Cash, clout on the line in 2020 Census, report | Friday Morning Coffee

Good Friday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

We begin this final day of the working week with a reminder that math is hard. Our friends at Stateline.org wrap up a four-part series on the Census with a reminder that not only are billions of dollars in federal aid on the line in the decennial count, but so, too, are seats on Capitol Hill.

The widely accepted wisdom is that Pennsylvania will lose yet another seat in the next national headcount. But in a dozen states, a less than 2 percent difference in population could mean the difference between gaining or losing a seat on Capitol Hill, Stateline reports.

That means its on lawmakers in those states, and in Pennsylvania, to ensure that there’s an accurate count – and to provide the funds to make sure that happens. As Stateline notes, some 300 federal programs, ranging from those covering school lunches to highway construction, use census data to dole out about $800 billion a year in aid.

“Now is the time to do it,” Wendy Underhill,  of the National Conference of State Legislatures, said of states’ preparations for the count.. “Most states are on board, and I think the rest are considering it, especially these states that are on the cusp” of picking up or losing seats in Washington.

Like we said, math is hard.

The rest of the day’s news starts now.

The Capital-Star’s Sarah Anne Hughes has you covered on the roll out of Gov. Tom Wolf’s new infrastructure plan.

Happening now: @GovernorTomWolf is outlining a huge infrastructure plan that would be funded by a severance tax on shale. https://t.co/iMNaoB3jKn

— Sarah Anne Hughes (@sarahanne_news) January 31, 2019

And the inevitable GOP push-back to it:

Aaaaand here is the reality hammer from House Republican leaders. pic.twitter.com/Zt30u9PGIQ

— Sarah Anne Hughes (@sarahanne_news) January 31, 2019

The Capital-Star’s Stephen Caruso has some additional analysis:

Some of the listed proposals certainly seem a powerful incentive for some R's: expanding high speed internet access, blight reduction, stormwater infrastructure and money to expand natural gas access and use all might have some sway. But also, PA R's really avoid taxes.

— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) January 31, 2019

And the Marcellus Shale Coalition, an industry group, is out against it, saying the industry has already paid $5 billion in combined taxes over the past decade of development and that the tax would hurt growth. pic.twitter.com/WmeOn5RH47

— Stephen Caruso (@StephenJ_Caruso) January 31, 2019

Elsewhere:

State Rep. Tedd Nesbit, R-Butler, has been charged with DUI in connection with a December incident, The Butler Eagle reports.

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., has jumped into the 2020 presidential race. The Inquirer has the story.

Gun rights advocates are pushing complaints against Pittsburgh city officials. The DA says there’s no evidence of wrongdoing, The Post-Gazette reports.

City officials in Easton are looking for $28 million in projects from PennDOT, The Morning Call reports.

Here’s an adorably wintry #Philadelphia Instagram of the Day:

View this post on Instagram

The cold never bothered me anyway ❄️ #polarvortex #frozen . . . . . . #tbt #throwbackthursday #phillycp #philly #philadelphia #visitphilly #doodlesofphilly #doodletales #phillymag #dailybarker #weeklyfluff #TODAYFanPhoto #nationalparkpaws #nbc10snow #MyPhilaStory #phillypulse #philly_visit #igers_philly #gophiladelphia #mydogist #theprettycities #visitPA #societyhill #oldcityphilly #ongooglemaps #letsguide #BeanOutsider #LLBeanContest19

A post shared by Colby & Bleu Cheese Doodles (@colbycheesedoodle) on Jan 31, 2019 at 12:56pm PST

Philly City Councilman Bobby Henon has pleaded not guilty to federal corruption charges, WHYY-FM reports.

Funds for Tree of Life shooting victims may soon be disbursed, WESA-FM reports.

PoliticsPA throws it open to the readers: Should Pennsylvania legalize recreational marijuana?

WolfWatch.

Gov. Tom Wolf has no public schedule today.

You Say It’s Your Birthday Dept.

Best wishes go out this morning to our former Morning Call colleagues, Emily Opilo and Peter Leffler, both of whom are celebrating today. Congrats and enjoy the day, friends.

Heavy Rotation.

We’re going to end the working week with a little James Brown. We recommend you follow the Godfather of Soul’s admonition below.

Friday’s Gratuitous Hockey Link.

Sentimental faves, Winnipeg, got past Columbus 4-3 on Thursday, giving the Jets their sixth win in eight games.

And now you’re up to date.