News & Brews July 28, 2025
Get News & Brews in your inbox each day: Subscribe here!
OBBB hands Shapiro a ‘fascinating choice’
The Philadelphia Citizen’s Larry Platt writes that the creation of a national school choice program as part of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) gives Gov. Shapiro a “fascinating choice.” States will have the chance to opt in to the school choice program, and if they don’t, the money will go to other states. But will Democrat governors like Shapiro risk angering teachers’ unions by opting into a program with Trump’s fingerprints “all over it”?
Mastriano candidacy is ‘nightmare no one wants’ (except Democrats)
Pennsylvania and national Republicans are concerned that GOP state Sen. Doug Mastriano may launch another bid for governor. “Republicans blame Mastriano for costing the party a Senate contest, multiple House seats and a state legislative chamber in 2022 when he lost by 15 points in Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race,” POLITICO reports. “With as many as four GOP-held House seats in play in the state, Republicans believe Mastriano’s name atop the ballot would threaten their chances of keeping their slim majority in the lower chamber.” Democrats recognize the same thing, which is why they’re hoping he’ll run. Meanwhile, Republicans are hoping Treasurer Stacy Garrity will enter the race, as she has a strong record as an excellent campaigner and vote-getter.
Get ready to pay more for wine and spirits
The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, whose history is rife with “incompetence … waste … and questionable ethics,” has “voted to create a $1 bailment fee on all cases of wine and spirits sold through state stores,” the Philly Voice reports. The fee is opposed by industry groups, which argue it “will cost alcohol producers between $15 million and $17 million annually, and … will raise prices for consumers at state stores, supermarkets, restaurants and bars.” The groups add, “This new fee is yet another hit to the cost of doing business in Pennsylvania.”
‘Diapers, asbestos, antisemitism. Welcome to Philly public schools’
Commonwealth Foundation Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Megan Martin dives into the catastrophe that is the Philadelphia School District, where children have been deprived of bathroom breaks, asbestos endangers children’s health, teaches convicted of crimes remain on the payroll, and antisemitism is ‘rampant.’ Yet, students are trapped in these schools because Gov. Josh Shapiro vetoed their Lifeline to escape.
U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly’s office vandalized
Local and federal law enforcement are investigating vandalism at U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly’s district office in Hermitage (Mercer County). The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports, “According to a statement from Kelly’s office, the damage was discovered Saturday. Expletives, disparaging accusations and derisive comments directed toward the Republican from Butler were scrawled across office windows in red paint.” No one was injured.