Category: 2022

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PBPC Statement on PA House Elections 2022

  By 2022, Elections, Pennsylvania

While we are still waiting for final election results in a number of districts, all indications point to the Democrats taking control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. If they do, Rep. Joanna McClinton will become the Speaker of the House, the first Black woman to do so. For the last twenty years, gerrymandered legislative districts have enabled the Republicans to control the PA House of Representatives even though, in most of those years, a majority of votes for state representative went to Democrats. Republican control of the PA House of Representatives has stood in the way of enacting a great deal of legislation that has broad, and in many cases, bipartisan support, including raising the minimum wage, fixing an unfair tax system in which families in the top 1% pay taxes at half the rate as families in the middle, fully and fairly funding pre-K and K-12 education, making… Continue reading

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Memo: Another Blue Shift Coming

  By 2022

TO: Editorial Board Writers, Columnists, and Other Interested Parties FROM: Marc Stier, Director, Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center SUBJECT: Another blue shift coming in PA election returns DATE: November 7, 2022   In late October of 2020, we released a paper titled, “2020 Election Expectations: High Numbers of Mail-Votes and the Blue Shift.” We explained that due to Democrats being far more likely than Republicans to vote by mail, the initial count of the votes on Election Day would show Republicans ahead in many state-wide and local races—but that as mail ballots were counted, there would be a “blue shift” as vote tallies showed Democrats’ number of votes catching up to, and in many cases surpassing, the Republicans’. We warned that Donald Trump and his followers would use the blue shift to buttress their claims that the 2020 election was rigged—claims that began long before Election Day. Our predictions about… Continue reading

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If you do your part, things are looking good for Tuesday

  By 2022

I’m not at all certain about what is doing to happen on Tuesday. But I’m becoming more confident that IF YOU ALL DO YOUR PART–knocking on doors and getting out to vote yourself–the results will be good. Two strong pieces of evidence. First, a recent poll of people 19-29 , shows that people that age (1) say the will turn out at rates equal to 2018 and, in battlegrounds states like PA, at rates 5 points higher than 2018. And they support Democrats for Congress by a 2-1 margin. Second, to judge by who are the new voters, and who sought and are returning mail ballots in PA (and elsewhere) women are coming out to vote very heavily to save abortion. I know the polls are close everywhere. But the results of polling in close elections at this stage of the game are heavily dependent on estimates of who is going… Continue reading

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If PA Republicans Were Serious About Crime in Philly They Would Actually Fight It

  By 2022, Criminal Justice

Originally published by the Pennsylvania Capital Star on October 24, 2022 Violent crime—especially murder—shocks us all. Not only does it directly harm the victims but it also undermines the sense of security we all want to have. And, it creates difficulties for our communities. A high crime rate in a community discourages both business investment and consumption, leading to economic distress and poverty. Yet instead of putting forward serious solutions that reflect what we know about how to reduce murder rates, Republicans are spreading fear for electoral purposes with their usual racist dog whistles, which point fingers at Philadelphia and blame District Attorney Larry Krasner. The hypocrisy of these attacks is demonstrated in a new paper we recently released. Look at the communities represented by the three leading Republican critics of District Attorney Krasner in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Rep. Tim O’Neal represents Washington County where murders increased by 800 percent… Continue reading

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Is Doug Mastriano Planning To Become Governor By Force?

  By 2022, Fascism, Politics, The Coming Civil War?

Doug Mastriano is running an incompetent campaign for governor by any standard measures of political competence. He’s not raising money. He’s not moving to the center or at least tempering his most extreme positions. He’s not talking to the press…which is how politicians get their message to voters. He may yet win. Though he is down in the polls by a lot, there is continuing reason to believe that polls understate the vote of Trumpist candidates because their supporters don’t trust pollsters and answer their questions, because some of their supporters, upper middle class Republicans, are reluctant to say out loud that they are voting for creeps like Trump and Mastriano, and because polls don’t measure likely turnout well. Candidates like Trump and Mastriano motivate devoted followers who, like them, are angry and frustrated at what they see as the direction of the country and thus come out to vote.… Continue reading

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For my constituents in Ward 21 Division 24

  By 2022, Elections, Ward 21 Division 24 Issues

Here are my recommendations for your consideration when you vote on Tuesday May 17 Elected Officials First, I’d like to ask you to vote for me to have another term as your Democratic committee person and also to vote for my wife, Diane Gottlieb as well. Diane wants to step in on a temporary basis as I look for another person who can step into the big shoes left by my late partner Brenda Taylor. I hope the work I’ve done to keep you informed about out elections over the last 16 years warrant another term Second, Josh Shapiro has no competitor in the race for governor but two candidate  are running for Lieutenant Governor. I strongly recommend you vote for Austin Davis. He has been a good state representative, bring racial and geographic balance to the ticket, he is a good campaigner and will be a calm, supportive partner to… Continue reading

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Chris Rabb for State Representative

  By 2022

You can read my post on all the races and ballot questions at the May 17 Primary here. And don’t forget to vote for me and Diane Gottlieb for member of the Democratic Committee from our division. ….. I’m part of an organization that works closely with members of the PA General Assembly, I never endorse candidates in Democratic primaries. This year I have a responsibility to make an exception to that rule. The Democratic primary in the 200th House District, which includes division 24 of Ward 21 which I serve as the Democratic committeeman, is unfortunately a contest between good two incumbents, Chris Rabb and Izzy Fitzgerald, who the new legislative map put in the same district. So I’m torn between my responsibility to my organization and to the voters who have elected me to this party position four times. So just this time I’m going to violate my rules… Continue reading