As Trump and Pence rallied in the commonwealth, Pennsylvania Democrats exposed the Administration’s failure to deliver on health care, jobs and other key issues facing working families. Check out some of the coverage below.
Before Trump and Pence even arrived in PA, Democrats and advocates pointed to the Trump Administration’s support for a lawsuit that would rip away protections for pre-existing conditions like heart disease and asthma:
PennLive (opinion)
“This week, President Trump and Vice-President Pence will be visiting central Pennsylvania to host a rally. Meanwhile, in sharp contrast, House Democrats will be taking on the drug companies and skyrocketing drug prices by holding a vote on a plan to lower the prices of prescription drugs for families.”
“We need to rise up and demand that the Trump Administration answer for their war on our health care. We deserve the protections that the PP/ACA provides to us. Health care is a human right. Families should not have to worry about the choice between paying rent or getting their medication. No one should be denied health care for having a disability, chronic illness, or pre-existing condition.
Politics PA
“The Pennsylvania Democratic Party issued another statement after it was known that Pence would be joining Trump at the rally, saying that their administration has broken promises to Pennsylvanians and claiming that they are ‘on defense’ in the state.”
Ahead of Trump’s Hershey rally, key Senate Democrats hosted a statewide call to discuss how working families, including many in rural communities, are being hurt by the Administration’s approach to health care and agriculture:
PennLive
“Earlier Tuesday, several Democratic state senators struck preemptively, arguing Trump’s trade war and tariffs are hurting Pennsylvania farmers, and his tax cuts favor the wealthy while taking money away from education and infrastructure in the state.
“One further said Trump seeks to ‘sabotage’ the Affordable Care Act, undermining coverage for pre-existing conditions while clearing the way for coverage that lacks guaranteed benefits of ACA plans. ‘Pennsylvania families are in a worse position than they were in when he took office,’ state Sen. Art Haywood of Philadelphia said.”
Allentown Morning Call
“Pennsylvania Democrats, however, paint a much different picture, arguing that his trade war with China and other countries has hurt state farmers in particular as retaliatory tariffs have been slapped on U.S. exports.
‘We’ve been let down in terms of what was promised to the agriculture industry, in terms of what was promised to our farmers, and in terms of what was delivered,’ state Sen. Judy Schwank, a Berks lawmaker who is the ranking Democrat on the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, told reporters during a call Tuesday morning.”
Ahead of Pence’s visit to a VFW in Beaver County, Democrats pointed to the Administration’s record of incompetence on veterans issues:
Beaver County Times
“Trump, Pence insisted, has ‘stood strongly’ with veterans, but the Pennsylvania Democratic Party released a statement accusing Trump of breaking promises to veterans and mismanaging the VA.
“‘It’s clear that Trump and Pence are more interested in grandstanding than actually doing the work for veterans and their families,; said PA Democratic spokesman Andres Anzola. ‘Trump’s incompetent leadership has no place at the VA, and our nation’s heroes deserve better.’”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“The Pennsylvania Democratic Party pre-empted the vice president’s visit with a statement anticipating the content of his speech, writing that veterans under Mr. Trump ‘have seen nothing but broken promises…’
“A party spokesman, pointed to reporting last year that showed Mr. Trump’s Veterans Affairs Department failing to put aside money to advertise its crisis hotline, among other things.”
WESA
“Prior to Pence’s arrival, Democrats greeted Pence with a statement faulting the Trump Administration’s handling of veterans’ issues.
“The release cited a number of embarrassments at the VA, including unwelcome interventions by three members of Trump’s Mar-A-Lago club in an effort to create a new digital-records platform.”
Tribune-Review
“Pennsylvania Democrats issued a statement saying veterans have experienced ‘nothing but broken promises’ during the Trump administration.”
Following Trump’s rally, Chairwoman Mills issued a response highlighting his broken promises on health care:
WHTM
“‘As a candidate, Donald Trump promised that he would help Pennsylvanians by stopping the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs and defending protections for pre-existing conditions,’ Mills said.
“As President, he has broken those promises. His Administration is advancing a health care agenda that would side with insurance companies to raise costs for Pennsylvanians with pre-existing conditions like asthma and diabetes. He has been an ineffective leader and nothing he said tonight changes that,’ Mills continued.
“‘The President knows that he has to play defense in Pennsylvania because of his broken promises to working families in our commonwealth. Pennsylvania Democrats are fired up and ready to work around the clock to ensure victory in 2020. The future of our nation depends on it,’ Mills stated.”
Daily American
“The state’s Democratic Party used the visit as a chance to note his policies on health insurance, which they say could raise costs on individuals with pre-existing conditions. Nancy Patton Mills, chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, called the president ‘an ineffective leader’ in a statement released shortly after he concluded his rally.”
Politics PA
“After the rally concluded, Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Patton Mills specifically criticized the Trump administration over healthcare policies, saying that he betrayed promises to combat prescription drug prices and protecting individuals with pre-existing conditions.”
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