News & Brews May 12, 2025
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In judicial retention races, ‘Dems are worried’
The Inquirer reports that as three liberal state Supreme Court justices face retention votes this November, “for the first time, Democrats are worried about holding onto their seats.” While usually sleepy affairs, the retention races this year are anything but. “New Pennsylvania GOP chair Greg Rothman, a state senator, has said the judicial races on the ballot are a top priority for the party.” And rumors are swirling around whether Elon Musk will also get involved, which is “[t]he biggest fear among Democrats.”
Trade unions seek to oust Krasner
As the May 20 primary election nears, incumbent Philly District Attorney Larry Krasner is facing fellow Democrat, Judge Patrick Dugan, for the party’s nomination. The Inquirer reports that a newly formed super PAC has spent nearly $365,000 this year in an effort to defeat Krasner. “The super PAC’s top donor was Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, a deep-pocketed and politically powerful union that gave $150,000. The PAC also received $50,000 from the Laborers’ District Council and $20,000 from the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 21.” Additional significant donors include real estate industry professionals.
NY & NJ need natural gas (via PA)
Mark Longo, director of the Engineers-Labor Employer Cooperative Local 825 in New Jersey, writes in the Wall Street Journal that NY and NJ need the natural gas that Pennsylvania has to offer. But misguided policies are standing in the way. “In 2016, a coalition of state and local officials, community activists and environmental groups in New York and Massachusetts effectively blocked the construction of the Northeast Energy Direct Pipeline, which would have brought natural gas from Pennsylvania through New York to New England.” Regarding specifically NY and NJ, Longo concludes, “Addressing the increased demand for electricity requires a two-pronged strategy. For New York, it means ending the ban on fracking. For New York and New Jersey, it means allowing the construction of new pipelines. Doing so would deliver much-needed relief to consumers throughout the region, especially those with low incomes, and promote economic growth.”
Pa. lawmakers’ hobbies
Spotlight PA takes a look at the hidden talents and hobbies of several Pennsylvania state lawmakers. For example, “The state House boasts an alligator rescuer (Tom Jones), a woodworker (Rick Krajewski), a trained soprano (Liz Hanbidge), a country singer (Shelby Labs), and a former public radio journalist (Elizabeth Fiedler), just to name a few.” The story is the first in a series highlighting individual lawmakers, with this piece in particular focusing on far left, anti-Israel state Sen. Nikil Saval, who has also written for The New Yorker.
Pa. communities will pay you to move here?
It’s not unheard of for towns to offer folks incentives to relocate there. Now, a few communities in Pa. have joined the effort. “Sharon and Hermitage in Mercer County are giving $5,000 each to household[s] that moves there, alongside other benefits like YMCA memberships or access to a coworking space, as a part of a collaboration with MakeMyMove, an online relocation marketplace. Greenville, also in Mercer County, is offering nonmonetary benefits.” That said, there’s a limit. “For the pilot of the campaign, the entire county is only accepting five households.”