News & Brews December 17, 2024
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Dems reward their favorite ‘Republican’
Last year, we introduced you to the Republican Pa. House lawmaker who handed Democrats the House majority and blocked voter ID: Tom Mehaffie of Dauphin County. Now, in gratitude for his loyalty to their party (despite his proclaimed Republican affiliation), Democrats have given Mehaffie “a plum office assignment in a D-controlled office in the Capitol to start this session,” reporter Stephen Caruso tweeted. This means “House Democrats saw it in their interest to give a primo office to Mehaffie.” We wonder what Mehaffie has agreed to in return.
Pa. students still suffering from learning loss
The Center Square reports, “Test results from last year’s PSSA and Keystone tests, two measures of academic performance across the state, show modest improvement in most areas, but the schools have miles to go to make up for the steep learning loss suffered during the pandemic…. All averages are lower than scores reported in 2019, but elementary and secondary school students appear closer to closing the gap than their high school counterparts who missed out on pivotal classroom time.”
Before tax hike, Dem council member wanted pay raise
Here’s an eyebrow raiser for you. The Delaware Valley Journal reports, “Just before voting for a 23 percent property tax hike, Democrat Delaware County Councilwoman Christine Reuther advocated for a pay raise.” Her argument? She’s “on a fixed income,” and her “income has not gone up in the five years I’ve been on council.” But wait, let’s back up a bit. The DVJ reports that in addition to her $51K-per-year council salary (for the part-time role), per her official biography, she also has a “small business consulting practice.” What’s more, her husband is a pediatric surgeon, and they live in a 6-bedroom home worth approximately $800,000-$900,000. Per former Council Chair Andy Reilly, a Republican, “I guess this is a set up to try to raise council salaries, which wouldn’t surprise me.”
76ers’ arena vote showed ‘Philly is still a union town’
The Inquirer reports that the Philly Council’s recent vote to advance legislation paving the way for a new Sixers arena in Center City revealed “some key political takeaways.” Among them: “The Philadelphia Building Trades and Construction Council, a coalition of more than 30 unions that … spends millions on city and state politics” and that supports the new arena, still wields significant political power. Meanwhile, Comcast—symbolic of ‘company interests’ in the city—wields significantly less. The Fortune 100 company, which is the Sixers’ current landlord, “didn’t cast a long enough shadow to change [Mayor] Parker or Council members’ minds about the arena.”
Pa. Electoral College to officially vote for president, vice-president today
Today a noon in the Pennsylvania House Chamber, the state’s electors will officially “cast, certify, and transmit votes for president and vice president of the United States.” The event will be live streamed here. And you can read more on Pennsylvania’s electors here.