PENNSYLVANIA — Yesterday, ahead of Vice President Pence’s visit to Reading, PA Dems Vice Chair and Senator Sharif Street, Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-6), Senator Judy Schwank (D-Berks), and Berks County Democratic Committee Chair Kevin Boughter held a virtual press conference to discuss how President Trump’s economic policies, COVID-19 response and attacks on health care have left working families in the region 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:
Pennsylvania Democratic Party Vice Chair and Senator Sharif Street:
“They failed to lead on health care — they want to take away people’s health care even in a pandemic. They have failed on the economy, because we’ve lost in one quarter 32% of American GDP — the worst numbers posted by any American president except for during the Great Depression… This administration’s policies have failed in ways that would have been unimaginable if we made up a sitcom about this. People would have said it was too unrealistic and ridiculous to be real or to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, it is not a sitcom. We are living this nightmare.”
Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-6), U.S House of Representatives:
“[The administration has] done very, very little to help places like Reading and places like Coatesville. And so I find it ironic or absurd where this administration is going…The alternative is a Biden administration and the Biden administration would definitely address each one of those issues in a remarkably different way than the Trump administration has. First off health care, the Biden administration’s platform, were there to be one, would be about making sure that we protect the Affordable Care Act and that we grow the accessibility and affordability of health care to people rather than eliminate it and undermine it.”
Sen. Judy Schwank (D-Berks), Ag. & Rural Affairs Committee Democratic Chair:
“It’s great that the Vice President is landing at the airport. I have a suggestion. Why not go three miles south and head into the city? [Vice President Pence should] see what’s happening there. At the airport, he’ll be surrounded by lots of cheering supporters. But to see what’s happening on the ground, that’s what’s missing. They simply have no empathy for what is happening to many, many people in our society — particularly in the district that I represent. [There] are things happening here that need to be addressed that the federal government has a role to play in. It hasn’t happened. And it’s time for a change.”
Kevin Boughter, Berks County Democratic Committee Chair:
“Unfortunately, with the administration that’s in office right now, things have made a turnaround — it’s going backwards. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard the president say ‘well, I’m going to roll out our health care plan in two weeks.’ I’ve lost count of how many two weeks ago It has been. It just goes to prove that this administration has absolutely no plan to do anything for the people. Our wages are stagnant, our health insurance is skyrocketing, and on top of this, again, they’re trying to get rid of pre-existing condition coverage. I am totally worried about the future for my two granddaughters.”
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