News & Brews July 25, 2022
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Wolf ‘quietly’ directs millions to state-related universities
Spotlight PA reports that Gov. Wolf “plans to quietly give Pennsylvania’s four state-related universities including Penn State and Pitt a one-time $40 million boost using stimulus money that he has the sole power to direct.” The Legislature had voted to fund the universities (but not increase “formal appropriations”) despite calls from many lawmakers to condition the funding on a promise not to conduct research using fetal tissue obtained from abortions. Wolf plans to use stimulus funds intended for “pandemic response.”
Mastriano introduces bill to arm school employees
Late last week, Republican state Sen. and gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano officially introduced legislation that would allow school employees to carry firearms at work. PennLive reports that Mastriano’s proposal “would require school employees who want to possess a firearm in the course of their duties to have completed an in-person firearm training. The course would last between 15 and 30 hours and must include training on such topics as interactions with first responders, safe handling and storage of weapons and tactics for denying intruders entry to a classroom. The employee also must be certified as proficient with the firearm to be able to carry it on school grounds.” Currently, approximately 30 states allow teachers to be armed.
Teachers’ union “‘safe schools’ task force ignores teacher safety”
Our friends at Americans for Fair Treatment dive into a proposed resolution from the National Education Association (the parent union of the Pennsylvania State Education Association) that purportedly addresses safe schools but instead is “heavy on social justice but light on the safety issues that teachers are actually dealing with in the classroom….” Read more here.
Western Pa. congressional races won’t be cheap
The Post-Gazette looks at the contests for Pennsylvania’s 12th and 17th congressional seats, noting that while these races will cost less than the statewide race for U.S. Senate, they “won’t be cheap.” In the 17th district, Democrat Chris Deluzio and Republican Jeremy Shaffer are vying to replace U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb, and in the 12th district, Democrat state Rep. Summer Lee and Republican Mike Doyle are running to replace Democrat U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle (no relation).