News & Brews June 4, 2026
Get News & Brews in your inbox each day: Subscribe here!
$75 billion in new taxes?
Here’s a sobering statistic: If every Lefty-proposed tax hike and mandate passed in Pennsylvania, a family of four would be on the hook for $23,000 in higher costs—or $75 billion across the commonwealth. This analysis comes from the Commonwealth Foundation, which tracked and combined proposed taxes and mandates from both Gov. Shapiro and Pennsylvania’s Democrat lawmakers.
Shapiro releases 1st ad of re-election campaign
Gov. Shapiro has made his first TV ad buy of his re-election campaign, reserving nearly $500,000 worth of air time in Philly, Pittsburgh, Wilkes-Barre, and Harrisburg media markets, the Inquirer reports. The topic he’s leading with? Free school breakfasts. The Inky observes, “For a moderate [umm … sic] Democratic governor in a swing state with his eyes on a potential 2028 presidential run, it’s no coincidence that he would lead with one of his most popular successes.”
Dem lawmakers advance new tax
Democrats on the Pa. House Finance Committee voted yesterday to impose a new tax on digital ads. The legislation would “extend Pennsylvania’s existing 5% gross receipts tax to cover companies and corporations that provide digital advertising services in the state,” City & State PA reports. Supporters contend the bill “would modernize an antiquated state tax and create a new source of recurring revenue, while critics worry that the tax on digital advertising platforms could get passed on to small businesses and consumers, despite being targeted toward Big Tech companies and large corporations.”
Lawmakers act to address childcare affordability
WKOK reports, “State House Republicans are proposing a 14-bill package aimed at childcare access and affordability.” House Republican Policy Committee Chair David Rowe (Juniata, Mifflin, Snyder, and Union counties) “says staffing shortages and affordability are affecting families, businesses, and local economies. The package includes changes to staffing qualifications, inspections, licensing rules, transportation requirements, and electronic signatures. The proposal also calls for start-up grants, low-interest expansion loans, and a public child care advisory board.”
Fitzpatrick votes to limit Trump’s war powers
Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick joined three other Republicans and all Democrats yesterday to support a measure “designed to force President Trump to end the Iran War,” the Hill reports. “The development is largely symbolic, since there are lingering disputes about whether the measure, known as a concurrent resolution, carries the force of law. And Trump is certain to contest the authority of the measure even if it’s also passed by the Senate, where it’s headed next.”