Khan gains backing, raises money
Emgage Action has endorsed Joe Khan in his bid for state attorney general.
“Mr. Khan has demonstrated a commitment to engagement with Muslim communities across the commonwealth, and we trust he will uphold the values of Muslim Pennsylvanians,” Emgage Action said in a statement.
“I’m only here because when my dad came here from Pakistan 60 years ago, we didn’t have a president calling for a ban on all Muslims,” Khan said. “I am honored to be endorsed by Emgage Action as a trusted ally who will continue to protect the Muslim community from attacks on our rights.”
In the April 23 Pennsylvania primary, Khan is the only statewide candidate running for any office to be endorsed by Emgage. The organization has called for Democratic voters to write in “Uncommitted” for president.
“I attended the University of Chicago Law School, where I studied under Professor Barack Obama,” Khan said. “Like me, he had a Muslim immigrant dad, a Christian American mom and a childhood of always feeling different. He taught me that having to bridge cultures with everyone I meet wasn’t going to be my handicap, it was going to be my superpower.”
Meanwhile, Khan’s campaign announced that it has raised more than $1 million, after bringing in more than $250,000 since the last campaign finance reporting period ending March 4.
“Our campaign is surging at exactly the right time,” said campaign manager Jonathan Miller. “Joe’s unmatched legal experience, inclusive vision and uniquely American story have inspired a broad and diverse coalition that is excited to support his historic candidacy. At a time when many communities are losing confidence in the Democratic Party, Joe is the candidate who can re-engage these communities and restore faith to support our candidates up and down the ticket.”
Khan lives in the Central Bucks School District. For 10 years, he served in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which includes Philadelphia and its suburbs, the Lehigh Valley and Berks and Lancaster counties. He began his career in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and ran for DA in 2017. He is currently a partner at Curtin and Heefner in Bucks County.
Khan is one of five Democrats running for attorney general. The others are state Rep. Jared Solomon, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer, former Auditor General Eugene DePasquale and former Defender Association of Philadelphia chief Keir Bradford-Grey.
Candidates running in the Republican primary are state Rep. Craig Williams and York County District Attorney Dave Sunday. ••
Penalties for assaulting letter carriers
Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Greg Landsman introduced the Protect our Letter Carriers Act (H.R. 7629).
The legislation addresses the rise of violent crime committed against letter carriers as they carry out their duties. Since 2020, there have been more than 2,000 attempted or actual robberies and assaults against postal workers nationwide.
The bill would address the outdated collection boxes and arrow keys, which letter carriers are often targeted for in robberies; ensure that the Department of Justice appropriately prosecutes crimes committed against letter carriers through designating an assistant in every U.S. Attorney’s office to coordinate and supervise the investigation and prosecution of alleged offenses committed against postal workers; amend sentencing guidelines so that any assault or robbery committed against a letter carrier has a more severe sentence recommendation.
“The rise in robberies and violent assaults being committed against letter carriers in recent years is deeply concerning and Congress must act to ensure their safety,” Fitzpatrick said. “I am proud to be leading this bipartisan effort, which provides necessary resources to protect our dedicated postal workers while making sure we are punishing criminals to the fullest extent of the law. The men and women of the postal service are often the backbone of a community, and they work hard around the clock, rain or shine, to deliver essential goods, and I will always have their back.” ••
An arbitrator to resolve family disputes
State Reps. Tina Davis and Melissa Shusterman announced that H.B. 917 passed the state House of Representatives with full bipartisan support and sent it to the governor.
The bill has seen unanimous, bipartisan support throughout the legislative process, from the House’s initial consideration of the bill last year, to its consideration in the Senate, and again with the recent unanimous concurrence in the House.
House Bill 917 would introduce the Uniform Family Law Arbitration Act, which would provide families with a voluntary and private process for resolving disputes with the help of an arbitrator.
“Going to family court can be expensive, emotionally draining and time consuming,” Davis said. “This bill will give families another option to settle their disputes in the form of arbitration. This is especially helpful in matters of domestic violence as it will allow for a quicker resolution.”
The bill now heads to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s desk. ••
Services for veterans
Bucks County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court Linda Bobrin will be hosting the second of four 2024 free wills events on Saturday, May 11, at the Falls Township American Legion Post 834, 300 Yardley Ave., in Levittown.
The event will provide information on wills, living wills, health care and financial powers of attorney to military veterans and first responders and their spouses/partners.
Other Wills for Heroes events will be Saturday, June 22, at Lower Southampton Fire Department, 466 Elmwood Ave., in Feasterville, and Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Bucks County Bar Association, 135 E. State St., in Doylestown.
Each event will begin at 11 a.m. Appointments will last about one hour per individual or couple and must be scheduled online. To register, visit buckscounty.gov/willsforheroes.
For more information, email Linda Bobrin at lbobrin@buckscounty.org or Rachel Landsberg at ralandsberg@buckscounty.org. ••
Farry office hours in Bensalem
State Sen. Frank Farry (R-6th dist.) is offering satellite office hours the first Wednesday of every month, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Bensalem Township Municipal Building, 2400 Byberry Road, Bensalem.
Farry’s staff will be on site to assist with state government services; Property Tax/Rent Rebate applications, birth and death certificate applications, SEPTA Senior Key card registrations and renewals; and unemployment issues. ••
Lower South supervisor meeting schedule
The Lower Southampton Township Board of Supervisors meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the Township Building, 1500 Desire Ave., Feasterville. The next meeting is April 24. ••
Commissioners meeting
The Bucks County Commissioners meet on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at 10:30 a.m. at the Bucks County Administration Building, 55 E. Court St., in Doylestown.
The meetings are broadcast on the county’s YouTube channel.
The next meeting will be April 17. ••
Bensalem Council meeting schedule
Bensalem Township Council meetings are generally held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Building at 2400 Byberry Road, Bensalem.
Meetings can be viewed live on Comcast Xfinity Channel 22 in Bensalem and on Verizon Fios Channel 34 throughout Bucks County. They can also be streamed live on the Bensalem Township YouTube channel.
The schedule is April 29, May 6, May 20, June 10, June 24, July 8, July 22, Aug. 12, Aug. 26, Sept. 9, Sept. 23, Oct. 15 (Tuesday), Oct. 28, Nov. 12 (Tuesday), Nov. 25, Dec. 4 (budget meeting) and Dec. 16. ••
Bensalem school board meeting schedule
The Bensalem Township Board of School Directors holds meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Dorothy D. Call Administrative Center, 3000 Donallen Drive, Bensalem.
The next meeting will take place on April 30 (fifth Tuesday).
The public is invited to attend.
Future meetings are on May 28, June 25, Aug. 27, Sept. 24, Oct. 22, Nov. 26 and Dec. 17 (third Tuesday). ••
