News & Brews September 15, 2025
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National Dem group enters Pa. Supreme Court race
This is not surprising news, but the Inquirer reports, “A national Democratic group that works on state legislative races is making a ‘six-figure investment’ in this year’s Pennsylvania Supreme Court retention elections, the latest sign that the usually sleepy off-year judicial contests are taking on a broader significance.” The group—the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee—is sending money to Pennsylvanians for Judicial Fairness, a group that gets much of its funding from trial lawyers, unions, and so-called ‘dark money’ groups. Of course, the Inquirer story doesn’t mention this last part.
Pa. Young Republicans reflect on Charlie Kirk
The Delaware Valley Journal reports, “Across the Keystone State, young people are reacting with sorrow and anger to the assassination of [Charlie] Kirk.” Chester County Young Republican Chair Matthew Thompson said Kirk “was dedicated to empowering young leaders, advancing principles of freedom and limited government. And he’s had a lasting impact on our generation.” And Pennsylvania High School Republican Chair Giuseppe Schiano Di Cola said, “I’ve never seen more people my age post about the sudden death of a person. Even people who didn’t enjoy politics said he influenced them greatly, and to see so many of my friends posting about how horrible his death is made me feel proud for what Charlie did.”
Pittsburgh hosts another AI summit
WESA reports that the second AI summit in Pittsburgh in recent months “brought together academics, politicians, and leaders from storied Pittsburgh institutions and upstart startups.” The summit “seemingly sought to forge more immediate connections between the companies, venture capitalists, and researchers in attendance, albeit at a smaller scale” than the earlier summit hosted by U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick.
Pa. high court hears challenge to 57-year-old law
On Thursday, the Pa. Supreme court heard argument in a case challenging a near-60-year-old law “that governs discipline for police and firefighters,” the Tribune-Review reports. “The law effectively bars courts from reviewing discipline for police officers. Critics say that has led to bad cops being allowed back on the job by arbitrators, leaving no way to challenge them. Supporters say the status quo should not change and that the law blocks unwelcome judicial activism.” The case stems from the 2020 firing of a Philadelphia police officer “who sent sexual text messages and a pornographic video to two subordinates, then asked one to lie to investigators.”
Op-Ed: Shapiro can’t legally drain Rainy Day fund
Commonwealth Foundation Vice President Stephen Bloom writes in the LNP that Gov. Shapiro’s plan for “siphoning $1.6 billion from the commonwealth’s rainy day fund” is not only “fiscally irresponsible” but also “blatantly unlawful.” Bloom explains, “Lawmakers can only use the rainy day fund when one of the following two scenarios occurs: (1) An emergency affects Pennsylvanians’ health, safety or welfare or (2) a downturn in the economy results ‘in significant unanticipated revenue shortfalls.’… Neither of these scenarios is applicable.”