News & Brews October 20, 2023
Get News & Brews in your inbox each day: Subscribe here!
Soros-backed DA running for Pa. attorney general
Broad + Liberty reports that George Soros-backed Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer is running for attorney general. Stollsteimer has not publicly announced, but “Jack Stollsteimer for Attorney General” was listed as a sponsor for a recent event hosted by the Westmoreland County Democrats—clear across the state. Stollsteimer is also running for re-election to his current seat.
Lawmaker wants transparency in gov’t settlement payments
When state government uses taxpayer money to make settlement payments stemming from an allegation against a state employee, the details are often shrouded in secrecy. One lawmaker wants to change that. In the wake of the sexual harassment allegations against Mike Vereb—and the lack of information on the settlement paid out as a result of it—GOP Rep. Donna Scheuren (Montgomery County) plans to reintroduce legislation to increase transparency surrounding such payments.
Fetterman breaks with progressives by supporting Israel
The Post-Gazette reports that U.S. Sen. John Fetterman “is rebuffing calls by some progressive Democrats — including Rep. Summer Lee — for a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas.” Fetterman said, “Innocent Israelis were the victims of a terrorist attack that resulted in the largest loss of Jewish lives since the Holocaust. If not for the horrific attacks by Hamas terrorists, thousands of innocent Israelis and Palestinians would still be alive today. Now is not the time to talk about a cease-fire. We must support Israel in their efforts to eliminate the Hamas terrorists who slaughtered innocent men, women, and children. Hamas does not want peace, they want to destroy Israel. We can talk about a cease-fire after Hamas is neutralized.” He also castigated some of his colleagues, tweeting, “It’s truly disturbing that Members of Congress rushed to blame Israel for the hospital tragedy in Gaza. Who would take the word of a group that just massacred innocent Israeli civilians over our key ally?”
Editorial: Shapiro’s handling of Vereb scandal is ‘disappointing misjudgment’
The LNP Editorial Board has some stern words for Gov. Shapiro over his handling of the sexual harassment allegations against his former secretary of legislative affairs, Mike Vereb. After reflecting on Shapiro’s going after the Catholic Church as attorney general, the ed board writes, “But you can’t be a champion of survivors, while staying mum when someone in your own office has been accused of sexual harassment. Shapiro has been uncharacteristically reticent regarding the allegation leveled against Vereb. This reticence is a misjudgment.