PENNSYLVANIA — Ahead of Vice President Pence’s visit to West Mifflin today, Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Nancy Patton MIlls, PA Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Representative Austin Davis (D-Allegheny), and Allegheny County resident and breast cancer survivor Amy Raslevich held a virtual press conference to discuss how President Trump and Harrisburg Republicans’ economic policies, COVID-19 response and attacks on health care have left working families in the southwestern Pennsylvania behind.
A recording of the virtual press conference can be found here, and an audio clip is available here. Check out some of the highlights below:
Chair Nancy Patton Mills, Pennsylvania Democratic Party:
“This election is about Pennsylvania vs. Park Avenue. While Donald Trump, Mike Pence and their Republican allies are looking out for the wealthiest Americans and large corporations, Joe Biden and Democrats like Jay Costa and Austin Davis are fighting for working families. Democrats are fighting for quality, affordable health care. We’re fighting to build an economy that works for every Pennyslvanian — not just the well-connected….That’s why we need all eligible, registered Pennsylvanians to vote. While the voter registration deadline in Pennsylvania has passed, I encourage you to visit iwillvote.com/PA to check your registration status and make your plan to vote.”
Senator Jay Costa, Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader:
“[Pennsylvanians] were promised their jobs would come back, particularly many communities outside of Allegheny County, that their wages would grow. The fact of the matter is the reverse has happened. The jobs aren’t there and wages are stagnant. Even before COVID happened, that was one of the concerns that we had… We have to have someone that has a plan to turn this commonwealth and this country around with respect to economic activity.
Joe Biden, Senator Harris, they understand they know what it’s like for working families, what they’re dealing with, what needs to be done to be able to move that… We need to maintain the Affordable Care Act. We need to work hard to ensure those benefits here in Pennsylvania. The Trump administration is trying to take it away. To me, that’s wrong. We need to make sure folks understand that. Get out the vote, as the Chairwoman said.”
Rep. Austin Davis (D-Allegheny), PA House Of Representatives:
“It enrages me that Mike Pence would come to West Mifflin after four years. Four years ago, they sold working class families — like those I represent in Mon Valley communities — a bill of goods. The first thing that they did was prove that they were standing with their friends on Wall Street and not working class families in West Mifflin, McKeesport and Duquesne by cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans.
They’ve systematically tried to destroy our health care. While Donald Trump says he has this big, beautiful health care plan that he’s going to roll out, he’s been saying that for four years. And the only thing he’s done is try to take away our health care, try to destroy Social Security and kill Medicaid expansion. This is a recipe for disaster for working class families. This pandemic — because he knew how devastating this pandemic was and did not act — has destroyed our economy, has put struggling Mon Valley families even further behind.”
Amy Raslevich (Allegheny Co.), Breast Cancer Survivor & Health Care Advocate:
“There’s always this stress in life that the ACA is going to go away. I’m thankful every day that it’s in place. I’ve heard for the last four years that there’s going to be something new to replace it and it’s going to be beautiful and it’s going to be the biggest, most wonderful thing ever. I would love to see it, frankly. If anybody wants to improve health care in this country, I’m all for it — but it’s not there. Joe Biden helped to bring the ACA into place. He actually has a plan to build on its strengths to increase the number of people that can participate and lower the number of people who are uninsured….
So it is unfair for Americans to have to live in fear of disease and illnesses. It is unfair for Americans not to have the resources that we need to stay healthy. That is truly a nonpartisan issue. The partisan issue is there’s only one party that’s trying to make that happen with any kind of plan in place. So that’s why I am grateful for the ACA and I’m very grateful for Joe Biden and his administration’s plans going forward.”
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