News & Brews November 21, 2024
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On Nippon-U.S. Steel, Shapiro dodges clarity
The Center Square reports, “As the $14.9 billion overseas acquisition of Pittsburgh’s U.S. Steel barrels toward resolution of some kind, the state’s top-ranking Republican says Gov. Josh Shapiro hasn’t been clear about whether he supports it. The public silence is deafening….” On Tuesday, Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, who supports the sale, sent Shapiro a letter, urging him to share with President Biden concerns over the negative effects on livelihoods should the sale be blocked. Ward wrote, “Your engagement as Governor is critical to ensuring the federal government understands the stakes for Pennsylvania.” Shapiro’s spokesman claims the governor is being an “honest broker” and that he’s been involved but “isn’t focused on social media posts or leaking letters.” (Pardon us for laughing profusely at the idea that Shapiro isn’t fixated on social media.)
Casey on a ‘slow march to defeat’
The Inquirer reports that Democrat U.S. Sen Bob Casey’s “long tenure” in Washington D.C. “may likely end with a slow march toward defeat as the recount unfolds.” Although Casey has refused to concede the election to Republican Senator-elect Dave McCormick, virtually everyone agrees that the recount, which is now underway, is highly unlikely to change the outcome. Per the Inky, “The Department of State is not confirming any recount numbers until Nov. 27, after all 67 counties submit their totals.” But according to the McCormick campaign, the completed recount in eight small counties delivered a net gain of just six votes. Casey currently trails McCormick by more than 16,500 votes.
Bucks residents want commissioners to resign
Approximately 1,000 people attended yesterday’s Bucks County commissioners meeting, where many called for the resignation of Democrat Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, who had said “that precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country” and that she would openly violate court orders against counting undated mail-in ballots. Ellis-Marseglia said she “made a mistake” and apologized. The Delaware Valley Journal reports, “While Ellis-Marseglia did offer an apology, she offered little in the way of remorse. Instead, she complained about the negative press, and claimed to have received profanity-laced phone calls and emails.” She also once again claimed that her comments were misinterpreted. Residents also called for the resignation of Democratic Commissioner Bob Harvie, who had also voted to illegally count the ballots.
Philly loses gun control lawsuit
The state Supreme Court ruled 6-0 to uphold a lower court’s dismissal of a lawsuit brought by Philadelphia seeking the ability to impose gun control regulations stricter than those permitted by the state. The AP reports that the city “had sought to throw out a state law that has long prohibited municipalities from regulating the ownership or possession of guns or ammunition.” In the majority opinion, Justice Kevin Brobson recognized the challenge of gun violence but “wrote [that] the court’s role was not to decide whether laws passed by the Legislature are adequate to address the challenge.”
Here’s who Krasner could face in 2025 election
Progressive Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner is reportedly planning to run for re-election next year, but he may face a primary challenge from defense attorney Charles Gibbs, per “sources.” The Inquirer reports, “Gibbs and his firm, which has represented such prominent figures as Meek Mill and Bill Cosby, also frequently defends Philadelphia police officers accused of misconduct.” And Gibbs and his firm have “gone up against Krasner and his prosecutors in court on multiple occasions.” Per the gun violence-focused website The Trace, “people have accused Krasner of being a member of a cabal of progressive big-city prosecutors who push soft-on-crime policies like opposing cash bail for some defendants, not prosecuting some nonviolent misdemeanor crimes, opposing the death penalty, and, generally, not backing cops.”