News & Brews September 23, 2025
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Attacks on PJM miss the real culprit
Speaking at a 13-state summit yesterday on the future of PJM Interconnection, Gov. Shapiro continued his criticism of the grid operator. But as the Commonwealth Foundation points out, governors who blame PJM for “high prices and reliability concerns,” are ignoring the actual “glaringly obviously culprit.” Namely, “bad state energy and regulatory policies.” The foundation’s Elizabeth Stelle stated, “Governor Shapiro doubled down on policies that raise costs and jeopardize reliability. His so-called ‘Lightning Plan’ undermines Pennsylvania’s proven track record as an energy leader. With relentless attempts to enter the commonwealth into carbon tax schemes like RGGI, pushing green energy agendas that punish production of affordable energy, and government handouts that kill competition, it should be no surprise to the governor why the energy sector is falling behind in the Keystone State.”
Judicial retention elections are ‘heating up’
The Post-Gazette reports that once upon a time, judicial elections were about “as exciting as playing checkers by mail,” per one observer. But how things have changed. “Democrats desperately want to keep their 5-2 majority on the highest court in arguably the nation’s most important swing state. Republicans just as badly want to flip the court to their side.” Not only has the court in the past ruled on hot-button issues including redistricting and mail-in voting, but this year’s retention elections carry “potential ramifications … on the 2028 presidential election.”
Bucks Dems overrode health director on COVID guidelines
This story is wild. Recently released documents show that Bucks County Democrat Commissioners ignored the COVID guidance of Dr. David Damsker, the county’s health department director, and instead issued their own guidance. The documents only recently came to light as the county went to court for years to try to hide them from the public. They also show that the commissioners removed Damsker from the email chain regarding the guidance, apparently “cutting Damsker out of the loop,” the Delaware Valley Journal reports.
Thousands gather at March for Life
The fifth annual Pa. March for Life, hosted by the Pennsylvania Family Institute, drew thousands of pro-life advocates to the state Capitol yesterday. ABC27 reports that the gathering was “one of the biggest crowds of the year.” Watch the video report here.
Philly office buildings ‘plummeting in value’
The Inquirer reports that several office buildings in Center City Philadelphia “have sold in recent months for well under half their previous prices and assessed values…. These declines affect property tax revenues for the city, which gets 44% of every property tax dollar, and the school district, which gets 56%, as well as all proceeds of the Use and Occupancy tax that is also calculated off assessments.” The decline comes as nearly a quarter of office space in Center City is vacant. The reason, per the story, is that “legacy office users have reduced their square footage as hybrid work requires less space because entire staffs are rarely in the office at the same time.”