News & Brews November 14, 2025
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Top 1% carry more than 35% of Pa.’s tax burden
As the Left screams TAX THE RICH, TAX THE RICH, they apparently don’t realize (or, more likely, don’t want to admit) that we already do. A new study shows the top 1% of Pennsylvania income earners shoulder more than 35% of the state’s personal income tax burden. Among all the states, “Pennsylvania ranks 30th highest in the U.S. in terms of the percentage of income taxes paid by the top 1%.” If the Left wants to talk about folks paying their “fair share,” perhaps they should start looking elsewhere.
Fetterman hospitalized after heart episode & fall
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman was hospitalized yesterday after he fell while taking a walk due to “an episode of ventricular fibrillation,” WESA reports. Per a statement from his spokesperson, “Upon evaluation, it was established he had a ventricular fibrillation flare-up that led to Senator Fetterman feeling light-headed, falling to the ground and hitting his face with minor injuries…. He is doing well and receiving routine observation at the hospital. He has opted to stay so doctors can fine-tune his medication regimen.” We wish Sen. Fetterman a speedy recovery.
Philly implements paper bag charge
Ah, government. Always seeking something to tax or regulate. The latest example is Philadelphia, where Mayor Cherelle Parker just allowed a bill to become law (without her signature) that will require shoppers to pay 10 cents for paper bags. The Inquirer reports, “Under the new law, shopkeepers will keep the proceeds from the fees, rather than turning them over to the city.” And the bill’s sponsor said, “The goal of this bill and legislation is to bring your own bag, not to charge you 10 cents for a bag. So it’s really a behavioral change.” Wouldn’t it be nice if politicians would focus on changing their own behavior rather than everyone else’s?
On school choice, implementation matters too
EdChoice looks at why some school choice programs see “only a fraction of eligible students” use them. In one instance, “researchers found that take-up was low not because families didn’t value the benefit, but because of friction. Students often never learned they were eligible, notifications arrived at the wrong time, and school counselors—already stretched thin—didn’t have the bandwidth or the data access to help.” In other words, “Even the best-funded school choice program can stumble if implementation gets in the way.”
Podcast: Countering teachers’ unions power
School choice advocate Corey DeAngelis joins Philly-based longtime radio host Dom Giordano on his podcast “Old School, New School, Next School” to discuss the political power of anti-school-choice teachers’ unions and “viable alternatives” to them. Listen here.