Attorney General visits Butler on campaign trail for governor
Attorney General Josh Shapiro stopped at the Butler County Democratic Committee headquarters Wednesday afternoon on his campaign for governor.
Shapiro is running unopposed in the Democratic primary, but said he is making his way around the state to get his name out to residents and get a read on the issues Pennsylvanians find important.
In a talk attended by several county Democratic officials and about 20 other people at the West Jefferson Street office, Shapiro said he wants to be governor in part to improve the state’s economy through investments in education and medicine.
“How about we invest in an economy that lifts everybody up,” Shapiro said. “We have to be able to take advantage of the things that set us apart and make us unique, from investing more in energy, to making sure we do right by investing in eds and meds and creating more jobs that are going to help move our economy forward.”
Shapiro, who was elected attorney general in 2016, said he has been involved in state lawsuits that have impacted residents including election integrity.
Shapiro talked about some key issues during a question-and-answer session with the attendees, where he was asked about the Pennsylvania gas tax, funding state police, funding volunteer fire departments, voters’ rights and more.
Shapiro said he would not eliminate the gas tax, because it funds state police and infrastructure throughout the state. He said he wants to introduce a gas tax rebate where every vehicle is eligible for a $250 rebate.
“It’s responsible, it’s paid for and it’s not money enriching oil and gas executives,” Shapiro said.
Shapiro said he has a plan to make sure volunteer firefighters get breaks on their property taxes and get tuition breaks for higher education to make sure volunteer departments are sustainable.
Shapiro also said he supports women’s rights to abortion, has a plan to hire 1,000 new municipal police officers throughout the state and would block any attacks on access to voting. He also said he supports the legalization of recreational marijuana, so long as it would be an industry managed by people in-state.
Jamie Shropshire came from Clarion County to attend the meet and greet, and asked Shapiro about his stance on fracking.
Shapiro said he would require fracking companies to disclose the chemicals generated through the process, because of the public health issues that could arise from fracking sites.
“I wanted to see him speak because I am a supporter of Shapiro,” Shropshire said.
Marshall Miller, of Butler, said he wanted to attend the event to get an idea of what Shapiro was like in person, and his stance on particular issues. He asked Shapiro about where he stood on the Second Amendment, to which Shapiro said he would like to introduce “common sense” gun rules.
“I protect people’s right to bear arms, I also believe people have the right to walk down the street and not get shot,” Shapiro said. “I want to do common sense things like making sure for example criminals don’t get their hands on guns, making sure we close loopholes.”
Miller said he was satisfied with his answer, but would have also asked for Shapiro’s stance on charter schools if given the chance.
“I’m a lifelong Democratic supporter and I just wanted to get to know him to make sure he gets my support,” Miller said. “I was happy with his answers on fracking and policing, I would have liked to know more.”
Shapiro said the voters present in the room could make a difference in the election, and thanked them for their support.
“I don’t think of these as red communities or blue communities, I think of these as communities of Pennsylvanians who need to be heard,” he said. “I know how to bring people together to get things done.”
