News & Brews July 2, 2025
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Pa.’s role in largest health care fraud in U.S. history
The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced its “largest … health care fraud takedown in history,” which involved more than $14.6 billion in “intended loss” targeting Medicare. Pennsylvania made an unfortunate appearance in the fraud. One of the medical supply companies involved was in Tannersville (Monroe County), while one of the banks used was in Malvern (Chester County). The news prompted GOP state Rep. Seth Grove (York County) to ask, “When will Governor Josh Shapiro & House Democrats take up … [Pa. House Republicans’] public integrity package?!?” When, indeed? Grove noted that Pa. “House Democrats have blocked every single amendment and bill put forward to target fraud and improper payments.”
Street announces candidacy for Evans’ seat
State Sen. and Pa. Democratic Party Chair Sharif Street has announced his plans to run next year for the Philadelphia congressional seat that will be vacated by retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans. The Inquirer reports that Street “has long been eyeing the seat and enters the race with name recognition — his father, John F. Street, was Philadelphia’s mayor from 2000 to 2008.” Street isn’t alone in his interest, however, as several other Democrats are also eyeing the seat.
Fetterman, McCormick split votes on OBBB
The U.S. Senate voted narrowly yesterday to pass President Trump’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill,” with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. As expected, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman voted against the bill, while Sen. Dave McCormick voted for it. As the Senate amended the bill, it returned to the U.S. House for consideration.
‘No more blank checks for broken systems’
Commonwealth Foundation President & CEO Andrew Lewis contends in a PennLive op-ed that from Medicaid to mass transit to education, it’s time to end the practice of writing blank checks to systems that are broken and failing. “Instead of bailing out poorly managed agencies, lawmakers must hold them accountable,” Lewis writes. “Rather than force taxpayers to foot the bill for fiscal irresponsibility, Pennsylvania lawmakers must rein in state spending and enact genuine reforms that strike at the root of our fiscal woes.”
UPenn apologizing to female athletes
Under an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education, the University of Pennsylvania has admitted the victories of female athletes who the university previously said lost to biologically male swimmer Lia Thomas. The Delaware Valley Journal reports that Penn will “[r]estore to all female athletes all individual athletic records, titles, honors, awards or similar recognition for Division I swimming competitions misappropriated by male athletes competing in female categories; {and] [s]end a letter to each female athlete whose individual recognition is restored expressing an apology on behalf of the university for allowing her educational experience in athletics to be marred by sex discrimination.” Penn will also “[i]ssue a statement to the university community stating that the university will comply with Title IX in all of its athletic programs.”