News & Brews May 22, 2024
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Shapiro, Trudeau talk trade in Philly
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Philly yesterday to speak at the SEIU’s convention, and while in Pa., he and Gov. Shapiro met “to tout the strong economic ties between Pennsylvania and Canada, solidifying the ongoing partnership in which the nation’s northern neighbor is the commonwealth’s top export destination,” the Inquirer reports. The story notes that “Trudeau’s stop in Pennsylvania is one in a handful of meetings between the prime minister and local U.S. leaders in recent years. After managing an often fraught relationship with former President Donald Trump … [Trudeau] instead sought to … build relationships with like-minded governors and business leaders.”
Rep. Boyle returns to Pa. House, blames media for spreading false info
Democrat Rep. Kevin Boyle (Philadelphia), who lost his primary race after an arrest warrant was wrongly issued for him and Democrats also fielded a candidate against him, returned to the Pa. House yesterday and said he will vote in-person through the remainder of his term. Boyle had been voting by proxy while the warrant was out on him. Boyle blamed his loss on the media “recklessly reporting as fact” the allegations against him, even after he “let multiple reporters know they were not reporting the truth.”
How to flip a swing state?
The Wall Street Journal has created an interactive “Swing State Dial” to show “how subtle shifts in turnout and candidate choice could sway the outcome of the 2024 election.” Among the hypothetical scenarios offered, the dial notes that in Pennsylvania, “A small shift in support from white, working-class voters could put the state back in Trump’s column.” Also included in the dial are Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.
Pa. House back to 102-101
With the swearing in yesterday of new Republican state Rep. Jeff Olsommer (Wayne and Pike counties), the Pa. House is back to its full membership, with Democrats holding a 102-101 seat majority over Republicans. Olsommer won the special election to succeed former Rep. Joe Adams, who resigned in February.
Gov’t red tape hinders rural broadband access
As lawmakers seek to tackle the issue of rural broadband access, the Commonwealth Foundation’s Elizabeth Stelle explains how “government red tape” is often the obstacle. “Broadband companies endure an alphabet soup of regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Communications Commission and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC). These agencies dictate everything from accessing utility poles to monitoring internet speeds — and they often do these things poorly.”