Pio
Jim Pio, Republican candidate in the 172nd Legislative District, spoke out regarding Philadelphia’s sanctuary city status.
“Philadelphia’s sanctuary city policy is in direct opposition to our country’s laws and puts all Philadelphians at risk,” he said.
Philadelphia’s sanctuary city policy protects illegal immigrants, unless they are convicted of a first- or second-degree felony involving violence.
“There has been a string of crimes committed by illegal immigrants over the past few years that have horrified our city’s residents and traumatized the families of the victims. Most recently, Ramon Aguirre-Ochoa was allowed to remain in the city after he re-entered the country following deportation and after being acquitted of aggravated assault charges.”
Last year, Aguirre-Ochoa was arrested on charges of domestic aggravated assault, and Philadelphia refused to cooperate with federal authorities who wanted to deport him. He is now charged with raping a child.
Pio said, “This is not about what country a person is from. As someone whose grandparents immigrated to this country and who married into a Latino family, I know the benefits legal immigration can bring to our neighborhoods. However, this is about keeping dangerous criminal off our streets. Our government’s most basic obligation is to protect Americans. Upholding a sanctuary policy undermines our government’s duty to protect, allows crimes to be committed that could have been prevented and, most importantly, it puts our neighbors at risk.”
Pio is challenging Democratic Rep. Kevin Boyle.
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The SEIU State Council has endorsed Democrat Joe Hohenstein in the 177th Legislative District.
Noting Republican Rep. John Taylor’s declaration that he will vote for presidential candidate Donald Trump, Hohenstein said, “We need elected officials that will fight for working-class Philadelphians, not ones that support anti-labor candidates like Donald Trump.”
“I am proud to have received the endorsement of SEIU, and I vow to stand with organized labor and hardworking Pennsylvanians if elected, and that starts with
ensuring economic justice by protecting labor rights, ensuring long-term senior care and
affordable childcare, and raising the minimum wage for all Pennsylvanians.”
Hohenstein has also been endorsed by Planned Parenthood, the Sierra Club, Clean Water Action and the Liberty City Democratic Club.
“Harrisburg has been held captive for too long by Republicans serving big money interests, and it’s time to elect a Legislature that understands that the state must stand with labor unions protecting everyday working families,” he said.
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City Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.) was among 22 elected officials from across Pennsylvania who wrote to Katie McGinty, asking her to explain what they say would be the devastating impact her economic policies would have on their counties and cities.
The officials contend McGinty, former chief of staff for Gov. Tom Wolf and onetime head of the state Department of Environmental Protection, will punish the energy industry, tax innovative medical device manufacturers, push for more corporate welfare and raise taxes on all income levels.
The medical device industry supports around 20,000 jobs at more than 600 companies throughout the state. Obamacare taxed the industry. Republicans and Democratic Sens. Bob Casey Jr. and Elizabeth Warren favor repeal of the tax.
“But despite this bipartisan opposition, you have specifically promoted this tax to the detriment of innovative Pennsylvania jobs,” the letter said.
In response, McGinty campaign spokesman Josh Levitt said, “Katie has dedicated her entire career to solving big problems, creating good-paying jobs and protecting the environment. Under her leadership, Pennsylvania attracted $1 billion in renewable energy investments and created 3,000 jobs. Katie will take that same fight to the U.S. Senate to create good-paying jobs, expand opportunities for working people and move toward a clean energy economy.
“Let’s be clear — Pat Toomey’s attacks against Katie are a clear sign of desperation. Toomey has a long record of fighting for Wall Street and China at the expense of Pennsylvania jobs, and is trying anything to change the topic. Toomey is a longtime champion for bad trade deals that have cost Pennsylvania thousands of jobs, and he has voted to protect tax breaks for companies that ship American jobs overseas. Pat Toomey cannot run from his record.
“Pat Toomey should be honest with the people of Pennsylvania about his failure to stand up for Pennsylvania jobs, and then make it clear how he could support a presidential candidate — Donald Trump — who has a long record of outsourcing American jobs.”
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McGinty, meanwhile, unveiled a plan last week that she said would level the playing field for women and working families during a visit to an early-childhood education center at 1613 South St.
The plan included her support for the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would guarantee women equal pay as men for doing the same work; paid medical leave for individuals, new parents and those caring for relatives; raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour over four years; the Healthy Families Act, which gives people a week of paid sick days for themselves or to care for a family member; affordable child care; abortion; and the Women’s Small Business Ownership Act, which would give access to lending, business training and federal contracting.
“As a working mom and the daughter of two working parents, I know how important it is that we give women and families the support they need,” she said. “It’s the right thing to do and the smart thing to do, because when working women can get ahead, we all do better.”
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The gun safety group Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC endorsed Toomey for re-election, citing his bipartisan leadership on gun safety in the Senate.
Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC was launched by former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords and her husband, retired Navy Capt. and astronaut Mark Kelly.
“Americans for Responsible Solutions PAC is endorsing Sen. Toomey for re-election this fall because our nation needs more Republican elected officials to stand with the vocal majority of Americans who support common-sense steps that help keep guns out of the wrong hands and prevent gun tragedies,” said Peter Ambler, the PAC’s executive director. “In the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Sen. Toomey stood up for responsibility, stood up to the gun lobby, and stood up to many in his own party. While he has not backed every proposal we have supported, as advocates for gun safety laws and safer communities, we’re thankful for Sen. Toomey’s leadership.”
Toomey said, “I am honored to receive this endorsement from Americans for Responsible Solutions in recognition of my work to keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals, terrorists, and the dangerously mentally ill. I have long said that we must work together to forge a bipartisan consensus on gun safety, rather than talk past one another with partisan rhetoric. While protecting the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens, I am committed to bridging the partisan divide to crack down on illegal gun trafficking; close the terrorist gun loophole; require background checks on transactions at gun shows, over the internet and between non-family members; and also ensure Congress is funding research into our country’s gun violence crisis. I look forward to introducing a bill next Congress that works to achieve these ends.”
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McGinty received the endorsement of CeaseFire Pennsylvania, an advocacy organization against gun violence.
“This organization’s advocacy and leadership have been critical in the urgent effort to pass common ground and common-sense gun safety initiatives. In the Senate, I will be proud to stand with organizations like CeaseFire Pennsylvania to help lead the charge for reforms that keep weapons out of dangerous hands and take those weapons of war off our streets,” she said.
The endorsement process included candidate surveys and follow-up letters to the candidates.
The group backed McGinty because she favors background check expansion and regulation of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
In opposing Toomey, the group cited his co-sponsorship of the mandated concealed carry reciprocity bill, which would require Pennsylvania to recognize concealed carry licenses and permits from every other state, regardless of their standards. ••
