News & Brews June 12, 2026
Get News & Brews in your inbox each day: Subscribe here!
No excuses left on school choice program
On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury released new guidance on the federal tax credit scholarship program. For months, Gov. Shapiro has balked at committing to opt into the program, claiming he was awaiting more info. Well, now he has it, and it’s removed all excuses for not entering. American Federation for Children CEO Tommy Schultz writes in the Wall Street Journal, “Governors who have been waiting for information now have it. Thirty-one states have already opted in or said they will…. For governors who have said they will do so once rules are clear, it’s time to act.”
‘Shapiro’s utility crackdown’ isn’t the answer
Writing in The Center Square, Taxpayers Protection Alliance Executive Director Ross Marchand explains how Gov. Shapiro’s rhetoric to get utility companies to “control costs” isn’t the answer to rising costs. “If the goal is truly to lower electricity costs, the focus should be on expanding supply in Pennsylvania and encouraging investment in new generation across the state by bolstering genuine competition in power generation.”
Garrity outlines plan to ‘unleash’ natural gas industry
In a speech this week to the Marcellus Shale Coalition, Pa. state Treasurer and Republican GOP nominee Stacy Garrity outlined her plan to “make Pennsylvania America’s energy leader, and with it, America the energy leader for the World.” She explained that on “day one,” she would “sign an executive order to lift the outdated ban on new drilling sites.” And she would also “eliminate duplicative and outdated regulations.”
Pa. Dems seek to force minimum wage vote
ABC27 reports that Pa. “Senate Democrats put forth a discharge petition on Wednesday that would force Republicans to vote on a bill to raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage…. Lawmakers must bring the discharge petition up for a vote within 10 session days.” GOP Rep. Josh Kail (Beaver and Washington counties) said the move is simply a “political trick,” as if Dems wanted to raise the wage, Republicans would be willing to negotiate it.
Oodles of political spending expected in Pa.
AdImpact, which tracks political ad spending across the country, is projecting that this year, a total of $381 million will be spend on ads in Pennsylvania’s elections, including $53 million on state legislative races. Overall, AdImpact projects that ad spending in this election cycle will hit $11.6 billion, “making it the most expensive on record.”