Good Thursday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

Half of life, it is often said, is just showing up.

Thus do we turn our attentions to GOP guv hopeful Paul Mango, who's charging this Thursday morning that one of his principal rivals for the Republican nomination can't even be bothered doing that.

In an email blast to reporters, the Allegheny County businessman claimed that York County Sen. Scott Wagner has been busy so busy on the hustings that he's missed 109 votes between 2015 and 2017 -- despite living just a hop, skip and a jump from the state Capitol.

In case you're wondering, "that's more votes than any other member of the Senate," Mango charged.

As a result of that truancy, Mango harrumphed, Wagner should either do his job or not accept his taxpayer-funded salary.

"Every day there is a new outrage in Harrisburg," Mango said in his email Jeremiad. "From convicted felons still getting their taxpayer funded pensions and the ineptitude in not passing a budget, to not even showing up for work; it's no wonder why the people of Pennsylvania have no trust in their state government."

But ... wait ... there's more:

"You or I wouldn't be paid for not showing up for work, and neither should Scott Wagner. No one has missed more votes than Wagner during his time in the State Senate. He has no excuse. He only lives 30 miles from the Capitol. Scott Wagner has been AWOL and not showing up to do his job is unacceptable. Do your job or don't get paid," he proclaimed.

In case you'd forgotten, Mango, Wagner, House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, and Allegheny County lawyer Laura Ellsworth are in a four-way fight for the chance to take on Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf next year.

In an email that didn't actually address his boss' truancy, Wagner's spokesman, Andrew Romeo, called Mango's broadside "a desperate attack from a flailing campaign."

"It's laughable that Paul Mango of all people is challenging someone else's voting record seeing as he has chosen to sit out critical elections for the majority of his life," he said.

The rest of the day's news starts now.

Lackawanna County lawmakers are getting increasingly honked off about their no-show colleague, Rep. Kevin Haggerty, WNEP-TV reports.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., is calling on President Donald Trump to resign over sexual abuse allegations, our PennLive colleague Wesley Robinson reports.

The PennLive Capitol crew sat down for some year-end chats with legislative leaders on Wednesday. In case you missed them, here they are:

Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre:

Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman discusses 2017 legislative accomplishments and 2018 priorities Posted by PennLive.com on Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny:

:

Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa talks on 2017 legislative accomplishments and 2018 priorities Posted by PennLive.com on Wednesday, December 13, 2017

A new study shows that proximity to fracked shale wells has an effect on infant birth weights, The Post-Gazette reports.

#MeToo at the Capitol? Not yet - but stay tuned.

The sponsor of that restrictive abortion bill has taken the unusual step of asking Gov. Tom Wolf to hold a public forum on the proposal before he vetoes it.

Are you one of 200,000 people in suburban Philly paying too much in property taxes? The Inquirer ran the numbers.

The Philly Parking Authority apparently bungled the re-launch of its parking app. PhillyMag has the details.

No, you didn't step into a time warp: A cow really was roaming the streets of Philly's Old City, BillyPenn reports.

Here's an appropriately festive #Harrisburg Instagram of the Day:

Fearing drug traffickers in their native Mexico, a family has taken refuge in a North Philly church, WHYY-FM reports.

Former Gov. Tom Ridge is back home in Maryland about a month after suffering a heart scare, The AP reports (via WITF-FM).

The Mohegan Sun Pocono casino has been fined $1m, The Morning Call reports.

PoliticsPA runs down the list of legislators who crossed party lines to vote on that abortion-ban bill.

Overburdened providers are 'thwarting' a push by police for drug treatment, Stateline.org reports.

Democrats are 'cool' to Trump's infrastructure pitch, Politico reports.

Roll Call looks at what's next for Democrats after Doug Jones' win in Alabama on Tuesday night.

What Goes On.

11 a.m., Gov's Reception Room: Budget Secretary Randy Albright gives his mid-year update.

2:30 p.m., Main Rotunda: An event aimed at helping those with addiction during the holidays.

What Goes On (Nakedly Political Edition)

4:30 p.m.: Reception for state Sen. Randy Vulakovich. Admission runs $500 to $2,500

5:30 p.m.: Reception for 11th CD candidate Dan Meuser. Admission runs a flat $250 a head.

WolfWatch

Gov. Tom Wolf heads to lovely Spring City, Pa., today where he'll visit a Veterans' Home at 12:45 p.m.

You Say It's Your Birthday Dept.

Best wishes go out this morning to our pal (and fellow Northwestern alum) Alison Burdo, of the Philly Biz Journal, who celebrates today. Congrats and enjoy the day.

Heavy Rotation.

Here's one we've been grooving on of late:

Thursday's Gratuitous Hockey Link.

The Ottawa Senators snapped a 5-game losing skid on Wednesday, beating the New York Rangers 3-2 at home.

And now you're up to date.