News & Brews September 2, 2025
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Uber’s idea to bail out mass transit
Spotlight PA reports that Uber is proposing its own solution to the mass transit debate happening in Harrisburg: tax ride-sharing trips. But under one condition: “Uber will only support expanding the state’s 6% sales tax if the commonwealth classifies app-based drivers or couriers as independent contractors, not employees.” Major unions, of course, oppose giving drivers this kind of freedom, as unions would rather control workers in order to skim dues off their paychecks. As for Shapiro? Well, on yet another issue, his office has “declined to comment,” although historically he has repeatedly opposed workers’ rights in favor of unions.
Ransomware attack on AG’s office impacts cases
Last month’s ransomware attack against Pennsylvania’s Office of Attorney General “has impaired many functions of the agency, as some staff and prosecutors remain unable to access archived emails, files, and internal systems crucial to pursuing cases on behalf of the commonwealth.” Spotlight PA reports. Per a statement from the AG’s office, “The interruption was caused by an outsider encrypting files in an effort to force the office to make a payment to restore operations. No payment has been made. An active investigation is ongoing with other agencies, which limits our ability to comment further on the investigation or response to the incident.”
Pennsylvania’s union problem
As Pennsylvanians marked Labor Day yesterday, many private sector workers in the commonwealth are anything but free. That’s because “Pennsylvania is one of 24 states in the country that force unionism on their citizens,” writes National Right to Work Committee President Mark Mix. “Using government-granted monopoly bargaining powers, [unions] can force all employees to pay mandatory dues or fees, even those who reject union membership.” Nearly 80% of current union members oppose this forced unionism. What’s more, “the number of individuals employed from 2014 to 2024 grew 16.4% in Right to Work states, more than twice as much as the stunted growth in forced-unionism states like Pennsylvania.” Meanwhile, Gov. Shapiro continues to ally firmly with unions, declaring over and over again on social media his opposition to workers’ rights.
DePasquale’s plan to help Democrats?
Former Democrat Pa. Auditor General Eugene DePasquale lost his campaign for attorney general last year to Republican Dave Sunday. DePasquale also lost his 2020 congressional challenge to Republican Scott Perry. But now, as he runs for a special election to be the next Democratic State Party Chair, DePasquale says he has a plan to help Democrats win. He shared some thoughts with the Inquirer, including his priorities of fundraising and getting “on the stick on voter registration.”
The uniqueness of American capitalism
As the United States prepares to celebrate our 250th anniversary, the Wall Street Journal is embarking on a year-long series, “USA250: The Story of the World’s Greatest Economy.” The first installment examines the uniqueness of American capitalism and how “this economic foundation has helped to create an entrepreneurial spirit of risk-taking and innovation unmatched in the world.” (The piece isn’t perfect, but it highlights America’s “distinguishing strength: opportunity.”)