News & Brews May 15, 2025
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National Dems ‘flocking to Pa.’ ahead of 2026
Ah, Pennsylvania. The commonwealth. The Keystone State. And for the past several years, the center of the political universe. The Inquirer reports that Democrats from across the country have made their way to Pa. recently in advance of next year’s mid-term elections. “The focus on the commonwealth illustrates the pivotal role Pennsylvania continues to play as Democrats look to reclaim the U.S. House in 2026 — and the White House two years after that. The state’s battleground districts remain fertile ground for media attention and message-testing for the young Democrats rumored to be considering more ambitious races of their own.” Buckle up, Pa. It’s going to be a wild ride.
Pa. Supreme Court hears case challenging SEPTA prosecutor law
Yesterday, the state Supreme Court heard arguments in the case challenging the constitutionality of the 2023 law creating a special prosecutor for SEPTA crimes. The Inquirer reports that Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has argued “that the law is unconstitutional because it singles out Philadelphia and strips away the authority of an elected district attorney.” But the Commonwealth Court last year ruled against Krasner and found the law is constitutional. Meanwhile, yesterday the “justices continued to come back to the text of the Pennsylvania Constitution, saying it appears to allow the legislature to ‘monkey around’ with the duties of Philadelphia offices.”
D’Orsie: Why do Dems oppose girls’ sports?
GOP state Rep. Joe D’Orsie (York County) asks why Pennsylvania House Democrats are “so politically foolish that they’re thumbing their nose at an 80-20 issue.” That issue is, of course, protecting girls from being forced to compete in sports against biological males. “A January New York Times/Ipsos poll revealed 79 percent of Americans believe men shouldn’t compete in girls’ sports,” D’Orsie writes. “As a father to a little girl, the only word I can come up with is ‘unjust.’ How unjust it is to potentially subject my seven-year-old in the future to a game that’s both dangerous to her, but also one that violates her privacy and steals opportunity from her.” And he questions “what reason, what stakeholder, what principle” Democrats are trying to satisfy in refusing to protect women and girls.
PGH NFL draft may not bring economic boom
The Center Square reports that among predictions of major positive economic impact from next year’s NFL draft in Pittsburgh, not everyone agrees with the predictions. According to one economics professor, “[T]he extensive study of sports and mega-events demonstrates that there is little reason to believe that the NFL draft might have some large economic impact that might justify these public expenditures.” The city has “agreed to send $1 million to an $11 million fund to pay for marketing and other services related to the draft.”
Fetterman: Progressive? Populist? Maverick?
The Post-Gazette posits that while Sen. John Fetterman “has long been viewed as progressive,” some say that his “track record proves otherwise.” Instead, the story claims he’s “somewhat of a wildcard.” One Democrat says Fetterman “has a rare ability to hold strong views while also coming across as an ‘empty vessel — and not in a derogatory way. Voters would see in him what they wanted.’” But anotherRepublican consultant quipped, “I haven’t seen him come out and support any part of the Republican budget process. I always chuckle when people say he’s not progressive enough. He’s certainly not anywhere near conservative, so what are you kvetching about?”