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Kamala Harris’ green-energy policies would destroy Pennsylvania’s economy — and hurt every American

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Kamala Harris’ green-energy policies would destroy Pennsylvania’s economy — and hurt every American


Ever since America’s first oil well was drilled in Titusville in 1859, Pennsylvania has been a pioneer in our nation’s development of energy production.

Today, the industry provides nearly half a million Keystone State jobs, contributing more than $75 billion to the state economy.

With Vice President Kamala Harris’ ascension as the presumptive Democratic nominee, all the progress and hope hang in the balance.

Should Harris become president, her policies and vision could make the first four dismal years of the Biden-Harris energy agenda pale in comparison.

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A quick check of the tape reveals a slew of concerns.

Running for president in 2019, Harris declared, “There’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking.”

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a proven drilling technology used for extracting oil, natural gas, geothermal energ, or water from deep underground.

It is a cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s economy, especially in the Marcellus Shale region, supporting approximately 123,000 jobs, providing livelihoods for families across the state.

President Biden’s pause on liquified-natural-gas exports this year sent ripples of concern through Pennsylvania’s natural-gas sector.

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The White House announcement went out of its way to say this was a Biden-Harris administration decision, not Biden’s alone.

The move not only jeopardized jobs but undermined the economic stability of communities dependent on natural gas in my state and across the country.

Criticism of the decision didn’t come just from opponents of the Biden administration.

Both of Pennsylvania’s Democratic senators, John Fetterman and Bob Casey Jr., voiced their disagreement with the Biden-Harris LNG-export pause.

After Biden’s ill-fated debate with Donald Trump, Fetterman emerged as one of the preident’s staunchest defenders, while Casey votes with Biden 99% of the time.

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Even Gov. Josh Shapiro, rumored as a possible Harris running mate, raised concerns about the pause. Their willingness to criticize speaks volumes about the policy’s misguided nature.

A fracking ban would lead to the loss of thousands of jobs, devastating communities that rely on the industry.

The economic impact would be severe, but the repercussions would not stop there.

Energy prices would inevitably rise, placing an additional burden on families already struggling with inflation.

Higher energy costs affect everyone, but they hit low- and middle-income households the hardest, especially when two-thirds of Americans report living paycheck to paycheck, per a MarketWatch analysis.

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Harris wouldn’t just stop there.

In 2019, she emerged as a champion of the so-called Green New Deal, an extreme policy that calls for America to become entirely reliant on so-called “green” energy by 2050.

The initiative’s chief supporter, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), has acknowledged the price tag would be as much as $10 trillion, which is ironically the same astronomical number Harris’ 2020 climate plan clocked in at.

The Green New Deal would end production of all traditional forms of energy and the jobs it produces.

For those out of work, Harris has called for “an ability to transition.”

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Hardly reassuring.

As national Democrats have drifted further away from commonsense energy policies, they’ve been losing voters.

The advantage of registered Democrats has withered down to just 4% in the state.

Compare this with the 12% advantage as recently as 2008.

The number of registered independents is also growing, another indication Pennsylvanians want leaders with a more moderate stance.

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Harris’ policies are not just bad for Pennsylvania energy — they’re a hard sell for Pennsylvania votes. 

That’s why the Harris campaign announced a sudden change of heart, claiming Harris no longer plans to ban fracking.

Such a major policy reversal should come from the candidate herself, and not an anonymous campaign official. It’s safe to say the Harris campaign hopes we Pennsylvanians are gullible.

Pennsylvania’s energy industry is not just about jobs and prices; it’s also about energy independence.

The ability to produce and export natural gas strengthens the United States’ position in global energy markets and reduces dependence on foreign oil.

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This independence is crucial for national security and economic stability, both of which are undermined by Biden-Harris policies that target natural-gas production and exportation.

Imagine how much worse it would get under a President Harris.

My family has called Pennsylvania home for more than a century.

I want to see my state prosper and its next generation have the same opportunities I did.

That won’t be possible if the next president interferes with our ability to remain the second-largest energy producer in America.

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In November, we need an energy-policy shake-up, not a bolstering of the status quo.

Here’s hoping we get what we deserve.

Joseph Pitts, a Republican, represented Pennsylvania in the US House of Representatives from 1997 to 2017, serving as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee and chairing its Subcommittee on Health. 



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Pennsylvania

FULL INTERVIEW: Lieutenant governor discusses potential VP pick, issues affecting Pennsylvania

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FULL INTERVIEW: Lieutenant governor discusses potential VP pick, issues affecting Pennsylvania


Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis visited WGAL studios for an interview on a wide range of topics, including what he’s heard about Gov. Josh Shapiro potentially becoming Kamala Harris’ vice presidential pick, and what would happen here in Pennsylvania if Shapiro actually became the next VP.



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In must-win Pennsylvania, could a Harris-Shapiro ticket trump Trump-Vance?

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In must-win Pennsylvania, could a Harris-Shapiro ticket trump Trump-Vance?


No doubt, if you are Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump, Pennsylvania is a must-win in 2024. It’s been that way for decades, but while Democrats have won every presidential contest in the state since Bill Clinton in 1992, Trump turned that conventional wisdom on its head in 2016, flipping the state red. 

And while Joe Biden wrestled the state back to blue in 2020, it happened at the same time Republicans made inroads elsewhere, ousting the Democratic treasurer and auditor general. In every case, the Philadelphia region often proves most crucial, with its giant voter base, and so-called “collar counties” with voters who can often be unpredictable come Election Day. 

In a recent segment on “The Final 5,” I talked with NOTUS reporter Evan McMorris-Santoro about how Philadelphia-area Democrats are handling the transition atop the ticket, and how support for President Biden is translating to support for Vice President Kamala Harris. McMorris-Santoro, who has been following the political pulse in Philadelphia, shared insights on how this change is being received, plus how Gov. Josh Shapiro has emerged as a potential running mate.

“It’s very confusing for them right now, because they had a whole plan before before Harris came in right that Scranton Joe goes to those suburban counties when he got on the ticket in 2020 the whole the whole pitch was, ‘Look, I can get Democrats. Also, I can get these, maybe Republican voters. These white suburban voters. They’re going to vote for me because I’m a white guy. There’s one of the things they talked about, and obviously in Pennsylvania. You know him being a native of Scranton,” said McMorris-Santoro.

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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro

Philadelphia, a Democratic stronghold, has long been a key area for Joe Biden due to his deep ties with the region’s political machine, led by his close friend and former Congressman Bob Brady. But McMorris-Santoro found that many Democrats, particularly those who had been struggling to rally enthusiasm for Biden among younger and black voters, were invigorated by the shift to Harris. This change was seen as a much-needed boost to the party’s base.

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“We have seen such a shift in the way base Democrats talk about the ticket since Harris has sort of become the likely nominee, I mean, even among those those uncommitted voters, those voters who really really were angry about the war in Gaza, and trying to maybe even damage Biden’s candidacy because of it….we’ve seen shifts even among them towards Harris, so that that they feel like there’s something more they can trust with Harris. It’s a confusing situation, because she doesn’t sound that much different than Biden on this issue.”

However, there are concerns about how Harris will perform outside urban centers. Biden’s appeal to suburban voters, especially those in the surrounding counties of Philadelphia, was a significant factor in previous elections. These areas, which have seen Republican gains, are crucial for either party to clinch the Keystone State.

One potential strategy to mitigate this concern is for Harris to choose Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as her vice-presidential nominee. Shapiro, who like Harris, served as state attorney general, won his governorship by a wide margin and could help secure the suburban vote that Biden was able to attract. He also hails from the Democratic stronghold of Montgomery County, just outside of Philadelphia.  

“They say you get that you bring back all the things that Biden had, and you sort of can like sew Pennsylvania up very neatly. But it is a thing where, on the one hand, they’re extremely excited about this base activation, which is obviously a huge problem Democrats had,” says McMorris-Santoro.

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Despite the excitement among base Democrats, there are challenges ahead. Some voters, particularly on the left flank of the party, are dissatisfied with how the White House has handled certain issues, including the situation in the Middle East. McMorris-Santoro noted that these voters are showing a shift in attitude towards Harris, who they perceive as a fresh start, despite her policies aligning closely with Biden’s.

Bob Brady, while expressing his disappointment over Biden’s departure, has rallied behind Harris, echoing Biden’s sentiment to “get past it.” This unification suggests a growing Democratic enthusiasm that had been missing earlier in the cycle.

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With just under 100 days until election day, the transition from Biden to Harris has injected new energy into the Democratic campaign. As McMorris-Santoro observed, the next few weeks will be critical in determining how, or even if, this momentum translates into votes, especially in pivotal regions like Pennsylvania.

**For more details, check out Evan McMorris-Santoro’s full report on NOTUS.



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Pennsylvania officials dispute Rowe’s testimony blaming local law enforcement for not manning roof

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Pennsylvania officials dispute Rowe’s testimony blaming local law enforcement for not manning roof


Officials from Beaver County, Pennsylvania, disputed several portions of acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr.’s testimony before a Senate panel Tuesday. Rowe was quick to deflect blame to local law enforcement for allowing a man to attempt to assassinate former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13.

Rowe and FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate appeared for a joint hearing with the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security committees. It was the first time a member of the Secret Service appeared before Congress since the resignation of former chief Kimberly Cheatle earlier this month.

Rowe testified that agents were unaware there was a man on the roof of the AGR building at the rally until it was too late. He also admitted the responsibility for the security breakdown at the former president’s rally ultimately rests with the Secret Service.

But when he was asked why Trump was allowed to take the stage at 6:02 p.m. despite security knowing there was a suspicious person spotted with a rangefinder, Rowe said he never received communication that there was a suspicious person with a weapon or with bad intentions.

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TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: NEW TEXTS SHOW LOCAL POLICE SCRAMBLE TO ASSIST WITH COVERING RALLY

Drone footage shows lawmakers climbing on top of the AGR building Thomas Crooks fired from July 13. (Fox News Digital)

Rowe also used exhibits of the site and pointed to the roof that would-be assassin Thomas Matthew Crooks fired from, adding, “I will not, and I cannot understand why there was no better coverage or at least someone looking at that roofline when that’s where they were posted.”

The statement appeared to place blame on local snipers positioned inside the AGR building during the rally.

The commander of the Beaver County Emergency Services Unit, Patrick Young, and the Beaver County District Attorney, Nathan Bible, spoke to Fox News Tuesday, disputing accusations against the local officers.

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TRUMP SAYS HE WAS ‘SHOT WITH A BULLET’ IN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AT PENNSYLVANIA RALLY

A general view of the area surrounding Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pennsylvania

The area surrounding the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pa., July 22, 2024. A bipartisan group of lawmakers visited the site of the attempted assassination of former President Trump that left one person dead and two injured at a campaign rally. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital )

Young said there were two snipers inside the AGR building. One was from the Butler County Emergency Services Unit, the other from the Beaver County Emergency Services Unit.

At some point during the evening, one of the snipers saw Crooks and took pictures of him “solely off the fact that he looked suspicious,” Young said, adding there was no indication he was a threat.

Young also said his unit was told where to go by Butler County ESU, which he assumed had approval from the Secret Service.

POLICE UNION HEAD SAYS SECRET SERVICE TRYING TO POINT FINGERS FOR TRUMP SHOOTING; NO TROUBLE ‘ASSIGNING BLAME’

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Donald Trump reacts as multiple shots rang out during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show

Former President Trump reacts as multiple shots rang out during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show in Butler, Pa., July 13.  (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)

“They were in place by Butler County ESU, which I assume was with the approval of Secret Service. Their assignments that day (were) to be clearly defined and in no uncertain terms,” Young said. “Their areas included the entry control point, the area before and after the magneton monitor and then the area in front of the stage. Those are all within the interior and secure perimeter as defined by the Secret Service. That was their locations … and their priority.”

At about 5:34 p.m. that day, Young said, one of his officers saw Crooks with a rangefinder then checked into the “sniper text group” to get a picture out. He also said it was previously discussed by the Secret Service not to communicate through text, but he could not figure out any other way to share a picture via the radio.

Eventually, the Beaver County sniper saw Crooks pick up a backpack and disappear behind the edge of the building. The sniper then set out to the first floor to search for Crooks, interacted with the patrol and said the suspicious person was around back before returning to his post. At the same time, Young said, the Butler sniper remained at the window.

DISCORD REVEALS DETAILS OF WOULD-BE TRUMP SHOOTER’S ACCOUNT ON PLATFORM

Ronald Rowe Secret Service

Acting U.S. Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe Jr. testifies before a joint hearing of the Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security and Government Affairs committees in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill Tuesday. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Shortly after returning, shots were fired, and the Butler sniper heard the shots, Young explained.

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But the window the two snipers were keeping watch from did not have a clear view of the roof Crooks was on without having to lean outside.

Bible defended the snipers, saying their job was to be on the outside of the perimeter looking into the crowd, not looking outside the area, which is where the roof was.

TRUMP SHOOTING: TIMELINE OF ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW GUNMAN EVADED SECURITY

Sen. Mike Lee questions U.S. Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe and Federal Bureau of Investigation Deputy Director Paul Abbate

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, questions U.S. Secret Service Acting Director Ronald Rowe and FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate during a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Senate Judiciary hearing Tuesday examining the security failures leading to the assassination attempt on former President Trump, the Republican presidential candidate. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

“Our guys were in a covert sniper position, you know. They’re set back a couple feet from the window,” the DA said. “So, you know, in order to see on that roof, they would have had to hang out, hang outside, and in doing so, give up their position.”

Bible added that if the Secret Service told local officials to station snipers on the roof, they would have, “absolutely.”

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Bible said the team of law enforcement from Beaver County that helped out was not happy with how federal officials portrayed things, but he and Young could not be prouder of the team.

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“It’s less about them getting credit … for the amazing job they did that day,” Bible said. “But they’re certainly not going to take unnecessary blame. So, I do feel like … they are a little bit upset about the way that some of the information has been disseminated. But certainly … they have a job to do, and you know if they’re asked to do it again, I’m sure that they will.”

Fox News’ CB Cotton contributed to this report.

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