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 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:27,200 Thank you for joining another episode of Commonalities. I'm your host, 8 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:31,280 Matt Dowling. My guest today is a friend and colleague of mine, 9 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:33,040 Senator Greg Rothman. 10 00:00:33,390 --> 00:00:36,760 Greg served in the Pennsylvania house with me and, uh, 11 00:00:36,930 --> 00:00:41,320 is a newly minted Pennsylvania state. Senator Greg, 12 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:45,480 I want to thank you for being with me today. And, uh, want to give you a, 13 00:00:45,480 --> 00:00:49,920 an opportunity at the start of the show here to give a little bit of your 14 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:52,000 background, uh, you know, 15 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:55,280 how you got into politics and how you, uh, 16 00:00:55,540 --> 00:00:59,040 you got to your current seat in the Pennsylvania Senate. 17 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:03,650 Thanks, Matt, and great seeing you. It was, uh, it was honor serving with you. 18 00:01:03,650 --> 00:01:07,210 We had, uh, did some important stuff in the house together. Um, 19 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:11,650 I served in the house, as you said, for seven years. Uh, prior to that, um, 20 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:15,210 I spent about 30 years in real estate, uh, 21 00:01:15,210 --> 00:01:18,610 real estate brokerage and appraising a little bit of development, uh, 22 00:01:18,610 --> 00:01:22,130 in the Harrisburg area. Uh, I grew up in this area. Uh, 23 00:01:22,130 --> 00:01:27,050 I was always interested in politics and certainly understood the role that, 24 00:01:27,140 --> 00:01:31,690 uh, the state government has in, uh, in our business and in our lives. 25 00:01:32,020 --> 00:01:36,650 Um, and so I cared about who the, who was holding office. Um, as I said, 26 00:01:36,650 --> 00:01:39,250 about seven years ago, my state representative, 27 00:01:39,250 --> 00:01:43,410 who'd been there for a long time, left there was a special election. Uh, 28 00:01:43,410 --> 00:01:47,930 I was chairman of the county party, and, um, we had a conf free process. 29 00:01:48,110 --> 00:01:50,530 And, uh, I wasn't, uh, 30 00:01:51,120 --> 00:01:55,090 wasn't really satisfied with the way, um, it was shaping up. 31 00:01:55,090 --> 00:01:58,730 And a couple people came to me and said, well, you know, maybe you should run. 32 00:01:58,730 --> 00:02:03,410 And I thought I would just finish out the term about six or nine months. 33 00:02:03,410 --> 00:02:07,690 And I ended up, uh, getting there and meet, meeting some great people like, 34 00:02:07,690 --> 00:02:12,210 like yourself. And I thought, well, this is important work. I, I, 35 00:02:12,210 --> 00:02:17,060 I thought that politics is too serious to be left to politicians, so that, 36 00:02:17,060 --> 00:02:19,580 that's why I ran in the first place. And, um, 37 00:02:19,980 --> 00:02:24,340 ended up being able to get a lot done and stop a lot of bad things too. Um, 38 00:02:24,970 --> 00:02:29,620 during, uh, redistricting, um, the, the, uh, 39 00:02:29,620 --> 00:02:33,780 new map for the house, basically my seat was sent in three different directions, 40 00:02:33,790 --> 00:02:36,180 so it became three different seats. Um, 41 00:02:36,180 --> 00:02:39,780 and the Democrats were successful in redistricting my house seat away. 42 00:02:39,780 --> 00:02:44,540 But meanwhile, they created a, a, a senate seat that was, um, 43 00:02:44,540 --> 00:02:49,300 perfect, I thought perfect for my background and my, um, philosophy. 44 00:02:49,300 --> 00:02:50,500 And, and, uh, 45 00:02:50,500 --> 00:02:53,100 my house district was a hundred percent within the Senate district, 46 00:02:53,100 --> 00:02:56,260 so I ran for that and, uh, won a, a contested primary. 47 00:02:56,260 --> 00:02:59,440 And then the general contested general election. So, um, 48 00:02:59,460 --> 00:03:03,600 for those keeping score, I had seven contested elections in seven years, 49 00:03:04,020 --> 00:03:08,840 and we won them all. So, um, I've, um, I spent, 50 00:03:09,010 --> 00:03:13,920 um, I went to college in Massachusetts, uh, in Amherst, Massachusetts at UMass, 51 00:03:13,920 --> 00:03:14,960 was a political science major. 52 00:03:15,190 --> 00:03:18,880 Went to graduate school at Johns Hopkins and got a master's degree in real 53 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:22,120 estate. Spent 10 years in the Marine Corps Reserve. I was, uh, 54 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:26,680 in artillery in the Marine Corps. Uh, I've got five children, uh, four girls, 55 00:03:26,700 --> 00:03:31,360 one of whom has a fifth birthday today. And, uh, and one boy, of course, 56 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:36,360 the boy's my favorite. Right, right. Matt, it's . Um, but anyway, I, uh, 57 00:03:37,050 --> 00:03:39,800 uh, grew up in this area in central Pennsylvania. 58 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,040 I've lived here all my life and, uh, love representing it. 59 00:03:44,370 --> 00:03:44,980 That's. 60 00:03:44,980 --> 00:03:45,813 That's. 61 00:03:45,910 --> 00:03:46,980 My elevator speech. 62 00:03:47,890 --> 00:03:52,720 So you are, uh, you're, like I said, you're a newly minted senator, and, 63 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:53,310 uh, 64 00:03:53,310 --> 00:03:58,000 I wanted to get your opinion on the way things are kind of 65 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:02,640 breaking down here as a new session has started, uh, 66 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:05,560 with a new governor. Of course, we have a, 67 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:09,440 a Democratic governor with Governor Josh Shapiro. Um, 68 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:13,760 the Pennsylvania House for the first time in many years is, uh, 69 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:15,800 being controlled by the Democrats, 70 00:04:16,220 --> 00:04:20,840 and then we still have a Republican majority in the Senate. 71 00:04:21,220 --> 00:04:26,160 You know, how do you foresee those three factions working 72 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:31,080 together, um, kind of to get things accomplished? And, you know, I, 73 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:32,920 I know the house is, uh, 74 00:04:33,210 --> 00:04:37,320 is really behind in getting organized and getting off the ground, 75 00:04:37,970 --> 00:04:38,320 uh, 76 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:43,160 especially as we're coming to what would traditionally be the beginning 77 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:45,880 of budget season. So, uh, you know, 78 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:49,760 how do you see those three factions being able to, 79 00:04:49,970 --> 00:04:51,960 to work together here in Pennsylvania? 80 00:04:52,770 --> 00:04:56,900 Yeah, as soon as you and I leave, the whole place goes to, you know, , 81 00:04:58,190 --> 00:05:02,420 uh, it, it, it'll be interesting, um, you know, you know, 82 00:05:02,420 --> 00:05:07,180 the dynamic from having served there too. Um, 203 is a lot of people. 83 00:05:07,630 --> 00:05:11,660 Um, you know, we, we talk about herding cats, um, you know, 84 00:05:11,660 --> 00:05:15,980 to get 102 people on the same page for anything is difficult. Um, 85 00:05:15,980 --> 00:05:19,260 which is why, you know, having a, having a healthy majority, 86 00:05:19,260 --> 00:05:23,540 like we had when you and I served, um, you know, still, um, 87 00:05:23,540 --> 00:05:24,300 despite that, 88 00:05:24,300 --> 00:05:27,900 we still didn't get everything done we wanted to get done in the house. So, um, 89 00:05:28,090 --> 00:05:30,580 I mean, it looks as if, I don't know, I mean, 90 00:05:30,580 --> 00:05:35,340 it's gonna be 102 to 101 or 102 to a hundred next 91 00:05:35,340 --> 00:05:40,100 week. Um, uh, and then, you know, in my seven years in the house, 92 00:05:40,100 --> 00:05:43,860 there was always someone vacancy, and there was always someone, uh, 93 00:05:43,860 --> 00:05:45,900 whether they were, um, you know, 94 00:05:45,900 --> 00:05:50,140 under indictment or running for another office or had health issues or, 95 00:05:50,750 --> 00:05:53,860 um, you know, had, had other conflicts weren't there. 96 00:05:53,860 --> 00:05:57,440 And so if you're not there now, all of a sudden the numbers change again. And, 97 00:05:57,970 --> 00:06:01,760 um, I s I thought after the election, you know, 98 00:06:01,760 --> 00:06:05,680 realizing that the Democrats had picked up the majority in the house, um, 99 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:09,840 that the Senate would end up being a, a, a backstop, and that we in the, 100 00:06:09,840 --> 00:06:14,520 the Republicans and the Senate would stop bad things from happening. Um, now, 101 00:06:14,930 --> 00:06:19,600 um, based on the sort of dysfunction of the house, um, 102 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:24,320 and the, and the really, the difficulty that either party's gonna have, um, 103 00:06:24,370 --> 00:06:27,640 in coming up with a solid majority, uh, to get things done, 104 00:06:27,640 --> 00:06:32,240 that I think the Senate Republicans are gonna be the caucus that actually gets 105 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:36,910 stuff done. And we are gonna be the leadership, the leaders in, uh, 106 00:06:36,910 --> 00:06:39,990 in an agenda and send it to the house. And, um, 107 00:06:40,170 --> 00:06:43,550 the house is gonna have to accept it if they can't come up with an alternative 108 00:06:43,550 --> 00:06:47,510 where they get 102 votes. So, and, and as you know, um, 109 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,310 so your listeners might not, you know, 110 00:06:50,310 --> 00:06:53,950 most of the stuff that gets done in the legislature happens around budget time. 111 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:58,110 So, um, you know, the governor's got, uh, 112 00:06:58,110 --> 00:07:03,070 an ambitious agenda, uh, has, has done some good things already, I think. 113 00:07:03,130 --> 00:07:07,350 And we're gonna, uh, we hope that, you know, his campaign, uh, 114 00:07:07,590 --> 00:07:10,670 rhetoric matches the reality of his policies. Uh, 115 00:07:10,670 --> 00:07:15,240 and then let's find what we can agree to, um, which is the, you know, 116 00:07:15,240 --> 00:07:19,760 that's how the real world exists, right? You compromise and you, um, 117 00:07:20,020 --> 00:07:23,680 you, you, I, I want this, you want that. That's how you negotiate. 118 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:26,480 That's what I did in real estate for 30 years. And, uh, 119 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:27,880 I think that's what's gonna end up happening. 120 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:31,200 But the negotiations are likely gonna be between the governor and the Senate 121 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:35,120 Republicans, um, with the house, just having to accept whatever we come up with. 122 00:07:36,340 --> 00:07:40,830 Well, and, and I think regardless of what party you're a member of or, 123 00:07:40,830 --> 00:07:44,230 or what you think of, um, you know, 124 00:07:44,230 --> 00:07:48,470 of his campaign promises, Josh Shapiro is, uh, 125 00:07:48,470 --> 00:07:51,310 is a phenomenal politician. And, uh, 126 00:07:51,730 --> 00:07:55,230 and that's one thing that I saw over my time, uh, 127 00:07:55,230 --> 00:07:59,510 in the house as he was Attorney General, was the fact that, uh, 128 00:07:59,510 --> 00:08:03,950 he's very good at, at playing the game. So hopefully, um, 129 00:08:04,250 --> 00:08:06,310 you know, he will continue to, 130 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:11,390 to do some of those things and to work with members of the Senate 131 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:16,510 to, uh, to get some ideas off the ground as we do move through, 132 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:21,710 uh, this budget season and, and start to hit some of those priorities, 133 00:08:22,250 --> 00:08:22,880 you know, 134 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:27,510 as someone who came from the Pennsylvania House and is now 135 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:32,190 in the, the Senate. And, uh, you know, not even looking at the, 136 00:08:32,370 --> 00:08:35,510 the dysfunction that's happening in the Pennsylvania House right now, 137 00:08:35,890 --> 00:08:40,750 but what do you see as some of the biggest differences, um, 138 00:08:40,750 --> 00:08:44,070 you know, now that you're serving in, uh, 139 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:45,830 in the upper chamber of, 140 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:50,630 of the Pennsylvania legislature compared to when you were in, 141 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:52,310 uh, in the Pennsylvania House? 142 00:08:52,900 --> 00:08:56,000 Yeah. So, uh, obviously it's a, a smaller body. 143 00:09:01,710 --> 00:09:03,760 This has been commonalities, 144 00:09:04,030 --> 00:09:08,280 a show where guests find common ground through uncommon conversations. 145 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:11,040 Copyright 2022, coordinated 360, 146 00:09:11,220 --> 00:09:14,920 all public rebroadcast should be done with prior written approval from Matthew 147 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:19,800 Dowling. All requests should be sent to info@coordinatedthreesixty.com. 148 00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:22,240 Thank you for listening to commonalities. 149 00:09:25,540 --> 00:09:26,800 Are you enjoying the program? 150 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:30,880 You're listening to support commonalities and help keep us on the air by making 151 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:33,640 a donation of five, 10, or $25, 152 00:09:33,850 --> 00:09:35,960 or any amount you feel comfortable sharing 153 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:39,840 online@donate.commonalities.online. Again, 154 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:43,920 that is donate.commonalities.online on the worldwide web. 155 00:09:44,140 --> 00:09:48,640 Buy our host a cup of coffee or help pay for airtime at donate dot commonalities 156 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:49,473 online. 157 00:09:56,520 --> 00:09:59,400 Hello, Uniontown Mayor, bill Gerkey here. 158 00:09:59,650 --> 00:10:03,560 There's nothing quite like the feeling of home, that sense of belonging, 159 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:07,800 those fall Friday nights under the lights, those winter nights in the gym, 160 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:12,080 watching our red Raiders, those refreshing spring afternoons at Bailey Park, 161 00:10:12,210 --> 00:10:15,240 rooting on our Red Raider softball and baseball teams. 162 00:10:16,190 --> 00:10:20,080 I am grateful for those memories and hope our community's children and 163 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:23,480 grandchildren can enjoy those memories too. But to do that, 164 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:27,600 we have to plan for the future. During my first term in office, 165 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:31,000 the city has got Bailey Park back to a place where we can be proud of. 166 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:35,000 Begun our city's first comprehensive plan in over 20 years. 167 00:10:35,930 --> 00:10:38,920 Started work on the city's section of the Sheep Skin Trail, 168 00:10:39,670 --> 00:10:43,840 worked on eliminating blighted properties and are rebuilding the city's 169 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:47,760 neighborhoods. We've updated the Foldy equipment in the parking garages, 170 00:10:47,900 --> 00:10:51,440 and we're bringing a more competitive, reliable, faster, 171 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:54,440 and less expensive internet service to our city residents. 172 00:10:55,370 --> 00:11:00,240 We have done a lot, but there's still more to do. So, I Bill Gerkey, 173 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:05,080 I'm running for a second term. We're Uniontown proud, we're Uniontown strong, 174 00:11:05,460 --> 00:11:10,200 and together we can continue to rebuild Uniontown for the next generation. 175 00:11:12,270 --> 00:11:12,760 Paid. 176 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:13,960 For by Mayor Bill Gerkey. 177 00:11:19,910 --> 00:11:21,880 When it comes to buying a home, 178 00:11:22,270 --> 00:11:25,320 what you see isn't exactly what you get. 179 00:11:25,710 --> 00:11:30,120 That's why home buyers should call Dave Dowling At Grandview 180 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:34,800 Inspections at 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 181 00:11:35,190 --> 00:11:38,640 You'll see colorful flowers, freshly painted walls, 182 00:11:38,930 --> 00:11:43,200 granite countertops, gleaming hardwood floors, and other touches. 183 00:11:43,550 --> 00:11:47,440 What you can't see is the cracks, ancient plumbing, 184 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:49,000 dangerous wiring, 185 00:11:49,330 --> 00:11:54,200 or broken appliances that might be revealed when you hire a 186 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,920 home inspector. And when it comes to home inspectors, 187 00:11:58,050 --> 00:12:02,200 knowing yours has the qualifications and experience needed, 188 00:12:02,350 --> 00:12:04,440 should be your number one concern. 189 00:12:04,910 --> 00:12:09,480 Dave Dowling with Grandview Inspections is an architectural engineer 190 00:12:09,510 --> 00:12:13,920 with over 30 years of commercial construction experience and 191 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,240 hundreds of inspections under his belt. 192 00:12:17,110 --> 00:12:22,000 A home inspection is an opportunity for you to hire an expert to walk 193 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:26,880 through the home and prepare a report outlining the home's major components. 194 00:12:27,070 --> 00:12:31,760 What needs immediate attention and what will require maintenance after you 195 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:35,560 move in your home is one of your biggest investments. 196 00:12:35,770 --> 00:12:39,760 So make sure your investment is everything you hoped it to be. 197 00:12:40,030 --> 00:12:43,640 Call Dave Dowling at Grandview Inspections at 198 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:47,320 7 2 4 2 0 8 4 1 0 8. 199 00:12:53,870 --> 00:12:56,650 I'm Melinda De LaRose. As an Assistant District Attorney, 200 00:12:56,680 --> 00:13:00,850 I've protected Fayette County families and fought to uphold our constitutional 201 00:13:00,850 --> 00:13:03,690 rights. As a prosecutor and trusted local attorney, 202 00:13:03,690 --> 00:13:07,730 I've provided victims of crime with a strong voice and put criminals behind 203 00:13:07,730 --> 00:13:11,090 bars. My pledge to you as judge is to follow the law, 204 00:13:11,090 --> 00:13:13,370 always maintain the highest ethical standards, 205 00:13:13,370 --> 00:13:17,570 and to run a courtroom that's respectful of your time and tax dollars. 206 00:13:17,870 --> 00:13:21,610 I'm Melinda de LaRose asking for your vote for Judge paid. 207 00:13:21,610 --> 00:13:23,290 For by Friends of Melinda de LaRose. 208 00:13:23,900 --> 00:13:28,130 So, so there are 50 members in the Senate compared to 203 in the house. 209 00:13:28,300 --> 00:13:32,410 So because of that, you have an opportunity to get to know your colleagues, uh, 210 00:13:32,620 --> 00:13:37,450 in, in a more intimate way. Um, we're also, um, you know, we have a, 211 00:13:38,220 --> 00:13:42,450 uh, smaller, you know, we're on more committees. I'm on, uh, 212 00:13:42,450 --> 00:13:45,570 I think five or six committees. I chair one and vice chairman another. 213 00:13:46,180 --> 00:13:50,370 So your interaction with your colleagues is a lot, um, more. 214 00:13:50,370 --> 00:13:52,170 And I believe that, you know, the, 215 00:13:52,170 --> 00:13:56,370 the familiarity actually breeds cooperation and respect. 216 00:13:56,370 --> 00:14:01,210 And so if you see a person, you get to know someone, it's, it's harder to, 217 00:14:01,210 --> 00:14:05,970 um, um, it's harder to, to to be unkind to them that's, 218 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,250 that's, uh, in the house, there's so many people, 219 00:14:08,250 --> 00:14:12,650 and you get insulated in your own party or your own region, or your own caucus. 220 00:14:13,420 --> 00:14:13,770 Um, 221 00:14:13,770 --> 00:14:16,890 and it makes it easier for people to take jabs at each other because they don't 222 00:14:16,890 --> 00:14:20,690 know each other. And so, um, and the con, you know, the, the, 223 00:14:20,690 --> 00:14:23,610 the inverse of that is that we can work together cuz we know each other. 224 00:14:23,620 --> 00:14:28,050 So I see more, um, more civility, um, more, 225 00:14:28,300 --> 00:14:31,010 um, of a, you know, uh, 226 00:14:31,060 --> 00:14:35,770 of relationships between senators and, uh, and a mutual respect, uh, 227 00:14:35,770 --> 00:14:37,090 which I already ha I mean, I, 228 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:40,010 I had for some members that I had served with when we were in the house 229 00:14:40,210 --> 00:14:43,650 together, but, you know, guys like Marty Flynn, who's the chairman of the, 230 00:14:43,650 --> 00:14:46,850 the Democratic Chairman of the Transportation Committee we serve together in the 231 00:14:46,850 --> 00:14:50,850 House, or Jimmy Dillon from Northeast Philadelphia. I'm just getting to know. 232 00:14:51,450 --> 00:14:55,410 Um, you know, so that, that makes life a little, little different. 233 00:14:55,410 --> 00:14:58,660 And I think in, in many ways better the Senate. 234 00:14:59,610 --> 00:15:03,520 So you mentioned committees and, uh, you know, in, in the house, 235 00:15:03,610 --> 00:15:08,120 it took about 10 years for an individual to, uh, 236 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:11,400 get a chairmanship of a committee. Um, 237 00:15:11,410 --> 00:15:14,400 so I wanted to give you an opportunity to, you know, 238 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:18,920 rattle off some of the committees that you're on, but also to talk about, um, 239 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:23,120 the committee that you're now chair of and, uh, 240 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:26,160 some of the legislative priorities that you have on that committee. 241 00:15:27,030 --> 00:15:28,320 Yeah, so you're right, I, 242 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:32,120 I probably would've never become a chairman of the house, certainly, um, not, 243 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:36,280 not this term. Um, but I've, uh, am a, um, 244 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:40,080 chairman of the Game and Fisheries Committee, uh, 245 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:44,280 which my district has is a very rural district outside of the suburban core of, 246 00:15:44,290 --> 00:15:48,720 uh, uh, Hampton and East sbo and Camp Hill, the, the, um, you know, 247 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:52,600 sort of the southeast, uh, southwest of Cumberland County. But the rest of it, 248 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:55,840 I have all of Perry County and Upper Dolphin County and all of Western 249 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:56,600 Cumberland County. 250 00:15:56,600 --> 00:16:01,130 It's have a lot of hunters and some of the best fishing in the, uh, 251 00:16:01,130 --> 00:16:04,930 entire state, maybe in the nation. I mean, la tort, yellow breaches, 252 00:16:04,930 --> 00:16:09,330 and even the Sulan River has great fishing. So, um, it's, um, 253 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:11,050 it's a very important committee. 254 00:16:11,050 --> 00:16:15,410 We regulate the Game Commission and the Fish and Boat Commission. Um, 255 00:16:15,450 --> 00:16:18,810 we're responsible for oversight of the, 256 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:23,730 I think it's 1.6 million acres of, um, state game lands. 257 00:16:24,140 --> 00:16:28,330 Uh, and, um, we help, uh, give guidance to the commissions. 258 00:16:28,330 --> 00:16:33,130 Both the fish and boat and the Game Commission are independent commissions, 259 00:16:33,130 --> 00:16:36,130 but we do have oversight over them. So, um, for instance, 260 00:16:36,130 --> 00:16:38,690 I think while you were in the legislature, we were together, 261 00:16:38,690 --> 00:16:43,010 we voted on Sunday hunting, which was a very controversial issue, 262 00:16:43,010 --> 00:16:46,810 but also is a very popular issue. Uh, so the, you know, 263 00:16:46,810 --> 00:16:51,490 million plus hunters and million plus fishers and, uh, fisher people who fish, 264 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:56,450 I guess, um, you know, care about what our committee does. And so, 265 00:16:56,660 --> 00:16:57,970 um, you know, 266 00:16:57,970 --> 00:17:02,010 whether we open on a Saturday or a Monday is a sort of a controversial issue 267 00:17:02,010 --> 00:17:06,260 right now. Um, and I, I'm just trying to get to know, 268 00:17:06,750 --> 00:17:11,250 um, the, um, the fishing and game, uh, 269 00:17:11,250 --> 00:17:15,650 or the game and fisheries, um, industry. And I mean, I, I'm, 270 00:17:15,670 --> 00:17:19,850 I'm a mediocre fisher and a mediocre hunter, but I do, uh, 271 00:17:19,850 --> 00:17:24,050 greatly appreciate the outdoors. I spend a lot of time outdoors and, um, 272 00:17:24,350 --> 00:17:27,010 you know, wanna promote that as an industry, uh, 273 00:17:27,010 --> 00:17:29,730 not just for the revenue it generates for our economy, 274 00:17:29,990 --> 00:17:34,850 but also as a way to attract people to Pennsylvania. Not just for tourism, 275 00:17:34,850 --> 00:17:35,850 though, that's important, 276 00:17:35,850 --> 00:17:39,930 but to try to shift the demographics and get more young people to come to 277 00:17:39,930 --> 00:17:43,530 Pennsylvania after they, um, graduate from high school or college, 278 00:17:43,530 --> 00:17:47,490 and come here because they love the outdoors and all the opportunities we have 279 00:17:47,490 --> 00:17:51,880 on our, our streams and our, our rivers and our lakes, and, um, 280 00:17:52,420 --> 00:17:54,320 and in our, in our state game lens. 281 00:17:55,460 --> 00:17:58,350 Well, Senator Rothman, we have to take a quick break. 282 00:17:58,350 --> 00:18:01,550 We'll be right back here with more commonalities. 283 00:18:07,100 --> 00:18:09,390 This has been commonalities, 284 00:18:09,660 --> 00:18:13,910 a show where guests find common ground through uncommon conversations. 285 00:18:13,990 --> 00:18:16,750 Copyright 2022, coordinated 360, 286 00:18:16,970 --> 00:18:20,510 all public rebroadcast should be done with prior written approval from Matthew 287 00:18:20,510 --> 00:18:25,310 Dowling. 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Find us also on Facebook, 303 00:19:23,270 --> 00:19:24,590 Instagram, and Twitter, 304 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:28,310 or email info coordinated three sixty.com. 305 00:19:31,290 --> 00:19:32,590 Are you enjoying the program? 306 00:19:32,590 --> 00:19:36,790 You're listening to support commonalities and help keep us on the air by making 307 00:19:36,790 --> 00:19:41,670 a donation of five, 10, or $25, or any amount you feel comfortable sharing 308 00:19:41,670 --> 00:19:45,550 online@donate.commonalities.online. Again, 309 00:19:45,550 --> 00:19:49,470 that is donate.commonalities.online on the worldwide web. 310 00:19:49,770 --> 00:19:54,510 Buy our host a cup of coffee or help pay for airtime at donate dot commonalities 311 00:19:54,510 --> 00:19:55,343 online. 312 00:20:02,270 --> 00:20:05,110 Hello, Uniontown Mayor, bill Gerkey here. 313 00:20:05,360 --> 00:20:09,070 There's nothing quite like the feeling of home. That's sense of belonging. 314 00:20:09,310 --> 00:20:13,550 Those fall Friday nights under the lights, those winter nights in the gym, 315 00:20:13,830 --> 00:20:17,950 watching our red Raiders, those refreshing spring afternoons at Bailey Park, 316 00:20:18,120 --> 00:20:20,990 rooting on our Red Raider softball and baseball teams. 317 00:20:21,940 --> 00:20:25,790 I am grateful for those memories and hope our community's children and 318 00:20:25,790 --> 00:20:29,030 grandchildren can enjoy those memories too. But to do that, 319 00:20:29,030 --> 00:20:33,350 we have to plan for the future. During my first term in office, 320 00:20:33,350 --> 00:20:36,870 the city has got Bailey Park back to a place where we can be proud of. 321 00:20:37,590 --> 00:20:40,910 Begun our city's first comprehensive plan in over 20 years. 322 00:20:41,680 --> 00:20:44,630 Started work on the city's section of the Sheep Skin Trail, 323 00:20:45,300 --> 00:20:49,600 worked on eliminating blighted properties and are rebuilding the city's 324 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:53,520 neighborhoods. We've updated the faulty equipment in the parking garages, 325 00:20:53,660 --> 00:20:57,240 and we're bringing a more competitive, reliable, faster, 326 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:00,320 and less expensive internet service to our city residents. 327 00:21:01,330 --> 00:21:05,760 We have done a lot, but there's still more to do. So I Bill Gerkey. 328 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:09,040 I'm running for a second term. We're Uniontown proud, 329 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:10,840 we're Uniontown strong, 330 00:21:11,180 --> 00:21:16,000 and together we can continue to rebuild Uniontown for the next generation. 331 00:21:18,070 --> 00:21:18,560 Paid. 332 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:19,840 For by Mayor Bill Gerkey. 333 00:21:25,530 --> 00:21:28,630 I'm Melinda De LaRose. As an Assistant District Attorney, 334 00:21:28,660 --> 00:21:32,670 I've protected Fayette County families and fought to uphold our constitutional 335 00:21:32,670 --> 00:21:35,510 rights. As a prosecutor and trusted local attorney, 336 00:21:35,510 --> 00:21:39,510 I've provided victims of crime with a strong voice and put criminals behind 337 00:21:39,510 --> 00:21:42,790 bars. My pledge to you as Judge is to follow the law, 338 00:21:42,790 --> 00:21:45,030 always maintain the highest ethical standards, 339 00:21:45,030 --> 00:21:49,590 and to run a courtroom that's respectful of your time and tax dollars. 340 00:21:49,890 --> 00:21:53,430 I'm Melinda de LaRose asking for your vote for Judge paid. 341 00:21:53,430 --> 00:21:55,070 For by Friends of Melinda de LaRose. 342 00:21:56,470 --> 00:22:00,550 Thank you for staying with us on commonalities. I'm your host, Matt Dowling. 343 00:22:00,550 --> 00:22:05,110 My guest today is Senator Greg Rothman, who represents, uh, 344 00:22:05,510 --> 00:22:10,270 district towards the center of the state. He is a newly minted, 345 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:15,150 uh, state senator, was a colleague of mine in the Pennsylvania House. 346 00:22:15,690 --> 00:22:20,470 And, uh, we've been talking a little bit about, uh, the makeup of the house, 347 00:22:20,470 --> 00:22:22,950 the Senate, and of course, uh, 348 00:22:22,950 --> 00:22:26,630 having a new governor here and how things are going to work together, 349 00:22:27,120 --> 00:22:31,710 as well as the, uh, committees that Greg is on. And, uh, 350 00:22:31,850 --> 00:22:36,750 and the committee that he chairs. You know, in the spirit of President's Day, 351 00:22:36,750 --> 00:22:39,950 which just happened, uh, yesterday, Greg, uh, 352 00:22:39,950 --> 00:22:41,910 I thought I would give you a chance to, uh, 353 00:22:41,910 --> 00:22:46,870 to recognize your favorite US President and maybe tell 354 00:22:46,870 --> 00:22:50,910 us a little bit about, uh, why that individual is, uh, 355 00:22:50,910 --> 00:22:54,150 is at the top of your list of US presidents. 356 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:56,570 Yeah, so, you know, the, the, 357 00:22:56,570 --> 00:23:00,170 my favorite president of my lifetime is Ronald Reagan. Um, 358 00:23:00,170 --> 00:23:04,930 Ronald Reagan inspired me to, to get involved in public service. Um, he, 359 00:23:05,380 --> 00:23:08,130 um, came, came, became president in a, 360 00:23:08,130 --> 00:23:11,530 a very critical time in our country's history when, you know, 361 00:23:11,530 --> 00:23:15,530 we had the malaise and the, um, you know, God bless him, but Jimmy Carter, 362 00:23:15,530 --> 00:23:18,170 who's, uh, it sounds like he's on his deathbed, 363 00:23:18,170 --> 00:23:23,130 but Jimmy Carter had what he had done to our economy from inflation and, uh, 364 00:23:23,490 --> 00:23:26,930 interest rates going through the roof and, uh, the oil, uh, embargo and the, 365 00:23:26,930 --> 00:23:30,450 the, you know, the, the issues we were having with, uh, 366 00:23:30,450 --> 00:23:34,900 Russia and then the Soviet Union and communism 367 00:23:35,170 --> 00:23:39,100 marching in Central America and Eastern Europe into Poland. 368 00:23:39,100 --> 00:23:42,860 Ronald Reagan came along, and I would like to think that, you know, 369 00:23:42,860 --> 00:23:47,480 maybe times were even tougher then than they are now. Uh, and he saved, 370 00:23:47,610 --> 00:23:51,000 um, not just America, but saved the whole world. Um, 371 00:23:51,000 --> 00:23:54,560 he's the reason that communism, um, and the, and the, uh, 372 00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:59,480 the Soviet Union imploded, and he's the reason we had the great, uh, eighties, 373 00:23:59,650 --> 00:24:02,600 uh, economy that lasted through, you know, uh, the, 374 00:24:02,600 --> 00:24:07,160 the huge economic expansion. So he is my favorite president, uh, of my lifetime. 375 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:10,760 And I actually had a chance to meet him and wrote a little book about him. Uh, 376 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:15,720 I think Abraham Lincoln is probably, uh, historically my favorite president. 377 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:19,920 I have a farm in Gettysburg, and I think what Abraham Lincoln did in the, 378 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:23,680 with the 14th Amendment and Emancipation Proclamation, and, you know, 379 00:24:23,680 --> 00:24:27,400 saving the nation from, um, the, the what, 380 00:24:27,460 --> 00:24:29,120 the hideous practice of slavery, 381 00:24:29,120 --> 00:24:33,520 but then also keeping the nation together by willing to, by willing to, to, uh, 382 00:24:33,520 --> 00:24:38,240 fight the Civil War. Um, I also loved Calvin Coolidge. Calvin Coolidge, uh, 383 00:24:38,300 --> 00:24:42,560 was from Vermont, but went to school in Amherst, Massachusetts, uh, went to, 384 00:24:42,700 --> 00:24:47,080 was the mayor of North Northampton, was a state representative, a state senator, 385 00:24:47,090 --> 00:24:50,560 or a, uh, a lieutenant governor, a governor of Massachusetts, 386 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:55,280 went on to become the vice President and then president and Calvin Coolidge. 387 00:24:55,530 --> 00:24:58,920 Uh, leads, I think, you know, shared what you and I believe that, uh, 388 00:24:58,920 --> 00:25:01,800 the government functions best, which does least . 389 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:05,320 And let let the people do things and, and empower the people. 390 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:07,840 It's the government of the people by the people, 391 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:11,200 for the people that consent to the governed. So, you know, 392 00:25:11,420 --> 00:25:14,000 for a long time they said, well, Calvin cool. Didn't do anything. 393 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:17,920 What did Calvin cool do other than be President during the ro roaring twenties? 394 00:25:18,370 --> 00:25:18,860 Um, 395 00:25:18,860 --> 00:25:22,080 and then later historians look back and there've been some great books written 396 00:25:22,080 --> 00:25:24,880 about him. And so, wait a minute, he did exactly what he said he would do, 397 00:25:24,880 --> 00:25:26,640 which is stay out of the, 398 00:25:26,750 --> 00:25:30,200 stay out of the lives of Americans and stay out of our businesses and our 399 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:33,960 industries, and let them thrive by having government leave them alone. 400 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:35,720 So those are my three favorite presidents. 401 00:25:36,490 --> 00:25:40,100 Well, that, that, that's great feedback to get. And, uh, 402 00:25:40,360 --> 00:25:44,980 and those are three presidents that I think as Republicans that we can draw a 403 00:25:44,980 --> 00:25:49,580 lot of connections to. Um, you know, I wanted to talk about, uh, 404 00:25:49,580 --> 00:25:53,860 what you feel will be the biggest legislative priorities, 405 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:58,740 not just for the Senate or for the House or for the 406 00:25:58,980 --> 00:26:03,940 Governor, but what do you see as actually getting accomplished in this next 407 00:26:03,940 --> 00:26:06,340 two year period here in Pennsylvania? 408 00:26:07,690 --> 00:26:08,540 Yeah, you know, 409 00:26:08,540 --> 00:26:11,860 one of the first pieces of legislation I introduced when I got to the house was 410 00:26:11,860 --> 00:26:14,220 to cut the corporate net income tax. Uh, 411 00:26:14,220 --> 00:26:18,380 I had worked for Jack Kemp and the Kemp Roth tax cuts of the eighties, uh, 412 00:26:18,380 --> 00:26:19,300 which, uh, 413 00:26:19,300 --> 00:26:24,100 Ronald Reagan championed were critical to attorney the economy around as a 414 00:26:24,100 --> 00:26:24,260 country. 415 00:26:24,260 --> 00:26:28,460 And I thought cutting the corporate net income tax rates would do the same for 416 00:26:28,460 --> 00:26:33,420 Pennsylvania. Uh, it took seven years, but the governor actually signed, um, 417 00:26:33,430 --> 00:26:37,620 it into law, uh, as part of the budget process. Senator Ryan Aht from, uh, 418 00:26:37,620 --> 00:26:41,940 Lancaster had worked on it too many other people, Senator Michelle Brooks. Um, 419 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:46,760 but now that we've passed that, I'd like to see it accelerated. Um, it, 420 00:26:46,810 --> 00:26:49,920 it, the, the way the bill passed, it does cut it a little bit, 421 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:54,560 but it doesn't cut it enough, um, to attract businesses to Pennsylvania. 422 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:58,480 So I'd like to see that, you know, regu regulatory reform is such a, 423 00:26:58,630 --> 00:27:01,320 a big issue, not just for the Republicans, but all the, 424 00:27:01,980 --> 00:27:05,240 all the private sector were all affected by these regulations. 425 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:07,720 And during the Covid Pandemic, um, 426 00:27:07,720 --> 00:27:10,920 the Governor Wolfs administration suspended a lot of regulations, 427 00:27:11,060 --> 00:27:14,560 and we should be looking at those regulations and saying, 428 00:27:14,560 --> 00:27:18,880 do we really need these since, uh, we survived, uh, having them suspended? 429 00:27:19,180 --> 00:27:22,960 And then I think energy's such a big issue for, um, our, 430 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:27,400 our nation and with what's going on in Ukraine. Um, you know, 431 00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:31,640 Pennsylvania should be a, an exporter of energy. We should certainly, uh, 432 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:34,880 use the energy to our advantage to help bring manufacturing back to the 433 00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:38,240 commonwealth and back to the country for that matter, uh, 434 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:42,880 and that we should be a leader, um, in, in energy, in all forms of energy. But, 435 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:47,400 but certainly natural gas and oil that we're blessed to have in coal. Um, 436 00:27:47,780 --> 00:27:52,000 you know, I, it sort of, I find it ironic that, you know, 437 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:55,080 and I'm all for electric vehicles, but let's be real, 438 00:27:55,480 --> 00:28:00,080 electric vehicles are powered by coal fired or gas fired, or, um, 439 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:03,840 you know, in, in many cases in Pennsylvania, nukes, um, 440 00:28:03,910 --> 00:28:07,800 very little energy is generated by windmills or, um, 441 00:28:08,090 --> 00:28:12,160 or solar panels or hydro electricity. Um, 442 00:28:12,810 --> 00:28:13,520 so, you know, 443 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:18,080 we need to be promoting natural gas because it is s safe and efficient and 444 00:28:18,080 --> 00:28:20,040 clean, uh, and abundant. 445 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:25,500 You know, and I, and I live here right in the midst of, uh, 446 00:28:25,500 --> 00:28:30,220 Marcella Shell, uh, land where, you know, we have just a, 447 00:28:30,220 --> 00:28:33,900 a plethora of gas and oil opportunities. 448 00:28:33,920 --> 00:28:38,860 And I believe if we were to have additional pipelines or 449 00:28:38,860 --> 00:28:42,020 ways to, to transport that gas and oil, 450 00:28:42,020 --> 00:28:46,700 we could be an even larger player nationally, um, 451 00:28:47,230 --> 00:28:49,940 in the export of gas and oil. 452 00:28:49,960 --> 00:28:54,460 But one of the big things that I know as I've worked with the industry, 453 00:28:55,070 --> 00:28:55,420 um, 454 00:28:55,420 --> 00:29:00,300 that I've found is kind of the instability that Pennsylvania has 455 00:29:00,690 --> 00:29:03,660 with gas and oil. We've been talking about, uh, 456 00:29:03,990 --> 00:29:08,260 an excise tax or, or a gas tax, uh, 457 00:29:08,260 --> 00:29:10,980 for a long period of time. Um, 458 00:29:11,130 --> 00:29:15,100 I always unfortunately leave some blame with, uh, 459 00:29:15,100 --> 00:29:18,300 with Governor Corbett in the fact that, you know, 460 00:29:18,310 --> 00:29:22,060 we had fees that we weren't calling taxes. 461 00:29:22,110 --> 00:29:25,380 So sometimes people say that we're not being taxed, 462 00:29:25,620 --> 00:29:29,740 but our fees that we pay are more than even some of the other states. 463 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:34,260 But there is that instability in the market where, uh, 464 00:29:34,260 --> 00:29:39,260 I think some gas and oil, uh, providers are saying, you know, 465 00:29:39,510 --> 00:29:42,800 we just want stability. We wanna know that, uh, 466 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:46,400 the laws aren't going to change when we are, you know, 467 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:50,960 20 million into an investment or a big play here in 468 00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:55,240 Pennsylvania. Do you think we have the power to, uh, 469 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:56,920 to stabilize and, 470 00:29:56,920 --> 00:30:01,240 and solidify some of the regulation in gas and oil 471 00:30:01,930 --> 00:30:04,880 so that that stability is there and, uh, 472 00:30:05,060 --> 00:30:09,920 and the manufacturers won't be afraid that they're going to be hit with 473 00:30:09,920 --> 00:30:12,720 some other tax after an investment has been made? 474 00:30:13,470 --> 00:30:17,400 Yeah, no, you're, you're, you're spot on. I mean, they, they need stability, 475 00:30:17,420 --> 00:30:22,160 and these are huge investments that they're making. Um, so I, 476 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:24,640 I mean, I'm hopeful. I'm optimistic that, you know, 477 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:27,880 governor Shapiro came out against, uh, Pennsylvania joining the, uh, 478 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:33,160 regional Greenhouse gas initiative. Reggie, uh, he has been, um, 479 00:30:33,380 --> 00:30:37,880 you know, has been supportive of the industry, uh, as a candidate. Um, 480 00:30:38,140 --> 00:30:42,840 but, um, I think that, you know, we need to make sure that, um, 481 00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:46,600 people who invest in Pennsylvania and make large investments in Pennsylvania 482 00:30:46,600 --> 00:30:50,840 have their investments protected. And stability's a a huge part of that issue. 483 00:30:51,250 --> 00:30:55,840 Um, you know, I, I've been talking about, um, across the street from now, 484 00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:59,120 Senator John Federer Man's house in Braddock, 485 00:30:59,120 --> 00:31:03,900 Pennsylvania is the steel plant. And US Steel were, 486 00:31:03,900 --> 00:31:07,460 you know, they, they were gonna invest a billion dollars in that plant, 487 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:11,740 but because of permit delays by Allegheny County and, um, 488 00:31:11,740 --> 00:31:13,060 local governments too, 489 00:31:13,170 --> 00:31:18,100 they instead just decide to deploy that $1 billion in investments to 490 00:31:18,100 --> 00:31:21,700 Arkansas. So that, that hurts our economy. Um, 491 00:31:22,230 --> 00:31:26,940 so it's not just stability, but it's, um, responsiveness of the, 492 00:31:27,190 --> 00:31:30,380 of the state government and the permit issuers. Uh, 493 00:31:30,380 --> 00:31:33,340 I had a meeting yesterday with the, the new, uh, 494 00:31:33,620 --> 00:31:38,180 proposed secretary of D E p Richard Ning. And, uh, you know, his, 495 00:31:38,590 --> 00:31:43,380 he, he recognizes that d e P is, um, you know, 496 00:31:43,380 --> 00:31:45,220 hindering our, uh, 497 00:31:45,220 --> 00:31:49,220 ability to attract businesses to Pennsylvania and get economic investment. So, 498 00:31:49,390 --> 00:31:51,940 uh, I think he's gonna be, again, 499 00:31:51,940 --> 00:31:55,740 I'm optimistic that he's gonna understand how important, um, 500 00:31:55,740 --> 00:31:59,420 that is to our economy. And, and you're absolutely right, stability is, uh, 501 00:31:59,420 --> 00:32:02,580 a main issue that investors want, um, 502 00:32:02,580 --> 00:32:04,860 when they make investments into our commonwealth. 503 00:32:06,500 --> 00:32:09,970 So, uh, you know, we are at the beginning of a session at, 504 00:32:09,970 --> 00:32:11,170 at the beginning of a session, 505 00:32:11,820 --> 00:32:16,490 we see a lot of co-sponsorship memos that go out, um, 506 00:32:16,490 --> 00:32:18,330 from individuals that, uh, 507 00:32:18,330 --> 00:32:23,250 that maybe are reintroducing something that they didn't get accomplished in 508 00:32:23,250 --> 00:32:25,410 the previous session, uh, 509 00:32:25,420 --> 00:32:30,330 or some new ideas that they have had since they were recently out 510 00:32:30,330 --> 00:32:33,010 on the campaign trail talking to constituents. 511 00:32:33,300 --> 00:32:36,330 So they come back and they're trying to fix some of those issues. 512 00:32:36,790 --> 00:32:40,360 For you personally, is there, uh, 513 00:32:40,430 --> 00:32:45,400 a legislative agenda or a, an item that you have that, 514 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:47,760 uh, that you're looking to fix? Uh, 515 00:32:47,760 --> 00:32:51,680 I know we already talked about the corporate net income tax, um, 516 00:32:51,700 --> 00:32:55,760 but do you have any co-sponsorship memo that you've put out recently, 517 00:32:56,370 --> 00:32:56,720 uh, 518 00:32:56,720 --> 00:33:01,440 with any new legislation that you are championing or promoting? 519 00:33:02,270 --> 00:33:06,960 Yeah, so, um, I, I just got done reading this morning about this, uh, 520 00:33:06,960 --> 00:33:08,360 Philadelphia police officer, 521 00:33:08,360 --> 00:33:13,160 temple University police officer who was shot point blank and killed. Um, the, 522 00:33:13,160 --> 00:33:15,960 the gun violence we have in, uh, this country, 523 00:33:16,390 --> 00:33:21,240 I believe can only be stopped by deterrents and by enforcing the laws we 524 00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:24,960 have, it's not gonna be by punishing, um, the, the, 525 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:28,720 the law abiding gun owners. And you and I share, um, 526 00:33:28,850 --> 00:33:32,680 respect for not just the Second Amendment, but the 21st, um, 527 00:33:32,820 --> 00:33:37,120 the section 24 of our Constitution, uh, which says that, um, 528 00:33:37,220 --> 00:33:39,240 the right to, uh, 529 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:44,040 own firearms is to protect your life and your property and your family. And so, 530 00:33:44,040 --> 00:33:46,160 section 21, so, um, 531 00:33:46,470 --> 00:33:51,440 I introduced legislation that has death penalties for those who 532 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:56,360 commit murders in safe spaces. So if you go into a school, uh, 533 00:33:56,360 --> 00:34:00,880 university that, that, that the, um, guy at Michigan State last week, 534 00:34:01,370 --> 00:34:05,280 um, or you kill someone in a church or a temple or at a, 535 00:34:05,280 --> 00:34:09,360 a sporting event or somewhere where, um, you know, you, you, 536 00:34:09,360 --> 00:34:12,200 you believe that it should be a safe spa, safe space. 537 00:34:12,200 --> 00:34:16,800 That right now the death penalty is not a consideration or not allowed in those 538 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:18,520 cases. But under my, uh, 539 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:22,760 law that I just introduced the co-sponsorship memo to, uh, 540 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:25,970 prior to the Michigan State shooting, um, 541 00:34:26,430 --> 00:34:30,170 and I introduced it in the house, and it went nowhere after the, 542 00:34:30,170 --> 00:34:34,930 the Tree of Life shooting. And so, um, in every one of these cases, 543 00:34:34,930 --> 00:34:37,370 Matt, you know, it, I mean the, the Temple University, 544 00:34:37,370 --> 00:34:41,930 that poor officer was killed, um, African American police officer, 545 00:34:41,930 --> 00:34:46,650 father of four, killed by an 18 year old Bucks County, um, white, 546 00:34:47,260 --> 00:34:51,490 um, sort of upper middle class kid, not kid. He's a man, 547 00:34:51,490 --> 00:34:55,650 he's 18 years old, had a gun charge against him that wasn't enforced. 548 00:34:55,750 --> 00:34:59,490 The Michigan State Killer had a gun charge against him that was pleaded down, 549 00:34:59,490 --> 00:35:02,970 and he didn't have to, he should have been a felony, and he didn't have to, 550 00:35:02,970 --> 00:35:04,210 he should have never had a gun. 551 00:35:04,210 --> 00:35:07,850 And so we need to start enforcing the gun laws we have, 552 00:35:08,230 --> 00:35:12,570 and we need to have death penalty on the table as a deterrent. Um, you know, 553 00:35:12,570 --> 00:35:16,490 when you have punishments for crimes, it says a deterrent as punishment, 554 00:35:16,490 --> 00:35:20,290 which I, I believe, you know, um, old Testament, and you take a life, 555 00:35:20,290 --> 00:35:23,570 you should give your life, um, you can have your life taken, and then, 556 00:35:23,780 --> 00:35:25,730 of course, to protect society. So, 557 00:35:25,910 --> 00:35:29,320 and with the cost of keeping someone in prison, you know, 558 00:35:29,380 --> 00:35:34,280 you commit a heinous crime, you know, you kill or rape a child, um, 559 00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:35,320 rape and kill a child. 560 00:35:35,470 --> 00:35:39,760 I don't want to have to spend 60 or $7,000 a year to make sure that you're fed 561 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:44,360 in clothed and have internet and cable television, and, you know, in prison, I, 562 00:35:44,360 --> 00:35:48,560 I, I wanna see that you give up your life for that. So, um, 563 00:35:48,650 --> 00:35:51,480 as a deterrent and as punishment and to protect society, 564 00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:55,040 and certainly the fiscal cost of keeping someone in prison for life, 565 00:35:55,040 --> 00:35:59,640 not to mention all the appeals. And so the fact that the governor came out, um, 566 00:35:59,650 --> 00:36:02,480 in the midst of all this gun violence, uh, 567 00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:07,000 and said that he's not gonna enforce the death penalties and not gonna sign any 568 00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:11,400 death penalty orders, was really disappointing. And I think, um, a mistake, 569 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:13,480 and I think he should have as a prosecutor, 570 00:36:13,940 --> 00:36:16,080 the Attorney General's office should have known better. 571 00:36:16,900 --> 00:36:20,040 The last death penalty, if I'm correct, in Pennsylvania, 572 00:36:20,040 --> 00:36:23,040 was in 1999, uh, 573 00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:27,520 the last execution that was carried out, rather. So it has been, uh, 574 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:32,520 quite some time and, and, uh, unfortunately, because I, I know the, uh, 575 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:36,320 the governor's stance on the death penalty, I think you will, uh, 576 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:39,320 have a little bit of an uphill battle, uh, 577 00:36:39,320 --> 00:36:43,360 getting that le legislation passed through. Um, you know, 578 00:36:43,360 --> 00:36:46,480 we're coming to the close of our time together today. 579 00:36:46,830 --> 00:36:50,080 I wanted you to give you an opportunity to, uh, 580 00:36:50,210 --> 00:36:54,480 to share any final thoughts you may have for our listeners, 581 00:36:55,090 --> 00:36:56,960 uh, before we have to go. 582 00:36:58,620 --> 00:37:01,670 Yeah, I just look, I wanna talk about you, Matt, you, you were a, 583 00:37:01,670 --> 00:37:05,230 a great member of the General Assembly, a great friend. Um, you know, I, 584 00:37:05,230 --> 00:37:06,190 I want to see you. 585 00:37:06,190 --> 00:37:10,630 I hope you stay involved and you are staying involved in public policy. And, um, 586 00:37:10,700 --> 00:37:15,590 I, I just think that, uh, you know, your, your listenership needs to know, um, 587 00:37:15,590 --> 00:37:17,630 you know, what, what I think of you , 588 00:37:17,630 --> 00:37:20,230 what many of your colleagues thought of you, that you were a, 589 00:37:20,230 --> 00:37:23,390 a man of ideas and policy and, um, you know, 590 00:37:23,390 --> 00:37:24,990 really served your constituents well. 591 00:37:24,990 --> 00:37:28,630 And I loved the conversations we had together, and, um, 592 00:37:28,740 --> 00:37:31,670 I stole a lot of your great ideas. So thank you. And, 593 00:37:31,670 --> 00:37:36,270 and what you did for the Second Amendment Caucus, um, to really, um, you know, 594 00:37:36,270 --> 00:37:41,070 help protect the Second Amendment, um, was, was all, you know, 595 00:37:41,070 --> 00:37:42,430 really praiseworthy. So I, 596 00:37:42,430 --> 00:37:45,470 I'm grateful to have you as a former colleague and friend, 597 00:37:45,470 --> 00:37:47,750 and look forward to with you in the future too. 598 00:37:48,070 --> 00:37:48,560 Well. 599 00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:49,560 And you got a great family. 600 00:37:49,960 --> 00:37:54,160 Thank you so much for, uh, for taking the time to be on the show today, Greg. 601 00:37:54,450 --> 00:37:57,120 Uh, it was great talking with you and, uh, 602 00:37:57,120 --> 00:38:01,040 and I'm sure there's a lot of good that you'll be able to do here in the 603 00:38:01,040 --> 00:38:03,040 Pennsylvania Senate. Best of luck to you. 604 00:38:09,530 --> 00:38:11,540 This has been commonalities, 605 00:38:11,850 --> 00:38:16,020 a show where guests find common ground through uncommon conversations. 606 00:38:16,100 --> 00:38:18,780 Copyright 2022, coordinated 360, 607 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:22,700 all public rebroadcast should be done with prior written approval from Matthew 608 00:38:22,700 --> 00:38:27,620 Dowling. All requests should be sent to info coordinated three sixty.com. 609 00:38:27,620 --> 00:38:30,020 Thank you for listening to commonalities. 610 00:38:36,080 --> 00:38:38,960 Hello Uniontown Mayor, bill Gerkey here. 611 00:38:39,210 --> 00:38:43,120 There's nothing quite like the feeling of home, that sense of belonging, 612 00:38:43,280 --> 00:38:47,360 those fall Friday nights under the lights, those winter nights in the gym, 613 00:38:47,640 --> 00:38:51,640 watching our red Raiders, those refreshing spring afternoons at Bailey Park, 614 00:38:51,770 --> 00:38:54,800 rooting on our Red Raider, softball and baseball teams. 615 00:38:55,750 --> 00:38:59,640 I am grateful for those memories and hope our community's children and 616 00:38:59,640 --> 00:39:03,040 grandchildren can enjoy those memories too. But to do that, 617 00:39:03,040 --> 00:39:07,160 we have to plan for the future. During my first term in office, 618 00:39:07,160 --> 00:39:10,520 the city has got Bailey Park back to a place where we can be proud of. 619 00:39:11,240 --> 00:39:14,760 Begun our city's first comprehensive plan in over 20 years. 620 00:39:15,490 --> 00:39:18,520 Started work on the city's section of the Sheep Skin Trail, 621 00:39:19,230 --> 00:39:23,400 worked on eliminating blighted properties and are rebuilding the city's 622 00:39:23,400 --> 00:39:27,320 neighborhoods. We've updated the faulty equipment in the parking garages, 623 00:39:27,460 --> 00:39:30,960 and we're bringing a more competitive, reliable, faster, 624 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:34,000 and less expensive internet service to our city residents. 625 00:39:35,210 --> 00:39:39,800 We have done a lot, but there's still more to do. So, I Bill Gerkey. 626 00:39:39,800 --> 00:39:44,640 I'm running for a second term. We're Uniontown proud, we're Uniontown strong, 627 00:39:45,020 --> 00:39:49,760 and together we can continue to rebuild Uniontown for the next generation. 628 00:39:51,790 --> 00:39:52,280 Paid. 629 00:39:52,280 --> 00:39:53,520 For by Mayor Bill Gerkey. 630 00:39:59,580 --> 00:40:02,430 I am Melinda De LaRose. As an Assistant District Attorney, 631 00:40:02,460 --> 00:40:06,470 I've protected Fayette County families and fought to uphold our constitutional 632 00:40:06,470 --> 00:40:09,270 rights. As a prosecutor and trusted local attorney, 633 00:40:09,270 --> 00:40:13,110 I've provided victims of crime with a strong voice and put criminals behind 634 00:40:13,110 --> 00:40:16,750 bars. My pledge to you as Judge is to follow the law, 635 00:40:16,750 --> 00:40:19,030 always maintain the highest ethical standards, 636 00:40:19,030 --> 00:40:23,390 and to run a courtroom that's respectful of your time and tax dollars. 637 00:40:23,690 --> 00:40:27,230 I'm Melinda de LaRose asking for your vote for Judge paid. 638 00:40:27,230 --> 00:40:28,870 For by Friends of Melinda de LaRose. 639 00:40:29,270 --> 00:40:33,030 Thank you for staying with us on commonalities. I'm your host, Matt Dowling. 640 00:40:33,030 --> 00:40:37,990 My guest today was Senator Greg Rothman. I wanna thank Greg, 641 00:40:38,160 --> 00:40:38,610 um, 642 00:40:38,610 --> 00:40:42,350 who was a colleague of mine in the Pennsylvania House for being with us today. 643 00:40:42,970 --> 00:40:44,750 But, uh, before we go, 644 00:40:45,100 --> 00:40:48,870 I wanna call your attention to a couple of places that, uh, 645 00:40:48,870 --> 00:40:53,030 there are some additional resources if you've been enjoying our program, 646 00:40:53,250 --> 00:40:55,710 commonalities, uh, that you can visit. 647 00:40:56,210 --> 00:40:58,950 One place is my personal website, 648 00:40:59,690 --> 00:41:04,550 www dot Matthew d as in David, last name Dowling, 649 00:41:04,550 --> 00:41:07,550 d o w l i n g.com. 650 00:41:07,550 --> 00:41:10,110 That's matthew d dowling.com. 651 00:41:10,490 --> 00:41:14,830 You can visit that site for information on our show 652 00:41:14,830 --> 00:41:15,670 commonalities. 653 00:41:15,670 --> 00:41:19,910 You can find archived clips of all of our episode 654 00:41:20,220 --> 00:41:24,430 episodes, as well as transcripts from our episodes. 655 00:41:24,530 --> 00:41:26,510 And if you click on the news section, 656 00:41:26,940 --> 00:41:31,350 you'll find some of my most current writings that have been pub, uh, 657 00:41:31,350 --> 00:41:34,720 published in local newspapers, et cetera. 658 00:41:34,970 --> 00:41:38,000 There's also an about section, uh, 659 00:41:38,000 --> 00:41:42,640 where you can find out more information about myself as well as, 660 00:41:42,850 --> 00:41:45,760 uh, the Laurel Highlands, which I call home. 661 00:41:46,370 --> 00:41:50,560 So visit matthew d dowling.com. Also, 662 00:41:50,560 --> 00:41:54,960 I would encourage you to stop by Facebook and find my 663 00:41:55,720 --> 00:42:00,160 official public site, Matthew Dowling public. And, uh, 664 00:42:00,160 --> 00:42:03,560 you'll find, uh, all of the news articles I share, 665 00:42:03,930 --> 00:42:08,240 as well as some of the content that you hear about on commonalities. 666 00:42:08,470 --> 00:42:11,240 This brings us to the end of today's broadcast. 667 00:42:11,240 --> 00:42:16,240 I want to thank you for visiting us and encourage you to reach out at any 668 00:42:16,240 --> 00:42:21,120 point in time to let us know who you'd like to hear from as a guest on the 669 00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:25,120 program, and, uh, what programs you are enjoying the most. 670 00:42:26,030 --> 00:42:30,080 Feel free to contact me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 671 00:42:31,110 --> 00:42:33,360 This has been Commonalities, 672 00:42:33,670 --> 00:42:37,920 a show where guests find common ground through uncommon conversations. 673 00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:40,760 Copyright 2022 Coordinated 360. 674 00:42:40,980 --> 00:42:44,520 All public rebroadcast should be done with prior written approval from Matthew 675 00:42:44,520 --> 00:42:49,320 Dowling. All requests should be sent to info@coordinatedthreesixty.com. 676 00:42:49,320 --> 00:42:51,640 Thank you for listening to commonalities.