Happy weekend, all.
A bill to combat Pennsylvania’s high maternal morbidity rate unanimously passed the state House this week, and now heads to Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk for final approval.
The bill, which was reintroduced this session by state Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks, adds “severe maternal morbidity” to the list of reportable events within the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
“Accurate and regular tracking of data is essential for the comprehensive research on maternal mortality in the Commonwealth,” Schwank wrote in a co-sponsorship memo seeking legislative support for the bill.
State Rep. La’Tasha D. Mayes, D-Allegheny, who worked as a reproductive justice advocate before joining the General Assembly, said that through the bill, Pennsylvania can “begin to combat maternal morbidity, which disproportionately affects Black pregnant people.”
“As Black women are 3.5 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, SB 262 will ensure the Department of Health accurately reports maternal morbidity and provide us with data so that we may take legislative action to prevent maternal deaths,” Mayes said. “With my partner expecting a child this summer, this bill is personal to me.”
As always, the top five stories from this week are below.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he makes a visit to the Cuban restaurant Versailles after he appeared for his arraignment on June 13, 2023 in Miami, Florida. Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 federal charges including possession of national security documents after leaving office, obstruction, and making false statements. (Photo by Alon Skuy/Getty Images)
1. Trump didn’t get the turnout he wanted for his Miami perp walk | Dick Polman
On the eve of his federal arrest and arraignment last week, former president and criminal espionage defendant Donald Trump fled to his social media safe place and commanded his fascist foot soldiers to come forth in multitudinous numbers for a big beautiful mob scene at the Miami courthouse.
“ALL HANDS ON DECK! SEE YOU IN MIAMI ON TUESDAY,” he decreed, and Miami police reportedly braced themselves for a as many as 50,000.
As Homer Simpson would say, “D’oh!”
(Office of U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa.)
2. After I-95 collapse, Pa. Sen. Fetterman calls for more resources for Philadelphia, SEPTA
While speaking at a Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works meeting on Thursday, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., spoke about critical issues facing the state, including the Interstate 95 overpass collapse that occurred in Northeast Philadelphia last Sunday.
According to a statement issued by his office, Fetterman commended the quick delivery of $3 million in emergency relief funds and compared it to the swift response to the Fern Hollow Bridge collapse in western Pennsylvania last year.
Then-Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman addresses supporters during an event in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, 10/27/22 (Capital-Star photo by Ethan Dodd).
3. What we say — and what we mean — when we talk about Fetterman’s hoodie | Heather MacDonald
Earlier this month, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., held a press conference to talk about… something.
As far as conservatives were concerned, the actual content of the speech wasn’t nearly as important as Fetterman’s wardrobe.
For the uninitiated, Fetterman’s outfit of choice is routinely shorts and a hoodie. His wife, Gisele Fetterman’s social media presence regularly makes light of John’s predilection of wearing shorts regardless of temperature or season.
(Office of U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa.)
4. Fetterman introduces bill to fund road safety improvements for pedestrians
As a stretch of I-95 in Philadelphia damaged by an explosion on June 11 comes close to reopening, U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., on Thursday introduced a bill to fund improvements for roads across the state and the U.S., aiming to make them safer for pedestrians.
The Shovel-Ready Streets Act would amend the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program, established in 2021 as a discretionary program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
President Joe Biden delivers a primetime speech at Independence National Historical Park on Sept. 1, 2022, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
5. Ahead of Philadelphia visit, labor vows ‘largest ever’ 2024 ground game for Biden, Harris
As President Joe Biden revs up his 2024 re-election campaign, labor leaders say they’re preparing their “largest campaign ever” to engage the working-class voters who will be key to helping Democrats hold onto the White House in a high-stakes year.
On Friday, in an early show of confidence, the general board of the AFL-CIO voted to endorse Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, a move that labor leaders described as the “earliest ever” such vote.
And that’s the week. We’ll see you back here next week.
Originally published at www.penncapital-star.com,by Cassie Miller
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