-feels-hunted-amid-deer-torture-video-backlash.html
Food Stamps
New food stamp rule says if you don’t work, you can’t eat | Editorial
https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/editorials/food-stamps-trump-snap-cuts-20191209.html
Feeling the heat: Food stamps shift could strain food banks, impact families
https://www.tribdem.com/news/feeling-the-heat-food-stamps-shift-could-strain-food-banks/article_78e8b608-18f4-11ea-91e9-3bc3d1cc74b6.html
Other Views: Tweaks could boost the workforce; cutting food stamps is not one of them.
https://www.timesonline.com/opinion/20191208/other-views-tweaks-could-boost-workforce-cutting-food-stamps-is-not-one-of-them
As open enrollment ends, senators decry problems with Medicare plan finder website
https://www.post-gazette.com/business/healthcare-business/2019/12/08/CMS-Medicare-open-enrollment-Plan-Finder-website-problems-Bob-Casey/stories/201912060128
Federal
House impeachment report looks at abuse, bribery, corruption
https://www.poconorecord.com/zz/news/20191207/house-impeachment-report-looks-at-abuse-bribery-corruption
House Judiciary Committee lays out ‘constitutional grounds’ for Trump impeachment in new report
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/crime-courts/2019/12/07/House-articles-of-impeachment-report-democrats-trump-abuse/stories/201912070055
Impeachment cartoon
http://timestribuneblogs.com/john-cole/
Lawmakers set to crack down on Robocalls
https://www.goerie.com/business/20191208/lawmakers-ready-to-crack-down-on-robocalls
Their view: Making government agencies more responsive to those they serve
https://www.timesleader.com/opinion/op-ed/765145/their-view-making-government-agencies-more-responsive-to-those-they-serve
Hold drug vote
https://www.republicanherald.com/opinion/hold-drug-vote-1.2568706
Mike Turzai is thinking about running for Pennsylvania governor — again
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/clout/pennsylvania-society-mike-turzai-2022-governor-race-20191207.html
Democrats crowd-source agenda in transition to power in Delaware County
https://www.inquirer.com/news/delaware-county-democrats-council-transition-republicans-20191208.html
Trump: An international dud
https://www.heraldstandard.com/opinion/columnists/al_owens/trump-an-international-dud/article_1f0d0592-17ca-11ea-ac2a-f79421326c47.html
Toomey defends Trump at Pennsylvania Society meeting
https://www.mcall.com/news/pennsylvania/mc-nws-pa-toomey-trump-pa-society-20191207-uqijltkvlfhfbpgo5w2zipe7au-story.html
Elections
Joe Biden has taken ‘slings and arrows’ but remains strong for 2020, Ed Rendell says
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/12/joe-biden-has-taken-slings-and-arrows-but-remains-strong-for-2020-ed-rendell-says.html
Think the 2020 Pennsylvania primary won’t matter? Think again.
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-2020-democratic-presidential-primary-20191208.html
Idea for presidential candidates’ forum in Pittsburgh started in nation’s capital
https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2019/12/08/democratic-presidential-candidates-democrats-education-forum-pittsburgh/stories/201912080039