Good Wednesday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

It was a moment that political watchers had awaited for weeks.

On Tuesday, during an appearance before a state Senate oversight committee where they were (officially) supposed to justify their 2018-19 budget request, two Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices also pulled back the curtain on how the majority-Democrat high court redrew the Keystone State's 18 congressional districts.

It was an appearance full of interesting moments.

But one, in particular, stands out.

Namely, an exchange between Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, and Justice Max Baer of Allegheny County, in which Baer admitted that he'd never actually met the Stanford University law professor who was hired by the court to redraw the map.

Baer, we'll note was elected to the high court as a Democrat. He was a 'no' vote on the constitutionality of the 2011 map the high court threw out. But he also voted against forcing a new map for the 2018 midterms.

We're reproducing the exchange between Baer and Browne, captured by Senate Republican spokeswoman Jennifer Kocher, in full below:

When asked by @SenatorBrowne how the Calif prof was chosen to make the Congressional district maps, Justices testifying before approps replied - we don’t know. (They were not in the majority) — Jenn Kocher (@jkocher156) February 27, 2018

.@SenatorBrowne asked that Justices Baer and Mundy pass along to the majority a question by the #PASenate State Govt committee to come before them and testify on how he drew the maps — Jenn Kocher (@jkocher156) February 27, 2018

.@SenatorBrowne highlights that consultation is made across the aisle when we work on maps so he hoped those in the minority will be able to pass along his request. — Jenn Kocher (@jkocher156) February 27, 2018

To which Justice Baer replies that he’s never met him (@persily). Never spoken to him and highlighted that the man lives on the other side of the country so he didn’t know. — Jenn Kocher (@jkocher156) February 27, 2018

In the end, Justice Baer said he would pass along the request. — Jenn Kocher (@jkocher156) February 27, 2018

Yes, Baer was a no vote, and thus was not in the 4-3 majority that voted to toss the old map, thereby throwing the state's political community into a tizzy. But it still feels a little unusual that he never actually spoke to or met the expert responsible for the remapping.

The rest of the day's news starts now.

The closely watched special election in southwestern Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District has been moved from 'lean Republican' to 'toss-up' by The Cook Political Report.

The Daily News' John Baer has a preview of what you can expect from this year's race for governor.

GOP guv hopeful Scott Wagner has fired his campaign chair, and an aide, who were linked to an email attacking fellow Republicans, City & State Pa. reports.

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-8th, has refused to join his fellow Republicans in challenging the state's Congressional map in federal court, The Inquirer reports.

Speaking of Fitzpatrick, Democrats vying to replace him made their case to the voters on Tuesday, WHYY-FM reports.

Democratic fave Christina Hartman has dropped her challenge to U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-16th, LNP reports. It now falls to progressive Jess King to take up the baton.

BillyPenn has found Philly's most popular Instagram spot.

With one strike looming, The Inclinelooks back to a notorious 1975 teachers' strike in Pittsburgh.

Depending on which set of attorneys you're listening to, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski is either an unvarnished liar or a victim of con-men. That's the picture painted during closing arguments of his corruption trial, The Morning Call reports.

Here's your #Harrisburg Instagram of the Day (bonus points if you can correctly ID the location):

As the redistrcting battle rages on, lawmakers are racking up the legal bills, WITF-FM reports.

Democrat Conor Lamb raised $3.2 million in the first 52 days of 2018 in his campaign for the 18th District, PoliticsPA reports.

Politico goes inside Jared Kushner's security downgrade.

Will the suburbs flip the U.S. House? Roll Call takes up that very question.

What Goes On.

Budget hearings grind ever forward. Here's today's schedule.

Senate

10 a.m.: Dept. of Military & Veterans Affairs

1 p.m.: Dept. of Agriculture

3 p.m.: Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources

House

10 a.m.: Dept. of General Services

1 p.m.: Liquor Control Board

3 p.m.: Dept. of Military & Veterans Affairs

WolfWatch

Gov. Tom Wolf has no public schedule today.

You Say It's Your Birthday Dept.

Best wishes go out this morning to our PennLive colleague, Megan Lavey Heatong, who celebrates today. Congrats and enjoy the day.

Heavy Rotation.

Here's an old favorite from

The The

to get your Wednesday morning going.

Wednesday's Gratuitous Hockey Link.

Carolina's Wild Card hopes became even more remote Tuesday with a 4-3 loss to Boston.

And now you're up to date.