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July 2nd Ups and Downs

A state rep leads a successful push for the poorest schools in Pennsylvania to receive more state funds, a West Philly Democrat is implicated in a deed fraud scheme, plus a former state Senator is nominated to serve on the National Council on the Arts. All of that and more are in this week’s Ups and Downs.

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Amy Gutmann and David Cohen. A pair of influential Pennsylvanians are “reportedly in line for some of the most prestigious ambassadorships” in President Joe Biden’s administration, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Gutmann, who serves as Penn’s president, is “expected to be nominated as ambassador to Germany,” while Cohen, a Comcast Executive, is reportedly being considered to be the ambassador to Canada

Mike Schlossberg. The Lehigh County Democrat received some praise from Gov. Tom Wolf after his “successful push to get $100 million in state funds doled out to Pennsylvania’s 100 poorest school districts,” the Allentown Morning Call reports. 

Amen Brown. Another controversy for a Democrat representing the 190th state House District. Billy Penn reports that Brown was “implicated in deed fraud and other lawsuits,” in 2014. 

Ce-Ce Gerlach. The Allentown City Councilmember was charged with two misdemeanors, endangering the welfare of children and failing to report or refer the information in violation of the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law, by the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, according to the Allentown Morning Call. The report alleges that the Democratic City Councilmember “failed to report suspected child abuse when she was a Valley Youth House social worker, instead dropping a teenaged boy off at a crime-ridden homeless encampment where he was solicited for sex.”

Thomas Carman. The Bradford County Coroner resigned on Wednesday after Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce confirmed an investigation in connection with Carman “allegedly contacting who he thought was a teenage boy for sex,” according to the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader

College Student-Athletes. It may be long overdue, but it’s a start for college student-athletes in the state. PennLive reports that college student-athletes “now have the ground rules to profit off of their name, image, and likeness for the first time” after Gov. Tom Wolf signed the state budget into law. 

PA Vaccination Rate. The Keystone State is among the leaders in the nation for giving at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. PennLive reports that 63% of the state’s total population has received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, making Pennsylvania the seventh-best in the country. 

Lloyd Smucker. Appeal denied. LNP | LancasterOnline reports that Rep. Lloyd Smucker will have to pay a $5,000 fine for “bypassing securing on his way to the House floor last month.” The Lancaster County Republican appealed the fine, but a majority of the House Ethics Committee members did not accept it

Kim Ward. The Senate Majority Leader in PA “underwent a double mastectomy” this week, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. Ward, who has been public about her breast cancer diagnosis, shared a picture on Twitter after the procedure thanking everyone for the well wishes and prayers and ended the message by saying “#getyourmammogram.” We all wish Ward a speedy recovery! 

Connie Williams. The former state Senator has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve on the National Council on the Arts. NPR reports that Constance Williams, who served as a state Senator for parts of Montgomery and Delaware counties, was nominated by Biden to serve on the advisory board for the National Council on the Arts. Williams served as the chair of the board of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and she was also a trustee on the National Museum of American Jewish History, NPR reports. 

Charlie Dent. A former Lehigh Valley Congressman will be taking on a new position at his alma mater. Former Congressman Charlie Dent, a Penn State alumnus, will be the McCourtney Institute for Democracy’s first visiting fellow.  

TWEET OF THE WEEK

If Sen. Casey can make free throws in crunch time, the @Sixers should give him a call…

We all wish Sen. Ward a speedy recovery!

8 Responses

  1. Not sure trade off of more money for schools by
    dumping OT regs was as wonderful as noted though
    a gradual increase in minimum wage would ease the pain. No holding breath but would be fair.

    1. More anti Lou stuff. The fact remains that he is the only candidate in the Republican race for gov to have run statewide and won a nomination. Most of these candidates are on some “political fantasy camp” experience where they see their name in the media and chat on a podcast when the reality of running statewide is far different. It’s a grind. Gutting out endless speaking engagements. Fundraising. Building support across the state. All of this takes time, money and experience. Unless these Republican “fantasy campers” are willing to drop their own big bucks into the nomination (self fund) for Gov they are just full of hot air.

  2. Senator Casey, when kids have access to good schools through a voucher program they will also have access to opportunity. Support school vouchers and school choice or support the teachers union. Where do you stand?

    1. Maybe PA should fix ALL the public schools with the money they would otherwise put into vouchers to benefit only select kids.

      1. If any kid can get a voucher aren’t they all select? How many illegal immigrant children are being funded by Pa taxpayers?

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