PENNSYLVANIA — Earlier today, ahead of Vice President Pence’s visit to New Cumberland, PA Dems Chair Nancy Patton Mills, Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin), PA-HD 105 Candidate Brittney Rodas and Pennsylvania mother Erin Gabriel 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 region behind.
This event continued the Pennsylvania Democratic Party’s “Broken Promises” tour — a statewide series designed to highlight the local impact of failed Republican policies.
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:
“I wanted to quickly note that today is the last day to register to vote right here in Pennsylvania…. Voting is the only way that we’ll put an end to the nightmare that has been the last four years… It’s become quite clear that this election is about Pennsylvania vs. Park Avenue. While Donald Trump, Mike Pence and their Republican allies at every level look out for the wealthy and well-connected. Joe Biden and Democrats are fighting for working families. Democrats are fighting for quality, affordable health care. And we’re fighting to build an economy that rewards work — not wealth.”
Rep. Patty Kim (D-Dauphin), PA House of Representatives:
“The best use of the Vice President’s time is to stay in Washington, D.C. and work with Senate Republicans to pass a coronavirus stimulus package. Workers and small business owners are struggling financially and need relief now. They need a stimulus check — not a visit. Their bills are due now and cannot wait until after the election. As we experience rising infectious rights and another resurgence, we are desperate for a solid plan, a timeline, facts and reassurance that we will make it through from this administration… We can’t go into this new year with more of the same. We need responsible steady leadership. We can find that in the Biden and Harris administration.”
Brittney Rodas, State House Candidate for PA HD-105:
“We are facing the worst public health crisis that we have ever seen in our lifetimes — one that has already killed over 220,000 Americans and left even more than hundreds of thousands of Americans with what could be considered a pre-existing condition. Now is not the time to be talking about stripping health care away from Pennsylvanians….
I’m also here today to call for the protection of the Affordable Care Act. To call for the protection of coverage for pre-existing conditions and ask our legislature why we still have not put a cap on the price of prescription drugs. We need access to affordable, quality health care more than we’ve ever needed it before.”
Erin Gabriel, Little Lobbyists National Director of Advocacy & Mother of three children with disabilities:
“When Republicans talk about removing or weakening the protections for pre-existing conditions, they mean removing access to the level of care that keeps [my daughter] Abby and kids like her alive… In this time of great uncertainty, our families – all of our families – need the certainty that if they or their child needs care, that they can get that care without losing their home — especially now. Our kids are missing out on so much of their childhood right now. And instead of acting to mitigate this virus in our communities, instead of showing true leadership, the administration is ramming through a Supreme Court nominee who will almost certainly rule to strip health care from millions of families like mine, and the president has no replacement plan.”
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