WELCOME TO THE. FOR THE RECORD, I’M KELLY SASSO. WE ARE NOW ONLY ABOUT TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM THE PRIMARY ELECTION. TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHERE CANDIDATES STAND BEFORE CASTING YOUR VOTE. WE’RE HEARING FROM THREE MORE PEOPLE ON THE BALLOT FOR LOCAL AND STATEWIDE RACES. WE ARE GIVING THEM THE CHANCE TO TELL YOU WHY THEY THINK THEY SHOULD GET YOUR VOTE. TWO WEEKS AWAY FROM HEADING TO THE POLLS AND CASTING OUR BALLOTS IN THE 2024 PRIMARY ELECTION, WE’RE ASKING TWO CANDIDATES HOPING TO BECOME THE NEXT PENNSYLVANIA ATTORNEY GENERAL ABOUT THE IMPORTANT ISSUES RANGING FROM VIOLENT CRIME AND CONSUMER PROTECTION. IT IS A CRITICAL FUNCTION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE TO STAND UP FOR CONSUMERS. AND I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE THINKING BROADLY ABOUT THESE ISSUES, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND PRESERVING ELECTION INTEGRITY. LEADERSHIP ROLE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS TO GIVE THE ENTIRE COMMONWEALTH A SENSE OF CALM, AND THAT THERE’S SOMEBODY IN CHARGE WITH A HAND ON THE STEERING WHEEL, GUIDING THEM THEM TO PROPER AND JUST OUTCOMES. PLUS HOPING TO SWITCH CHAMBERS FROM THE STATE HOUSE TO THE STATE SENATE, ONE OF THE CANDIDATES LOOKING TO FILL THE SEAT OF A RETIRING LAWMAKER. I’M HOPING TO RUN FOR THE STATE SENATE SO THAT I CAN CONTINUE THE WORK OF MAKING SURE THAT THAT THE PROMISE THAT PASSED GENERATIONS HAD THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT PEOPLE HAD TO GROW UP AND HAVE GOOD LIVES IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY CAN CONTINUE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS. THESE THREE MEN AND TELL YOU WHY THEY BELIEVE THEY DESERVE YOUR VOTE. ON APRIL 23RD, ONE OF THE BIG STATEWIDE OFFICES UP FOR GRABS THIS YEAR IS FOR PENNSYLVANIA ATTORNEY GENERAL. THERE ARE SEVEN CANDIDATES RUNNING IN TWO PRIMARY RACES. FIVE DEMOCRATS AND TWO REPUBLICANS. ONE OF THOSE NAMES WILL BE JOE KAHN. HE IS A FORMER LOCAL AND FEDERAL PROSECUTOR AND COUNTY SOLICITOR IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA. OUR JANELLE HALL ASKED HIM, AMONG OTHER QUESTIONS, ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION MEDDLING CASE AND HOW HE WOULD HANDLE A SITUATION LIKE THAT IF IT WERE TO ARISE. LOOK, OF ALL THE RECOGNITION I’VE RECEIVED ACROSS THE STATE FOR MY WORK AS A PUBLIC INTEREST LAWYER, I’M MOST PROUD OF THE RECOGNITION. RECOGNITION I RECEIVED AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY SOLICITOR TO RECEIVE THE OUTSTANDING SOLICITOR AWARD, UM, FOR UNITING COUNTY SOLICITORS ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE. AND AS DIFFICULT AS THE WORK WAS THAT WE DID TOGETHER, FIGHTING TRUMP AND HIS LAWYERS, UM, WE IN SOME WAYS HAD IT EASY. NUMBER ONE, WE HAD THE LIKES OF RUDY GIULIANI CALLING THE SHOTS FROM MY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD IN NORTHEAST PHILLY IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE FOUR SEASONS LANDSCAPING COMPANY. UH, BUT NUMBER TWO, UM, WE DIDN’T HAVE A SINGLE COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS IN PENNSYLVANIA THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN OVER BY ELECTION DENIERS, AND NOW THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. SO I HAVE DONE THIS WORK DEFENDING DEMOCRACY FROM TRUMP AND HIS LAWYERS, AND WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN. BUT THIS TIME THEY’RE GOING TO BE MUCH BETTER PREPARED. WE’RE GOING TO NEED TO BE READY TO FILE WRITS OF MANDAMUS TO FORCE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO DO THEIR JOB, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN ALL OF PENNSYLVANIA’S 67 COUNTIES. AND SO THIS IS GOING TO BE ON THE DESK OF THE NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL ON DAY ONE. AND WE HAVE ONLY ONE CHANCE TO GET THIS RIGHT. AND THAT’S WHY I’M RUNNING. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE BIGGEST ISSUE RIGHT NOW FACING PENNSYLVANIA IS WHEN IT COMES TO AN ISSUE OR A TOPIC THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SPECIFICALLY WOULD BE HANDLING AND TACKLING? YEAH, I THINK ONE OF THE TOP ISSUES IS TAKING ON THE ISSUE OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. YOU KNOW, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS CURRENTLY DOING GREAT WORK. UH, THANKS TO JOSH SHAPIRO POINTING THAT OFFICE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN PROSECUTING ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES. BUT WE NEED TO THINK MUCH MORE BROADLY, AND WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. YOU KNOW, I’VE BEEN ENDORSED BY CLEAN AIR ACTION, UH, AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE CHAMPION, UH, AS THE ONLY COUNTY SOLICITOR TO EVER ENFORCE OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO CLEAN AIR AND PURE WATER, BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE THAN PROSECUTE ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMINALS. WE NEED TO GO AGAINST GOVERNMENT ITSELF IN COURT. WHEN GOVERNMENT DOESN’T DO ITS JOB TO PROTECT THAT RIGHT, WHETHER IT’S OUT IN EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE WE PROTECTED THE BAN ON FRACKING OR WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN REALLY RAVAGED WITH ALL KINDS OF HEALTH IMPACTS BECAUSE OF THAT WORK, JOE, AS YOU TALK ABOUT CRIME, I KNOW SAFETY IS A TOP ISSUE FOR SO MANY FAMILIES. LET’S TALK ABOUT THAT TOPIC AND SOME OF YOUR THOUGHTS ON HOW TO HANDLE THAT, WHETHER IT BE IN SCHOOLS, IN NEIGHBORHOOD, WITH GUN CONTROL, HOW DO YOU HANDLE THAT BUT ALSO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF GUN OWNERS IN PENNSYLVANIA? WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT IN THIS OFFICE, UM, WITH A MESSENGER ON PUBLIC SAFETY, WHO IS CREDIBLE, WHO HAS THE TRUST OF COMMUNITIES THAT WE DO. WHAT I DID WHEN I WAS A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR TASKED WITH ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE IN SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA 17 YEARS AGO, AND WHAT WE DID INSTEAD OF SIMPLY TRYING TO LITERALLY TURN A FEDERAL CASE INTO EVERY INSTANCE OF SOMEONE BEING CAUGHT, UM, INVOLVED WITH A GUN SOMEWHERE IN IN PHILADELPHIA IS WE TOOK A VERY STRATEGIC AND THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO INTERVENING WHEN WE IDENTIFIED THE SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF THE GUN VIOLENCE THAT WE SAW IN SOUTHWEST PHILADELPHIA. AND BY DOING THAT, WE NOT ONLY SAVED LIVES AND STOPPED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF THAT VIOLENCE AND BROUGHT HELPED TO BRING THE HOMICIDE RATE DOWN. BUT WE ACTUALLY WORKED THE FEDERAL SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE COULD SOLVE UNSOLVED HOMICIDES, TO BREAK UP GUN TRAFFICKING RINGS, TO HAVE A MUCH BROADER VISION FOR JUSTICE THAN SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN TRIED BEFORE. AND WE WEREN’T DONE THERE. WE ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT WERE OUR OBLIGATIONS WHEN SOME OF THESE OFFENDERS WERE THEN COMING OUT OF JAIL. AND WE TOOK A NEW APPROACH. WE HAD SOMETHING CALLED A REENTRY COURT, WHICH UNDERSTOOD THAT PUBLIC SAFETY ALSO MEANS INVESTING IN PEOPLE WHEN THEY’RE RETURNING TO SOCIETY TO HELP THEM STAY ON THE RIGHT PATH, SUPPORT THEM WITH JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND GIVE THEM INCENTIVES TO DO THE RIGHT THING. AND BY BY TAKING THOSE KINDS OF APPROACH ON A STATEWIDE LEVEL, WE CAN ADDRESS ISSUES LIKE GUN VIOLENCE BY BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER. YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY IT SEEMS LIKE THERE’S THE POTENTIAL FOR AN EMAIL SCAM OR A PHONE SCAM, WHETHER IT’S SENIORS TARGETED OR JUST REGULAR CONSUMERS. UM, WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO TO TRY TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES? AS I KNOW, MANY PENNSYLVANIANS ALSO LOOK TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SEE HOW THEY WILL PROTECT THEM IN THAT CATEGORY AS WELL. YEAH, IT’S ISSUES LIKE THIS FACING PENNSYLVANIANS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH THAT ARE WHAT INSPIRED ME TO MAKE A SHIFT AFTER 16 YEARS AS A PROSECUTOR, TO BEGIN A NEW CHAPTER IN CIVIL JUSTICE, STANDING UP FOR CONSUMERS AGAINST CORPORATE GREED. IT’S THE REASON THAT WHEN I CAME TO BUCKS COUNTY, I DID WHAT NO COUNTY SOLICITOR HAD EVER DONE BEFORE, WHICH WAS TO MAKE CONSUMER PROTECTION THE MISSION OF THE COUNTY SOLICITOR. THAT’S THE REASON THAT TODAY, THE ONLY. PLACE IN PENNSYLVANIA WHERE USED CAR BUYERS HAVE A BILL OF RIGHTS IS BUCKS COUNTY. IT’S THE REASON THAT BUCKS COUNTY BECAME THE FIRST COUNTY IN AMERICA TO TAKE ON COMPANIES LIKE TIKTOK AND FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM FOR THEIR IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR TARGETING OUR KIDS. UM, SO IT IS A CRITICAL FUNCTION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE TO STAND UP FOR CONSUMERS. AND I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE THINKING BROADLY ABOUT THESE ISSUES. AND ONE AREA WHERE I’M EXCITED TO TO LEAD NOT JUST PENNSYLVANIA, BUT THE COUNTRY IS CREATING OUR FIRST EVER HOUSING JUSTICE UNIT. IT IS A IS A CRISIS THAT IS AFFECTING HOMEOWNERS, HOME BUYERS AND RENTERS ALIKE. AND IT’S THE KIND OF PROBLEM THAT FOLKS NEED. SOMEONE IN GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ON AND TAKE ACCOUNTABLE, TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. AND I’MWELCOME BACK TO FOR THE R NOW WE ARE HEARING FROM ANOTHER CANDIDATE RUNNING TO BE THE NEXT ATTORNEY. GENERAL, THIS TIME ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, CRAIG WILLIAMS IS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR PARTS OF CHESTER AND DELAWARE COUNTIES. HE IS A MARINE CORPS VETERAN WHO SERVED ALMOST 30 YEARS ON ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVES. I SPOKE WITH HIM OVER ZOOM ABOUT HIS RECORD IN THE STATE HOUSE AND AS A PROSECUTOR. CAN YOU TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND EXPLAIN HOW THAT MAKES YOU THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL? THE FIRST PORTION OF MY CAREER, I FLEW IN THE F 1856 COMBAT MISSIONS IN DESERT STORM, AND THEN WENT TO LAW SCHOOL IN THE MARINE CORPS. EVENTUALLY WAS THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR OF THE ENTIRE MARINE CORPS RESERVE, UH, MOBILIZED BACK TO ACTIVE DUTY TO BE DEPUTY LEGAL COUNSEL TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, UM, IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THAT, I WAS ALSO IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IN DENVER, COLORADO, WHERE I DID PREDOMINANTLY, UH, GUN CRIME, VIOLENT CRIME AND IMMIGRATION CRIME AND, UH, FELL IN LOVE WITH THE PHILADELPHIA GIRL, WHICH IS HOW I ENDED UP IN PENNSYLVANIA. AND MOVED EVENTUALLY TO, UH, DELAWARE COUNTY, WHERE I WAS AGAIN IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, US ATTORNEY’S OFFICE IN EXPERIENCE OR THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT I’VE DONE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. VIOLENCE IN PENNSYLVANIA, GUN VIOLENCE, OBVIOUSLY A HUGE TOPIC IN THIS DAY AND AGE. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD KIND OF EXPAND ON YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THAT AND WHAT YOUR PLAN WOULD BE TO FIGHT THAT HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA, IT HAS BEEN THE HEART AND SOUL OF WHAT I’VE BEEN DOING IN THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE. UM, I WAS WHAT WAS CALLED A PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS PROSECUTOR. THERE IS A SECTION IN TITLE 18 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE THAT MAKES IT A FELONY FOR A PRIOR CONVICTED FELON TO BE IN POSSESSION OF A GUN WHATSOEVER, REGARDLESS OF WHERE IT WAS MADE OR, UM, OR HOW IT WAS MADE. AND THAT LAW ALSO EXISTS IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. SO THAT’S CALLED A PROHIBITED PERSON. AND WHAT I HAVE DONE, UM, THROUGH LEGISLATION IS, IS TO ESTABLISH A GUN VIOLENCE TASK FORCE IN DELAWARE COUNTY. AND I’M SORRY, IN PHILADELPHIA, PREDOMINANTLY TO GO AFTER PRIOR CONVICTED FELONS IN POSSESSION OF GUNS. THE THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF VIOLENT CRIMES THAT ARE COMMITTED ARE DONE SO BY PRIOR CONVICTED FELONS. SO IF YOU MAKE USE OF THIS STATUTE AND TAKE THEM INTO FEDERAL COURT WHERE THE SENTENCES ARE FAR MORE SEVERE THAN THEY ARE IN STATE COURT, AND THERE’S NO PAROLE IN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM, THAT’S HOW YOU START TO TAKE THE STREETS BACK OF THESE MAJOR CITIES. AND, UM, WE WERE ABLE TO PASS THAT INITIATIVE OUT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE. IT DIED IN THE PENNSYLVANIA SENATE. AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. I’LL GO GET THAT DONE. AND WE’LL DESCEND ON THESE VIOLENT AREAS WITH AN ARMY OF ATTORNEY GENERALS, AGENTS, AND ASSISTANT DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERALS AND WILL PROSECUTE THESE VIOLENT CRIMES. WELL, ONE OF THE BIG ROLES OF THIS JOB IS CONSUMER PROTECTION. SO I WANTED TO SEE IF YOU COULD KIND OF LAY OUT SOME OF YOUR PRIORITIES IF YOU WERE TO GET THIS POSITION. THE OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION AND THE OFFICE OF CONSUMER ADVOCATE ARE A PART OF THE PUBLIC PROTECTION DIVISION OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE. AND I’VE ACTUALLY DONE A GREAT DEAL OF WORK ON THAT. BOTH IN THE ENERGY SECTOR RELATIVE TO UTILITIES AND IN MY WORK ON THE CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. I AIM TO MAKE THE FOCAL POINT OF THAT OFFICE CONSUMER CONSUMER PROTECTION OF OUR SENIOR, WHETHER IT’S ONLINE FRAUD, MORTGAGE DECEPTION, UM, IN, IN, IN EDUCATION. SO THERE’S ANOTHER DIVISION WITHIN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE THAT HAS TO DO WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PREDOMINANTLY, UH, TARGETING TOWARDS SENIORS AND HELPING THEM UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN BECOME VICTIMS OF, UM, ONLINE FRAUD AND IN PARTICULAR, AND THEN I WANT TO FOCUS IN ADDITION TO THAT ON, UM, THE WELL-BEING OF SENIORS IN THESE LIVING COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY’RE ENTRUSTING OTHER PEOPLE WITH THEIR HEALTH CARE. UH, THERE’S THERE’S A GREAT DEAL OF WORK TO BE DONE IN THIS AREA. I’VE, YOU KNOW, DRAFTED LEGISLATION AROUND, UM, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO GO BACK AFTER COMPANIES WHEN THEY DETRIMENTALLY RELIED ON AI. UM, WHEN GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS OVER THE PHONE OR THE SOMETHING THAT COME UP AGAIN. SO I WANTED TO ASK YOU HOW YOU WOULD GO ABOUT ENSURING THAT PENNSYLVANIA HAS A TRANSPARENT AND FAIR ELECTION WHEN IT COMES TO THE RESULTS. THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL, NOW GOVERNOR, WHEN HE WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, UM, THERE WAS A LOSS OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR COMMONWEALTH AND THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION. AND REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU FEEL, THAT ELECTION WAS CONDUCTED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PANDEMIC. THE RULES WERE CHANGED AND PEOPLE HAD CONCERNS. AND THE ONE THING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL COULD HAVE DONE, UM, SUPERSEDING THE SECRETARY OF STATE, IS INVESTIGATE EVERY SINGLE CLAIM OF ELECTION FRAUD OR ELECTIONEERING, INVESTIGATE EVERY SINGLE CLAIM, EVEN IF IN THE END YOU CLEAR ALL OF THOSE CLAIMS, YOU GIVE THE ENTIRE COMMONWEALTH A SENSE THAT THERE WAS NOBODY PUTTING THEIR HANDS ON THE SCALES. INSTEAD, THE FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL WENT TO TWITTER. TO CALL HALF OF THE STATE UNEDUCATED OR UNINFORMED, OR SOMEHOW, UM, LESS THAN THE OTHER SIDE. AND I DON’T THINK THAT THAT’S THE LEADERSHIP ROLE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL. I THINK THE LEADERSHIP ROLE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS TO GIVE THE ENTIRE COMMONWEALTH A SENSE OF CALM, AND THAT THERE’S SOMEBODY IN CHARGE WITH A HAND ON THE STEERING WHEEL, UM, GUIDING THEM TO PROPER AND JUST OUTCOMES. AND ONCE AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE OUR PAST CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER ATTORNEY GENERAL CANDIDATES ON WTAE DOT COM. YOU’RE WATCHING FOR THE RECORD, AND WE ARE BACK RIGHT AFTER THIS. WELCOME BACK TO FOR THE RECORD. NOW WE’RE TAKING A LOOK AT A LOCAL RACE FOR 45TH SENATORIAL DISTRICT. IT COVERS MANY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY’S EASTERN COMMUNITIES. CURRENT STATE SENATOR JIM BREWSTER IS NOT SEEKING REELECTION. ONE OF THE DEMOCRATS HOPING TO FILL THE SEAT IS NICK POSITANO. RIGHT NOW. HE IS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT 38. A PORTION OF SOUTHEASTERN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. HE TOLD OUR JANELLE HALL THAT HIS ROOTS WITHIN DISTRICT 45 RUN DEEP. I KNOW THAT YOU GREW UP IN THAT AREA, WENT TO WEST MIFFLIN, STILL LIVE IN THAT AREA. WHY IS THAT AREA IMPORTANT TO YOU, AND HOW DO YOU THINK THAT THAT MIGHT BENEFIT YOU TO HAVE THAT POSITION? KNOWING YOUR ROOTS IN THAT COMMUNITY? YEAH. SO MY FAMILY HAS LIVED IN THE AREA THAT I REPRESENT NOW, INCLUDING INTO THE SENATE DISTRICT FOR MANY GENERATIONS, DATING ALL THE WAY BACK TO BEFORE THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR. AND MY FAMILY HAS BENEFITED FROM THE PROSPERITY OF THAT AREA. AND, YOU KNOW, THE GOOD SCHOOLS AND A LOT OF THINGS. AND THAT STORY IS NOT UNIQUE JUST TO MY FAMILY. THERE ARE A LOT OF FAMILIES IN THAT AREA OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY AND ALLEGHENY COUNTY AS A WHOLE THAT HAVE THAT KIND OF STORY. AND, YOU KNOW, I’M HOPING TO RUN FOR THE STATE SENATE SO THAT I CAN CONTINUE THE WORK OF MAKING SURE THAT THAT THE PROMISE THAT PASS GENERATIONS HAD, THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT PEOPLE HAD TO GROW UP AND HAVE GOOD LIVES IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY CAN CONTINUE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS. THERE’S BEEN A LOT OF FOCUS ON JOBS, EVERYTHING GOING ON IN THE ECONOMY, EVERYTHING WITH US STEEL. LET’S START WITH THAT FIRST, WITH THAT SALE. DO YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS? WHAT KINDS OF THINGS DO YOU PLAN TO DO ABOUT ENSURING THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE JOBS THEY’RE ESPECIALLY THERE IN THE MOUNTAIN VALLEY. I THINK US STEEL BENEFITED US STEEL’S CORPORATE EXECUTIVES BENEFITED FROM SOME OF THE TRADE POLICY THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INSTITUTED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND YOU KNOW, US STEEL TURNED A TIDY PROFIT, AND THEN THEIR EXECUTIVES SOLD OUT. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT, MAINLY BECAUSE IT CALLS INTO QUESTION THE FUTURE OF THE MON VALLEY WORKS AND ALLEGHENY COUNTY. AND, YOU KNOW, THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT JOBS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THE MON VALLEY WORKS. BUT ALSO IT GOES TO THE CULTURAL HEART OF THE STEEL VALLEY. UM, YOU KNOW, IS THE STEEL VALLEY IS THE MON VALLEY WHAT IT ALWAYS WAS WITHOUT STEEL MAKING AND THAT INDUSTRY AND OBVIOUSLY THAT FOOTPRINT IS A LOT SMALLER THAN IT USED TO BE. UM, BUT IT CALLS INTO QUESTION, YOU KNOW, THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF OUR REGION AND HOW IMPORTANT STEEL IS AS AN ICON FOR PITTSBURGH, ALLEGHENY COUNTY AND SOUTHWESTERN PA. AND SO I HAVE HUGE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF WHAT THE US STEEL SALE LOOKS LIKE. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS RULED A PLAY ON WHETHER OR NOT THEY’RE GOING TO APPROVE THAT SALE OR NOT. STATE GOVERNMENT DOESN’T HAVE MUCH SAY, BUT MY MAIN CONCERN ARE THE STEELWORKERS AND THE RETIREES AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THAT INDUSTRY THAT LIVE IN THE MON VALLEY AND LIVE IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON’T GET THE RUG PULLED OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THEM BY ANY YOU KNOW, CORPORATE SALE TO A FOREIGN ENTITY. WITH REGARD TO MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. SOMETIMES THAT CAN COME INTO PLAY WHEN IT COMES TO, UM, WHETHER IT’S FIRST RESPONDERS RESPONDING TO THE COMMUNITY AND SOME PEOPLE FEELING LIKE THINGS ARE HANDLED DIFFERENTLY, HOW DO YOU THINK THOSE KINDS OF ISSUES CAN BE TACKLED IN YOUR COMMUNITY? WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN DO? UM, AS A REPRESENTATION OF THAT DISTRICT? YEAH, THERE HAS BEEN A PUSH ON THE STATE LEVEL TO INVEST IN THOSE KIND OF SERVICES. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND WE’VE HAD UNEVEN SUCCESS ON DOING THAT. WE’VE MADE SOME GOOD STEPS FORWARD, HAVEN’T GONE FAR ENOUGH, TAKEN SOME STEPS BACKWARDS. SO THERE’S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A RENEWED PUSH FOR THOSE SERVICES. AND I THINK THAT IT STARTS IN THE SCHOOLS. UM, YOU KNOW, I WORRY DEEPLY ABOUT OUR CURRENT GENERATION OF CHILDREN GOING THROUGH A VERY TOUGH TIME GROWING UP. IT’S ALWAYS HARD TO GROW UP AS A TEENAGER, BUT IT’S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT WHEN YOU HAVE TO LIVE THROUGH THE SHUTDOWNS THAT HAPPENED DURING COVID. THE NEW KIND OF TECHNOLOGY JOE HARDY AND CELL PHONES AND THE INTERNET, LIKE ALL THOSE THINGS THAT JUST MAKE GROWING UP HARDER AND HARDER FOR OUR KIDS AND THAT IMPACTS THEIR MENTAL HEALTH AND SO INVESTING IN SCHOOL BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, PROVIDING SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH THE FUNDING THEY NEED TO BRING IN FULL TIME COUNSELORS MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK AT WEST MIFFLIN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHERE I REPRESENT NOW, THEY HAVE A COUNSELOR THAT IS FULLY BOOKED, AND THEY CAN’T GET ANY MORE COUNSELORS. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE’S JUST STUDENTS THAT DON’T HAVE ACCESS. TO THOSE SERVICES BECAUSE THEY CAN’T EVEN GET ON THE SCHEDULE. SO ANOTHER PART OF THAT IS CREATING A BETTER PIPELINE TO BRING THOSE KIND. OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS INTO THE PROFESSION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY’RE COMPENSATED WELL. SO THAT PEOPLE MOVE INTO THAT, THAT PROFESSION AND TAKE THOSE KINDS OF JOBS. AND WE HAVE THOSE PEOPLE AVAILABLE. BUT EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOLS, I THINK THERE’S. A LOT OF COMMUNITY BASED MENTAL HEALTH THINGS THAT WE COULD BE DOING THAT WE’RE NOT DOING. AND OBVIOUSLY FIRST RESPONDERS AND AND FOLKS WHO INTERACT WITH TRAUMATIC SITUATIONS EVERY SINGLE DAY. ALSO NEED THOSE KIND OF SUPPORTS. AND A LOT. OF THAT IS THERE’S JUST NOT AS MANY PEOPLE COMING INTO THAT PROFESSION TO MEET THE DEMAND THAT WE SEE IN THE COMMUNITY. SOMETIMES VOTERS FOCUS A LOT ON HOW DIVIDED THINGS ARE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR POLITICIANS AND JUST IN GENERAL, JUST WITHIN VOTERS AS WELL. WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO CROSS AND WHAT DO YOU DO TO CROSS THOSE PARTY LINES, TO TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO, YOU KNOW, COME TO AGREEMENTS? YEAH, I’VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AT THAT. SO I’VE PASSED MORE LEGISLATION OUT OF THE STATE HOUSE LAST YEAR THAN ANY OTHER MEMBER. AND EVERY, EVERY ONE OF MY BILLS HAD AT LEAST ONE REPUBLICAN VOTE. UH, MANY OF THEM HAD SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. AND SO I’VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT WE HAVE REAL PROBLEMS TO SOLVE. AND 90 OR PERCENT OR MORE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE NEED TO SOLVE CAN BE SOLVED BIPARTISAN. LEE, WITH CONVERSATION AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH FOLKS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE AND, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTANDING MY PERSPECTIVE, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THEIR PERSPECTIVE AND REALIZING THEY’RE NOT ONE IS NOT MORE VALID THAN THE OTHER AND TRYING TO BUILD COMPROMISE. THAT’S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IN THE LEGISLATURE. MORE. THAT’S THE WHOLE IDEA OF LEGISLATING. AND, YOU KNOW, I’VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT. AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I HOPE TO GO OVER TO THE SENATE, WE’LL CONTINUE THAT. THE THE IDEA IS THAT WE SHOULDN’T FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT WE DISAGREE ON. WE SHOULD FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT WE DO AGREE ON AND GET AS MUCH OF THAT DONE AS POSSIBLE. AND THEN FIGHT OUT THE STUFF THAT WE DISAGREE ON LATER. YOU’RE WATCHING, FOR THE RECORD, WE ARE BACK RIGHT AFTER THIS. WELCOME BACK. IF. YOU HAVE A TOPIC THAT YOU WOULD LIKE FOR US TO ADDRESS, SEND US AN EMAIL TO. NEWS@WTAE.COM. YOU CAN ALSO REWATCH THIS EPISODE OR ANY EPISODE WITH THE VERY LOCAL APP ON YOUR SMARTPHONE, YOUR TABLET, OR YOUR SMART TV. THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. HAVE A GREAT WEEK!