Government & Politics
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County Commissioners: Pandemic May Have Felt Like a Standstill, but for the People’s Business, It Wasn’t
In a virtual State of the County address, the Bucks County’s three Commissioners described a committed government intent on pushing through the pandemic’s obstacles to continue to serve residents and businesses. Diane M. Ellis-Marseglia (Chair), Robert J. Harvie Jr. (Vice-chair) and Gene DiGirolamo (Commissioner) broadcast updates on various county initiatives in a May 25 online meeting. Their overall message, hosted by…
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Amid So Much that Makes Bucks County Attractive Comes One Giant Black Eye
Bucks County has a lot to crow about. But one recent distinction is probably one we didn’t want, reports Victor Fiorillo for The Philadelphia Inquirer. In the aftermath of the January 2021 Capitol riots, arrest records revealed this unfortunate reality: More protesters (four) hailed from Bucks than any other county in the Commonwealth. As tough as that fact may be, there is solace to…
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New House Chaplain, a Warrington Native, Brought Calm to the Panic of the January Capitol Takeover
Yes, she was there at the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. In fact, it was her third day on the job as Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives. Yet Margaret G. Kibben deftly stepped into the fray to calm fears, reports Chris Cioffi for Roll Call. “Would you pray with me?” she asked, taking the podium as a violent…
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Perkasie Wife, Mother, and Business Owner Wants to Add One More Job Title: Mayor
Kelly Lausten announced her candidacy for Perkasie mayor, looking to ensure that the borough maintains its status as “America’s Hometown,” reports the Montgomery News-Herald. She’s currently stumping for write-in votes on Republican and Democrat ballots, ahead of the May 18 primary. Lausten owns Bloom Flower Co., a full-service floral design studio and retail gift shop. She’s also co-leader…
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Bipartisan Bickering in the Beltway May Bother D.C., But Here, Councils are Cordially Conciliatory
All politics is local, so the saying goes, which may explain some of the ongoing D.C. disfunction, where it’s easier to battle politicians you barely know. But as Julia Terruso noted for The Philadelphia Inquirer, when a municipal council member is also your neighbor, contentious issues get deftly sidestepped in favor of initiatives that everyone can agree on. Large, partisan…
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Federal, State Grants Expected to Plug the Holes that the Pandemic Poked in Bucks County Budget
In a recent meeting, the Bucks County commissioners expressed eagerness to inject an expected $122 million in federal funding — as well as financial help from Harrisburg — into the county’s COVID-19 response, reports Jeff Ward for 69 News WFMZ. “We’re still trying to get our hands around how we’re going to be able to spend that money,” Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo said. The comments were made at…
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State Funding Boosts Solebury Police Department Commitment to Protection and Transparency
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency has allocated more than $16,000 to the Solebury Township Police Department to upgrade its in-car video capabilities to body cams, reports Doug Gross in the New Hope-Lambertville Patch. In announcing the technology shift, state Sen. Steve Santarsiero said, “Keeping our communities safe requires ensuring our local police have adequate resources, including body-worn cameras that increase accountability. These…
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Following Contentious Election, Pennsylvania Officials Turn to Utah for Voting by Mail Advice
Pennsylvania found itself embroiled in controversy during the last election, mostly revolving around the newly instated voting by mail and unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud by former President Donald Trump, writes Dennis Romboy for the Deseret News. This has prompted the Pennsylvania Senate to create a bipartisan Special Committee on Election Integrity and Reform. It…
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President Biden Visits Delaware County With Good News, but Vaccine Shortage Looms
President Biden will be in Chester, Delaware County, today, his first public appearance outside the White House, writes Kathleen E. Carey for the Daily Times. He is expected to tout the benefits of the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package known as The American Rescue Plan. He will also visit two small businesses, one of which…
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PA COVID Restrictions Aside, These Bucks County Pols Traveled Anyway, on the Taxpayers’ Dime
In spring 2020, when the plug was pulled on in-person meetings across Pennsylvania, the state legislature followed suit and shifted its sessions virtually. That move didn’t stop some lawmakers from submitting reimbursable receipts for food and lodging, reports Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight, PA. Per diem payments are daily flat rates that lawmakers can claim when they travel more…
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Bucks County – Along with Delco, Montco and Chesco – Takes State to Task over COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
County commissioners, county council members, and state legislators representing Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties met for an hour on Sunday with Pennsylvania Acting Secretary of Health Alison Beam and other Wolf Administration officials regarding the state’s allocation of COVID-19 vaccine to the aforementioned four counties. The meeting, long sought by elected officials, was arranged…
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Boston Globe: In a Polarized GOP, State Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick Walks a Tightrope
Despite Democratic attempts to paint him as aligned with QAnon and other right-wing conspiracy theorists, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick has deftly walked a rather thin tightrope, according to Jess Bidgood, Liz Goodwin and Jasmine Illoa of The Boston Globe. Fitzpatrick has carefully distanced himself from his party’s fringes without ever truly seeming to take a stand against…
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Bucks County Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick Cosponsors Protection Bill for Arctic National Refuge
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Bucks County Republican, is co-sponsoring a bill to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge that former President Donald Trump wanted to open for drilling, write Frank Kummer and Jonathan Tamari for The Philadelphia Inquirer. During his last day in the office, the Trump administration formally issued leases for oil and gas…
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New $900M Pandemic Recovery Aid Bill Approved By Pennsylvania Senate
Earlier this week, Pennsylvania’s Senate unanimously approved legislation to distribute more than $900 million in pandemic recovery aid to schools and hospitality-related businesses along with individuals who are struggling to pay rent or utility bills, according to a staff report from The Philadelphia Inquirer. The bill now has to receive approval from both the state…
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Bloomberg: Capitol Rioter from Sellersville Has No Regrets, Plans To Return to D.C. for Inauguration
Brandon Fellows, who participated in the riot at Capitol Hill, does not regret his role in the unrest and plans to return to Washington, D.C. to protest the inauguration — if he is not previously arrested, writes William Turton for Bloomberg. Fellows did not know there was a march planned for Jan. 6 that would…
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Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District Proved To Be Competitive Among Philadelphia Suburbs
Pennsylvania’s 1st Congressional District, which includes the entire of Bucks County and parts of Montgomery County, turned out to be the most competitive among Philadelphia’s suburbs in the latest election, writes Andrew Seidman for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The district recorded the highest number of so-called ticket-splitters – people who chose to cast their vote for…
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Bucks County and Other Philadelphia Suburbs Helped Biden Achieve Victory in PA
Philadelphia suburbs, including Bucks County, played a key role in helping Biden archive an essential victory in Pennsylvania and with it the presidency, write Katie Meyer and Daniel Wood for the WHYY. Bucks County, together with Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, saw a surge in both the number of voters and support for the Democratic…
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Philadelphia Suburbs Seeing ‘Blue Shift’ Toward Biden as Mail-In Ballots Continue to Be Counted
Joe Biden’s lead in the Philadelphia suburbs continues to grow as mail-in ballots continue to be counted by election officials, writes Andrew Seidman for The Philadelphia Inquirer. If current trends hold regarding the candidates’ share of mail-in ballots, the former Vice President is poised to beat President Donald Trump in the city’s four collar counties…
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