Winners & Losers
This week’s biggest Winners & Losers
Who’s up and who’s down this week?
City & State
There was no shortage of news from across the commonwealth this week. Municipal elections are ramping up the intensity. Lawmakers returned to Harrisburg for an action-packed session week. The state’s top-ranking senator even hung out with some Sesame Street characters, but Filibuster-Me Elmo was nowhere to be found.
To find out who else had an eventful week – keep reading for more winners and losers!
Sara Innamorato -
A new poll from a coalition of business organizations and building trades unions shows Democratic state Rep. Sara Innamorato in the lead with 32% of support from likely Democratic voters – 12 points ahead of the next-highest-polling candidates, John Weinstein and Michael Lamb, both of whom pulled in 20%. Speculation about the timing of the poll emerged shortly after its release, per WESA, but the figures still give Innamorato a burst of momentum ahead of the primary.
Mike Carroll, Jason Kavulich and Rick Siger -
It was a good week to be a cabinet appointee in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration – at least for these three nominees, each of whom was confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate. With their confirmation votes, PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll, Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich and Community and Economic Development Secretary Rick Siger will lose their “acting” titles, allowing them to breathe a little easier now that confirmation hearings are out of the way.
Julia K. Munley -
Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas Judge Julia K. Munley got some good news from the White House this week after President Joe Biden nominated her to serve as a U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. The White House said in a statement that Munley is “extraordinarily qualified, experienced, and devoted to the rule of law and our Constitution,” according to The Times-Tribune. Her nomination will need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
Intuit -
Have you ever felt ripped off after using TurboTax? If so, it turns out you might be receiving a check as part of a $141 million multistate settlement. Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced this week that Pennsylvania will receive $4.76 million for more than 158,779 people who were tricked into paying to file their taxes when they should have been eligible for the free filing service. Looks like TurboTax has really stepped intuit now.
Andrea Lynn Speck -
A candidate for county commissioner in Huntingdon County is facing charges of strangulation, simple assault and a summary offense for harassment after she allegedly got into an argument with her daughter that later turned physical. Andrea Lynn Speck’s daughter alleges that she was pushed into walls and corners by Speck during an argument, and that Speck reportedly followed her outside and put her arm around her daughter’s throat, according to WTAJ. Speck was placed in prison with bail set at $25,000.
Torren Ecker -
State Rep. Torren Ecker has been charged with driving under the influence after being involved in a single-vehicle crash last month. According to PennLive, Ecker’s vehicle drifted off the road and hit a guardrail, and police administered sobriety tests to Ecker after speaking with him. Ecker had a blood-alcohol content of .13 – above the state’s legal limit of .08.