News & Brews April 15, 2025
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Attack on gov’s mansion ‘a stunning breach of security’
The Inquirer describes Sunday’s arson attack on the governor’s mansion as “a stunning breach to the safety and security of Pennsylvania’s top executive.” Gov. Shapiro emphasized that he had “total confidence in the Pennsylvania state police,” but both Shapiro and the state police declined to answer questions regarding his security detail. Meanwhile, Spotlight PA reports, “A State Police official said the agency will conduct a security review to ensure that there is never a repeat of Sunday’s events.” Condemnation of the attack has been swift andwidespread. Speaking to CNN, Pa. Attorney General Dave Sunday said, “This was an act of terror. There is no place in our society for hate-filled violence. I’m grateful for all the work done in the case so far, and continue to offer my support to Gov. Shapiro and his family.” (Watch the clip here.)
Judge denies bail to alleged arsonist
Yesterday, a judge denied bail to Cody Balmer, the 38-year-old who allegedly scaled the fence at the governor’s mansion and set fire to the home while Gov. Shapiro and his family members were inside. Thankfully, no one was injured. The AP reports that “Balmer has faced criminal charges over the past decade including simple assault, theft and forgery, according to online court records.” To these will now be added charges of “attempted homicide, terrorism and arson.”
‘It’s tax day, and Pa. prepares to pay up’
With Tax Day upon us, the Delaware Valley Journal reports that “as usual, Pennsylvanians are doing more than our fair share.” Per Commonwealth Foundation Policy Analyst Andrew Holman, “Tax Day 2025 looks quite gloomy for Pennsylvanians.” He further explains, “Pennsylvania remains one of the most oppressive states for taxpayers, ranking 28th in state-local tax burden. This, combined with excessive spending, a growing deficit, and heavy regulation (Pennsylvania is the 14th most regulated state in the nation), has put chains over Pennsylvania’s ability to reach its potential as an economic powerhouse.”
Pa. business joins lawsuit against Trump’s tariffs
A Pennsylvania-based company, the freshwater fishing supplier FishUSA, has joined with businesses in New York, Utah, Virginia, and Vermont to challenge President Trump’s tariffs. The case, filed by the Liberty Justice Center—the same firm that won a victory at the U.S. Supreme Court in the 2018 Janus v. AFSCME labor union case that freed public workers from being forced to pay unions as a condition of employment—argues that Trump does not have “the authority to unilaterally levy tariffs on goods imported from any and every country in the world, at any rate, calculated via any methodology – or mere caprice – immediately, with no notice, or public comment, or phase-in, or delay in implementation, despite massive economic impacts that are likely to do severe damage to the global economy.” See the complaint here.
Senate committee to hold public hearing today on Do No Harm Act
This afternoon at 1:00 p.m., the Senate Majority Policy Committee will hold a public hearing on the proposed Do No Harm Act, which “would prohibit medical services that harm and mutilate children here in Pennsylvania and protects minors from irreparable gender transitioning procedures.” In the memo announcing the legislation, prime sponsor Sen. Judy Ward (Blair, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata and Mifflin counties) noted, “From 2019 to 2023, nearly 14,000 American children received permanent gender reassignment related treatments, more than 5,500 sex change surgeries were performed on children, and almost 63,000 hormone and puberty blockers prescriptions written for more than 8,500 minors.” Scheduled to testify at the hearing are “medical professionals, parents, and individuals who have detransitioned.” The hearing will be live streamed here at 1:00 p.m.