News & Brews January 21, 2025
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Shapiro ‘ready to work with Trump’
Gov. Shapiro, who bragged about suing Trump as attorney general, now says he’s “ready to work with the Trump administration.” In a statement released yesterday, Shapiro said, “I believe there’s more that unites us as Americans than divides us – and as the Trump administration begins its work, we must focus on the commonsense issues that bring people together to move our commonwealth and our country forward.” Of course, Shapiro previously called Trump an existential threat to democracy, so there’s that.
Trump inaugural parade honors slain Pa. firefighter
WTAE reports, “Butler County first responders attended President Donald Trump’s inauguration parade Monday, where they honored the life of … former firefighter [Corey Comperatore] who was killed during the attempted assassination of Trump at a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show fairgrounds in July, 2024.” The parade, which was moved indoors due to frigid temperatures, included “[n]inety-six first responders from 19 different agencies, including Pennsylvania State Police, local police, county sheriff, EMS and more.”
Pa. state rep. passes away
Pa. state Rep. Matt Gergely (Allegheny County), who had been hospitalized after suffering a medical emergency several weeks ago, has passed away. He was 45. Gergely was first elected to the House in a 2023 special election to fill the seat vacated by now-Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. House Speaker Joanna McClinton now must call another special election to fill the seat. Until then, the Pa. House is once again evenly split 101-101. We extend our deepest sympathies to Rep. Gergely’s family and loved ones.
Pa. Supreme Court to (again) consider mail-in ballots
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will again take up the question of “whether voters should have to write the accurate date on return envelopes used to send their completed mail-in ballots to be counted.” If it seems like the court has taken up this question about 47 times already, that’s partly true (it’s not quite 47). This time, the AP reports, “The justices said they will decide whether the dating rule for absentee and mail ballot return envelopes violates a state constitutional provision that elections must be free and equal.” Previously, the high court has stopped lower court rulings from taking effect—including most recently when the Supreme Court said such ballots would not be counted for the purposes of this past election. The court will also “consider whether declaring the exterior envelope date mandate unconstitutional would invalidate the entire 2019 law.”
It’s swearing-in day in Pa.
This afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Dave Sunday will be sworn in as Pennsylvania attorney general. Prior to this, incumbent Treasurer Stacy Garrity will take the oath of office at noon for the second time, and incumbent Auditor General Tim DeFoor will take the oath of office for his second term at 1:30 p.m.