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What We’re Hearing
“Though it has been decades since any steel has been produced within the limits of the City of Pittsburgh proper, nostalgia for what steel production means, and in particular what U.S. Steel means, has long exceeded its reality in southwestern Pennsylvania” – Chris Briem

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Top Story

1. Casey, Fetterman, Deluzio Blast News of U.S. Steel Sale To Japanese Company

“It did not take long for Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senators and a western Pennsylvania Congressman to react to the news that U.S. Steel would be sold to Japan’s Nippon Steel Company.

Nippon agreed to a sale price of $14.9 billion to purchase one of America’s most iconic companies which has its headquarters in Pittsburgh.

The $55 per share offer represents around a 40% premium to where U.S. Steel shares ended trading on Friday.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Storied US Steel To Be Acquired For More Than $14 Billion By Nippon Steel. “The transaction is worth about $14.9 billion when including the assumption of debt. The combined company will be among the top three steel-producing companies in the world, according to 2022 figures from the World Steel Association.” (AP)

In The Mon Valley, Reaction Is Mixed On The Pending Sale Of U.S. Steel. “The cradle of heavy industry in Western Pennsylvania and the now struggling towns that nurtured it, from Braddock to Clairton, are unlikely to be changed much by the agreement of U.S. Steel Corp. to be bought by Japan’s Nippon Steel Corp., some Monongahela Valley residents said Monday.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

U.S. Steel’s Acquisition Will End A Difficult Marriage That Forged — And Constrained — Pittsburgh’s Identity. “Acquisition of the once-giant steelmaker will be a blow to the sense of self of many Pittsburghers. But though the company has been an icon, it hasn’t always been committed to the community.” (Public Source)

State

2. A Long Budget Impasse And Partisan Standoffs Dominated The PA Legislature In 2023

“Pennsylvania’s divided legislature is reflecting on a 2023 dominated by deadlock and hoping the dynamic turns around when the second half of the two-year session begins in January.

The full-time General Assembly sent Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro just under 80 bills as of Dec. 14 — roughly half of the annual output of recent years — with dozens of measures advanced by each chamber languishing without consideration in the other.

An effort to update Pennsylvania’s badly antiquated Election Code ahead of the 2024 presidential contest was sunk when lawmakers couldn’t agree on the right policies to embrace. A long-awaited constitutional amendment to benefit survivors of childhood sexual abuse has stalled for similar reasons. And key budget legislation was bogged down for months, forcing community colleges and libraries to make tough financial decisions.” (Spotlight PA)

Related

Locked Out Of Local Government: Residents Decry Increased Secrecy Among Towns, Counties, Schools. “From school districts to townships and county boards, public access to records and meetings in many states is worsening over time, open government advocates and experts say.” (CNHI News)

PA Guard Members Get A Celebratory Sendoff Before Deploying To Africa. “The group includes soldiers from across the commonwealth who come from a variety of civilian careers — including a state lawmaker, Rep. Joe Kerwin, who was given a sendoff in the state House of Representatives last week before taking military leave from the legislature.” (PennLive)

Around The Commonwealth

3. NBC News Picks Erie County as a “Decider” In 2024 Election

“NBC News has unveiled “The Deciders” which it describes as a “new hyperlocal reporting initiative featuring in-depth, on-the-ground reporting from a team of nearly three dozen journalists focused on the 2024 presidential race in seven key counties around the country.”

And Erie County is among the seven.

On NBC’s Sunday morning public affairs program, “Meet The Press,” analyst Steve Kornacki called Erie the “ultimate blue-collar swing county,” as it is located as close to Buffalo and Cleveland as it is to Pittsburgh.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Mayor-Elect Cherelle Parker Announces Her ‘Big Three’ Staffers Who Will Lead Her Administration. “Parker has named Tiffany W. Thurman as her chief of staff and Aren Platt and Sinceré Harris as deputy mayors. The three will serve as top officials in the new administration.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

City Council Passes Mayor Ed Gainey’s Budget With Little Change From Original Proposal. “The new budget includes $686 million for operating expenses and about $158.7 million for capital projects. It is about $5.5 million more than Gainey’s first draft budget, with no tax increases.” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Krasner Attacks New Law That Allows AG To Take Over SEPTA Cases. “Under the law, Act 40, a special prosecutor appointed by the state Attorney General could opt to take over the investigation and prosecution of any crimes committed within SEPTA.” (Billy Penn)

‘Done For Us, Without Us’: Local Leaders Protest New Special Prosecutor. “Most argued the passage of the legislation infringed on voters rights to elect officials and have them remain in office, and that ACT 40 was imposed by outsiders who are not thinking about the needs of the residents of Philadelphia.” (Philadelphia Tribune)

Luzerne County Approved For An Additional Court Of Common Pleas Judge. “The county currently has 10 Court of Common Pleas judges. The new eleventh judge will be elected by county voters in 2025 and seated the first Monday in January 2026.” (Times Leader)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

• What Is The Future Of U.S. Steel? (Tribune-Review)
• PA House Dems Are Not Voting For Months Due To A Leaky Roof. That’s Unacceptable. (Matthew J. Brouillette)
• As The Year Ends, GOP-Led House Did Little But Sow Chaos In Congress. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Democrats’ 2024 Advantage: Abortion Ballot Measures In Key States. (Jennifer Rubin)
• What’s Driving Former Progressives To The Right? (Michelle Goldberg)
• A New Tax Code Will Cripple Many Pennsylvania Engineering And Design Companies And Should Be Repealed. (Brent Sailhamer)
• Beware Economists Who Won’t Admit They Were Wrong. (Paul Krugman)
• Consequences of RGGI: A PMA Perspective Roundtable Discussion. (PA Manufacturers Association)
• More Veterans Courts Needed In Pennsylvania. (Sen. Doug Mastriano)
• The Mainstream Media Should Call The Goldie Protest What It Is: Antisemitic Harassment. (Paul Snitzer)

1 Thing

5. Our Favorite Holiday Cookies

America’s most popular Christmas cookies this year are a festive mix of cultural and colorful varieties, Axios’ Kelly Tyko writes from Google Trends data:

Italian Christmas cookies were the favorite in 13 states.
Peanut butter blossoms were the dominant cookie for four states.
Gingerbread cookies were the most popular in three states, down from seven last year.

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