News & Brews July 28, 2021

Get News & Brews in your inbox each day: Subscribe here!

Upcoming transportation funding report could spur long debate

Gov. Wolf’s Transportation Revenue Options Commission is expected to release its recommendations this week for how to increase funding for our state’s highway system. The AP reports that the commission’s suggestions are “expected to kick off a debate that could last years.”

Senate hearing this morning on workforce shortage

The Senate Community, Economic, and Recreational Development Committee, chaired by Sen. John Yudichak (Carbon and Luzerne counties) will hold a public hearing this morning at 10am on the economic impact of the workforce shortage. Among those scheduled to testify are PA Chamber of Business & Industry President and CEO Gene Barr and PA Restaurant & Lodging Association President and CEO John Longstreet. Click here for more info and to watch the hearing live at 10am.

NEA: PA teacher pay is 11th highest in nation

According to data released by the nation’s largest teachers’ union—the National Education Association (NEA)—public school teacher pay in Pennsylvania for the 2019-20 school year averaged $70,339, marking the 11th highest pay among all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The NEA report also notes, “The national average public school teacher salary for 2019-20 was $64,133,” placing the average salary for a Pennsylvania teacher more than $6,000 higher than the national average.

Op-Ed: Limited government can make a comeback in pandemic era

Commonwealth Foundation Vice President and COO Nathan Benefield has an op-ed in The Center Square outlining how history suggests that recent government overreach may wind up spurring a resurgence of limited government. Read Nate’s piece here!

Anti-Trump Republican to join U.S. Senate race

Philadelphian Craig Snyder, who formed a super PAC in 2016 to try to help Hillary Clinton win the presidency, is running for U.S. Senate as an anti-Trump Republican. Snyder, who is currently president and CEO of Indigo Global, a consulting and communications firm, plans to formally announce his candidacy today.

Sign up to get News & Brews in your inbox