|
A daily newsletter by  |
|
|
|
| Election investigations, mask-less lawmakers, another Democratic loss, and Mount Everest in Philly. It's Wednesday, and we salute our veterans. |
|
As President Donald Trump continued to question the integrity of Pennsylvania’s election while repeating unverified claims of voter fraud, state Republicans made their own moves, Spotlight PA and Votebeat report.
A group of House and Senate lawmakers called for the creation of an investigatory committee with subpoena power to conduct an immediate audit, saying they had fielded widespread complaints about the fairness of the Nov. 3 presidential election from their constituents.
The GOP made a similar move before the election, then scrapped it.
House Speaker Bryan Cutler, meanwhile, continued to press Gov. Tom Wolf for an audit that would examine legislative changes made to the election code in 2019 — including the creation of no-excuse mail voting — and the impact of recent state Supreme Court decisions on the process.
THE CONTEXT: It's important to know this: Pennsylvania already has safeguards in place to ensure the accuracy of election results.
In addition to routine reviews in each county required by law, the state has started to pilot “risk-limiting” audits, a process that verifies whether a sample of paper ballots matches results captured electronically by voting machines.
This is also key: The very same election and ballots Republicans are questioning as part of the presidential race handed the party a decisive victory in other contests across Pennsylvania.
When asked about that discrepancy, Cutler said he was “not concerned with, necessarily, who won or who lost."
"What I’m concerned with is that people no longer have faith in the process." |
|
| NOTABLE / QUOTABLE "This is not something that we want to do. This is not something we take lightly."
— Maria Plano, an ICU nurse, on a looming strike among nurses at four Philadelphia hospitals amid a major surge in the coronavirus pandemic
|
|
| POST IT: Thank you, Chris M., for this Election Day sunset shot in Wrightsville. Send us your hidden gems, use the hashtag #PAGems, or tag us on Instagram at @spotlightpennsylvania. |
|
 'NOT AFRAID': When a group of House and Senate Republicans gathered Tuesday to call for the creation of a committee to investigate the election, most of them weren't wearing masks. Asked by WITF why they were flouting public health rules, most declined comment, while one lawmaker responded, "We are not afraid."
 'OUTSPENT 10 to 1': In yet another down-ballot loss for Democrats, state Treasurer Joe Torsella conceded to Republican Stacy Garrity yesterday. The Associated Press has yet to call the race because it's still unclear if an automatic recount will be triggered.
 DISINFORMATION: On Monday, prominent right-wing personalities including Pam Bondi and Rudy Giuliani began spreading false information on social media that Joe Biden had suddenly lost Pennsylvania. The New York Times traced how the rumor went from one account to full-blown conspiracy. This isn't the only lie about the state spreading like wildfire online.
 OFF THE TABLE: Insomnia won't be added to the list of conditions that qualify a person to receive medial marijuana in Pennsylvania, a state advisory board ruled this week. TribLIVE reports that supply at certain dispensaries remains an issue.
 INTERNAL DELAYS: Republican and Democratic state lawmakers typically spend the week after an election choosing their party leaders. But, as the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports, most of those internal decisions will be delayed as some close House and Senate races still remain uncalled. |
|
» OUR SUSTAINABILITY DEPENDS ON YOU: Become a member of Spotlight PA today and your contribution will be TRIPLED.
Thank you to everyone who had their gifts TRIPLED yesterday: David W., Michele M., Lynn K., Christine C.P., Christine D., Adam C., Nicholas S., Patrick C., Margaret W., Jordan B., and Norma V.D. |
|
HONOR OUR HEROES: It's Veterans Day. Even with a pandemic, there are ways you can show your respect. Here's a list of events in the Central Pennsylvania area. Veterans and active-duty members of the military can also get free items at Sheetz and other businesses.
MT. EVEREST, PHILLY STYLE: Do you have dreams about climbing Mount Everest but don't have the means to make the trip? One Bucks County man will bring the experience to Philadelphia by running the famous Rocky steps 880 times.
A LOT OF CANDLES: One Allentown woman who has lived through two pandemics — and survived a COVID-19 infection — just turned 102. “The Lord got some extra time and he’s sharing it with me," Ruth Ida Bower said.
UNMET NEED: With the pandemic causing massive job losses, more and more people are struggling to afford their groceries. Now, as the winter holidays approach, donations to food charities aren't keeping up with the increase in people in need of assistance. Want to help? Here's a list of verified food banks in every Pennsylvania county.
ANTISOCIAL MEDIA: "I’m a black gay guy." So began a tweet sent from an account belonging to a white Republican who recently lost a congressional race in Pennsylvania. The story gets way weirder and more complicated from there. |
|
C O N L N T A U R
Yesterday's answer: Vegetarian
Congrats to our daily winners: Craig W., Thomas B., Ed M., Dianne K., Susan D., Steve D., Jarrod B., Lynne E., Ann S., George S., Patricia R., John C., Mary Ellen T., Anne R., Joel S., Chris W., Jeffery S., Carol D., Ron P., Craig E., and Robert S. |
|
|
| |
|
