News & Brews November 20, 2025
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Shapiro hasn’t gotten s*** done … except for himself
Commonwealth Foundation Senior Fellow Guy Ciarrocchi writes in RealClear Pennsylvania that despite claiming to ‘get s*** done,’ the only stuff Gov. Josh Shapiro has really gotten done is for his own self promotion. “His greatest accomplishment: getting elected to the next taxpayer-funded job,” Ciarrocchi writes. “His second greatest accomplishment: convincing everyone else to talk about him as a presidential candidate.” But amid all this, “no one asks an obvious question…. What has he accomplished?”
Philly again tries to change ‘resign to run’ rule
Philly council members are again trying to change the city’s “resign to run” rule, which requires city office holders to resign from their seats when running for a higher office. The Inquirer reports, however, that this attempt is different from previous, failed attempts. This time, the bill “doesn’t repeal the rule entirely. It merely narrows it to allow members to keep their seats if they are seeking state or federal office, such as seats in Congress or the state General Assembly. Under the new proposal, Philadelphia’s resign-to-run rule would remain in place for members seeking a city office, like mayor or district attorney.”
Hello, 2026 state legislative races
The Post-Gazette reminds us that we are already in campaign season for next year’s state House and Senate races. “The holiday season before the February-March candidate signature-gathering period is often when people announce a decision to leave the Legislature, or when they privately commit to seeking election to it.” One unnamed Republican House member said, “Right now people are making decisions. Right now incumbents, especially the incumbents in difficult seats, are assessing the political climate.” Democrats hold a one-seat majority in the lower chamber.
Budget loan interest waived, but program blocked next year
CNHI reports, “Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity waived all interest accrued on $42.2 million in emergency loans disbursed by the Treasury during this year’s protracted budget impasse, but a provision included in the updated Fiscal Code prevents a return of the program next year in the event of another stalemate.” The provision prohibits “Treasury from issuing the loans in the 2026-27 fiscal year — a year that includes elections for the House, Senate and the governor’s office. That provision doesn’t extend beyond next year.”
Event: Politics & Pints with Scott Jennings
If you watch CNN (my condolences), one of the few voices of logic you’ll hear is commentator Scott Jennings, who tirelessly and with humor takes on some of the ridiculousness of the Left. Next month, Jennings is coming to Chester County for a “politics and pints” event with 1210 WPHT host Dom Giordano. The event will take place on Tuesday, December 9, at the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville. Click here for more information.