News & Brews January 29, 2025
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Shapiro criticizes Trump’s funding freeze
Following a temporary freeze on federal grant funding by President Trump, Gov. Shapiro criticized the move, saying the state could not access some computer systems, including Medicaid. The White House stated that it had “confirmed no payments have been affected” and that they “expect the portal will be back online shortly.” Indeed, as of last night, states had begun regaining access. Meanwhile, multiple Democrat attorneys general have sued Trump—not surprising as that’s what Democrat attorneys general do. Pennsylvania has not joined the lawsuit. And in the middle of it all, a federal judge paused the freeze until Monday.
Dems want to ditch sex designations on birth certificates
Just a few months after Pennsylvanians and Americans as a whole resoundingly voted to reject far-left gender ideology that previously led to taxpayer-funded child mutilation, Democrat state Reps. Benjamin Sanchez and Joe Webster, both of Montgomery County, apparently weren’t paying attention. Instead, they are proposing legislation to remove sex designations from birth certificates. This is not the first time these lawmakers have pushed science-denying legislation, as they previously tried something similar in 2022.
Op-Ed: ‘Behind the scenes with Josh Shapiro’
Gov. Josh Shapiro likes to talk up the cameras. But when it comes to actually governing, he’s all talk and no action. CP President and CEO Matt Brouillette writes in RealClear Pennsylvania. “On issue after issue, Shapiro’s reputation can be summed up as chasing the limelight while avoiding the hard work of governing.” Indeed, Shapiro “uses his ‘get s@&# done’ script to grab big-screen attention while behind the scenes, his indecisiveness and ineffectiveness as chief executive are putting jobs and opportunity at risk.”
Countdown to vote for GOP chair
Pa. Republican committee members will soon select a successor to current party Chair Lawrence Tabas, who is stepping down from the role. And as the Delaware Valley Journal reports, “Two Republicans have emerged as the candidates to replace him: State Sen. Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland) and Allentown businessman Bill Bachenberg.” Rothman has the backing of U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick and GOP Congressman Dan Meuser. Bachenberg, meanwhile, hails from the business sector and has been a fundraiser for President Trump. The vote will take place February 8.
Special elections take shape
Pennsylvania will see two special elections on March 25: One for the Lancaster County state Senate seat previously held by GOP Sen. Ryan Aument, who resigned to become Sen. McCormick’s State Director, and one for the Allegheny County House seat left vacant by the death of Democrat Rep. Matt Gergely. In Lancaster, Republicans selected County Commissioner Josh Parsons as their candidate, while Democrats picked East Petersburg Mayor James Andrew Malone. The district leans strongly Republican. Meanwhile in Allegheny County, six democrats are vying for their party’s nomination, while Republicans said they plan to pick a candidate this week. This district is heavily Democrat.