News

Pa. lawmakers react to Trump’s State of the Union address

From pennlive.com

Pennsylvania’s senators and members of the House delegation offered their reactions to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night.

Following are excerpts from statements issued by the lawmakers.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey

“The President should have pledged tonight ‘no more shutdowns’ and committed to taking additional steps to help the 820,000 federal employees recover from the adverse impact of his government shutdown. He also missed an opportunity to speak to America’s middle class families who are struggling to make ends meet. He could have committed to a substantial tax cut for those families. He could have talked to working parents about a comprehensive agenda for their children – investing in education, safeguarding their healthcare, rebuilding their schools and protecting them from violence.”

A Scranton Democrat, Casey is Pennsylvania’s senior senator and just began his third term.

U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey

“President Trump also made a reasonable case for enhancing security at our southern border. The obvious, necessary solution to our budget impasse is a compromise that improves border security – including physical barriers where requested by Customs and Border Protection – and delivers on some Democrat priorities, too. I hope Speaker Pelosi will come to the table and finally negotiate in good faith.

“On trade, I continue to believe that the administration is taking us down the wrong path. Tariffs on products imported into the United States are taxes, paid by American consumers, that harm American families and workers.”

A Lehigh County Republican, Toomey is in the midst of his second term in the Senate.

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry

“The President outlined his vision for bipartisan leadership on a variety of issues including border security and legal immigration, protecting the American worker, bolstering infrastructure, curbing the cost of healthcare and enhancing our National security. I’m hopeful that Congress will come together in a spirit of cooperation on these issues for the benefit of the American People. The results of the President’s agenda are clear: the economy is booming.”

A Republican, Perry represents the 10th District, which includes Dauphin County and parts of Cumberland and York counties. He just began his fourth term.

U.S. Rep. Madeline Dean

“While the President adopted an uncharacteristically bipartisan tone, his goals – and his behavior – prove the disingenuousness of his words. And what was most striking was what we didn’t hear – a desire to promote education, protect the environment, defend the dignity of labor, combat gun violence, and end the inhumane practice of separating families at the border.”