News & Brews March 25, 2022
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Watch replay: GOP gubernatorial candidate forum
Last night, seven GOP gubernatorial candidates participated in a forum hosted by the Pennsylvania Family Institute and Talk Radio WPHT 1210 Philadelphia. Topics ranged from school choice and energy independence to candidates’ core values and why each thinks he or she is the best person to defeat Democrat Josh Shapiro. You can watch the full replay here.
Shapiro pitches election-year handout…er…tax relief plan
Yesterday, Democrat Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro held a press conference to pitch his so-called tax relief plan, which, PennLive reports, includes “eliminating an 11% gross receipt and sales tax on cell phone service, giving a one-time $250 per-vehicle gas refund to motorists, and expanding the state’s property tax and rent rebate program to as many as 275,000 more homeowners and renters.” (Nevermind that election-year payouts are hardly good fiscal policy.) The plan would cost more than $2 billion, and Shapiro wants to use unspent American Rescue Plan money to pay for it, which could be problematic as Gov. Wolf wants to spend all that money this year.Minor details, right?
Shapiro’s hand-picked LG candidate in battle for nomination
City & State PA reports that Democrat State Rep. Austin Davis (Allegheny County), whom Josh Shapiro has endorsed for lieutenant governor, is embroiled in a three-way primary race against fellow state Rep. Brian Sims (Philadelphia) and MontCo banker and insurance broker Ray Sosa. In hopes of coming out on top, Davis is executing a $1.2 million ad buy and has also garnered endorsements from Democrats and unions (but I repeat myself). Read the story here.
Philly population dropped by almost 25K in year 1 of Covid
According to the latest population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, Philadelphia lost nearly 25,000 residents between July 2020 and July 2021. This marks the largest one-year drop since 1975. While this Inquirer story on the topic gives several possible reasons, somehow it manages to avoid mentioning record crime or draconian COVID mandates as even potential causes of some of the population loss. Imagine that.
Podcasts, podcasts
Here’s some good listening for your next drive time: David Osborne, CEO of Americans for Fair Treatment, joined the Daily Signal Podcast to talk about “how Kentaji Brown Jackson—who appears headed to SCOTUS—became Biden’s nominee because public-sector unions insisted on it.” Listen here! (David’s segment begins just after the 7:50 timestamp.) And our president and CEO, Matt Brouillette, joined the Delaware Valley Journal Podcast to talk about this year’s elections, voters’ top issues, and more. Listen here!