News & Brews March 20, 2024
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GOP has unwanted attorney general primary race
The Inquirer reports that the Pennsylvania Republican Party had hoped to avoid a primary contest in the race for attorney general. But that’s not how things have panned out. The party endorsed York County District Attorney Dave Sunday in January, “earlier than usual in the election cycle in an effort to coalesce around one candidate, avoid an attack-filled primary, and save money for the hotly contested general election in November.” But southeast Pa. state Rep. Craig Williams felt “pushed out” and is still seeking the support of voters in the April primary.
Republican groups launch Pa. mail-in voting effort
The Washington Examiner reports, “Three GOP groups are spearheading an eight-figure vote-by-mail initiative in Pennsylvania to ‘ensure Republican victories’ and encourage mail-in voting from conservative voters…. The Keystone Renewal PAC, the Sentinel Action fund, and the Republican State Leadership Committee PAC announced the launch of the initiative on Tuesday, which they say is the largest vote-by-mail program in Pennsylvania.” (The Post-Gazette also has a story on this.)
Justice Department reviewing U.S. Steel sale
POLITICO reports that as some politicians have come out against the sale of U.S. Steel to the Japanese company Nippon Steel, the U.S. Department of Justice is now looking at the sale “over potential antitrust concerns.” The story explains, “The antitrust scrutiny is separate from concerns about U.S. Steel’s potential foreign ownership and is focused on a large manufacturing plant in Calvert, Alabama, jointly owned by Nippon Steel and Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal.” That said, “The review is currently in a preliminary stage. The DOJ has not yet opened a formal, in-depth review, and could ultimately decide against it….”
WSJ likes Gov. Shapiro’s permit application fee refunds
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board praises Gov. Shapiro’s move to refund permit application fees if agencies don’t meet a specific timeline for issuing the permits. Government accountability is a good thing, but permit applicants would much prefer an actual permit to a refund. Still, the Journal is enamored with the program.
Op-Ed: ‘Suburban women being displaced from pro-life movement’
Broad + Liberty has an op-ed on the post-Dobbs conundrum facing some suburban pro-life women. “Before the Dobbs decision which overturned Roe v. Wade, identifying as ‘pro-life’ generally implied the held belief that there ought to be varying degrees of restriction on elective abortion.” Now, there is an “escalated gatekeeping of pro-life qualifications, swiftly writing off anyone who believes in any form of elective abortion to be pro-choice or an abortion apologist.” The piece notes that for those who believe life begins at conception, this latter view is both reasonable and consistent. However, it’s “out of step with public opinion.” And “the women of suburban Philadelphia do not want to have to choose between all abortions or no abortions….The problem is, only one side right now is coherently communicating that they will not ban elective abortions in Pennsylvania, or will always maintain abortion exceptions, and that’s the Democrats.” (For an interesting conversation on Republicans and abortion messaging, check this out.)