News & Brews October 8, 2024
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Harris facing challenge with PA, MI union workers
An analysis in The Hill reads, “Vice President Harris’s lack of traction with unionized blue-collar workers has emerged as one of her biggest challenges to winning key states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania, as polls show her significantly underperforming Joe Biden’s performance with union workers in 2020.” The story notes, “Perhaps the biggest factor is that many union members simply don’t know Harris as well as Biden.” Beyond this, however, many union members simply prefer Trump.
Pa. Senate Dems aim to tie chamber
With Democrats working to hold their slim, one-vote majority in the Pa. House (and Republicans working to flip the House), Democrats in the upper chamber have a more ambitious aim: Tie the chamber for the first time in three decades. Republicans hold a 28-22 majority, with 25 of the chamber’s 50 seats up for election this year. Of these, very few are competitive. The Inquirer reports, however, that “Republicans are bullish that they’ll retain their Senate majority — or even pick up seats, with their sights set on flipping Northeast Philly and Pittsburgh suburban districts.”
Biden heading to Philly to campaign for Casey
President Biden is scheduled to be in Philadelphia today for a private fundraiser in support of Democrat U.S. Senator Bob Casey’s re-election bid. Casey is facing an aggressive challenge from Republican Dave McCormick. While Casey has been consistently ahead in the polls, observers note that the race has been tightening.
Report: Stadium subsidies aren’t worth it
As Philly is eyeing a new Center City stadium for the Sixers, a new report from the Tax Foundation shows “that stadium subsidies fail to generate new tax revenue and new jobs or attract new businesses.” The Center Square reports, “The report is consistent with years of economic research showing the same.” This is notable, of course, as officials often promise that giving handouts to stadiums will bring an economic benefit to the region. In the case of the Sixers, the “proposed new arena would be paid for by the team while the city reduces the property taxes to $6 million annually in PILOT payments and just $10 in rent for the 30-year term of the lease while transferring several parcels of land to the team for the arena and development.”
Revenue secretary asks court for help to avoid responding to Senate
PennLive reports that the Pa. “Senate Rules Committee approved a resolution Monday directing that the state revenue secretary [Pat Browne] to be brought before the chamber to explain why he won’t provide certain tax data for Allentown’s downtown revitalization program.” If he refuses, the resolution threatens to hold Browne in contempt, which could lead to his being sent to Dauphin County Prison until he provides the info or until the end of this legislative session on November 30. In response, “Browne filed paperwork in Commonwealth Court Monday seeking an injunction to stop the Senate from compelling him to appear and answer questions under oath. Browne maintains he is prohibited by law from disclosing the level of detail about tax records the Senate seeks.”