News & Brews June 15, 2023
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Some Pa. Trump supporters ‘tired and looking for alternatives’
In light of former President Trump’s latest indictment, the Inquirer reports that “some Trump supporters in Pennsylvania are backing away from him, either doubtful of his electability or weary of the negative attention he attracts.” Trump still maintains a base of support, but some Republicans are looking elsewhere—such as to Fl. Gov. Ron DeSantis—for the electability factor.
Shapiro won’t say when I-95 will fully reopen
At a news conference yesterday, reporters repeatedly asked Gov. Josh Shapiro for a timeline for I-95’s full reopening following this past weekend’s collapse. And Shapiro repeatedly said “as quickly as possible” but wouldn’t give a specific timeframe. The Inquirer reports that per Shapiro, “Crews will work 24 hours a day to build a temporary roadway … a short-term fix that means the highway will partly reopen before the reconstruction project is completed.” But “Shapiro declined repeated requests to provide a timeline or price tag for the project.”
Pa. House votes to raise phone fees
Yesterday, the Democrat-controlled Pa. House voted to increase cell phone fees to support 911 emergency and 988 suicide hotline services. The vote comes a few days after the House voted to cut cell phone taxes.
After casino lobbyists met privately with regulators, lawmakers want investigation
Spotlight PA reports that GOP Sen. Gene Yaw (Lycoming County) and Democrat Rep. Jared Solomon (Philadelphia) “have requested investigations into the state Gaming Control Board.” This comes after “top officials met privately with casino lobbyists about a major competitor and failed to disclose the meeting on public logs.” Such disclosure is “required by the regulatory agency’s ethics rules.”
President Biden coming to Pa. Saturday
The Post-Gazette reports that President Biden wants Pennsylvania to know how much his administration has spent in the commonwealth. Just ahead of his first trip to Pa. since announcing his re-election campaign, Biden “announced that the state already has received $9 billion for infrastructure.” Additionally, he says Pa. has received “another $2 billion in private investment spurred by legislation he signed into law.” Biden is slated to be in Philly on Saturday for a re-election rally.