News & Brews September 16, 2022

The Fetterman campaign provided the outcomes of two cognitive tests, which the campaign says show normal brain functioning. The Inquirer reports, however, that the campaign “did not provide any documentation of the results, or make available to the media the speech therapist who administered the tests.” Not surprisingly, the Oz campaign questioned whether the Fetterman campaign is telling the whole truth.

POLITICO has a lengthy profile piece on how Attorney General and Democrat gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro is relying on his faith as a way to connect with voters of different faiths. He says, “In some communities where … one might think I wouldn’t be welcome, and I speak about my faith, I find that it actually allows me to connect with people on a deeper level,” adding, “I was at a hunt club in Butler County not too long ago. Most of the folks there didn’t vote for me in the past, didn’t vote for Joe Biden, weren’t Democrats. I don’t believe any of them were Jewish. But we actually had a good conversation about faith and family.”

Retiring GOP Rep. Matt Dowling (Fayette and Somerset counties), who has shared his own struggles with alcoholism, has proposed legislation that “would allow individuals to voluntarily self-exclude themselves from being able to purchase alcohol … from any Good Wine and Fine Spirits store or any other establishment who possess a valid liquor license within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” The Tribune-Review further explains, “No one else could place another person on that list. Liquor store clerks or other establishments that mistakenly serve or sell alcohol to someone on the list would not face penalty.”

What happens when lawmakers hold outside jobs where they get paid by entities that also stand to benefit from these lawmakers’ votes? Yours truly took a look at multiple state lawmakers from southeast PA who are in just this situation. Read the piece at Broad + Liberty.

Former state Rep. Jeff Pyle passed away on Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. Pyle had stepped down from office last year for health reasons. Remembering him, House Speaker Bryan Cutler said, “Every member who spent any amount of time with Jeff would be struck by his unwavering commitment to the trust given to him by the public, and his ability to lighten the mood and bring everyone together.” Gov. Wolf has ordered Pa. flags to fly at half staff in Rep. Pyle’s honor. We offer our condolences to his family.