News & Brews May 1, 2023
Get News & Brews in your inbox each day: Subscribe here!
Poll: DeSantis better chance than Trump to beat Biden in Pa.
A new poll conducted by Public Opinion Strategies shows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis leading President Joe Biden in Pennsylvania 45% to 42%. Meanwhile, former President Trump trails Biden 42% to 46%. Broad + Liberty suggests that Republican primary voters “can ill-afford to ignore” these numbers if they want to win a statewide election in 2024.
Casey has head start in 2024 campaign
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that “when it comes to fundraising,” Democrat U.S. Sen. Bob Casey is beginning his 2024 Senate campaign “with a head start, especially when considering what looks to be yet another costly and bruising Republican Senate primary.” Casey has about $3.2 million in the bank. This is a drop in the bucket of what the Senate race is likely to cost. However, Casey may benefit from a heated GOP primary that forces his future opponent to spend lots of cash just to get the nomination.
Lawmakers back in session this week
CNHI news reports on what lawmakers tackled last week and what may be on tap for this week. Potentially on the radar is legislation that’s being billed as “pro-worker.” Americans for Fair Treatment explained, however, that it’s actually quite the opposite. Instead, it would expand unions’ power at workers’ expense.
Charter schools seek fair treatment from Philly School Board
AL DÍA’ reports that “a coalition of charter schools, parents, and education leaders … are requesting that … [Philadelphia} Mayor Jim Kenney and the [Philly School] Board stop the unfair treatment — including the Board’s inequitable and arbitrary renewal policies— of Philadelphia’s 83 charter schools.” Philadelphia Charters for Excellence CEO Scott Peterman explained, “Charters are held to a higher standard than District-run schools, often without explanation or justification, resulting in the closure of charters that are higher-performing than similarly situated District schools.” And those who suffer as a result are the city’s 65,000 charter students.
MontCo Dems’ pay-to-play culture draws scrutiny
The Inquirer has an in-depth story on the internal “pay-to-play’’ culture of the Montgomery County Democrat Party. “Democrats have cast themselves as reformers as they’ve gained more power in the suburbs, particularly after the election of former President Donald Trump,” writes reporter Andrew Seidman. “But emails, financial records, and campaign finance data reviewed by The Inquirer — as well as interviews with almost two dozen people involved in local politics — reveal a pay-to-play culture in which the line between business and politics is often blurred.”