News & Brews September 2, 2022

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Mastriano sues Jan. 6 committee

After cutting short an interview with the January 6 Committee, saying the committee had violated U.S. House rules, Mastriano has sued the committee over the alleged rule-breaking. The AP reports, “The lawsuit … contends that the committee lacks appointees of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and thus does not comply with House rules for conducting a compelled deposition of witnesses.” At the same time, the attorney for Mastriano said he’s willing to testify publicly before the committee.

Wolf, Fetterman start ‘large-scale pardon effort’

The AP reports that under an effort by Gov. Wolf and Lt. Gov. Fetterman, “Pennsylvanians with minor, nonviolent marijuana criminal convictions could be pardoned beginning Thursday in a period until the end of the month… The so-called ‘one-time, large-scale pardon effort’ will allow anyone who has been convicted of possession of marijuana or small amount of personal use to apply. There is no limit for the age of conviction.” A spokesman for the Pa. House Republican Caucus criticized the move, saying, “This literal get out of jail free card is outside the normal scope of the pardons process, lacks serious oversight, and does even more to pick winners and losers in the criminal justice reform process.”

In primetime speech, Biden says Trump supporters are threat to America

Well, remember when President Biden promised to be a president who would ‘not divide but unify.’ So much for that. During a primetime speech from Philly last night, Biden said that Trump supporters “represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our Republic.” How unifying! Granted, many on the Right use the same type of rhetoric to talk about those on the Left. Lost in all of this is any serious conversation about issues where either side “seeks first to understand, then to be understood.”

Fetterman gives first national TV interview since stroke

Democrat U.S. Senate nominee Lt. Gov. John Fetterman spoke with MSNBC’s “The 11th Hour” in his first national television interview since suffering a stroke in May. The interview was pre-recorded, and in it, Fetterman stated that despite his ongoing recovery, his “health now is robust,” and he’s “able to live a normal life.” The Post-Gazette reported on the interview, and you can click here to watch the video of the interview.

Sen. Martin: ‘Education reform sets students up for success’

GOP Sen. Scott Martin (Lancaster County) has an op-ed in Broad + Liberty detailing several steps the Legislature took this year that will “[put] our students on the right track toward a brighter future.” Among them is passing “[r]ecord new funding for the state’s popular Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) scholarship program,” which “will ensure more kids can learn in an environment that suits their unique educational needs, including both public and private schools.” Thanks to Sen. Martin for being a true champion for expanding educational opportunity for students!

Op-Ed: Yes, we’re in a recession

Commonwealth Foundation Senior Vice President Nathan Benefield writes in City & State Pa., that “regardless of what the Biden administration claims,” we are in a recession. “Real U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) – our nation’s total economic output – declined by 0.9% in the second quarter of 2022,” Benefield notes, “following a decline of 1.6% in the first quarter. Historically, economists have considered two consecutive quarters of negative growth a recession.” Check out his piece here.

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