Brews & Views

Nearly six weeks into Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf’s business shutdown order in response to COVID-19, attorney and business owner Jonathan Goldstein joins Commonwealth Partners president and CEO Matt Brouillette to discuss a federal lawsuit he’s filed challenging Gov. Wolf’s order—but not for the reasons you might think.

In the fall-out of PA Gov. Tom Wolf's executive order closing wide swaths of the state's economy, David Taylor, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association, discusses the disastrous impact the haphazard order has had on critical supply chain companies and considers how well Pennsylvania is poised to come back once the state’s economy and health are restored.

As a child, PA State Rep. Cris Dush got to know not one or two but three of his great-grandparents—who knew people who fought in the Civil War. This led to his love of history. And Cris is the descendant of both Civil War and Revolutionary War veterans, which led to his love for our military. Now, Cris is wrapping up three terms serving in the state House and is running for state Senate in the 25th District. In this episode, Cris talks about his motivation for public service, his personal and career background, his service in the military, and how his experiences deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom exposed him to some of the worst evils of humanity and deepened his commitment to fighting to preserve the liberty we enjoy in the United States.

In any battle, a clear goal is essential. This audio version of a commentary by Commonwealth Partners President & CEO Matt Brouillette outlines why this clarity is particularly critical in the battle against COVID-19.

Recounting a 30-year military career, a family background of unbelievable stories of heroism, and a passion for America, freshman PA state Senator Doug Mastriano has a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. In this conversation with Commonwealth Partners president and CEO Matt Brouillette, Sen. Mastriano discusses his experiences as a combat veteran, his path to the Senate, and even his appearance in a recent movie.

In this inaugural Brews & Views Short Take, hear the REAL reason Pennsylvania's turnpike tolls are so high! <6 minute listen

As former U.S. House Speaker Tip O’Neil famously said, all politics is local. In this episode, entrepreneur and East Lampeter Township Supervisor Ethan Demme takes a hyper-local look at how local governments can foster—or hinder—economic growth and opportunity. Particularly, Ethan explained the commonsense principle that people should have the freedom to use their own property to earn income.

What does it take to provide children in Harrisburg with a quality education regardless of socioeconomic background? Andy Phillips, Executive Director of Logos Academy Harrisburg, explains how his school delivers early education to a student body 70% of whom come from families at or near the poverty level. For Andy, his driving force is ensuring justice for these children. And he shares how Pennsylvania’s tax credit scholarship program is essential to this vision and to these children’s academic futures.

PA State Rep. David Rowe has what he describes as an unconventional childhood. After spending a few years working in Asia just out of high school, he returned to Pennsylvania and took the path of an entrepreneur in the commonwealth. In this conversation with Commonwealth Partners president and CEO Matt Brouillette, David shares about the experiences that led him to run for office, his policy passions as a lawmaker, and how he found a way to be both the class clown and valedictorian in high school.

Pittsburgh attorney Heather Heidelbaugh is running for the Republican nomination for Pennsylvania attorney general in 2020 in a race that could pit her against incumbent AG Josh Shapiro. In this conversation with Commonwealth Partners president and CEO Matt Brouillette, Heather shares how she’s faced and overcome multiple obstacles in life, tells about a major case she tried that garnered national attention, explains why she’s running for attorney general, and identifies one major campaign promise she’s making that Josh Shapiro isn’t.