News & Brews April 15, 2021
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PA poised to lose a congressional seat
We’ve seen it coming for a few years, but with redistricting now imminent, our representation in the U.S. House is expected to shrink from 18 to 17 members, given our population isn’t growing as quickly as other states. This would mark the 10th consecutive decade our delegation has contracted. The big question: Whose seat will get cut?
With friends like gov’t unions, who needs enemies?
In the past three years, a left-wing group called Pennsylvania Fund for Change has raised $9.8 million and spent nearly all of it trying to defeat state legislative Republicans. They’re particularly fond of targeting Republicans who side with government unions. This is ironic, given where Fund for Change gets its money; namely, from government unions and trial lawyers. We took a look at how politicians are betrayed by their union “friends” in a new piece by yours truly in Broad + Liberty.
Teachers’ union doesn’t like this Bucks County parent
Here’s a piece you won’t want to miss. Bucks County parent Jamie Walker recounts her effort to find out who’s really pulling the strings when it comes to her local school re-opening. What did she learn from emails obtained through a Right to Know request? The local teachers’ union is not only telling teachers what to say or not say publicly, but Ms. Walker’s questions to the school district were also “reported” to the union. Read the story here.
Spotlight on 48th Senate District race
Among the several special legislative elections taking place May 18 is the race to fill the Senate seat left vacant by the death of Sen. Dave Arnold earlier this year. The Lebanon Daily News profiles the four candidates running: Democrat Calvin “Doc” Clements, Republican Christopher Gebhard, Libertarian Tim McMaster, and independent Ed Krebs.
Politico: ‘The end of the imperial governorship’
Politico reports that over the past year, “[l]awmakers in nearly every state in the country have introduced a combined 300-plus bills … related to governor’s [sic] emergency authority or executive action taken during the fight against Covid-19.” The piece looks at how state legislatures are seeking to restore checks and balances in the face of governors who have dubbed themselves absolute rulers. Of course, Pennsylvania is mentioned. King Wolf, anyone?
Op-Ed: Why we should limit governor’s emergency powers
Speaking of checks and balances, the Commonwealth Foundation’s Nathan Benefield has an op-ed in the Allentown Morning Call presenting the case for voters to approve two constitutional amendments that “would limit the time for unilateral governance [by a governor], and prevent the irresponsible leadership that we’ve witnessed this past year.”
On May 18, VoteYesPA to save lives and livelihoods
On May 18, voters can approve two proposed constitutional amendments that would restore a legislative check and balance on Gov. Wolf’s (and any future governor’s) emergency powers. Check out VoteYesPA.com, which has resources including link to request a mail-in ballot, a VoteYesPA sign you can download and print, a sample email businesses can send encouraging others to vote yes on May 18, and more.