News & Brews August 5, 2024
Get News & Brews in your inbox each day: Subscribe here!
Shapiro claims he didn’t know about Vereb scandal until months later
Nearly a year after Gov. Shapiro’s (now-former) Secretary of Legislative Affairs, Mike Vereb, abruptly resigned in the wake of sexual harassment allegations—and just in time for Shapiro’s final VP interviews—Shapiro is claiming he didn’t know about the allegations against Vereb until “months after the complaint was filed.” Yeah—we’re not buying it either. Broad + Liberty has the story.
Harris’ fracking flip-flop
The AP has a story on how Vice President Kamala Harris “once wanted to ban fracking” and “Trump wants voters in energy-rich Pennsylvania to remember.” I think the more accurate story would be that Harris LONG wanted to ban fracking and now is saying otherwise simply to win Pennsylvania (as the Wall Street Journal pointed out). Remember back in 2019 she said “there’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking.” While fracking isn’t the top issue for Pa. voters, in a race that’s expected to be extremely close, even the smallest shifts can make a difference.
Vance, Harris, & ? to be in Philly Tuesday
Tomorrow promises to be a busy presidential campaign day in Philadelphia. Republican VP nominee J.D. Vance will reportedly make a midday campaign stop in South Philly. Farther north at Temple, Kamala Harris will begin a swing-state tour with her vice-presidential pick, whom CNN reports the Harris campaign plans to announce “through an online message to supporters” prior to tomorrow’s rally. The story also says the pick was down to three finalists as of yesterday: MN Gov. Tim Walz, AZ Sen. Mark Kelly, and Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Fetterman is no fan of Shapiro for veep
Over the weekend, POLITICO reported that Democrat U.S. Sen. John Fetterman has cautioned Vice President Kamala Harris against picking Shapiro as her running mate. “Fetterman’s advisers suggested to Harris’ team that the senator believes that Shapiro is excessively focused on his own personal ambitions.” (Ya think?) Fetterman is in the minority among Pa. Dems, as most are backing Shapiro.
A look at lawmakers’ moonlighting jobs
The Inquirer reports, “More than half of the General Assembly reports an outside business interest or alternative forms of income, according to an analysis of … state lawmakers’ statements of financial interest…. They moonlight as attorneys, company executives, property managers, farmers, and other roles when they’re not in session.” Some say this could pose a conflict of interest, as it may mean lawmakers earn income in industries that they then vote to regulate (or fund). Some lawmakers, however, say the outside work helps them “stay grounded,” stay ”healthy,” and understand their work better.