News & Brews July 5, 2023
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Pa. House to return today as budget stall persists
The Pa. House will return to session at noon today as the state budget remains in limbo. As of Monday evening, PennLive reported that neither the “Democratic-controlled House nor Republican-controlled Senate offered any indication that a budget agreement was any closer … than when lawmakers left Harrisburg on Friday.” The major sticking point: House Democrats’ opposition to a school choice program that would make up 0.2% of the state budget.
Sen. Casey posts best fundraising quarter yet
The AP reports that Democrat U.S. Sen. Bob Casey raised more than $4 million in the past three months, marking his best fundraising quarter yet. The amount topped his previous record by more than $1.2 million, according to his campaign. No Republican has yet formally announced a challenge to Casey, as the race will likely be among the top-watched in the country. Separately, the Post-Gazette reports that a PAC tied to potential GOP challenger David McCormick raised more than $1 million
Pa. congressional delegation reacts to SCOTUS student loan ruling
After the U.S. Supreme Court last week struck down President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, members of Pa.’s congressional delegation took to Twitter with reactions. Not surprisingly, they ranged from high praise to extreme criticism.
Wall Street firm declines PSERS’ (accidental?) investment
The Inquirer reports, “Less than two weeks after trustees of PSERS … narrowly voted to send another $130 million to Insight Partners, the New York venture capital firm has decided that it doesn’t want that money after all.” The vote to send the money was 8-6. But Gov. Shapiro’s office says two of his cabinet members who voted in favor did so because of a “miscommunication.” Shapiro then called for a vote do-over. Insight isn’t commenting on the topic.
Analysis: Dems need Trump-Fetterman-Shapiro voters in 2024
With apologies to those who dislike stories comprised only of bullet points (as I do), Axios shares its thoughts on Democrats’ Pennsylvania playbook. The takeaway: “If Democrats can hold even a fraction of their blue-collar Trump-Fetterman-Shapiro voters … it would bode well for Biden’s chances of winning a second term.”