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State Sen. Jim Brewster knew the initial Jan. 5 swearing-in for members of his chamber could get dicey.
He had been declared the winner of the 45th District race by the Pennsylvania secretary of State, and a legal ruling from the state Supreme Court concurred. But his Republican opponent, Nicole Ziccarelli, wasn’t done fighting. After losing in Pennsylvania’s highest appellate court, she filed a challenge in federal court in Pittsburgh.
Ziccarelli argued 311 undated
mail-in ballots which gave Brewster a 69-vote lead in the district that includes portions of Westmoreland and Allegheny counties should not have been counted by Allegheny County. Without them, she would be the winner.
And those who stand accountable by Jim Wertz
Tyler Merbler
The attack on the United States Capitol was the most heinous act in modern America. It s been compared to the War of 1812, but that was carried out by the British. It s been compared to the Civil War, but that was caused by the official acts of secession carried out by 11 Southern slave-holding states. The insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021 was different because it was waged by a ragtag collection of so-called patriots composed of working-class whites, members of law enforcement (retired and active), former members of the military, wannabe pundits, and even some elected officials. But on that day, they acted in no official capacity, with no legitimate grievance against the government they tried to depose. The mob that stormed the Capitol was little more than petulant children acting out because they didn t get their way.
Brad Bumsted and Sam Janesch
HARRISBURG â In his first speech as top leader of the Pennsylvania Senate last week, Republican Sen. Jake Corman positioned himself as a reformer seeking to restore faith in government by greatly increasing transparency in the legislature and by elected lawmakers.
Transparency should be at the center of everything senators do, he said, whether filing office expenses, raising campaign cash, or dealing with lobbyists and dark money groups.
Corman said he would support lobbying reform to âclearly define relationships between legislators, lobbyists, and political consultants.â He also stressed the need for what he called âreal-time reporting of campaign contribution expenses,â and suggested stricter disclosures for nonprofit groups that engage in political activity, which currently operate largely in the shadows.
. HARRISBURG In his first speech as top leader of the Pennsylvania Senate last week, Republican Sen. Jake Corman positioned himself as a reformer seeking to restore faith in government by greatly increasing transparency in the legislature and by elected lawmakers. Transparency should be at the center of everything senators do, he said, whether filing office expenses, raising campaign cash, or dealing with lobbyists and dark money groups. Corman said he would support lobbying reform to “clearly define relationships between legislators, lobbyists, and political consultants.” He also stressed the need for what he called “real-time reporting of campaign contribution expenses” and suggested stricter disclosures for nonprofit groups that engage in political activity, which currently operate largely in the shadows.