Pennsylvania
Why are Pennsylvania Democrats afraid to debate Republican candidates?
Democrats have repeatedly touted the theme of our nation’s democracy lately. In reality, it appears each time they need to criticize one thing they disagree with, moderately than clarify why they disagree with it, they demonize it as a “risk to our democracy.” With the midterm elections quick approaching, one would suppose Democrats would take heed to their very own phrases.
But that isn’t the case, with two Pennsylvania Democrats being reluctant to debate their opponents. Each voter has a proper to make an knowledgeable determination every election, and Democrats sought to deprive Pennsylvania voters of that. By refusing to debate, Democrats try to govern democracy as a substitute of defending it.
Solely lately, Pennsylvania Democratic Senate candidate John Fetterman agreed to debate Republican Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz. The campaigns have tentatively agreed to an Oct. 25 date. Nonetheless, the main points are nonetheless being labored out. Fetterman solely agreed to the talk after intense scrutiny and stress. He tried responsible his well being issues as the reason why he couldn’t debate — but Fetterman’s well being was completely fantastic when it got here to latest public appearances all through the state wherein he was surrounded by individuals who supported him.
In the meantime, the Democratic candidate in Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial race, Josh Shapiro, has ducked Republican nominee Doug Mastriano’s request for a debate for weeks. Mastriano’s marketing campaign despatched a request to Shapiro for a debate to be held on Oct. 22 with Mercedes Schapp as a moderator. Nonetheless, Shapiro rejected the proposal and known as the entire thing an “unserious stunt.”
“Doug Mastriano has spent his total marketing campaign refusing to reply questions, and this unserious stunt is simply one other try to keep away from answering for his excessive agenda,” Shapiro’s marketing campaign stated.
However that is only a gutless response from Shapiro’s camp. “Excessive” is only a buzzword left-wing politicians regularly use to fearmonger after they can’t present authentic refutation. It reveals a scarcity of integrity and character on Shapiro’s finish. He’s not apprehensive about Mastriano’s “extremism.” He’s apprehensive about getting embarrassed in a debate, and it negatively impacts the present lead he has in some polls.
Politicians who refuse to debate throughout an election do their constituents an important disservice. These acts present such folks care extra about acquiring energy than participating within the hallmarks of democracy. Voters ought to be capable to see how candidates carry out towards each other in debates. Shapiro’s refusal and Fetterman’s reluctance are the precise unserious stunts. Objectively, it raises the query of why Pennsylvania Democrats are afraid to debate Republicans. And it’s a query all Pennsylvania voters must be asking.
Pennsylvania
Democrat Bob Casey concedes Pennsylvania Senate race to Dave McCormick
Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. Bob Casey on Thursday announced he has conceded the race to Republican candidate Dave McCormick more than two weeks after Election Day.
Casey said in a statement that he called McCormick to congratulate him. McCormick’s campaign also independently confirmed the news to Fox News Digital.
“I just called Dave McCormick to congratulate him on his election to represent Pennsylvania in the United States Senate,” Casey said in the statement. “As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last.”
“This race was one of the closest in our Commonwealth’s history, decided by less than a quarter of a point. I am grateful to the thousands of people who worked to make sure every eligible vote cast could be counted, including election officials in all 67 counties.”
RNC FILES TWO LAWSUITS IN PENNSYLVANIA AMID SEN BOB CASEY REFUSING TO CONCEDE RACE
The Pennsylvania State Department confirmed that all counties “have completed their initial count of all votes cast, with the exception of ballots under challenge.”
“This is a major step that marks the end of counties’ initial counting processes and signals that counties begin preparing their results for official certification. Thousands of election professionals have been working tirelessly since Nov. 5 to ensure every eligible vote cast by a registered voter is counted accurately. All of Pennsylvania’s election officials deserve our thanks, as well as our continued support while they complete their duties with integrity,” the message said.
The news comes after McCormick edged out Casey by just 17,000 votes to win the Senate seat, according to the most recent unofficial data from the Department of State – putting Casey well within the 0.5% margin of error required under Pennsylvania law to trigger an automatic recount.
That recount began Monday and was slated to end Nov. 26.
The Republican Party blasted Democrats this week for Casey’s refusal to concede the U.S. Senate race in Pennsylvania, taking aim at the three-term incumbent for moving ahead with a costly recount effort, despite their assessment that Casey lacked any achievable path to victory.
They have also criticized the cost, noting that the recount will cost taxpayers an estimated $1 million.
In his statement Thursday, Casey praised the democratic process and voters who turned out in the Keystone State.
“When a Pennsylvanian takes the time to cast a legal vote, often waiting in long lines and taking time away from their work and family, they deserve to know that their vote will count,” Casey said. “That’s democracy.”
Later Thursday, Casey took to X to thank his supporters.
“During my time in office, I have been guided by an inscription on the Finance Building in Harrisburg: ‘All public service is a trust, given in faith and accepted in honor.’”
He added: “Thank you for your trust in me all these years, Pennsylvania. It has been the honor of my lifetime.”
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Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said the news “hits me.”
“It’s been a supreme honor to have Bob Casey as a colleague, friend, and mentor,” Fetterman said in a statement. “His legacy is a better Pennsylvania. Unassuming while delivering for PA for nearly two decades, he fought for working Pennsylvanians and unions, rural communities, seniors and people with disabilities—all of us. Bob Casey was, is, and always will be Pennsylvania’s best senator.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: This report has been updated to clarify that the Pennsylvania secretary of state had not announced the end of the recount as of Friday morning.
Pennsylvania
First snow of the season hits Western Pennsylvania
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Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania bill would incentivize purchase of near-zero-emission large trucks
New legislation at the Pennsylvania statehouse is intended to incentivize purchases of near-zero-emission large trucks.
Sen. Rosemary Brown, R-Monroe, introduced a bill last week that would create a Near-Zero-Emission Truck Incentive Program.
The grant program would be administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The state Department of Environmental Protection would work in consultation with the highway department to reduce emission from large trucks.
Brown wrote in a memo to state senators that “the federal government took steps to tightly regulate heavy-duty truck emissions between model years 2007 and 2010 by requiring the standardization of selective catalytic reduction and diesel particulate filters.” She added that trucks sold in 2006 emit about 10 times the amount of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter as trucks sold today.
Brown told lawmakers that about 34% of trucks registered in Pennsylvania are pre-2010 model trucks.
“These trucks contribute the majority of emissions from the trucking industry in the state,” she wrote. “The proposed grant program will lead to the replacement of these trucks with newer, much cleaner trucks, resulting in lower emissions from the trucking industry and cleaner air for all.”
Additionally, she said the addition of multiple standard safety technologies by original equipment manufacturers in post-2010 model trucks will save lives in Pennsylvania.
Grant program
Her bill, SB1348, would require the state DOT and Department of Environmental Protection to apply for federal funds available for the purpose of reducing pollution.
The state would use the funds to create a grant program to incentivize the purchase of model year 2010 or newer trucks to be titled and registered in Pennsylvania, if accompanied by a trade-in of a pre-2010 diesel truck that is also titled and registered in the state.
“No other single technology transfer can affect Pennsylvania’s air quality and provide immediate health benefits as much as replacing pre-2010 trucks with post-2010 models,” Brown wrote.
The Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association supports the bill.
Rebecca Oyler, PMTA president, said the federal excise tax acts as a disincentive to companies wishing to update their equipment to the latest technology.
“Providing an incentive program at the state level helps offset this impediment and avoids costly mandates that would cripple the trucking industry,” Oyler said in prepared remarks.
SB1348 is in the Senate Transportation Committee. LL
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