1 00:00:01,430 --> 00:00:02,360 Starting now. 2 00:00:03,060 --> 00:00:07,280 Commonalities where guests find common ground through uncommon 3 00:00:07,300 --> 00:00:10,920 conversations, politics, religion, finances, 4 00:00:11,020 --> 00:00:14,600 all the topics your grandmother told you not to discuss with friends. 5 00:00:14,940 --> 00:00:17,560 And now your host, Matthew Dowling, 6 00:00:17,780 --> 00:00:20,600 and today's guests on commonalities. 7 00:00:22,750 --> 00:00:26,160 Well, thank you for joining another episode of Commonalities. I'm your host, 8 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,040 Matt Dowling. My guest today is someone who, uh, 9 00:00:29,110 --> 00:00:32,320 most of Fayette County should be familiar with my, uh, 10 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:36,360 former colleague and good friend, representative Ryan Warner. Ryan, 11 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:38,520 thank you so much for being on today's program. 12 00:00:38,990 --> 00:00:40,880 Matt, thanks so much for having me. 13 00:00:41,310 --> 00:00:45,600 I, I wanted to give you an opportunity at the top of the hour here to, uh, 14 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:50,480 give us a little bit of a self biography. Um, you know, I, I don't know if, 15 00:00:50,480 --> 00:00:55,200 uh, new committee assignments, um, that you may have that you wanna share. 16 00:00:55,690 --> 00:01:00,240 Uh, I know that the start of the house session has been, uh, 17 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:03,720 what I'll kind of call a little bit rocky and, uh, 18 00:01:03,820 --> 00:01:08,480 for the listeners at home. Uh, there, I always tell people there's, um, 19 00:01:09,370 --> 00:01:14,360 no surprises of the fact that, you know, I was a conf conservative Republican. 20 00:01:14,390 --> 00:01:17,680 I am a conservative Republican for the purpose of this show. 21 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:20,760 I try to stay pretty neutral, um, 22 00:01:20,780 --> 00:01:24,000 but things just aren't the same as, uh, 23 00:01:24,210 --> 00:01:26,520 as when I was serving there in the house. Uh, 24 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:28,880 things have definitely been a little, uh, 25 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:30,720 rocky here at the start of the session. 26 00:01:30,850 --> 00:01:34,320 So why don't you give us a little bit of your background and maybe any committee 27 00:01:34,320 --> 00:01:35,240 assignments you have? 28 00:01:35,710 --> 00:01:39,360 Yeah, yeah. Thanks, Matt. Yeah, so this is, uh, 29 00:01:39,790 --> 00:01:43,000 this is my fifth term, uh, in, in the State House. I, 30 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:45,760 I represent the 52nd District, 31 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:50,720 which is now consolidated to just be Fayette County. It's, um, 32 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,600 geographically, it's, it's mainly Northern Fayette County. 33 00:01:54,820 --> 00:01:57,240 And we did just get our committee assignments. 34 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:00,520 We actually were just assigned to them today, which is, uh, 35 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:02,800 as you'd mentioned it, we're off to a rough start. 36 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:06,840 Here is very late to receive our, our committee assignments, 37 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:09,720 but I am will be on the appropriations committee. Again, 38 00:02:09,990 --> 00:02:11,640 I'll be on Consumer affairs, 39 00:02:12,180 --> 00:02:15,880 and I will be on the Environmental and Energy Committee. 40 00:02:17,270 --> 00:02:18,700 So, um, you know, I, 41 00:02:18,810 --> 00:02:22,940 I just wanna point out to people that may not realize committee 42 00:02:23,180 --> 00:02:27,420 assignments, at least for the three terms that I served in the house. Um, 43 00:02:27,750 --> 00:02:32,140 we were generally handed out during the month of, uh, 44 00:02:32,140 --> 00:02:33,980 of December. And, uh, 45 00:02:33,980 --> 00:02:37,900 they were made official with an official meeting at that committee in early 46 00:02:37,900 --> 00:02:42,660 January. So you guys are, uh, kind of three months behind also, 47 00:02:42,990 --> 00:02:47,660 um, happening, uh, today, as our listeners are listening, 48 00:02:47,660 --> 00:02:52,220 but we're actually recording a day early, is the governor's budget address. 49 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:56,740 And so I wanted to ask you what you think, um, 50 00:02:57,220 --> 00:03:01,200 although, you know, reports may be be out by the time this episode airs, 51 00:03:01,470 --> 00:03:04,560 what do you think or anticipate, uh, 52 00:03:04,580 --> 00:03:08,120 the governor is going to put in his budget address? 53 00:03:08,230 --> 00:03:11,200 What are his key goals or takeaways going to be? 54 00:03:12,980 --> 00:03:17,960 You know, Matt, you, your guess on this is as good as mine. I am, uh, 55 00:03:18,460 --> 00:03:23,000 I'm gonna have my ears wide open tomorrow, uh, to, 56 00:03:23,210 --> 00:03:26,400 uh, you know, to see what the governor has to say. I, I don't know if his, 57 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,520 if he's gonna go the same direction as Tom Wolf, uh, now, governor Wolf, 58 00:03:30,530 --> 00:03:34,840 it is not much of a secret that, that each year he proposed, uh, 59 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:36,840 large increases in, in spending and, 60 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,800 and often tax increases to go along with those, uh, 61 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:42,640 large spending increases. I, 62 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:46,720 I don't know whether Governor Shapiro's going to try to, uh, 63 00:03:47,250 --> 00:03:51,200 tighten the, the so-called belt on government and, 64 00:03:52,250 --> 00:03:57,200 um, you know, try, try, try to reign in spending, uh, maybe lower taxes. I, 65 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:01,000 I honestly, I'm not sure what to expect. I, I think this is his first address. 66 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,200 I have to give him the, the, the benefit of the doubt for, 67 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:08,480 for what he's gonna do. I, I, I would hope, uh, you, you know, look, 68 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:13,180 we have a very divided government right now with, um, 69 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:16,260 you know, Republicans having the majority in the Senate, 70 00:04:16,700 --> 00:04:21,100 Democrats having majority in, in, in house. So the, 71 00:04:21,100 --> 00:04:24,220 the budgeting season is going to be very, very unique. 72 00:04:24,310 --> 00:04:26,220 So it'll be interesting, 73 00:04:26,300 --> 00:04:30,420 it'll be very interesting to see what the governor proposes. 74 00:04:31,190 --> 00:04:34,260 So, budget related question, uh, for you, I, 75 00:04:34,260 --> 00:04:37,780 I've been following the fact that the courts have, uh, 76 00:04:37,780 --> 00:04:41,940 found the way that we fund education here in Pennsylvania, 77 00:04:42,590 --> 00:04:45,540 uh, to be inappropriate. And, uh, 78 00:04:45,540 --> 00:04:49,780 they're looking for the legislature to make a correction to that. 79 00:04:50,230 --> 00:04:50,580 Um, 80 00:04:50,580 --> 00:04:55,260 do you think that's something that Governor Shapiro will address in his budget, 81 00:04:55,260 --> 00:04:57,620 budget proposal, and, you know, 82 00:04:57,620 --> 00:05:01,980 how do you think that affects our local schools in rural Fayette County? 83 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,250 Yeah, so that's a great point, and that, you know, 84 00:05:06,250 --> 00:05:09,250 that's something that I think he has to address because that's, 85 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:13,450 that's the elephant in the room, right? I mean, uh, uh, 86 00:05:13,450 --> 00:05:18,050 education is, as you know, as a former legislator, I mean, it's the, 87 00:05:18,050 --> 00:05:22,970 it's the biggest pot of money for, for a budget, right? Like, it, it, 88 00:05:22,970 --> 00:05:27,530 it's a massive part of our budget. Uh, so I, 89 00:05:27,530 --> 00:05:30,210 I think the governor almost has to address this in when, 90 00:05:30,210 --> 00:05:33,170 when one way or the other. And, you know, I think it's, 91 00:05:33,170 --> 00:05:37,520 it's a question mark for, for local districts, Matt, I, and, 92 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:40,120 and it all depends on a, again, the tone that the, 93 00:05:40,140 --> 00:05:44,680 the governor sets here with it. Uh, I have my own personal take on it. 94 00:05:45,330 --> 00:05:49,520 Um, I, I'm not sure, so sure, I disagree with what the, 95 00:05:50,060 --> 00:05:52,280 the Supreme Court ruled. I, 96 00:05:54,050 --> 00:05:58,520 I don't know if I say I agree that they had the authority to make that ruling, 97 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,520 though. Um, which y you know, those are, 98 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:05,990 those are two things that I think people often in politics have a trouble, 99 00:06:06,920 --> 00:06:10,390 um, keeping apart to say, oh, I agree with the Supreme Court ruling, 100 00:06:10,390 --> 00:06:12,910 because I agree with their ruling. Uh, 101 00:06:12,910 --> 00:06:15,070 I will say that I don't think that they had the quite, 102 00:06:15,070 --> 00:06:19,910 had the authority to do that. Um, but the premise of it, I, I, 103 00:06:19,980 --> 00:06:21,590 I do agree with that. And, 104 00:06:21,590 --> 00:06:26,470 and that's that public education funding in this state is not 105 00:06:26,470 --> 00:06:28,270 fair, right? I, I, I mean, 106 00:06:28,270 --> 00:06:32,870 all you have to do is look at inequalities from one school district to another. 107 00:06:32,870 --> 00:06:36,070 And if you're looking at public education, Matthew, there, 108 00:06:36,070 --> 00:06:40,470 there shouldn't be a difference, right? Like we've said this time and again, 109 00:06:40,470 --> 00:06:45,230 like your zip code should not dictate the level of public 110 00:06:45,230 --> 00:06:49,430 education you get. There really shouldn't be a difference. I I, 111 00:06:49,430 --> 00:06:51,510 if there's public, but in our state, 112 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:55,410 we have this vast difference, right? 113 00:06:55,410 --> 00:06:59,770 You have inner city schools and you have rural schools that, 114 00:06:59,770 --> 00:07:03,370 that are struggling. Yet you have some suburban schools, you know, 115 00:07:03,370 --> 00:07:07,570 that have state-of-the-art AstroTurf, uh, football fields, 116 00:07:07,570 --> 00:07:11,170 and you have other schools that can't buy basic supplies. And that's just, 117 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,880 that's, that needs to change. Uh, 118 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:18,920 regardless of how the Supreme Court ruled the courts rule, like that, 119 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:23,120 it has to change. Uh, and I think it all goes back to, 120 00:07:23,500 --> 00:07:27,780 you know, something that, you know, 121 00:07:27,780 --> 00:07:31,500 I know that we had many disc discussions about, and, and that's property taxes. 122 00:07:31,500 --> 00:07:31,980 And, and, 123 00:07:31,980 --> 00:07:36,640 and that's one of the main issues that we have with 124 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:41,560 education funding, the premise of that. We, we put this on the, 125 00:07:41,660 --> 00:07:45,600 the, with the major part of funding on the backs 126 00:07:46,930 --> 00:07:50,000 of property owners and, and on local taxes. 127 00:07:50,770 --> 00:07:54,760 So I think we need to look at, look at a bigger, bigger picture. I, 128 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:58,840 I personally always believe that schools should be funded per student, right? 129 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:00,960 Like, if you're going to public school, like you, 130 00:08:03,050 --> 00:08:05,480 if you look at the number of students in each school, 131 00:08:06,570 --> 00:08:10,870 your funding should be predicated on each student. 132 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:12,550 Um, I mean, 133 00:08:12,550 --> 00:08:16,510 I think this also opens up the door for discussions about school choice. 134 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:21,790 Um, you know, there, there's, there's a whole lot that's up in the air. 135 00:08:21,990 --> 00:08:26,310 You could look at the, the way that other states around us do it, Virginia or, 136 00:08:26,310 --> 00:08:28,590 or Maryland. But, uh, 137 00:08:29,590 --> 00:08:32,970 I'm not saying I have the perfect answer, perfect solution for it. 138 00:08:32,970 --> 00:08:36,010 But one way or the other, it, it does have to change. 139 00:08:36,010 --> 00:08:38,410 And I do think that the governor has to address this. 140 00:08:39,020 --> 00:08:40,090 So let's, uh, 141 00:08:40,090 --> 00:08:44,770 let's kind of peel a little bit more off of the onion and go a level deeper. 142 00:08:45,340 --> 00:08:50,130 Um, you know, there's a couple hot, uh, button phrases that I want to, 143 00:08:50,540 --> 00:08:54,730 uh, have you kind of explain if you can, uh, and that that's, uh, 144 00:08:54,730 --> 00:08:59,400 fair funding formula and the hold harmless agreement. And then also, 145 00:08:59,450 --> 00:09:04,440 uh, a multi-port part question. I've not read the actual, uh, 146 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:07,040 opinion of the Supreme Court's ruling. 147 00:09:07,350 --> 00:09:11,880 I don't know if you've had an opportunity to do that yet, but was it, uh, 148 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:14,560 predicated on the, uh, 149 00:09:14,560 --> 00:09:17,080 uniformity clause of the Pennsylvania constitution? 150 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,840 Because while you were saying you didn't know if the, uh, 151 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:23,000 Supreme Court had the right to rule on it, 152 00:09:23,390 --> 00:09:28,120 I think if that was the key point that they were making is that, um, 153 00:09:28,730 --> 00:09:30,880 we were interfering with the uniformity clause, 154 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:35,080 then I think that would give them, uh, the freedom to make a ruling, 155 00:09:35,810 --> 00:09:39,920 uh, on school funding. So can you expand, expand on, uh, 156 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:41,200 some of those points real quick? 157 00:09:41,630 --> 00:09:45,640 Yeah. So y you know, when you, you mentioned hold harmless in, 158 00:09:46,490 --> 00:09:50,960 uh, uh, again, as a former legislate legislator in, in Fayette County, 159 00:09:51,770 --> 00:09:52,760 uh, you know, 160 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:57,760 this was something that was important to us because it helped 161 00:09:57,820 --> 00:10:01,280 our schools maintain a certain level of funding, right? 162 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:05,600 So we're in an area where our population is, is decreasing. 163 00:10:06,170 --> 00:10:10,800 We are not bringing in new people. They're, and, 164 00:10:11,690 --> 00:10:16,680 um, the, what I'm trying to say is the, so the, 165 00:10:16,680 --> 00:10:20,520 the, the tax base here is not say, uh, 166 00:10:20,780 --> 00:10:24,840 the same as southeastern Philadelphia, right? Um, 167 00:10:25,620 --> 00:10:30,120 and hold harmless basically maintains our, our funding level. 168 00:10:30,220 --> 00:10:32,760 Now, when you're talking about the fair funding formula, 169 00:10:33,020 --> 00:10:35,200 the fair funding formula, basically 170 00:10:37,770 --> 00:10:42,310 any new money that go into school funding 171 00:10:42,990 --> 00:10:43,823 basically 172 00:10:45,590 --> 00:10:49,410 bypasses the hold harmless funding. 173 00:10:50,340 --> 00:10:54,770 Um, I don't know if that, if, 174 00:10:55,020 --> 00:10:59,410 if I can say if, if, if there's a better way to simplify that or not. Um. 175 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:01,610 Well, it, it basically, 176 00:11:01,610 --> 00:11:05,570 it's saying that in areas where there's population loss, 177 00:11:05,570 --> 00:11:10,290 they won't lose any money. But areas where there's population growth, you know, 178 00:11:10,510 --> 00:11:15,130 the new monies will be expanded upon, but they may be losing out on, 179 00:11:15,660 --> 00:11:19,650 uh, on some, yeah, you're completely correct. Rural Pennsylvania, 180 00:11:20,500 --> 00:11:23,090 we were worried about that hold harmless agreement, 181 00:11:24,830 --> 00:11:27,490 but really, it, it does, uh, 182 00:11:27,490 --> 00:11:32,170 create inequalities because you have students that aren't valued, 183 00:11:32,180 --> 00:11:37,130 or were not paying the same amount into with state funding, um, 184 00:11:37,340 --> 00:11:39,370 in the areas of growth. Now, 185 00:11:39,810 --> 00:11:44,490 where I always thought it was difficult to right the wrong of this ship was 186 00:11:44,490 --> 00:11:46,410 the fact that, you know, 187 00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:51,650 over two thirds of our school districts were in areas where the hold harmless 188 00:11:51,650 --> 00:11:53,840 agreement was a positive to them, 189 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:57,760 where they wanted to see funding stay the same because they were seeing a 190 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:03,040 decrease. So that means that less than a third of your school districts are, 191 00:12:03,210 --> 00:12:06,680 uh, are kind of feeling that pain. But to write that wrong, 192 00:12:06,830 --> 00:12:10,840 that means a huge expansion in education funding, 193 00:12:11,270 --> 00:12:12,960 unless you, you know, 194 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:16,710 would decrease schools in our rural areas. 195 00:12:18,230 --> 00:12:22,880 Yeah. That, that, that's, that, that's absolutely right. Uh, you know, 196 00:12:22,890 --> 00:12:27,120 in the, in what you were mentioning about the, the Supreme Court, the, 197 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:32,050 the rulings too is y the problem is the, see, 198 00:12:32,050 --> 00:12:33,490 the, the Supreme Court, 199 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:37,170 when you're looking at the uniformity clause two, 200 00:12:38,320 --> 00:12:41,850 you're looking at it at statewide taxes, cuz the local, 201 00:12:42,150 --> 00:12:45,890 you could have a discrepancy in local taxes. Uh, 202 00:12:46,100 --> 00:12:50,290 so for example, you can look at, if you go to Allegheny County, for example, 203 00:12:50,290 --> 00:12:54,930 you pay a percent more on sales tax. Uh, and it's because of the, again, 204 00:12:54,930 --> 00:12:57,730 it's because of the property taxes, but, uh, 205 00:12:58,260 --> 00:13:01,170 it just goes to the bigger picture of what I've mentioned before. 206 00:13:01,170 --> 00:13:05,410 The whole property tax system that we use 207 00:13:06,140 --> 00:13:10,810 to fund schools in the state is antiquated. And, 208 00:13:11,350 --> 00:13:14,130 you know, regardless of whether the, 209 00:13:14,130 --> 00:13:17,850 the court has the jurisdiction or doesn't have the jurisdiction to do it, it, 210 00:13:17,850 --> 00:13:19,850 it needs to change that. That's where I'm at. 211 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:24,780 And, you know, I, I think there's a third rail of, um, 212 00:13:24,830 --> 00:13:29,700 of politics that exists south there. And, uh, trust me, you know, I, 213 00:13:29,700 --> 00:13:31,620 I know having just retired in November, 214 00:13:32,310 --> 00:13:36,860 we get more calls and letters about property tax elimination, 215 00:13:37,510 --> 00:13:42,180 um, than probably any other issue. I, I know every telephone town hall I had, 216 00:13:42,490 --> 00:13:47,100 I could guarantee you that property tax elimination would be a question that I 217 00:13:47,100 --> 00:13:51,500 got on that call. Um, and Representative Frank Ryan, who, uh, 218 00:13:51,500 --> 00:13:56,180 is a good friend of mine, classmate of mine, he just retired. Um, 219 00:13:56,180 --> 00:13:59,420 but he was looking at funding, uh, 220 00:13:59,700 --> 00:14:03,140 education based on, uh, 221 00:14:03,140 --> 00:14:06,300 the taxation of people's retirements, 222 00:14:06,300 --> 00:14:08,660 which we don't currently tax here in Pennsylvania. 223 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:13,500 And that's why I said it's kind of a third rail of the political game because 224 00:14:13,970 --> 00:14:14,900 a lot of the, 225 00:14:14,900 --> 00:14:19,460 the elderly population that stay here in Pennsylvania stay here 226 00:14:19,460 --> 00:14:23,820 because we don't tax those private retirement funds. Um, 227 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:28,060 but I, I think what's dangerous is the fact that if, if, 228 00:14:28,070 --> 00:14:33,060 as we shift taxes away from property taxes to fund education, 229 00:14:33,260 --> 00:14:35,140 we're gonna have to find something else. 230 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:40,020 And going from 6% to 7% in a sales 231 00:14:40,020 --> 00:14:44,140 tax simply doesn't generate the amount of revenue that we need statewide, 232 00:14:44,710 --> 00:14:48,260 uh, to, to eliminate or even defray the, 233 00:14:48,260 --> 00:14:50,100 the property taxes that people pay. 234 00:14:50,470 --> 00:14:53,120 No, and I, I think it's a, that's a great point. 235 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:56,160 And that's often when people ask, you know, 236 00:14:56,700 --> 00:15:00,080 why can't we do anything about property taxes? Well, since I've been here, 237 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:01,520 there have been multiple attempts, 238 00:15:02,340 --> 00:15:06,920 and the the failure is always at exactly what, what, what you, 239 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:08,960 what you said, uh, you, 240 00:15:09,060 --> 00:15:13,880 you have to replace the property tax with other funding or 241 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:17,760 other taxes. So, and that always, 242 00:15:18,750 --> 00:15:20,640 that always lies the issue, right? 243 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:23,760 Some people want a higher sales tax to make up for it. 244 00:15:24,150 --> 00:15:27,760 Some people want a higher income tax, some people want in between. 245 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:31,760 You mentioned Frank Ryan had his proposal to tax, um, 246 00:15:32,050 --> 00:15:36,600 re re retirement income, which I know isn't very popular with a lot of people. 247 00:15:37,010 --> 00:15:41,960 So that's where the discussions always felt. So, um, 248 00:15:43,820 --> 00:15:47,240 you know, I, and then that's what I would always tell people. I said, don't, I, 249 00:15:47,370 --> 00:15:49,720 if you talk to your legislators, you talk to other people, 250 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:52,920 don't just tell them that you're against, uh, 251 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:56,080 property taxes or gonna wanna eliminate 'em. If you're serious about it, 252 00:15:56,140 --> 00:15:58,640 you have to tell them, you know, well, 253 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:02,640 how else would you wanna pay for the schools? Because you, you still, you, if, 254 00:16:02,640 --> 00:16:04,520 if you eliminated property taxes, 255 00:16:05,220 --> 00:16:10,040 you would not have enough money to operate your schools currently in the state. 256 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:15,210 Well, we have to get to our first break, uh, representative Warner. But, uh, 257 00:16:15,210 --> 00:16:18,530 when we come back there, I know we have more topics to discuss, 258 00:16:18,820 --> 00:16:21,090 so stay with us here on commonalities. 259 00:16:24,270 --> 00:16:28,770 You are listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 260 00:16:29,090 --> 00:16:30,210 uncommon conversations. 261 00:16:30,770 --> 00:16:34,410 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 262 00:16:37,510 --> 00:16:40,370 I'm Melinda De LaRose. As an Assistant District Attorney, 263 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:44,410 I've protected Fayette County families and fought to uphold our constitutional 264 00:16:44,410 --> 00:16:47,210 rights. As a prosecutor and trusted local attorney, 265 00:16:47,210 --> 00:16:51,050 I've provided victims of crime with a strong voice and put criminals behind 266 00:16:51,050 --> 00:16:54,650 bars. My pledge to you as judge is to follow the law, 267 00:16:54,650 --> 00:16:56,970 always maintain the highest ethical standards, 268 00:16:56,970 --> 00:17:01,330 and to run a courtroom that's respectful of your time and tax dollars. 269 00:17:01,630 --> 00:17:05,170 I'm Melinda de LaRose asking for your vote for Judge paid. 270 00:17:05,170 --> 00:17:06,810 For by Friends of Melinda de LaRose. 271 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:09,290 When it comes to buying a home, 272 00:17:09,640 --> 00:17:12,570 what you see isn't exactly what you get. 273 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:17,610 That's why home buyers should call Dave Dowling at Grandview 274 00:17:17,610 --> 00:17:22,570 Inspections at 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 275 00:17:22,920 --> 00:17:27,890 You'll see colorful flowers, freshly painted walls, granite countertops, 276 00:17:28,120 --> 00:17:30,610 gleaming hardwood floors, and other touches. 277 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:34,970 What you can't see is the cracks, ancient plumbing, 278 00:17:35,250 --> 00:17:36,490 dangerous wiring, 279 00:17:36,860 --> 00:17:41,730 or broken appliances that might be revealed when you hire a 280 00:17:41,730 --> 00:17:45,410 home inspector. And when it comes to home inspectors, 281 00:17:45,540 --> 00:17:49,720 knowing yours has the qualifications and experience needed, 282 00:17:49,830 --> 00:17:53,400 should be your number one concern. Dave Dowling, 283 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:55,080 with Grand View Inspections, 284 00:17:55,250 --> 00:17:59,960 is an architectural engineer with over 30 years of commercial construction 285 00:17:59,960 --> 00:18:03,680 experience and hundreds of inspections under his belt. 286 00:18:04,510 --> 00:18:09,240 A home inspection is an opportunity for you to hire an expert to 287 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:13,720 walk through the home and prepare a report outlining the home's major 288 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:14,553 components. 289 00:18:14,670 --> 00:18:19,520 What needs immediate attention and what will require maintenance after you 290 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:23,000 move in your home is one of your biggest investments. 291 00:18:23,210 --> 00:18:26,920 So make sure your investment is everything you hoped it to be. 292 00:18:27,310 --> 00:18:31,120 Call Dave Dowling at Grandview Inspections at 293 00:18:31,120 --> 00:18:34,920 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 294 00:18:41,210 --> 00:18:45,400 Is your business using analog strategies in a digital marketing world? 295 00:18:45,850 --> 00:18:46,480 If so, 296 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:51,120 then contact Matthew or Rebecca Dowling at Coordinated 360 for a 297 00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:55,280 professional consultation where we bring in-depth knowledge and functional 298 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:57,200 expertise with a holistic perspective. 299 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:02,720 Coordinated 360 provides digital marketing, paid ad and media buying services, 300 00:19:02,780 --> 00:19:07,640 web design, social media management, video production, and more for businesses, 301 00:19:07,660 --> 00:19:12,080 organizations, and political campaigns with decades of experience. 302 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:16,920 Matt and Becky at Coordinated 360 can help you craft your unique message 303 00:19:17,140 --> 00:19:22,120 and share it with the world. For a no risk media evaluation and recommendations, 304 00:19:22,350 --> 00:19:26,400 call 7 2 4 3 2 0 22 12, 305 00:19:26,690 --> 00:19:28,680 or visit us online at 306 00:19:29,300 --> 00:19:34,000 www.coordinatedthreesixty.com. 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I'm your host, Matt Dowling, 317 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:19,040 alongside my guest for today, representative Ryan Warner, who represents, uh, 318 00:20:19,360 --> 00:20:24,320 Northern Fayette County, the 50, uh, 52nd District. Uh, 319 00:20:24,420 --> 00:20:26,960 and, uh, representative Warner, you know, 320 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:31,120 there was a call for a special session to take place, 321 00:20:31,770 --> 00:20:36,680 um, and I think a lot of us from that were sitting on the outside, uh, 322 00:20:36,680 --> 00:20:39,200 thought that that may have happened in January. 323 00:20:39,470 --> 00:20:42,680 I I think you guys thought it may have happened in January because you were 324 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:47,080 showing up, uh, for scheduled days that ended up not happening. Uh, 325 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:51,320 can you tell me a little bit about that call for a special session, 326 00:20:51,550 --> 00:20:55,520 what a special session is and what's the topic that, uh, 327 00:20:55,790 --> 00:20:58,600 that people want to discuss in that session? 328 00:21:00,010 --> 00:21:00,843 Yeah, 329 00:21:01,670 --> 00:21:06,620 so basically a special session can be called 330 00:21:06,620 --> 00:21:11,020 upon by the governor, uh, or, uh, 331 00:21:11,410 --> 00:21:15,750 a if half of both chambers call for one, 332 00:21:15,750 --> 00:21:20,390 they can call theirselves into special session. And what special sessions are, 333 00:21:20,410 --> 00:21:23,350 are a, uh, 334 00:21:23,870 --> 00:21:27,750 different set of operating rules out, out a normal session, 335 00:21:27,750 --> 00:21:32,310 whereas you're just focused on one topic and you basically can't bring up 336 00:21:32,670 --> 00:21:34,310 other topics. So you, 337 00:21:34,310 --> 00:21:37,830 it is basically the laser focus in on one thing, 338 00:21:38,290 --> 00:21:43,150 and it avoids that topic from being changed or amended in, 339 00:21:43,150 --> 00:21:45,590 into something else. That's not to say that, you know, 340 00:21:45,590 --> 00:21:49,830 something's going to definitively get passed or, uh, 341 00:21:49,830 --> 00:21:50,950 has to get to the Governor. 342 00:21:50,950 --> 00:21:55,630 It just limits the scope of what you're able to do 343 00:21:55,930 --> 00:21:59,950 and, and not do. So that's, that's the premise of a special session. 344 00:22:00,980 --> 00:22:05,440 This particular special session was called Upon, 345 00:22:06,050 --> 00:22:11,000 it was actually called upon by Governor Wolf, the first one, uh, prior, 346 00:22:11,970 --> 00:22:16,440 uh, to Governor Shapiro being sworn in. And it was for, 347 00:22:17,330 --> 00:22:21,400 uh, the constitutional amendment to open up the statute of limitations 348 00:22:22,630 --> 00:22:27,500 on for sexual abuse, childhood sexual abuse victims, 349 00:22:28,120 --> 00:22:31,420 and in Pennsylvania. And 350 00:22:33,230 --> 00:22:38,020 we were called in the session for, for three days. And, uh, 351 00:22:38,020 --> 00:22:42,860 unfortunately, all the representatives traveled to Harrisburg and the speaker, 352 00:22:43,710 --> 00:22:46,780 uh, ended up canceling session, uh, 353 00:22:47,610 --> 00:22:50,140 that was canceled because of the, 354 00:22:52,910 --> 00:22:57,450 the whole back and forth, uh, of the speakership, um, 355 00:22:57,450 --> 00:23:02,210 having the majority of the Republicans and Democrats swinging at, 356 00:23:02,210 --> 00:23:06,410 at the same time. So it, it got us off to a little bit of a, 357 00:23:06,620 --> 00:23:07,690 of a rocky start. 358 00:23:09,610 --> 00:23:13,950 And so, you know, that look back as they referred to it is, 359 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:18,470 uh, is something that people have been trying to address. Uh, 360 00:23:18,470 --> 00:23:21,350 now for several years, members, uh, 361 00:23:21,350 --> 00:23:25,350 both on the Republican and the Democrat side, uh, 362 00:23:25,350 --> 00:23:30,030 have introduced legislation. I know of representative Jim Gregory, 363 00:23:30,170 --> 00:23:32,550 who is, uh, uh, 364 00:23:32,580 --> 00:23:36,070 a Republican representative Rozi, who, uh, 365 00:23:36,070 --> 00:23:40,950 who was speaker for a short period of time, repre, uh, introduced legislation. 366 00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:45,520 Um, and, and they were, you know, particularly looking up to, 367 00:23:45,970 --> 00:23:50,200 to open that statute of limitations. And, uh, I, 368 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:53,760 my question to you is, do you think that, uh, 369 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:58,680 that's something that will get accomplished here in the next couple months, uh, 370 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:00,520 especially before budget time? 371 00:24:00,650 --> 00:24:05,560 Or will the priority shift to the budget and this matter kind 372 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:08,400 of be left to be addressed at a later date and time? 373 00:24:09,590 --> 00:24:14,200 Yeah, you know, that's gonna be up to the Senate, 374 00:24:15,010 --> 00:24:19,960 um, because it has been sent back. I mean, it, it's in their hands now, 375 00:24:19,980 --> 00:24:22,520 but I, I think I do have to mention though, Matthew, when, 376 00:24:22,520 --> 00:24:25,280 when we were both here, uh, 377 00:24:26,180 --> 00:24:30,230 this constitutional amendment was actually, it was actually passed, right? 378 00:24:30,230 --> 00:24:33,390 So it was actually, it was passed two sessions in a row, 379 00:24:33,390 --> 00:24:38,030 and it was set to go to the voters for referendum as every constitutional 380 00:24:38,030 --> 00:24:38,590 amendment does. 381 00:24:38,590 --> 00:24:43,260 But it was not properly advertised by the Wolf Administration. 382 00:24:44,390 --> 00:24:47,790 Uh, and because of that <laugh>, 383 00:24:48,610 --> 00:24:53,070 the amendment legally was thought allowed to be proposed to the voter. 384 00:24:53,070 --> 00:24:55,910 So it actually went through the course of the le, 385 00:24:55,910 --> 00:24:59,030 which is very difficult to do in the first place, uh, 386 00:24:59,030 --> 00:25:03,510 which is why we're taking this back up again and why it would needed to be voted 387 00:25:03,510 --> 00:25:05,670 on yet a third time, 388 00:25:05,920 --> 00:25:10,350 an unprecedented third time in a row for a constitutional amendment 389 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:11,750 to reach voters. 390 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:13,270 In, in that area. 391 00:25:13,270 --> 00:25:18,150 That error would've fallen on the Secretary of State and the Department of State 392 00:25:18,150 --> 00:25:20,470 for not advertising properly, correct? 393 00:25:20,470 --> 00:25:25,470 Yes, that's correct. Yes. I mean, it was a very, I mean, there, 394 00:25:25,470 --> 00:25:28,190 there's no way to, to, to beat around the bush. They, 395 00:25:28,190 --> 00:25:31,950 they was just a very bad oversight, very bad. 396 00:25:33,330 --> 00:25:37,600 So, you know, we've been talking about childhood sexual, uh, abuse, 397 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:41,120 and I wanna move, uh, the topic to, uh, 398 00:25:41,210 --> 00:25:46,000 to sexual harassment and sexual harassment by members 399 00:25:46,210 --> 00:25:49,480 of the General Assembly. Uh, you know, 400 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:52,480 I know this has long been a problem. Uh, 401 00:25:52,490 --> 00:25:56,520 we have seen the Me Too movement, which has, uh, 402 00:25:56,520 --> 00:26:00,360 come in and has been widely, uh, 403 00:26:00,360 --> 00:26:04,720 applauded but also widely criticized because, um, you know, 404 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:08,200 we have some colleagues in the past that have, uh, 405 00:26:08,440 --> 00:26:12,200 received accusations of sexual harassment, um, 406 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:17,040 but then they weren't able to file any charges or to substantiate 407 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:19,160 those allegations. Um, 408 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:23,280 but now comes new allegations of a current sitting member, 409 00:26:23,970 --> 00:26:28,560 uh, a Democrat, uh, from Delaware County, I believe. And, uh, 410 00:26:28,560 --> 00:26:33,200 and I wanted to kind of get, get your perspective on what needs to happen, 411 00:26:33,410 --> 00:26:38,120 uh, should the House and the Senate be able to better police themselves 412 00:26:38,700 --> 00:26:43,560 and to keep their members in line whenever, um, they step, 413 00:26:43,670 --> 00:26:47,600 step outta line and, uh, and something like this occurs. 414 00:26:49,800 --> 00:26:52,170 Yeah. So yeah, I, I mean, 415 00:26:52,170 --> 00:26:54,890 absolutely they should be able to better police themselves, but there, there, 416 00:26:54,890 --> 00:26:58,210 I mean, there's, the, the, the opportunity is, is there now, 417 00:26:59,610 --> 00:27:04,290 uh, I I I think the difficulty here, 418 00:27:04,940 --> 00:27:09,250 Matthew, is that the, that the Democrats set, set a precedent. 419 00:27:09,510 --> 00:27:12,530 And I, I look back at, uh, 420 00:27:12,530 --> 00:27:16,450 justice Kavanaugh when he was being, um, 421 00:27:18,150 --> 00:27:21,040 during his nomination, right? 422 00:27:21,420 --> 00:27:23,000 And the incident period. 423 00:27:23,110 --> 00:27:26,360 Yeah, they're in the confirmation hearings. Uh, 424 00:27:26,360 --> 00:27:30,480 there was a certain precedent set there, right? Um, 425 00:27:31,460 --> 00:27:32,293 and 426 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:37,950 we can fast forward to look at the example of what's going on in, in, in the, 427 00:27:37,950 --> 00:27:40,150 in the house. Um, 428 00:27:41,870 --> 00:27:46,340 if Representative Zabel is indeed 429 00:27:46,770 --> 00:27:50,220 y you know, actually done what he's been accused of doing, 430 00:27:50,220 --> 00:27:53,860 then yet he needs to step down. There's, there's not a, there's there, 431 00:27:53,860 --> 00:27:58,380 there's no question about it. Uh, I, I think at this point thing here is though, 432 00:27:58,380 --> 00:28:02,700 is that the Democrat party hasn't even acknowledged it, 433 00:28:02,700 --> 00:28:05,520 and they've known about it since, um, 434 00:28:08,250 --> 00:28:11,050 December, January. I don't know the they, but they've known about it for, 435 00:28:11,050 --> 00:28:14,330 for a few months. Uh, and you have to wonder, 436 00:28:15,100 --> 00:28:19,930 is it because they had a one seat majority in the house that they 437 00:28:19,930 --> 00:28:24,090 didn't do anything? So it's like, you know, 438 00:28:24,090 --> 00:28:27,570 do is it believe survivors and 439 00:28:29,530 --> 00:28:32,040 Me Too. I mean, that's a rally cry, 440 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:36,880 but when one of their own has been accused of it, there was deafening silence. 441 00:28:38,290 --> 00:28:43,120 Uh, so I mean, that's my observation into it, is, is that, 442 00:28:44,330 --> 00:28:45,163 um, 443 00:28:45,350 --> 00:28:50,190 their party should be handling this the way that they handle the other 444 00:28:50,190 --> 00:28:51,630 accusations. That's all. 445 00:28:51,940 --> 00:28:54,790 Well, and, and I think there are a couple points that, 446 00:28:54,790 --> 00:28:59,670 that we have to make when we look at accusations of this kind. You know, 447 00:28:59,670 --> 00:29:03,990 w we all have a, a constitutional right to confront, uh, 448 00:29:03,990 --> 00:29:07,190 our accusers if, uh, if we're accused of, 449 00:29:07,240 --> 00:29:11,190 of committing a crime against someone. So of course, we, 450 00:29:11,190 --> 00:29:15,350 we want to hear Representative Sables side of the story. Um, 451 00:29:15,690 --> 00:29:19,990 but you know, there, there in question is, um, you know, 452 00:29:19,990 --> 00:29:23,910 did something happen? Did something not happen? And you know, I, 453 00:29:23,910 --> 00:29:26,550 I've read that he doesn't plan to step down. 454 00:29:26,550 --> 00:29:31,150 He plans to get help or treatment for some type of, 455 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:35,030 um, uh, health issue or issues as, 456 00:29:35,040 --> 00:29:37,190 as some of the newspapers have reported, 457 00:29:37,410 --> 00:29:40,870 but they didn't say what those issues were. And I just think it's, 458 00:29:40,990 --> 00:29:45,440 it's a little bit concerning that you have sitting members of the house under 459 00:29:45,440 --> 00:29:49,160 these type of accusations. Um, and like I said, 460 00:29:49,350 --> 00:29:53,680 I don't think that you can automatically remove someone because they have a 461 00:29:53,680 --> 00:29:56,880 right to confront their accuser. Um, and, 462 00:29:56,900 --> 00:30:01,840 and we do want to hear their side of the story. Um, but what is, uh, 463 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:06,240 or seems to be happening, I believe is a little bit troubling. Now, 464 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:10,400 when we look at this from a political perspective, um, you know, 465 00:30:10,510 --> 00:30:14,240 I think the, the seat that Representative Zabel has, um, 466 00:30:14,240 --> 00:30:17,520 I know when I first came into the house, that was a seat held by a Republican, 467 00:30:17,550 --> 00:30:21,800 I believe, uh, and then he was elected two years later. 468 00:30:22,260 --> 00:30:26,760 But we've lost all of those Delaware County seats as, as Republicans. 469 00:30:27,370 --> 00:30:31,360 Um, you know, truth of the matter is, if the Democrats asked him to step down, 470 00:30:31,790 --> 00:30:36,480 that's probably not a seat that you guys as Republicans could even pick up. 471 00:30:36,530 --> 00:30:40,240 So I don't see a political downside, uh, 472 00:30:40,250 --> 00:30:44,960 to them calling out the situation and asking him to, uh, 473 00:30:45,010 --> 00:30:49,680 to address it and to either step down or, uh, you know, 474 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:50,760 to prove his innocence. 475 00:30:51,630 --> 00:30:53,240 Yeah. And, and again, I I, 476 00:30:53,240 --> 00:30:55,840 I think that's just been the troubling thing I is that 477 00:30:57,680 --> 00:31:02,320 their caucus has been just completely silent on it, Matt, I, I mean, there, the, 478 00:31:03,490 --> 00:31:04,760 it, it was, you know, 479 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:08,360 don't pay attention to the guy behind the curtain type of thing. Right? That, 480 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:10,720 and, and that, that to me is a little troubling, 481 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:13,160 especially when you just have a, a one seat majority. 482 00:31:13,160 --> 00:31:15,960 But you have to think even, you know, if you have a one seat majority, 483 00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:18,160 if you ask a member to step down and resign, 484 00:31:18,580 --> 00:31:23,460 you no longer have a majority until that seats filled. 485 00:31:26,290 --> 00:31:29,900 Yeah. And so it does make for, for some complications. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, 486 00:31:29,900 --> 00:31:33,900 we need to get one more break in here real quick, and then when we come back, 487 00:31:34,010 --> 00:31:38,620 I want to talk about your personal legislative priorities, uh, 488 00:31:38,620 --> 00:31:40,740 for the next session and, uh, 489 00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:43,860 and let you kind of address some of the things that you're working on. 490 00:31:43,860 --> 00:31:46,140 We'll be right back on commonalities. 491 00:31:49,330 --> 00:31:53,980 You're listening to commonalities where guests find common ground through 492 00:31:54,300 --> 00:31:55,500 uncommon conversations. 493 00:31:56,060 --> 00:31:59,460 We'll be back after this brief break to recognize our sponsors. 494 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:05,500 I'm Melinda De LaRose. As an Assistant District Attorney, 495 00:32:05,610 --> 00:32:09,540 I've protected Fayette County families and fought to uphold our constitutional 496 00:32:09,540 --> 00:32:12,380 rights. As a prosecutor and trusted local attorney, 497 00:32:12,380 --> 00:32:16,380 I've provided victims of crime with a strong voice and put criminals behind 498 00:32:16,380 --> 00:32:19,740 bars. My pledge to you as judge is to follow the law, 499 00:32:19,740 --> 00:32:21,980 always maintain the highest ethical standards, 500 00:32:21,980 --> 00:32:26,540 and to run a courtroom that's respectful of your time and tax dollars. 501 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:30,300 I'm Melinda de LaRose asking for your vote for Judge paid. 502 00:32:30,300 --> 00:32:31,940 For by Friends of Melinda de LaRose. 503 00:32:32,530 --> 00:32:34,500 When it comes to buying a home, 504 00:32:34,890 --> 00:32:37,940 what you see isn't exactly what you get. 505 00:32:38,210 --> 00:32:42,760 That's why home buyers should call Dave Dowling at Grandview 506 00:32:42,760 --> 00:32:47,680 Inspections at 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 507 00:32:48,030 --> 00:32:53,000 You'll see colorful flowers, freshly painted walls, granite countertops, 508 00:32:53,250 --> 00:32:55,680 blaming hardwood floors and other touches. 509 00:32:55,950 --> 00:33:00,080 What you can't see is the cracks, ancient plumbing, 510 00:33:00,400 --> 00:33:01,640 dangerous wiring, 511 00:33:01,970 --> 00:33:06,840 or broken appliances that might be revealed when you hire a 512 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:10,520 home inspector. And when it comes to home inspectors, 513 00:33:10,650 --> 00:33:14,720 knowing yours has the qualifications and experience needed, 514 00:33:14,790 --> 00:33:18,560 should be your number one concern. Dave Dowling, 515 00:33:18,560 --> 00:33:20,240 with Grand View Inspections, 516 00:33:20,370 --> 00:33:25,080 is an architectural engineer with over 30 years of commercial construction 517 00:33:25,080 --> 00:33:28,880 experience and hundreds of inspections under his belt. 518 00:33:29,750 --> 00:33:34,520 A home inspection is an opportunity for you to hire an expert to walk 519 00:33:34,520 --> 00:33:38,880 through the home and prepare a report outlining the home's major 520 00:33:38,880 --> 00:33:39,713 components. 521 00:33:39,790 --> 00:33:44,640 What needs immediate attention and what will require maintenance after you 522 00:33:44,640 --> 00:33:48,160 move in your home is one of your biggest investments. 523 00:33:48,410 --> 00:33:52,360 So make sure your investment is everything you hoped it to be. 524 00:33:52,630 --> 00:33:56,080 Call Dave Dowling at Grandview Inspections at 525 00:33:56,080 --> 00:34:00,040 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 526 00:34:06,350 --> 00:34:10,540 Is your business using analog strategies in a digital marketing world? 527 00:34:10,990 --> 00:34:11,620 If so, 528 00:34:11,620 --> 00:34:16,380 then contact Matthew or Rebecca Dowling at Coordinated 360 for a 529 00:34:16,380 --> 00:34:20,340 professional consultation where we bring in-depth knowledge and functional 530 00:34:20,340 --> 00:34:22,180 expertise with a holistic perspective. 531 00:34:23,020 --> 00:34:27,860 Coordinated 360 provides digital marketing, paid ad and media buying services, 532 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:32,820 web design, social media management, video production, and more for businesses, 533 00:34:32,840 --> 00:34:37,340 organizations, and political campaigns with decades of experience. 534 00:34:37,340 --> 00:34:41,940 Matt and Becky at Coordinated 360 can help you craft your unique message 535 00:34:42,080 --> 00:34:43,460 and share it with the world. 536 00:34:43,640 --> 00:34:47,260 For a no risk media evaluation and recommendations, 537 00:34:47,490 --> 00:34:51,540 call 7 2 4 3 2 0 22 12, 538 00:34:51,830 --> 00:34:53,820 or visit us online at 539 00:34:54,480 --> 00:34:59,340 www.coordinatedthreesixty.com. Find us also on Facebook, 540 00:34:59,340 --> 00:35:00,660 Instagram, and Twitter, 541 00:35:00,990 --> 00:35:04,380 or email info coordinated three sixty.com. 542 00:35:07,360 --> 00:35:08,620 Are you enjoying the program? 543 00:35:08,620 --> 00:35:12,820 You're listening to support commonalities and help keep us on the air by making 544 00:35:12,820 --> 00:35:17,740 a donation of five, 10, or $25, or any amount you feel comfortable sharing 545 00:35:17,740 --> 00:35:21,620 online@donate.commonalities.online. Again, 546 00:35:21,620 --> 00:35:25,540 that is donate.commonalities.online on the worldwide web. 547 00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:30,540 Buy our host a cup of coffee or help pay for airtime at donate dot commonalities 548 00:35:30,540 --> 00:35:31,373 online. 549 00:35:34,580 --> 00:35:37,110 Thanks for staying with us. I'm your host, Matt Dowling, 550 00:35:37,120 --> 00:35:40,680 alongside our guest today, representative Ryan Warner. Uh, 551 00:35:40,680 --> 00:35:44,160 state representative for the northern part of Fayette County, 552 00:35:44,160 --> 00:35:47,080 representative Warner. Before we went to break, I said, uh, 553 00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:49,360 that I was gonna give you the, uh, 554 00:35:49,360 --> 00:35:53,440 chance to talk about your legislative priorities. Um, you know, it, 555 00:35:53,440 --> 00:35:58,200 it's a little harder now. Um, when I served in the house, 556 00:35:58,260 --> 00:36:02,840 you know, having the Republican majority and having a Republican senate, um, 557 00:36:03,170 --> 00:36:06,480 it wasn't easy to get legislation across the line, 558 00:36:06,860 --> 00:36:10,880 but at least it was our committee chairs that, uh, 559 00:36:11,030 --> 00:36:15,760 that could make a dec decision to run one of the Republican bills. Uh, 560 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:20,560 out of committee, uh, we had speakership, which, uh, in the, 561 00:36:20,560 --> 00:36:23,720 the majority leader who was controlling the calendar, 562 00:36:24,140 --> 00:36:26,280 and then we could punt over to the Senate. 563 00:36:26,650 --> 00:36:29,360 So I know things will be a little bit more difficult, 564 00:36:29,380 --> 00:36:34,200 but what's on your radar or your agenda for, uh, the next two years? 565 00:36:36,290 --> 00:36:40,820 Yeah, so I, I mean, you bring up some, some great points. It, it does not, 566 00:36:40,820 --> 00:36:44,620 you know, not being in the majority does make things a little bit more, 567 00:36:44,620 --> 00:36:48,220 more difficult, but it doesn't make things impossible. I mean, 568 00:36:48,220 --> 00:36:51,500 having discussions with, with the, with the Senate, I mean, 569 00:36:52,340 --> 00:36:56,540 there will be, uh, I, I think because of this, you're gonna see a lot of, 570 00:36:56,540 --> 00:37:00,900 you'll, you'll see bipartisan package, uh, of bills. 571 00:37:01,160 --> 00:37:04,700 And, you know, having a one seat majority isn't, 572 00:37:05,700 --> 00:37:10,300 isn't that big of a majority in sense of the fact that you do have some moderate 573 00:37:10,740 --> 00:37:11,300 Democrats that, 574 00:37:11,300 --> 00:37:15,260 that won't be able to vote with some of the foreign left wing stuff, uh, that, 575 00:37:15,260 --> 00:37:20,140 that may be proposed from Philadelphia. Uh, so I, I mean, 576 00:37:20,140 --> 00:37:22,540 I'm gonna continue to push forward because again, 577 00:37:22,540 --> 00:37:26,580 the majorities can even change throughout the course of, of this session, right? 578 00:37:26,670 --> 00:37:29,620 So I'll keep advocating for the things that, 579 00:37:29,620 --> 00:37:32,700 that I've advocated for previously. Uh, 580 00:37:32,700 --> 00:37:36,900 I will continuously push the Taxpayer Protection Act. Uh, I, 581 00:37:36,900 --> 00:37:41,600 I know multiple, um, conservative and, 582 00:37:41,600 --> 00:37:44,680 and good government groups have this at, at the top of their list as a, 583 00:37:44,680 --> 00:37:48,920 as a piece of legislation that, that they push for. And, uh, uh, 584 00:37:48,920 --> 00:37:53,280 the Taxpayer Protection Act basically just limits the amount of money that that 585 00:37:53,280 --> 00:37:55,720 government can spend, uh, 586 00:37:55,720 --> 00:38:00,000 constrains the budgets to a percentage of population increase, 587 00:38:00,730 --> 00:38:05,280 uh, and, and inflation, uh, increase. Uh, 588 00:38:05,660 --> 00:38:06,800 I'm working on a, 589 00:38:06,870 --> 00:38:11,160 a package of bills right now for combating illegal immigration, 590 00:38:11,810 --> 00:38:16,760 uh, particularly going after sanctuary city statuses. Uh, look, 591 00:38:17,040 --> 00:38:20,600 fentanyl is becoming such a major, major, 592 00:38:20,840 --> 00:38:24,960 major issue in this country. Uh, 593 00:38:24,960 --> 00:38:29,920 the drug epidemic in general is a major, major issue in this country. 594 00:38:31,410 --> 00:38:36,080 Uh, and if the federal government isn't gonna do anything 595 00:38:36,650 --> 00:38:41,440 to try to stop that influx of drugs from coming up through the 596 00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:45,800 border, then, then I'm going to track here in Pennsylvania at least, 597 00:38:46,930 --> 00:38:51,240 um, because that's one of the largest sources 598 00:38:52,910 --> 00:38:57,860 of the drugs coming into this country, coming across the border. Uh, 599 00:38:57,860 --> 00:39:02,820 and I'm also working on a package of welfare, good welfare reform bills. 600 00:39:03,510 --> 00:39:04,343 Um, 601 00:39:04,930 --> 00:39:08,660 namely there's a bill I'm working on that, 602 00:39:08,660 --> 00:39:12,900 that deals with out-of-state E B T card spending. Uh, 603 00:39:13,650 --> 00:39:14,020 I mean, 604 00:39:14,020 --> 00:39:18,100 a lot of people would be shocked to know that there's e v t car spending in 605 00:39:19,160 --> 00:39:24,140 all 50 states, <laugh> and, excuse me, 606 00:39:25,110 --> 00:39:29,580 in some of the territories in, uh, in, in our country, 607 00:39:29,790 --> 00:39:33,580 uh, including Guam, <laugh>, uh, 608 00:39:33,810 --> 00:39:35,660 millions of dollars spent in Florida, 609 00:39:35,730 --> 00:39:40,500 millions of dollars spent in North Carolina, uh, millions of dollars, 610 00:39:40,910 --> 00:39:44,940 uh, spent a lot of vacationing areas, uh, 611 00:39:44,940 --> 00:39:49,940 that the taxpayers deserve to know why. Uh, 612 00:39:50,190 --> 00:39:54,340 so again, we'll be working on good government reforms, um, 613 00:39:54,690 --> 00:39:58,620 limiting spending, the illegal immigration stuff in the welfare reform, 614 00:39:58,620 --> 00:40:00,260 and will be some of the stuff we'll be pushing forward. 615 00:40:01,330 --> 00:40:05,540 Well, you know, and, and one of the bills that I had worked on and, uh, 616 00:40:05,600 --> 00:40:08,500 had vetoed by Governor Wolf was, uh, 617 00:40:08,880 --> 00:40:12,420 was one that I think would fit in nicely with the package that you were just 618 00:40:12,420 --> 00:40:13,253 discussing, 619 00:40:13,280 --> 00:40:17,420 and that was Medicaid work requirements for those that were able bodied people 620 00:40:17,420 --> 00:40:20,500 so that we're able-bodied people. So I hope someone picks up the baton and, 621 00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:25,340 and passes that. Uh, and because, um, we, 622 00:40:25,590 --> 00:40:29,100 we had bipartisan support whenever, uh, I had that bill. 623 00:40:29,360 --> 00:40:33,540 And I think it's something that a lot of people in our area of, 624 00:40:33,540 --> 00:40:36,780 regardless of political party would agree that, uh, 625 00:40:36,780 --> 00:40:41,340 that able-bodied people should go out and at least look for work. 626 00:40:41,510 --> 00:40:44,660 Uh, and if, if they can't find a job, uh, 627 00:40:44,670 --> 00:40:48,500 at least fulfill some requirements through volunteering, uh, 628 00:40:49,310 --> 00:40:52,900 or things of that nature. So, you know, I, that's a bill I, 629 00:40:52,900 --> 00:40:55,580 I hope someone picks up and, uh, and runs with, 630 00:40:55,670 --> 00:40:58,820 because we got it past the finish line and then, uh, 631 00:40:58,820 --> 00:41:02,940 got it to the governor's desk and, and it was vetoed, uh, a few years back. 632 00:41:02,940 --> 00:41:03,300 Yeah. 633 00:41:03,300 --> 00:41:05,220 Yeah. We were actually just, uh, 634 00:41:05,220 --> 00:41:08,940 just discussing that and discussing that it was bipartisan and, you know, 635 00:41:08,940 --> 00:41:13,020 you bring up a good point. It wasn't, uh, it wasn't too over the top. 636 00:41:13,020 --> 00:41:16,920 You were just asking people to at least search for work if they were able to 637 00:41:16,920 --> 00:41:17,753 body. 638 00:41:17,930 --> 00:41:19,390 And, uh, you know, 639 00:41:19,390 --> 00:41:24,350 and one thing I'll say about that Bill were a couple things we had written 640 00:41:24,380 --> 00:41:24,990 into it, 641 00:41:24,990 --> 00:41:29,710 exemptions for pretty much anything you could think of if you were a victim 642 00:41:29,710 --> 00:41:33,640 of domestic violence, if you were taking care of an elderly, uh, 643 00:41:33,640 --> 00:41:37,640 parent that was on hospice, uh, et cetera. We, 644 00:41:37,640 --> 00:41:41,720 we exempted all those people. And the key thing that, uh, 645 00:41:41,720 --> 00:41:46,640 that I wanna point out about work requirements I, is the fact that, 646 00:41:47,210 --> 00:41:48,240 um, you know, 647 00:41:48,260 --> 00:41:52,680 you have to get permission from the federal government to put those work 648 00:41:52,680 --> 00:41:54,160 requirements in place. 649 00:41:54,780 --> 00:41:59,440 And so passing this in Pennsylvania would allow us to apply, 650 00:42:00,250 --> 00:42:00,740 uh, 651 00:42:00,740 --> 00:42:05,400 for a exemption that would allow us to put those work 652 00:42:05,400 --> 00:42:10,160 requirements in place. And what's actually interesting is President Clinton, 653 00:42:10,450 --> 00:42:10,800 uh, 654 00:42:10,800 --> 00:42:15,640 a democrat is who allowed for that process to even happen. 655 00:42:15,640 --> 00:42:20,120 This was legislation from his error era that, uh, 656 00:42:20,120 --> 00:42:20,880 that was allowed. 657 00:42:20,880 --> 00:42:25,640 It was then rescinded by the Obama administration and brought back by the Trump 658 00:42:25,640 --> 00:42:30,400 administration. Uh, I went to DC a few times to, to work on the bill, 659 00:42:30,730 --> 00:42:35,160 uh, with the Trump administration. And, uh, but I I, 660 00:42:35,160 --> 00:42:39,200 I do think that there's a, a renewed call, uh, for, 661 00:42:39,250 --> 00:42:42,240 as you called 'em, good government bills. Um, 662 00:42:42,240 --> 00:42:44,840 we're getting to our last couple minutes here of the program. 663 00:42:45,310 --> 00:42:50,040 I wanna give you an opportunity to tell listeners how they can get ahold of you. 664 00:42:50,040 --> 00:42:53,080 I know your office in, in Mont, uh, 665 00:42:53,320 --> 00:42:58,320 which was your main district office, had to move or has to move. Um, 666 00:42:58,320 --> 00:43:01,400 so give us your contact information. Where can people find you? 667 00:43:01,740 --> 00:43:06,080 And if they need assistance with things like rent rebates or 668 00:43:06,330 --> 00:43:08,440 elderly people that went, uh, 669 00:43:08,440 --> 00:43:12,280 their discount on renewing their tags for their cars, um, 670 00:43:12,280 --> 00:43:15,840 how can they get ahold of, of your office and get that help that they need? 671 00:43:16,150 --> 00:43:20,560 Yeah, absolutely. So our phone number has not changed. 672 00:43:20,560 --> 00:43:25,040 It's still 7 2 4 4 3 7 1 1 0 5. You, 673 00:43:25,040 --> 00:43:27,840 you can more than welcome to give the office a call. 674 00:43:28,220 --> 00:43:30,840 Our main office did move because of the district changes. 675 00:43:30,840 --> 00:43:34,680 So we are now on Pittsburgh Street in Connellsville, so you could, 676 00:43:34,680 --> 00:43:38,400 you can look for us there. We wi that office isn't quite open yet. 677 00:43:38,400 --> 00:43:41,120 We will be ha we'll be doing an announcement here. Uh, 678 00:43:41,120 --> 00:43:43,720 that office will be fully opened here shortly. 679 00:43:43,720 --> 00:43:47,760 Our Perus office is still open Monday, Wednesday, 680 00:43:48,540 --> 00:43:52,320 and Friday. Uh, so, uh oh. And you can, 681 00:43:52,320 --> 00:43:56,000 you can also email us at our warner pa house g o p.com. 682 00:43:57,100 --> 00:43:58,270 Well, thank you so much, 683 00:43:58,270 --> 00:44:01,630 representative Warner for being our guest here on commonalities today. 684 00:44:01,980 --> 00:44:03,990 Lots of luck to you and, uh, 685 00:44:04,290 --> 00:44:09,230 and I hope you enjoy and hear some good things in, in the budget address, 686 00:44:09,230 --> 00:44:13,190 which is scheduled for, uh, for the morning that this episode will air. 687 00:44:13,190 --> 00:44:14,630 Thanks so much for being with us. 688 00:44:14,680 --> 00:44:16,270 Matthew. Thank you so much. 689 00:44:17,340 --> 00:44:19,390 This has been commonalities, 690 00:44:19,660 --> 00:44:23,910 a show where guests find common ground through uncommon conversations. 691 00:44:23,990 --> 00:44:26,750 Copyright 2022 coordinated 360, 692 00:44:26,970 --> 00:44:30,470 all public rebroadcast should be done with prior written approval from Matthew 693 00:44:30,470 --> 00:44:35,190 Dowling. All requests should be sent to info@coordinatedthreesixty.com. 694 00:44:35,190 --> 00:44:37,870 Thank you for listening to commonalities.
07Mar, 2023
