Michael Herzing
@mherz67.bsky.social
Writer, Pennsylvanian, Progressive, Pragmatist
PA prisons shouldn’t be doubling as hospice care. Our sickest, oldest inmates cost taxpayers $1M+ at the end of life, yet compassionate release is almost impossible. A streamlined medical release system saves money and gives dignity in their final days.
December 18, 2025 at 4:01 PM
PA prisons shouldn’t be doubling as hospice care. Our sickest, oldest inmates cost taxpayers $1M+ at the end of life, yet compassionate release is almost impossible. A streamlined medical release system saves money and gives dignity in their final days.
53 years ago, women had the right to control their own bodies. Today, extremists are taking that right away in states across America.
In PA, @pahousedems.com are fighting back: the Reproductive Freedom Act protects abortion, privacy, & reproductive care.
In PA, @pahousedems.com are fighting back: the Reproductive Freedom Act protects abortion, privacy, & reproductive care.
December 18, 2025 at 3:03 PM
53 years ago, women had the right to control their own bodies. Today, extremists are taking that right away in states across America.
In PA, @pahousedems.com are fighting back: the Reproductive Freedom Act protects abortion, privacy, & reproductive care.
In PA, @pahousedems.com are fighting back: the Reproductive Freedom Act protects abortion, privacy, & reproductive care.
Reposted by Michael Herzing
Today, the PA House of Representatives advanced my legislation with Rep. Liz Hanbidge & Rep. La'Tasha D. Mayes that would allow Pennsylvania residents to add a Reproductive Rights Amendment to the state constitution with BIPARTISAN support.
December 17, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Today, the PA House of Representatives advanced my legislation with Rep. Liz Hanbidge & Rep. La'Tasha D. Mayes that would allow Pennsylvania residents to add a Reproductive Rights Amendment to the state constitution with BIPARTISAN support.
The #PAHouse just passed a resolution to let voters decide on a Reproductive Rights Amendment—protecting privacy, abortion, contraception, and fertility care. Every Pennsylvanian deserves control over their own body.
www.pahouse.com/InTheNews/Ne...
www.pahouse.com/InTheNews/Ne...
Pa. House advances Reproductive Rights Amendment with bipartisan support
HARRISBURG, Dec. 17 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today approved a joint resolution sponsored by state Reps. Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, Liz Hanbidge, D-Montgomery, and La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny, that would allow Pennsylvania residents to add a Reproductive...
www.pahouse.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:59 PM
The #PAHouse just passed a resolution to let voters decide on a Reproductive Rights Amendment—protecting privacy, abortion, contraception, and fertility care. Every Pennsylvanian deserves control over their own body.
www.pahouse.com/InTheNews/Ne...
www.pahouse.com/InTheNews/Ne...
If this strike was legal, moral, and justified—why hide the video?
buff.ly/cXzVgbt
buff.ly/cXzVgbt
Hegseth says he won’t release full boat strike video
The Pentagon chief also sidestepped a request for the House and Senate to view the Sept. 2 "double-tap" attack.
buff.ly
December 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM
If this strike was legal, moral, and justified—why hide the video?
buff.ly/cXzVgbt
buff.ly/cXzVgbt
Gov. Kathy Hochul said it best: this isn’t about “shortening life,” it’s about shortening dying.
Breaking News: Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would sign a bill that will allow terminally ill New Yorkers to end their lives. Eleven states and several countries in Europe have passed similar laws. nyti.ms/48U2kkE
December 17, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Gov. Kathy Hochul said it best: this isn’t about “shortening life,” it’s about shortening dying.
Deadnaming Rachel Levine isn’t “clerical.” It’s deliberate erasure.
If the government can rewrite the name of a Senate-confirmed admiral and physician, imagine what it signals to trans patients, doctors, and kids.
buff.ly/5XnDe4R
If the government can rewrite the name of a Senate-confirmed admiral and physician, imagine what it signals to trans patients, doctors, and kids.
buff.ly/5XnDe4R
‘Deadnaming’ Rachel Levine is not a small act. It’s a warning to the medical profession. | Opinion
We sometimes tell ourselves that culture wars don’t reach the clinic. They do, writes Arthur Lazarus.
buff.ly
December 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Deadnaming Rachel Levine isn’t “clerical.” It’s deliberate erasure.
If the government can rewrite the name of a Senate-confirmed admiral and physician, imagine what it signals to trans patients, doctors, and kids.
buff.ly/5XnDe4R
If the government can rewrite the name of a Senate-confirmed admiral and physician, imagine what it signals to trans patients, doctors, and kids.
buff.ly/5XnDe4R
Attention Pennsylvania!
Pennie’s 2026 Open Enrollment is OPEN!
New federal rules = extra time to enroll.
📅 Deadline for coverage starting Jan 1: Dec 31
💻 Sign up & compare plans: pennie.com
Quality coverage + financial help for eligible Pennsylvanians
Secure your 2026 health coverage today!
Pennie’s 2026 Open Enrollment is OPEN!
New federal rules = extra time to enroll.
📅 Deadline for coverage starting Jan 1: Dec 31
💻 Sign up & compare plans: pennie.com
Quality coverage + financial help for eligible Pennsylvanians
Secure your 2026 health coverage today!
Home | Pennie - PA’s Official Health Insurance Marketplace
Pennie is Pennsylvania’s official health insurance marketplace; and the only place to get financial savings to help lower the cost of coverage and care.
pennie.com
December 17, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Attention Pennsylvania!
Pennie’s 2026 Open Enrollment is OPEN!
New federal rules = extra time to enroll.
📅 Deadline for coverage starting Jan 1: Dec 31
💻 Sign up & compare plans: pennie.com
Quality coverage + financial help for eligible Pennsylvanians
Secure your 2026 health coverage today!
Pennie’s 2026 Open Enrollment is OPEN!
New federal rules = extra time to enroll.
📅 Deadline for coverage starting Jan 1: Dec 31
💻 Sign up & compare plans: pennie.com
Quality coverage + financial help for eligible Pennsylvanians
Secure your 2026 health coverage today!
“States’ rights” shouldn’t be a fig leaf for corporate giveaways or power grabs from the White House. If Trump can try to override state AI laws by executive order, then federalism clearly isn’t the problem—hypocrisy is. Democracy works best when power isn’t hoarded at the top.
Respect states' rights, new bipartisan group of legislative leaders tells feds • Pennsylvania Capital-Star
A new group of bipartisan state legislative leaders issued a declaration at their first meeting calling for a renewed focus on states’ rights and an end to federal intrusion into state laws.
buff.ly
December 17, 2025 at 6:01 PM
“States’ rights” shouldn’t be a fig leaf for corporate giveaways or power grabs from the White House. If Trump can try to override state AI laws by executive order, then federalism clearly isn’t the problem—hypocrisy is. Democracy works best when power isn’t hoarded at the top.
Republicans say safety rules “wouldn’t stop tragedy.” Democrats say doing nothing guarantees the next one.
After East Palestine derailment & a deadly gas explosion, @pahousedems.com advanced bills to rein in runaway trains and require gas alarms. Lives > corporate profits.
After East Palestine derailment & a deadly gas explosion, @pahousedems.com advanced bills to rein in runaway trains and require gas alarms. Lives > corporate profits.
New safety bills for rail and gas safety approved by House committee
House committee approves two safety bills addressing industrial accidents, including freight train derailment and natural gas explosion.
buff.ly
December 17, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Republicans say safety rules “wouldn’t stop tragedy.” Democrats say doing nothing guarantees the next one.
After East Palestine derailment & a deadly gas explosion, @pahousedems.com advanced bills to rein in runaway trains and require gas alarms. Lives > corporate profits.
After East Palestine derailment & a deadly gas explosion, @pahousedems.com advanced bills to rein in runaway trains and require gas alarms. Lives > corporate profits.
When even swing-district Republicans know letting health care costs spike is political suicide, it’s clear: Democrats are fighting to lower premiums. Republicans are blocking it.
Breaking News: Four politically vulnerable House Republicans teamed up with Democrats to force a vote in early 2026 on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Republicans Clinch Democrats’ Bid to Force Vote on Health Subsidies
After the speaker denied them a vote on extending the subsidies, four Republicans from competitive districts joined Democrats’ bid to go around G.O.P. leaders and force action.
nyti.ms
December 17, 2025 at 4:50 PM
When even swing-district Republicans know letting health care costs spike is political suicide, it’s clear: Democrats are fighting to lower premiums. Republicans are blocking it.
Science over chaos. @pahousedems.com just voted to protect vaccine access by letting pharmacists follow evidence-based guidance—not RFK Jr’s anti-science whims. Millions rely on pharmacies. The GOP Senate should put public health first and pass HB 1881.
@repvenkat.com
@repvenkat.com
Pa. Dept. of Health could offer vax guidance to pharmacists under bill proposal
HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Department of Health could authorize immunization schedules to commonwealth pharmacists under the terms of a bill that narrowly cleared the state House on Tuesday, a…
buff.ly
December 17, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Science over chaos. @pahousedems.com just voted to protect vaccine access by letting pharmacists follow evidence-based guidance—not RFK Jr’s anti-science whims. Millions rely on pharmacies. The GOP Senate should put public health first and pass HB 1881.
@repvenkat.com
@repvenkat.com
.pahousedems.com delivering real wins: Bill by Rep. Jason Dawkins protects seasonal workers from a $40/week hit & cuts red tape so domestic violence survivors can get help faster.
buff.ly/5TDGNDh
buff.ly/5TDGNDh
Pa. unemployment changes would benefit domestic abuse survivors, seasonal workers
Harrisburg lawmakers are expected to send a bill soon to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk that would change the way workers access unemployment benefits — a measure seen as a win for seasonal workers and…
buff.ly
December 17, 2025 at 3:00 PM
.pahousedems.com delivering real wins: Bill by Rep. Jason Dawkins protects seasonal workers from a $40/week hit & cuts red tape so domestic violence survivors can get help faster.
buff.ly/5TDGNDh
buff.ly/5TDGNDh
Reposted by Michael Herzing
Helping unemployed workers - and victims of domestic violence. A @repjasondawkins.com measure is headed to the governor to be signed into law.
www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...
www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...
Pa. unemployment changes would benefit domestic abuse survivors, seasonal workers
Harrisburg lawmakers are expected to send a bill soon to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk that would change the way workers access unemployment benefits — a measure seen as a win for seasonal workers and also...
www.wesa.fm
December 17, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Helping unemployed workers - and victims of domestic violence. A @repjasondawkins.com measure is headed to the governor to be signed into law.
www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...
www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...
Kids shouldn’t be drinking “acceptable” contamination.
www.inquirer.com/news/pennsyl...
www.inquirer.com/news/pennsyl...
Montco school in shadow of toxic landfill finds PFAS in its water
The well of Gilbertsville Elementary School near Boyertown Landfill has tested positive for human-made polyfluoroalkyl substances.
www.inquirer.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Kids shouldn’t be drinking “acceptable” contamination.
www.inquirer.com/news/pennsyl...
www.inquirer.com/news/pennsyl...
PA is right to call this out. If it looks like gambling, hooks young people like gambling, and drains money from public services like gambling, regulate and tax it like gambling. “Financializing everything” is just deregulated exploitation with a spreadsheet.
@repmannyguzman.com
shorturl.at/YZrGY
@repmannyguzman.com
shorturl.at/YZrGY
Pa. gaming board warns casinos against prediction market apps, wants state to tax sports trades
A hearing Tuesday before the House Gaming Oversight Committee delved into the limited options for controlling prediction market sites that have skirted state-level gambling laws.
www.pennlive.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:43 PM
PA is right to call this out. If it looks like gambling, hooks young people like gambling, and drains money from public services like gambling, regulate and tax it like gambling. “Financializing everything” is just deregulated exploitation with a spreadsheet.
@repmannyguzman.com
shorturl.at/YZrGY
@repmannyguzman.com
shorturl.at/YZrGY
Mental health care shouldn’t depend on zip code, waitlists, or luck. Scranton Counseling shows what works—24/7 crisis care, housing help, peer support—but GOP-era cuts still starve it.
@pahousedems.com believe in funding care, not abandoning people.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/12...
@pahousedems.com believe in funding care, not abandoning people.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/12...
Many need mental health care in PA but resources are limited
Community mental health providers must make tough decisions on what services they can provide given rising needs and limited resources.
www.spotlightpa.org
December 17, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Mental health care shouldn’t depend on zip code, waitlists, or luck. Scranton Counseling shows what works—24/7 crisis care, housing help, peer support—but GOP-era cuts still starve it.
@pahousedems.com believe in funding care, not abandoning people.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/12...
@pahousedems.com believe in funding care, not abandoning people.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/12...
Wait...I thought the affordability crisis was a hoax??? Pennsylvanians aren’t buying the gaslighting — they’re paying the bills.
buff.ly/hOZtfxi
buff.ly/hOZtfxi
buff.ly
December 17, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Wait...I thought the affordability crisis was a hoax??? Pennsylvanians aren’t buying the gaslighting — they’re paying the bills.
buff.ly/hOZtfxi
buff.ly/hOZtfxi
Holidays are for hugs, hot cocoa, and laughter — not avoidable sickness. Protect your loved ones: get your flu shot. Science saves lives #FluShot #PublicHealth
Health leaders visit Dunmore, urge public to receive flu vaccine ahead of holiday season
Holidays should be about spreading joy, not germs. That was the message state health leaders brought to Dunmore on Friday, as they emphasized the importance of receiving the flu vaccine — especially…
buff.ly
December 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Holidays are for hugs, hot cocoa, and laughter — not avoidable sickness. Protect your loved ones: get your flu shot. Science saves lives #FluShot #PublicHealth
Imagine dismantling the Department of Education and telling struggling kids, “Good luck.”
From reading specialists to special ed to student loans—this isn’t “returning power to the states,” it’s pulling the rug out from under teachers, students, and families.
@repschweyer.com
buff.ly/kfS4RkI
From reading specialists to special ed to student loans—this isn’t “returning power to the states,” it’s pulling the rug out from under teachers, students, and families.
@repschweyer.com
buff.ly/kfS4RkI
Trump administration efforts to end DOE get failing grade from PA educators
Teachers say commonwealth classrooms will suffer if the Trump administration guts the federal Department of Education, which funds numerous key programs as well as student loans, while conservatives…
buff.ly
December 16, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Imagine dismantling the Department of Education and telling struggling kids, “Good luck.”
From reading specialists to special ed to student loans—this isn’t “returning power to the states,” it’s pulling the rug out from under teachers, students, and families.
@repschweyer.com
buff.ly/kfS4RkI
From reading specialists to special ed to student loans—this isn’t “returning power to the states,” it’s pulling the rug out from under teachers, students, and families.
@repschweyer.com
buff.ly/kfS4RkI
Reposted by Michael Herzing
In the new state budget, @pahousedems.com included $10 million and new regulations to boost literacy in PA schools.
www.post-gazette.com/news/educati...
www.post-gazette.com/news/educati...
Pa. adopts science-of-reading reforms after years of reading struggles
A few years ago, educators at the Canon-McMillan School District saw an alarming trend: 14% of fourth graders were not reading at grade level as...
www.post-gazette.com
December 16, 2025 at 7:55 PM
In the new state budget, @pahousedems.com included $10 million and new regulations to boost literacy in PA schools.
www.post-gazette.com/news/educati...
www.post-gazette.com/news/educati...
Trump isn’t “protecting America” — he’s openly plotting regime change so his allies can carve up Venezuela’s oil, proving once again that for MAGA, foreign policy is just corporate greed wrapped in a flag.
buff.ly/xAKoHc0
buff.ly/xAKoHc0
buff.ly
December 16, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Trump isn’t “protecting America” — he’s openly plotting regime change so his allies can carve up Venezuela’s oil, proving once again that for MAGA, foreign policy is just corporate greed wrapped in a flag.
buff.ly/xAKoHc0
buff.ly/xAKoHc0
Pennsylvania isn’t waiting for Washington to play politics with our health.
@pahousedems.com passed #HB1881 to protect vaccine access through trusted local pharmacists—guided by science, not ideology. Freedom to stay healthy shouldn’t be partisan.
www.pahouse.com/InTheNews/Ne...
@pahousedems.com passed #HB1881 to protect vaccine access through trusted local pharmacists—guided by science, not ideology. Freedom to stay healthy shouldn’t be partisan.
www.pahouse.com/InTheNews/Ne...
December 16, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Pennsylvania isn’t waiting for Washington to play politics with our health.
@pahousedems.com passed #HB1881 to protect vaccine access through trusted local pharmacists—guided by science, not ideology. Freedom to stay healthy shouldn’t be partisan.
www.pahouse.com/InTheNews/Ne...
@pahousedems.com passed #HB1881 to protect vaccine access through trusted local pharmacists—guided by science, not ideology. Freedom to stay healthy shouldn’t be partisan.
www.pahouse.com/InTheNews/Ne...
Trump has already blown past his entire first term in executive orders—bypassing Congress, racking up court losses, and ruling by Sharpie instead of democracy.
buff.ly/P6Az05I
buff.ly/P6Az05I
buff.ly
December 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Trump has already blown past his entire first term in executive orders—bypassing Congress, racking up court losses, and ruling by Sharpie instead of democracy.
buff.ly/P6Az05I
buff.ly/P6Az05I
PA Supreme Court said it plainly: if you “put money in, wheels spin, and hope for a jackpot,” it’s gambling—and letting unregulated skill games dodge taxes is costing Pennsylvanians hundreds of millions that could fund transit, safety, and public good instead.
buff.ly/zGUEiMq
buff.ly/zGUEiMq
Pa. Supreme Court hearing marks turning point in skill games battle | Opinion
The problem is that skill games circumvent every rule, safety requirement, and tax obligation that casino gaming and other forms of legal gambling have been following for more than 20 years in…
buff.ly
December 16, 2025 at 7:00 PM
PA Supreme Court said it plainly: if you “put money in, wheels spin, and hope for a jackpot,” it’s gambling—and letting unregulated skill games dodge taxes is costing Pennsylvanians hundreds of millions that could fund transit, safety, and public good instead.
buff.ly/zGUEiMq
buff.ly/zGUEiMq