News & Brews May 9, 2022
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GOP: Memo shows Dems’ aim to flip PA legislature this year has waned
Broad + Liberty reports on a recent memo from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which, according to Republicans, seems to suggest Democrats are walking back previous sentiments of aiming to flip the PA legislature blue this year. The memo instead frames Dems’ efforts in PA as “reversing Republicans’ structural advantage.” Republicans say this wording, which seems to be a shift from previous messaging, reflects that Dems know “that they are in huge trouble ahead of November.” Read the B+L story here.
Judge dismisses protective order against Lt. Gov. candidate
A few weeks ago, I shared the news story that Republican Lt. Gov. candidate Teddy Daniels’ wife had requested a protective order against him, alleging physical and mental abuse. On Friday, a judge dismissed the order. The AP reports, “Daniels’ lawyers pointed out the woman had not previously reported the alleged threat, either to police or in her application for a protective order. In court, they suggested she only sought the protective order because Daniels had previously threatened to leave her.”
Pro-Oz rally is more Trump than Oz
On Friday evening, former President Trump came to western PA to tout his endorsement of Dr. Mehmet Oz for U.S. Senate. But the Tribune-Review notes that while thousands braved the rain to cheer for Trump, their enthusiasm for Oz was less palpable.
Poll: Tight 3-way race for GOP Senate nomination
Also on the U.S. Senate front, according to a new Trafalgar Group poll of likely GOP primary voters, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Kathy Barnette, and David McCormick are within the margin of error against each other for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. The poll shows Oz at 24.5%, Barnette at 23.2% and McCormick at 21.6%. While no other candidate was in double-digits, 15.1% of respondents remain undecided.
PA still eyeing transitioning from gas tax to fee-per-mile model
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette dives into where things stand in the push to transition Pennsylvania away from a gas tax and toward a fee-per-mile tax. The story notes that the PA Department of Transportation is currently working with the Legislature to draft legislation to this end. The piece also takes a look at how a few other states are faring in trying to implement a similar model.