00:00 - The following program is sponsored in part by "Customers Bank".

00:15 - Welcome to the PCN Capital Preview. I'm Francine Scherzer.

00:18 - Today we'll discuss the upcoming midterm elections.

00:21 - But first, we're joined by Steve Ulrich, Managing Editor of Politics PA.

00:25 - You wrote about the latest poll released from

00:27 - the Cook Political Report. What role do you vote?

00:30 - Viewer voters views on the Trump administration

00:33 - play in this year midterm congressional races?

00:37 - The Cook Political Report, which is a pretty well revered

00:40 - publication, surveyed the 37 battleground districts they perceived.

00:45 - What they've already rated as, lean Republican, toss up or lean Democrat.

00:47 - What they've already rated as, lean Republican, toss up or lean Democrat.

00:50 - And what they found in those 37 districts, which include Pennsylvania's

00:54 - 7th, 8th and 10th, is that President Trump is underwater right now.

00:58 - He's minus 16, 42 percent approved, 58 percent disapproved.

01:06 - And it was pretty clear when you read the story that voters, not only are

01:10 - just approving a President Trump, but they're also down on his policies.

01:11 - just approving a President Trump, but they're also down on his policies.

01:14 - And really, they're not really in favor of either the

01:16 - Republican or the Democratic Party right now, Francine.

01:20 - What they really want to do is send a message to the

01:22 - country that we need to find a way to get back on track.

01:25 - As you noted, there were three particular races in

01:27 - Pennsylvania that the Cook Political Report listed as toss-ups.

01:31 - So I want to just have you kind of give us a thumbnail sketch of each

01:34 - of them and why they stand out first, the 7th congressional race.

01:40 - Sure, when you look at the 7th congressional

01:42 - and the Lehigh Valley, when you look back

01:43 - at 2024, President Trump won the 7th, the 8th

01:46 - and the 10th by an average of five points.

01:48 - This survey shows that Democrats lead by two.

01:54 - So in 2024, when Ryan McKenzie ousted incumbent Susan Wile by one point, now all

01:56 - So in 2024, when Ryan McKenzie ousted incumbent Susan Wile by one point, now all

01:58 - of a sudden, if you extrapolate, that becomes a 6-point Democratic advantage.

02:00 - of a sudden, if you extrapolate, that becomes a 6-point Democratic advantage.

02:02 - You look at the 8th congressional district up in the northeastern

02:05 - corner, Rob Brezhne hand-de-feeding but Matt Cartwright by two points.

02:07 - corner, Rob Brezhne hand-de-feeding but Matt Cartwright by two points.

02:09 - Once again, at a 7-point difference, there are suddenly Democrats who are up by five.

02:11 - Once again, at a 7-point difference, there are suddenly Democrats who are up by five.

02:19 - In PA-8, and when you look at the 10th district and the

02:21 - capital region, Scott Perry also defeated Janelle Stelson,

02:23 - who are meeting once again in a rematch in November, by

02:25 - two points, and additional 7, and Stelson is up five.

02:36 - So right now, when you look at those three key races in the

02:38 - Keystone state, Democrats are well positioned to win those three

02:39 - Keystone state, Democrats are well positioned to win those three

02:40 - races, and Pennsylvania could be the tipping point for the entire

02:42 - races, and Pennsylvania could be the tipping point for the entire

02:43 - U.S. house in terms of Democrats winning back majority control.

02:44 - U.S. house in terms of Democrats winning back majority control.

02:48 - Does the Cook Political Report discern how much of the

02:50 - anticipated blue wave is a result of disenfranchisement,

02:52 - perhaps, or discontent with the Trump administration

02:54 - versus a growth of enthusiasm in the Democratic Party?

02:56 - They really show that it's more of a disenchantment with politics in general.

03:01 - Americans are looking at their wallets, they're

03:03 - looking at the cost of gas, the cost of housing.

03:07 - The attitudes on AI data centers right now, their feeling is if

03:11 - politicians are not listening to them, and they want to send a message.

03:17 - You'll see when you look at polls that Democrats are not gaining any ground in

03:18 - You'll see when you look at polls that Democrats are not gaining any ground in

03:21 - terms of their popularity is more that the Grand Old Party seems to be slipping.

03:25 - In terms of their traction, they're hold on Pennsylvania voters.

03:31 - Is there any anticipation that perhaps the Trump administration

03:34 - reverses some sort of policies and wins back some of their supporters?

03:46 - I think there is some, there is some machinations going on

03:48 - right now, whether it's signaling out various media outlets

03:50 - and saying you don't have access to the White House, maybe

03:53 - there's always the October surprise that everyone talks about.

04:04 - Usually done during presidential campaigns, but you could see

04:06 - something pop up in October in the midterms, anything to try to draw

04:09 - attention away from the problems that the Trump administration seems

04:10 - attention away from the problems that the Trump administration seems

04:11 - to be having with this war in Iran and Americans' reactions to that.

04:13 - to be having with this war in Iran and Americans' reactions to that.

04:15 - Do you think this anticipated blue wave can

04:16 - have a coattail effect on Pennsylvania's races,

04:18 - particularly our races for the General Assembly

04:20 - and perhaps impact control of those two chambers?

04:32 - Absolutely, I think Pennsylvania, we may not see a blue tsunami,

04:34 - but I think the idea of having a Pennsylvania try effective for the

04:36 - first time since 1993 with Democrats winning the House, the Senate,

04:38 - and keeping the governor's mansion is certainly well with in play.

04:40 - I think it's mostly due to the disenchantment that folks are

04:42 - feeling toward Republicans and Republican policies right now.

04:46 - We've been speaking with Steve Ulrich of Politics

04:48 - PA, thank you for joining us this morning.

04:50 - Thank you.

04:51 - More of the PCN Capital Preview after this short break.

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05:55 - today. PCN is Pennsylvania Politics and Policy.

05:58 - Welcome back. Our guest today are Ellen Novak and TJ

06:00 - Rooney, both partners with Rooney Novak Eisenhower Group.

06:04 - We're roughly six weeks away from the general election. What will be the

06:08 - most significant factors influencing voters? TJ, let's start with you.

06:25 - Ronald John Trump. I mean, that is the sum and substance of

06:27 - this campaign. It is about, it is what the election is about.

06:29 - And Republicans will will stand or fall based on their

06:32 - allegiance and closeness with the President of the United States.

06:35 - Allen, your thoughts?

06:43 - I have 100% agree with that. That's the classic second

06:44 - I have 100% agree with that. That's the classic second

06:45 - term mid term situation accelerated or squared this time.

07:00 - There's a thing I think called Riptide, which, you know, when you

07:02 - get really strong headwinds coming at you and really strong undertow.

07:05 - That combination, I think they call Riptide. And I'm thinking that

07:06 - That combination, I think they call Riptide. And I'm thinking that

07:08 - Republicans in this election are facing that Riptide right now.

07:26 - I mean, the President's numbers on the economy, on inflation, on foreign

07:28 - policy are huge negative numbers. And to me, this election really is about

07:30 - policy are huge negative numbers. And to me, this election really is about

07:31 - those Republicans who have withstood and got elected in districts that the

07:34 - President didn't win, are they going to pull down by this Riptide this time?

07:37 - The President and Trump endorsed Tasty Gary back in January. And again, a few days ago

07:41 - reaffirmed his support for her publicly. What impact will that have on her campaign?

07:43 - reaffirmed his support for her publicly. What impact will that have on her campaign?

07:47 - I think it will have a hugely negative impact

07:49 - on her campaign. I think that, you know,

07:51 - she seems like a very, very lovely person. There's a human being. I really mean that.

07:53 - she seems like a very, very lovely person. There's a human being. I really mean that.

08:06 - But she's got the worst political timing of anybody I've known

08:08 - in recent times and that's not her fault exclusively. But she

08:10 - has, you know, she's running with Trump, which means you're

08:13 - running against Trump and running against a very popular governor.

08:19 - It's like, it's like somebody wished a pox on her in the

08:21 - beginning of the year and it's all come true. I mean, it's,

08:23 - it's again, I don't think it's exclusively reflected on the

08:25 - candidates. Like I said, she seems like a lovely human being.

08:28 - But the timing is just like, you know, telling us Riptide tsunami, whatever

08:32 - you want to call it. It doesn't, at this moment in time, look very good.

08:54 - Yeah, I agree. On top of that, she doesn't have money to really put up a, you know,

08:57 - an arrow campaign. I think her number in November is going to be whatever the base

09:00 - Republican number is with the subtraction of swing voting Republicans and

09:03 - independence.

09:04 - I mean, Shapiro is trying to end this very, the governor is trying to end this right

09:06 - I mean, Shapiro is trying to end this very, the governor is trying to end this right

09:07 - now.

09:15 - This huge media by he just did puts him in essence on the airwaves

09:17 - exclusively for a couple of weeks. And I think what that's all about

09:19 - is trying to drive out Democrat turnout and independent turnout

09:21 - and settle this election in everybody's mind as early as possible.

09:23 - Is there anything that Trump administration can do to

09:26 - perhaps reverse some of the impact of that Riptide?

09:38 - You know, the president is interesting. When he's on the

09:40 - ballot, he brings out Republicans and Democrats. There's

09:42 - a cliche. I know when he's not on the ballot, he brings

09:44 - out Democrats. And that's what's going to happen here.

09:51 - Yeah, he doesn't do anything to make it easier. You know, you would think in most

09:54 - instances in our nation's history, when a

09:56 - president has found himself in this position,

10:02 - he's done things to try to improve his standing

10:04 - and in doing so improve the standing of his

10:05 - party, the people that are tied to him seeking

10:07 - election or reelection, whatever the case may be.

10:30 - It's almost like we're paying him, we meaning Democrats.

10:32 - It's almost like we're paying him

10:33 - to do things that to hurt Republicans. I mean, he part of news organizations from the

10:36 - White

10:36 - House over the weekend. These aren't the actions or deeds of a person who a cares

10:39 - about

10:39 - the Republican party or to has a clue what the American people are wanting him to

10:42 - focus on.

10:43 - Well, the problem is constantly almost every day

10:44 - compounded for Republicans' majority and everybody

10:46 - else on the ballot because the elections about him

10:49 - and everything he does is about making them weaker.

10:53 - And it's just, it's baffling, it's weird.

10:56 - It's what we've grown accustomed to in America.

11:01 - I know we're here talking about Pennsylvania politics, but I'm

11:04 - sitting in Texas today and I want to go to the point TJ just may.

11:09 - We had a governor in Texas, a Republican governor, John Cornyn, that

11:13 - could not lose the general election. He could not lose this election.

11:24 - And Trump succeeded in knocking him out in the

11:26 - primary for current attorney general, taxed it,

11:28 - who was enormously unpopular, even with

11:29 - Republicans, particularly swing voting Republicans.

11:32 - This is a race in Texas that should not be a race due solely to President Trump.

11:34 - This is a race in Texas that should not be a race due solely to President Trump.

11:40 - Alan, are Pennsylvania Republicans aligning themselves with

11:43 - President Trump or do you see some of them distancing themselves?

11:55 - Congressman Fitzpatrick, U.S. Trump Fitzpatrick. I think he and some of those

11:56 - Congressman Fitzpatrick, U.S. Trump Fitzpatrick. I think he and some of those

11:59 - Bucks County Republicans really identify the way Republicans should run.

12:01 - Bucks County Republicans really identify the way Republicans should run.

12:03 - They connect well with the county, the Bucks Countyans, and

12:06 - they connect well with Bucks County. They have great network.

12:10 - To me, that's the race. If it's Patrick goes down,

12:13 - then this riptide was something no one could overcome.

12:20 - If a guy like Frank Ferry goes down, this riptide is something no one

12:23 - could overcome because they always ran ahead of whoever the Republican is.

12:30 - Now, he's so right. Alan is so right. I was thinking about it yesterday.

12:34 - And for me, the bellwether race will be the Pinsley Coleman race.

12:39 - I think that's really the one for me that they won the lines of exactly

12:43 - what Alan said. It tells the same story, just in a different setting.

12:52 - That setting is a little more favorable for Republicans than a lot of other competitive

12:56 - seats. And that, for me, will be the one that tells the story on election night.

13:07 - If Pinsley's even close or winning, turn the lights out for Republicans,

13:11 - if he's close or behind a little bit, then who knows. But that is the one.

13:26 - Alan's exactly right, Bucks County. That is the place that I think tells

13:28 - the story oftentimes of where Pennsylvania politics are headed. And in this

13:31 - case, because it's Patrick has been the Democrats white whale. I mean, he

13:34 - and you can argue and Alan has that it's because he's a good representative.

13:39 - I don't know the man. I just know the record.

13:40 - The record is very, very Pennsylvania. You know,

13:43 - if you're a Republican in a Democratic seat in

13:45 - Pennsylvania, you can't be a fringe candidate.

13:47 - You have to be a candidate that is reflective of your district.

13:50 - And you can make a very strong case that Fitzpatrick is.

13:59 - But my overarching point is that if Pinsley's

14:02 - beating Coleman, then Fitzpatrick's pilot losing two.

14:15 - I'm going to talk for a moment about a tactic used by the Garrity

14:17 - campaign, her campaign is airing a series of short videos titled

14:20 - Twilight Justice. They look like three, like several minute long

14:22 - trailers to a documentary. Is that what do you think of that tactic?

14:34 - Something. And they try something with a budget that they

14:36 - have. So look, I have T.J.'s right. State Security is a very

14:38 - nice person. And you know, enormously successful as a treasurer,

14:41 - you know, both as a candidate and as the office holder.

14:51 - This is a tough one for her. You know, everything. Timing

14:53 - wise is about what you wouldn't want if you're running in

14:55 - this kind of election. So she did the data center thing,

14:57 - which I thought identified a soft underbelly for governorship.

15:04 - He took Lina Southeast where all his backlash

15:05 - is occurring in his backyard in terms of, you

15:07 - know, he's a Montgomery County guy, enormous

15:09 - numbers out of the southeast. And what's he do?

15:13 - He does the executive order takes the issue off the table, does a huge

15:17 - media buy that makes everybody think he's been against data centers.

15:19 - media buy that makes everybody think he's been against data centers.

15:27 - So he takes that issue away from her and she can't really

15:29 - count her. So she's got to count her something. I think

15:31 - those trailers are probably the best thing they can do.

15:33 - And I'll give her credit for trial. I mean, this is tough.

15:44 - Yeah, she's probably going to win a lot of kudos and accolades.

15:46 - You know, unless that thing becomes a food fight, which it's not,

15:49 - you know, it's not going to happen. She's probably like sometimes

15:51 - when you run statewide, you can do yourself a world of good.

15:56 - And sometimes when you run statewide, you can take

15:58 - yourself a hole you'll never get out of in six

16:00 - lifetimes. She's running statewide has run statewide

16:02 - is running statewide and he's doing herself.

16:23 - You know, it's a tough race. You know, you don't set the table. I mean, the table set

16:26 - for

16:26 - you and she walked into a schmorgasbord. So like there's nothing that she can do

16:28 - about that.

16:29 - And, you know, Alan is correct in suggesting that, you know, you got to try, you can't

16:32 - just phone it in and the woman's going to show up every day and she's going to punch

16:34 - back.

16:35 - You know, that's Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania likes like punches backers and, you know,

16:39 - may come up short this time, but it's not going to do her any harm in the future.

16:41 - may come up short this time, but it's not going to do her any harm in the future.

16:43 - What policy issues do Josh Shapiro and Stacey Garrity differ the most on?

16:55 - There are, I would imagine, you know, it's funny, it's almost,

16:57 - it's funny, but it's sort of sad that I don't know, right?

16:59 - I can't articulate five off the top of my head because the

17:01 - election I wish were about issues, but instead it's not.

17:03 - It's about some other guy in Washington.

17:05 - So where, but there are profound differences. I mean, the governor's worked

17:07 - So where, but there are profound differences. I mean, the governor's worked

17:09 - very, very hard on permitting reform. He's worked hard to get things done.

17:19 - Now, and that seems very simple and very, and very

17:21 - insipid, but it's not because when you have a divided

17:23 - legislature as he does, it makes the job to herculean

17:25 - task of governing twice as more twice as difficult.

17:29 - So the fact that the governor and the legislature have gotten things

17:33 - accomplished together is what breeds confidence for Pennsylvania's.

17:46 - And, you know, I won't make the argument, but Alan will, that

17:48 - divided government is a friend of Pennsylvania because it sort

17:51 - of keeps us from these, these hurts, and regurgs to one way or

17:53 - the other, the extremes that plague and polarized our politics.

17:58 - We experience a little bit less in Pennsylvania.

18:00 - Again, I'm a Democrat and I'm proud and

18:02 - I'm hopeful, but, you know, there's a case to be made for the governor using his move.

18:04 - I'm hopeful, but, you know, there's a case to be made for the governor using his move.

18:10 - We're using his, his, his inherent moderate approach to Pennsylvania politics,

18:13 - bringing about good things. I think he's

18:15 - right for the time if he's right for the job.

18:18 - What are the most significant issues that the incoming governor will have to face?

18:21 - What are the most significant issues that the incoming governor will have to face?

18:36 - Well, I guess it depends on whether the incoming governor has a, has

18:39 - the, his party in majority in both the Senate and the House because

18:41 - that changes things dramatically. If it is, if it remains divided, if

18:44 - it remains a Republican Senate, then I think it's getting stuff done.

18:50 - I think it's getting more deals done.

18:51 - Obviously, the whole data center thing with this

18:53 - executive order, you know, there's a political

18:55 - part of that and that goes away after November.

18:59 - And then there's a governing part of that and that really comes into

19:03 - play, depending on how things shake out in the House and Senate.

19:07 - And I would argue that the governor doesn't want to

19:10 - see data centers disappear. You know, you know, pencil.

19:16 - Look, here's, here's the downside of keeping

19:18 - data centers out of Pennsylvania and I

19:19 - emphasize responsible data centers and not

19:21 - every Tom Dick and Harry that wants to do one.

19:25 - But keeping responsible data centers in Pennsylvania keeps

19:29 - that business in Pennsylvania using Pennsylvania power.

19:33 - If those data centers don't go to Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania power

19:37 - is going to go to those data centers in Ohio, West Virginia, etc.

19:44 - So how to deal with that after the election is really by how to deal with

19:48 - whether there's good legislation in the, in the capital or bad legislation.

20:02 - And as TJ said, I like divided government because divided government reduces

20:05 - bad legislation and puts some balances into it. If you have a Democratic

20:07 - House and a Democratic Senate, it's going to be hard for those leaders

20:10 - to keep bad bills from getting out of one chamber and going to the other.

20:19 - So I think how the governor does that, how he does more deals

20:21 - like Chabani. You know, those kind of things. How can he get

20:23 - things done in a setting where he may have to work with a

20:25 - Republican Senate and continue to work with a Republican Senate.

20:27 - If you don't have to work with a Republican Senate, it's a whole different scenario.

20:28 - If you don't have to work with a Republican Senate, it's a whole different scenario.

20:33 - Just a security has pointed out that Josh Shapiro has

20:36 - anticipated to run for president. Is that a valid concern?

20:44 - I don't think it should be a concern. I mean, I truthfully, I appreciate the fact

20:47 - I don't think it should be a concern. I mean, I truthfully, I appreciate the fact

20:48 - that our governor is so well thought of that he's thought of as a national figure.

20:51 - that our governor is so well thought of that he's thought of as a national figure.

20:57 - I mean, I didn't necessarily like it at the time,

20:58 - but I certainly understood it at the time when

21:00 - Governor Tom Ridge was being talked about as a

21:02 - presidential and certainly advice presidential candidate.

21:14 - I think it reflects well on the commonwealth that we have the good

21:16 - common sense in our collective noggin to elect somebody that is not only

21:19 - capable of governing the commonwealth, but is viewed as being capable

21:21 - of governing the United States and who that help with one bad job.

21:24 - So, you know, God bless him. I don't think it's anything to to, you know, hide from.

21:28 - I think it's a, I think in some respects it's a political badge of honor.

21:32 - Yeah, I mean, you know, I came into my position

21:35 - and to state party when Tom Ridge was governor.

21:39 - I love the idea that Tom Ridge was in the national conversation.

21:43 - So, you know, that's kind of where we are.

21:48 - When your governor is in the national conversation and you're in a state like

21:49 - When your governor is in the national conversation and you're in a state like

21:52 - Pennsylvania, a swing state, that means there's something serious about him.

22:03 - We talked to mom going to go about the impact of Donald Trump and how

22:05 - that might influence voters this year. TJ, can you talk to us a little bit

22:08 - about the direction of the Democratic party and perhaps in particular

22:11 - what role the the socialist wing of that party will have moving forward.

22:21 - So, Francie, let me just make it very clear that these opinions

22:23 - are my own and do not reflect the will or the whimsy of the

22:25 - Democratic party. Listen, I have no qualms whatever with Democratic

22:28 - socialists. They're men and women. They're proud. They're strong.

22:30 - socialists. They're men and women. They're proud. They're strong.

22:31 - They have ideas and they have voice. I think they should be allowed to express

22:35 - those ideas and and have their voices heard just not in the Democratic party.

22:43 - The name it says it's a Democratic socialist of America. Then there should be

22:44 - The name it says it's a Democratic socialist of America. Then there should be

22:47 - in my in my humble estimation. Their voices need to be heard. Their ideas count.

22:51 - But they don't have to count in our party. Like we've worked there's lots of people

22:53 - But they don't have to count in our party. Like we've worked there's lots of people

22:55 - over lifetimes who have worked very hard to build something. Say it was a business.

22:56 - over lifetimes who have worked very hard to build something. Say it was a business.

23:05 - Let's say the Democratic and you might argue that it is is

23:06 - a business. Who the hell is going to build a business spend

23:08 - their lifetime building a business just to give it up to

23:10 - somebody who walks in and says, well, your business is mine now.

23:13 - That's just not the way life works and it sure shouldn't isn't the way politics work.

23:16 - That's just not the way life works and it sure shouldn't isn't the way politics work.

23:29 - So again, I think they have they have lots to offer. I mean,

23:31 - certainly in the third district to Philadelphia, a self

23:33 - identified Democratic socialist won a primary against some

23:34 - identified Democratic socialist won a primary against some

23:35 - very, very, very solid men and women who were Democrats.

23:38 - I just think there should have been a

23:39 - separate primary for the Democratic socialist.

23:41 - I don't think that we should limit people. I just think they want to stick to a lane.

23:44 - I don't think that we should limit people. I just think they want to stick to a lane.

23:50 - Like, what if I decided tomorrow that I'm going to be the

23:52 - Republican Party of Pennsylvania. It just doesn't you got

23:54 - to work to get something you just can't come in and take it

23:57 - over unless you're a nipple baby and you're very wealthy.

24:00 - You can't just take over stuff. So, so I respect, I respect

24:04 - my would hope they would, we would all caucus together.

24:10 - But I just think if they're intent on pointing out their

24:13 - differences among Democrats, then they should run independent of us.

24:18 - So I don't mean that is the mean spirit just matter of fact like you

24:21 - just can't have what I have because you want it. You got to earn it.

24:32 - And if you want to take us on, okay, that's fine, you

24:33 - know, but do it as the DSA, don't do it in our primary,

24:36 - don't mess up our house because then we're stuck with

24:38 - you and sometimes we'll be in stuck with you's okay.

24:40 - Most times it's not. So I don't want you screwing

24:44 - up my living room because you came in uninvited.

24:48 - That's where I stand.

24:51 - And I actually took a look at what the generic ballot averages are.

25:06 - And when you look at the president's numbers, his

25:07 - negative numbers on the economy inflation, foreign

25:10 - policy, you name it, you would think that generic

25:12 - ballot number in favor of the Democrats would be higher.

25:29 - And I think it's not. I think it's around 670. And I think solely because to

25:30 - And I think it's not. I think it's around 670. And I think solely because to

25:32 - the extent that Fox News, which is the Republican mouthpiece, to the extent that

25:33 - the extent that Fox News, which is the Republican mouthpiece, to the extent that

25:35 - the staff, you know, the Republicans and all their campaigns are pointing to

25:38 - the Democrat socialist that one high profile Senate race is around the country.

25:40 - the Democrat socialist that one high profile Senate race is around the country.

25:42 - I mean, I think that plus gerrymandering, I

25:43 - think has helped that generic ballot numbers

25:46 - stay underneath landslide proportions in

25:47 - terms of the number of seats that will switch.

25:50 - And I think TJ's right.

26:01 - The tension inside the Democrat party and that amplified by, you know,

26:04 - Republican media is keeping that number under under plus 10 for for Democrats.

26:18 - And, you know, for a scene, we're going to be like the dog that catches

26:20 - the mail truck. I mean, that is going to happen and it's probably

26:23 - going to happen sooner rather than later. And then what you're going to

26:26 - see is, I mean, this is no different. Please, let's not misunderstand.

26:36 - The situation is absolutely no different than the magnification of the

26:39 - Republican Party. It's the same. It's just the same thing. And that's

26:41 - why I believe before my grand children and their service in America,

26:44 - they're going to see a third, a viable third party that includes.

26:47 - Listen, let's just be honest, you're I'm not going

26:50 - to lie to you or any of your viewers, I can get a

26:52 - lot more done without no back 365 days of the week

26:54 - than I can with my Democratic socialist counterpart.

27:08 - And I think there's going to be a governing party in America, one of these days that I

27:11 - mean, if it gets to the point where maggot continues to control them and we continue

27:14 - to

27:14 - gravitate far left, it's going to leave 80% of us in the middle scratching our arsenic

27:18 - wondering what we can do to join forces to govern sensibly. And I think that's going

27:21 - to happen.

27:27 - Give it up my card or whatever, but it's just the truth, it's what needs to

27:30 - happen in America. I'll shift our focus for just a moment, a little bit later on

27:33 - today, PC and we'll be providing a live stream of the March for life with former

27:36 - US Senator Rick Santorm is abortion still an important issue to pencil any voters.

27:38 - US Senator Rick Santorm is abortion still an important issue to pencil any voters.

27:44 - I think I think in, yes, I think Southeast Pennsylvania it

27:46 - was interesting the governor was running ads on that and

27:48 - then switched his ass with his latest media by so I think

27:50 - he was making sure he solidified that, but yeah, I think so.

27:58 - Look, I live in Chester County, Chester County is a

28:00 - moderate county, whether it's moderate Democrat like

28:02 - it is now or whether it was moderate Republican like

28:04 - it was 20 years ago, but it's a moderate county.

28:17 - I remember a time when I would say half of the organized

28:19 - area leaders and committee of Chester County were pro choice

28:21 - women that doesn't exist now in the Chester County GOP. I

28:24 - think abortion is always an issue it's not the top issue.

28:34 - The economy, this is inflation, this is the war,

28:36 - this is a CJ set a referendum on the incumbent

28:37 - president, but it's a baseline issue in politics,

28:40 - particularly in the eastern part of the state.

28:50 - A huge issue for women voters voters, right large,

28:52 - but particularly women voters of all stripes

28:53 - has been will be, you know, always a motivating

28:55 - issue for a large segment of her voting population.

29:07 - To participate that the governor's race will have

29:09 - a down ticket effect on the races for the general

29:11 - assembly and in particular do you foresee any

29:12 - scenarios where control of either chamber shifts.

29:25 - And I think I was like me when I first got elected I swear there

29:27 - was a majority in the Senate for like the term so like 90 92

29:30 - maybe 94 there was that was the only time in my political

29:32 - lifetime that there was a democratic majority in the state Senate.

29:42 - They have more than a punctures chance of reclaiming a

29:44 - majority for the first time and I asked to be over 30 years,

29:46 - and I do think, for instance, that the Democratic majority

29:48 - in the House will improve by by a handful of seats.

29:56 - And again, I attribute that to three things really

29:58 - number one, the quality both of their candidates

29:59 - by and large and and their operations there are and

30:02 - you know this is all this goes across the board.

30:09 - The sophistication of campaigns and Pennsylvania has gotten

30:11 - so I mean from where out and I you know we were playing

30:12 - with sticks and trying to start fires rubbing them together

30:15 - these guys are you know they're playing with blow torches.

30:17 - It's the quality of the effort number one,

30:19 - I think it's the investment of the governor.

30:25 - You know sometimes governors have a hard

30:26 - time parting with money Josh Shapiro doesn't

30:29 - and especially when you're parting money to invest in races that aren't sure things.

30:31 - and especially when you're parting money to invest in races that aren't sure things.

30:35 - Josh Shapiro is investing in races that aren't

30:37 - sure things that will certainly help on the

30:38 - margins and then finally third factor is the one

30:41 - we talked about from the beginnings is Trump.

30:43 - And I mean, I don't mean is Donald Trump going to weigh in on

30:46 - vouchers, I mean, but like just the effect he has on the electorate.

30:52 - If you're a moderate mainstream little bit right of

30:54 - center Republican you got to think whether or not

30:56 - you want to go out and vote or whether you want to

30:58 - get you know a cup of coffee and your hair done.

31:04 - I mean, and I think a lot of people are going to

31:05 - choose the latter this time and I think that will

31:08 - be his effect on this election will be campering

31:10 - the enthusiasm of traditional Republican voters.

31:12 - I agree.

31:13 - I think the enthusiasm gap is as important right now as the generic ballot.

31:16 - I think the enthusiasm gap is as important right now as the generic ballot.

31:19 - In fact, I think it's more important.

31:23 - Democrats are going to come out and vote, they'll crawl over broken glass,

31:26 - they'll walk over hot calls, they'll do whatever it takes, they're going to vote.

31:31 - And I don't think the enthusiasm is going to be matched by Republicans.

31:38 - And if you have like a five, six, seven point gap, that's enough to

31:42 - swing races that usually there's the side of our one or two points.

31:44 - swing races that usually there's the side of our one or two points.

31:46 - We're going to give our guests a break while we look at what's coming up on PCN.

31:48 - We're going to give our guests a break while we look at what's coming up on PCN.

31:51 - The March for Life rally at the State Capitol with former

31:54 - U.S. Senator Rick Santorum airs on PCN today live at 11 a.m.

31:58 - You can also see it on PCN TV today at 3 p.m.

32:02 - On the next PCN Capitol preview, we'll discuss

32:05 - legislative priorities in the general assembly,

32:08 - with Jake Corman from OnePlus Strategies and Aaron

32:11 - Mulchaney from Buchanan, Ingersoll, and Rand.

32:14 - They'll be here tomorrow morning live at 9 o'clock.

32:17 - On the issues brings you another perspective on data centers when we talk

32:21 - with Dan Diorio, Executive Vice President of the Data Center Coalition.

32:22 - with Dan Diorio, Executive Vice President of the Data Center Coalition.

32:25 - That's on Wednesday at 7.30 p.m.

32:31 - Journalist Roundtable returns with Carter Walker from VoteB, Carmen Russell

32:34 - Slichansky from W-H-Y-Y in Philadelphia, and

32:36 - Jordan Wilkie from W-I-T-F in Harrisburg.

32:39 - They'll be here Thursday night at 7 p.m.

32:42 - You can watch this show and all of our public affairs

32:45 - programming free of charge by visiting PCNSelect.com.

32:49 - While you're there, you can download our streaming service PCNSelect.

32:53 - PCN is everything, Pennsylvania, or a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

32:57 - television network that relies on viewers like you.

33:01 - To make a donation, visit PCNTV.com.

33:04 - Now, let's get back into our discussion about the midterms.

33:07 - I want to focus a little bit on our congressional races.

33:10 - The Cook Political Report recently provided another update on their rankings.

33:12 - The Cook Political Report recently provided another update on their rankings.

33:14 - They listed three of Pennsylvania's races as toss-ups.

33:17 - Why is Pennsylvania so important to share?

33:27 - Well, because we are home to at least four competitive seats that could, in theory,

33:29 - Well, because we are home to at least four competitive seats that could, in theory,

33:31 - determine who controls the majority in the United States has the representatives.

33:35 - And for anybody paying attention, that's hot stuff.

33:39 - That's a big deal.

33:41 - And the fact that there are four very competitive races, you said three.

33:45 - Friends, you know, they have as toss-up, and one

33:47 - meeting, the seventh, the eighth, and the tenth.

33:50 - Yeah. Yeah, no, I think it's testament to to, well,

33:53 - they're always the relevance of Pennsylvania, you know.

34:01 - We're always relevant to the national conversation,

34:03 - but this time we have an opportunity to make

34:05 - history by delivering the votes that put Democrats

34:07 - over the top in the House of Representatives.

34:12 - So, yes, I mean, if you look at Scranton, Harrisburg,

34:14 - Allen, Sound, and Bucks County, Allen talked

34:16 - about Bucks County, the Fitzpatrick race, in the

34:18 - Lehigh Valley, the former Susan Wild District.

34:20 - You have Bob Brooks and the incumbent, represented Ryan

34:23 - McKenzie, who I found that it was very interesting.

34:26 - And I don't think, I'm quite sure, I don't fault him for this.

34:31 - You know, they had that big hoe-down in Texas, and Allen, you're not in the

34:35 - woods last week or two of the Republican convention, or whatever it was.

34:39 - And McKenzie went, and McKenzie spoke, and I didn't think that was insane.

34:43 - The reason I didn't think it was insane is he owns Trump anyway.

34:44 - The reason I didn't think it was insane is he owns Trump anyway.

34:46 - I mean, you know, I don't need owns him.

34:48 - I mean, he has tied to Trump regardless.

34:51 - There's nothing he can do to unhog tide himself.

34:54 - So, there, you know, he better get, he should get

34:58 - the benefit of, you know, so I understood that.

35:02 - But the other race, obviously, up in Scranton, the Scranton Mayor of

35:04 - Paige Codden, that he'd taken on the incumbent, represented Bernie Shan.

35:11 - And in Harrisburg, of course, the other sort

35:13 - of white whale represents Scott Perry being

35:15 - challenged by Janelle Stelson, who ran an

35:16 - incredibly good and close race two years ago.

35:19 - Those are, those are how it's sort of, those are the races.

35:34 - And again, I think it, I mean, from where I sit at least, Francine, everything

35:36 - that we've discussed about turnout, the effect of the president, the effect

35:38 - of the governor, the governor spending in races, all of that, all of that

35:40 - that we've mentioned is applicable to the races and for that you refer to.

35:41 - that we've mentioned is applicable to the races and for that you refer to.

35:42 - Let's talk about the 10th race for just a moment. As you'd mentioned, Scott Perry,

35:45 - the incumbent is facing Janelle Stelson, the Democratic candidate once again.

35:49 - How have the political dynamics changed in the last

35:52 - two years since they had last faced one another?

36:09 - I think the northern end of that district is now

36:11 - more swing type than it used to be, the whole

36:13 - Harrisburg and then the towns and the county

36:14 - around Harrisburg Cumberland County, those areas.

36:20 - There are actually areas that I'm watching for House Senate races because

36:24 - just like Lancaster is now a little more competitive than it used to be.

36:35 - And some parts of Lancaster, much more competitive

36:37 - than it used to be. Those areas, I think that

36:38 - that's the vulnerability for Scott Perry, that

36:40 - the other vulnerability is the Republican turnout.

36:43 - He cannot afford to lose turnout in areas

36:47 - where he can win and win by his usual numbers.

37:01 - So I make that my number two race after the Bucks

37:02 - County in telling me what this election and this rick

37:05 - tide is what its impact really is. I think the President

37:07 - had cognady race is going to be a very good race.

37:15 - There's a lot of Republican votes up there, so turnout

37:16 - is the issue, not generic ballot, in my opinion. And I

37:18 - think Ryan McKenzie is going to have a real hard time

37:20 - because we'll significant Hispanic vote in his district.

37:23 - He got the benefit of that because President

37:25 - Trump in 24 got the benefit of that.

37:33 - And Hispanic voters, swing Hispanic voters are drifting away from

37:36 - President Trump and Republicans as a result of overzealous ICE enforcement.

37:38 - President Trump and Republicans as a result of overzealous ICE enforcement.

37:41 - How do you determine who are the undecided or swing voters?

37:58 - Yeah. I mean, you literally, campaigns, that's like a primary function

38:00 - of a campaign is to figure out who's who and where they are. So

38:03 - you can employ a number of means to do that, for instance, you can

38:06 - do it on the telephone, you can do it at the door, you can do it.

38:11 - These campaigns have gotten so sophisticated, you could

38:13 - probably, you know, put on a cap with points on the end of it and

38:16 - be able to read into their breakfast thinking and figure out

38:18 - where, you know, there's all sorts of ways you can do it.

38:21 - But that is a function of the campaign is to figure out who they are, where

38:25 - they are and how you can, you know, get them from neutral to favorable.

38:29 - I agree with TJ, it's much more sophisticated now and

38:33 - the knowledge out there is much more extensive deep.

38:35 - the knowledge out there is much more extensive deep.

38:50 - I've some people would say invasive, but the bottom line is people know a lot more

38:52 - about every

38:53 - voter than we did when we did our jobs, you know, there you looked at when they voted,

38:55 - did they

38:56 - vote every four years, did they vote four years in a row, did they vote three out of

38:58 - four, two

38:59 - out of four, where they registered independent, it is much more sophisticated than

39:01 - that now.

39:02 - This might sound like an overlays simplistic

39:03 - question, but what characteristics make a candidate

39:06 - attractive to voters and is that as important as

39:08 - what they're what party they're registered with?

39:20 - And it's more important. I think what voters want is a candidate

39:22 - that listens to them and then demonstrates that he or she heard them

39:25 - and identifies and understands their priority issues. It's not the

39:28 - candidate's issues that matter, it's the voters issues that matter.

39:34 - And candidates that recognize that, like, that's why

39:36 - everybody's talking about affordability, that's why everybody's

39:38 - talking about inflation, because that's on everybody's mind,

39:41 - it trumps all in no pun intended, it trumps every other issue.

39:46 - You may, you know, we talked to her about abortion,

39:47 - it's important to women, but sitting around the kitchen

39:50 - table coming back from the grocery store if they

39:51 - stopped to fill up your gas tank, that's real important.

39:54 - One of the issues that a candidate's not

39:56 - addressing them, that candidate's in trouble.

40:12 - Relatability, I think, is over, you know, kind of what Alan just summarized

40:14 - is that, yes, you need, you need and want and have to have candidates that

40:15 - are relatable, but you understand the bar is set so low that people have a

40:17 - are relatable, but you understand the bar is set so low that people have a

40:17 - very, very little expectation of what they see is what they're going to get.

40:18 - very, very little expectation of what they see is what they're going to get.

40:20 - And I think, I mean, who we, you know,

40:22 - again, we're not here to tell smoke stories.

40:26 - I mean, Federman's a perfect example of somebody who they thought was

40:27 - I mean, Federman's a perfect example of somebody who they thought was

40:29 - relatable who turned into somebody who's completely not relatable.

40:45 - So, that's what I mean, spoils, that's what sets the bar low, because you have, you

40:47 - know, in Federman a lot of people thought, Senator Federman, they thought, well,

40:49 - it's a man, you know, who dresses like somebody and, you know, and is like more

40:50 - of a, I guess every man, although most every man wouldn't show, it doesn't matter.

40:52 - of a, I guess every man, although most every man wouldn't show, it doesn't matter.

40:53 - They thought he was relatable.

40:59 - You know, and turned out really not so much. So,

41:01 - that's what poisons the well. You know, sometimes

41:03 - when voters think they got their hands on

41:04 - relatability, it turns out to be a, a can't hurt.

41:09 - And it's just not, you know, it's what, it's

41:10 - what diminishes politicians and public office

41:13 - holders in the eyes of their constituents when

41:15 - they say there's something and they're not.

41:17 - But it's, it's almost become expected these days.

41:22 - I want to talk briefly about voter registration, Ellen Republicans are closing

41:26 - the gap on Democrats and voter registration. What's responsible for that?

41:28 - the gap on Democrats and voter registration. What's responsible for that?

41:41 - Probably a bit of, I don't want to say, I don't, I don't

41:42 - know whether that's organic in the sense that it's not being

41:44 - manipulated. You know, it used to be we did voter registration

41:47 - drives and, you know, came to a door or set up a table.

41:49 - I don't think it's that. I think people are aligning with where they think they are.

42:00 - And I think, you know, President Trump gets some credit for that in fact, in

42:04 - the fact that this, he probably boosted that number through the 24 election.

42:08 - And then people decided that's where they want to be.

42:11 - That doesn't mean they're going to vote in 26 that way.

42:19 - But I think more of it is people just aligning with where they are based on

42:20 - But I think more of it is people just aligning with where they are based on

42:22 - where they go for social media content, where they go for television content.

42:24 - where they go for social media content, where they go for television content.

42:27 - You know, there were people that say cleaning up voter

42:30 - rolls, but I don't know how much of that's really happened.

42:42 - So I just think it's people aligning to where

42:44 - they think they are party wise. And that's not

42:46 - necessarily the same thing as being aligned

42:48 - with the person in the White House right now.

42:53 - I think it's what party, particularly the stuff about the Democrat

42:56 - socialist, that probably helps a bit, but I just think it's in alignment.

42:58 - socialist, that probably helps a bit, but I just think it's in alignment.

43:03 - I say this not because it's self-fulfilling. I swear, I don't.

43:06 - It's I think it's the, and it's not because it's getting away from us a little bit.

43:11 - I think it's the least telling indicator of predicting outcomes of elections.

43:14 - I think it's the least telling indicator of predicting outcomes of elections.

43:35 - Now, listen, when we went, when I left, I think we had a million vote plurality that

43:37 - has nothing

43:37 - whatsoever to do with me. So that, I mean, it's just the way it was, but it didn't

43:39 - mean that we were

43:40 - going to win every election by a million votes, you know, so it's sort of like a

43:42 - lagging indicator

43:42 - in some respects, I think, have Republicans done a great job of prioritizing voter

43:44 - registration.

43:45 - Yes, I really honestly believe they have over the past, the last few years. And

43:48 - there's other, there's, I think there's a bunch of reasons that help explain that.

43:55 - But does it translate, does it translate into

43:56 - voters on election day? And I really don't think it

43:58 - does, because getting somebody to vote, a registered

44:01 - a vote is easier than getting somebody to vote.

44:10 - And, and so again, even when we had, when the sun was

44:12 - shining, we had big margins, it didn't mean much. You still

44:14 - have your job to do of turning out voters who are going to

44:16 - vote for you, regardless of what their registration says.

44:23 - As of September 14, there were 3.8 million registered

44:25 - Democrats, 3.6 million registered Republicans

44:27 - and 1.1 million not registered with the party.

44:29 - Why is the number of independence growing?

44:41 - Well, I think, I think because there are people that aren't, that feel like they

44:44 - don't fit in either party. I think, you know, we call them the classic swing vote or

44:47 - I'm not sure they are. I think the end of the, well, TJ and I both believe

44:50 - independence, be able to vote in primaries like that's a full stop. That's where we

44:54 - are.

44:58 - But, I just think, and I'll speak for Chester County,

45:01 - where, where I, where I spend most of my time.

45:02 - We lost a lot of moderate Republicans to independent

45:05 - registrations over the last several years.

45:12 - And that was due to many factors. But I think

45:13 - the fact that there was a perception in Chester

45:15 - County was a very moderate county that the

45:17 - Republican Party wasn't as moderate as it used to be.

45:24 - That a Tom Ridge, who was the gold standard for a moderate Republican in

45:27 - Pennsylvania, couldn't be a governor, you know, 20 years after he was governor.

45:42 - And I think that's one of the problems in the southeastern

45:44 - counties. But I really think independent voters, there's

45:46 - a sense of we're not beholden to anybody. We'll vote for

45:48 - the person that we think is the right one for this time.

45:51 - And I think it's a more comfortable place for people that

45:54 - don't want to be ideologically boxed into one party or another.

45:59 - And that number, I believe, would be exponentially

46:02 - higher if we allowed independence to vote in primaries.

46:06 - I mean, part of the reason they voted, they, they align with parties

46:09 - is in advance of an election to support a candidate they want.

46:20 - They shouldn't have to do all that paperwork to

46:22 - exercise their constitutionally protected right and it's

46:24 - better. My friends, I'll be happy to submit that

46:26 - having independent voices in our primaries will help.

46:33 - We'll help our politics a lot. And I really

46:34 - mean that. I think it helps the moderate, the

46:36 - moderating influence of those voters. I think

46:38 - can have a profound effect, especially over time.

46:41 - It's far, far past time that they be allowed to vote in primaries.

46:46 - I'm going to shift our focus once again.

46:48 - Last week, the US Supreme Court rejected President Trump's bid

46:49 - Last week, the US Supreme Court rejected President Trump's bid

46:51 - to restrict mail and voting for this year's midterm elections.

46:53 - to restrict mail and voting for this year's midterm elections.

47:00 - And I think that, you know, the Republican Party had what they

47:02 - called a bank your vote campaign where they were encouraging

47:04 - people to vote by mail and ballot. Is there a formal Republican

47:07 - position on whether or not to utilize mail and voting?

47:17 - That would be because I think what you mentioned two years ago was,

47:18 - That would be because I think what you mentioned two years ago was,

47:19 - was catch up. It was kind of like losing a football game to a team

47:21 - that innovated and you didn't. And it's all about, you know, politics

47:23 - and sports are a lot of like and that was the final score matters.

47:26 - So whatever puts points on the board matters and

47:29 - Democrats for six years, four years ago, but eight.

47:37 - I'd say more six years ago and onward understood the impact of getting

47:41 - your votes in early. You could argue fraud and all that bottom line.

47:45 - The bottom line is in states where there is early

47:48 - voting, mail and voting, there's more participation.

47:58 - I think Republicans caught up to that. Then, of

48:00 - course, we probably won a little too far. And

48:02 - that's what the Supreme Court said. But I look,

48:04 - you've got to play by the roles of the game.

48:06 - And if the other side has figured it out and you haven't, you're going to lose.

48:13 - We only have about a minute or two left. We'll start with you,

48:16 - TJ. What are your predictions for this year's midterm elections?

48:21 - My predictions are that the Democrats in the

48:24 - United States House of Representatives win control.

48:29 - I think we'll be up late in a couple days after the

48:30 - I think we'll be up late in a couple days after the

48:32 - election, figuring out the United States Senate.

48:36 - I think the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the Democrats

48:40 - will control more seats than they do today and expand their majority.

48:54 - And I honestly believe that it's quite possible that

48:55 - the Pennsylvania Senate will be determined days after

48:57 - the election because of the closeness of some races that

49:00 - we may not have expected to be as close as they are.

49:02 - Those are my predictions.

49:07 - I agree on the House of Representatives, the United States House of Representatives,

49:09 - I agree on the House of Representatives, the United States House of Representatives,

49:11 - Democrats pick up the majority, pick up enough seats to get a majority.

49:13 - Democrats pick up the majority, pick up enough seats to get a majority.

49:17 - U.S. Senate's going to be very close. It's going

49:18 - to come down to states that shouldn't have been

49:20 - close. Texas shouldn't be close. It's going to be.

49:23 - Michigan shouldn't be close and it's going to be.

49:27 - So, I agree with, Maine shouldn't be close and it's going to be.

49:32 - So, we'll be waiting days for those.

49:37 - Pennsylvania House pick up over the handful, like TJ said. I believe the

49:40 - Republicans hold on to the Pennsylvania Senate, but it's going to be real close.

49:47 - And it's going to be real close in places like Bucks County, Lancaster County

49:48 - And it's going to be real close in places like Bucks County, Lancaster County

49:50 - is an interesting race. The Lancaster County is a very interesting Senate race.

49:52 - is an interesting race. The Lancaster County is a very interesting Senate race.

50:01 - But at this point, I put my money and I

50:02 - think where most Republican money is going to

50:05 - go is put it in Republican Senate races,

50:06 - state Senate races, because that's the game.

50:09 - That's the game that matters in terms of what the governing of

50:12 - Pennsylvania is going to look like for the next couple of years.

50:16 - Yes.

50:17 - Our guests have been Alan Novak and TJ Rooney, both partners with

50:19 - Rudy Novak, Eisenhower Group, gentlemen. Thank you both for your time.

50:23 - Thanks for your time.

50:25 - Thanks for everything.

50:26 - Thank you.

50:33 - We spoke with Representative Jim Prokopiac about his bill to ban fake job listings.

50:36 - We spoke with Representative Jim Prokopiac about his bill to ban fake job listings.

50:41 - Welcome to our program. You've proposed legislation to ban

50:44 - ghost job postings. Can you explain what those postings are?

50:50 - Jobs that are intended to out there for various

50:52 - reasons for employers are putting out there

50:54 - knowing that they don't have a position to be

50:56 - filled, but people are actually putting in for.

51:07 - So, you know, the number of ghost jobs out there. It's hard to

51:09 - knock down, but government statistics tend to show that between

51:12 - one in five and one in three upwards of one in three jobs are

51:14 - actually not actually looking to be filled by those employers.

51:17 - And that results in employees and potential employees spending a lot of time

51:21 - applying for jobs that aren't actually there to be to actually be hired by.

51:25 - And that's a problem because, you know, obviously it creates

51:28 - frustration among people who are looking for jobs and this job economy.

51:30 - frustration among people who are looking for jobs and this job economy.

51:32 - You know, when people are looking for jobs, creating false hope for people.

51:44 - Making the frustration leading to lost time. And frankly,

51:46 - if we're doing the time and effort to apply for a

51:47 - job, there should be a job at the end, potentially not

51:50 - a phantom job. And that's what we're trying to combat.

51:52 - Is there a specific reason why these companies post these ghost jobs?

51:54 - Is there a specific reason why these companies post these ghost jobs?

52:06 - There are various reasons going from surveys

52:07 - done by very surveys. Sometimes it's to see what

52:09 - talent is out there. Sometimes they're creating,

52:11 - you know, a database of potential future employees.

52:18 - Sometimes it's to motivate existing employees

52:20 - and to create some sort of, you know, incentive

52:22 - for people to work harder at their existing jobs if they think their job is at stake.

52:29 - There's, those are some of the reasons that are

52:31 - out there. There's, you know, creating a potential

52:33 - pipeline of talent, creating motivation to internal

52:35 - candidates, looking and seeing what's out there.

52:39 - Ultimately, understandable goals by

52:40 - businesses, but they're doing it at the expense

52:43 - of the workforce, which we don't, which I don't believe is something we should do.

52:54 - Under this legislation, what details would be, would need to be

52:56 - included in a job listing for it not to be considered a ghost

52:59 - posting. Do ghost postings have something written in them that

53:01 - stand out to make them stand out from legitimate job postings?

53:08 - And necessarily, it would be to, you know, to ensure that

53:10 - companies who are posting jobs actually have that position,

53:12 - which they're intending to fill in the near term. And so

53:14 - that they actually have a job that they're looking to fill.

53:18 - And that's really what the motivation of this bill is because for too

53:22 - many people out there, those jobs aren't actually going to be filled.

53:26 - That leads to people putting the time and effort to look to complete the

53:30 - application to do those types of things and only creates frustration.

53:55 - If this bill were to be passed, would there be a consequence

53:59 - for any company that may still post these job listings online?

54:16 - Feedback at all. And at a certain point, you would expect that, you know, we always

54:19 - hear

54:19 - that people are looking for jobs and it's hard to find people and yet when people are

54:22 - putting out hundreds and hundreds of applications and they're not getting any feedback

54:26 - whatsoever on any of them, it seems that many of those jobs may not actually be in

54:29 - existence.

54:30 - And certainly, and I've heard it from constituents and

54:32 - I've actually heard it from my own kids who as they're

54:34 - replying said, "Hey, I've applied for two or three

54:36 - hundred jobs and not received any feedback whatsoever."

54:38 - And then, actually, they did some research and found out that this

54:42 - actually is a thing, not just about them, but across the country.

54:49 - It's something that, you know, there was an article about

54:51 - in the Wall Street Journal and the Wall Street Journal

54:53 - over the last few years has been tracking that this is an

54:55 - issue, not just in Pennsylvania, but across the country.

55:00 - And so it's not something that once they brought

55:02 - that to my attention, I did more research

55:04 - and found that, actually, this is something

55:06 - that we think that I think should be addressed.

55:09 - What have you heard from your constituents and

55:12 - your colleagues in the House regarding this bill?

55:17 - Well, certainly, you know, I've gotten good feedback from my colleagues, I've

55:20 - got people who have co-sponsored the legislation and I'm grateful for that.

55:26 - And certainly from constituents, you know, constituents want to work, they want to

55:30 - get a job and many of them are frustrated with the process of trying to get a job.

55:32 - get a job and many of them are frustrated with the process of trying to get a job.

55:34 - And hopefully, this will help alleviate some of

55:36 - the frustrations they have with finding a new job.

55:40 - Because, you know, if we're making it where they're spending time

55:43 - and effort, eventually people give up when they're frustrated.

55:47 - And we need people in our economy working.

55:54 - And so if it's a small price to pay that we

55:56 - make sure that the jobs they're applying for

55:58 - actually exist, I think that's a pretty easy

56:00 - price to make, to make our economy move.

56:02 - Lastly, where is this bill in the legislative process currently?

56:04 - Lastly, where is this bill in the legislative process currently?

56:06 - So, currently, it's in the Labor Committee.

56:09 - I hope to see action on it.

56:11 - And I'll continue to push to get some action on it.

56:14 - You know, obviously, legislation takes time to move and it

56:18 - takes a great deal of consensus and those types of things.

56:22 - And obviously, we have many bills that are worthy of moving.

56:26 - So, but I will continue to push for this bill because I think it is something

56:27 - So, but I will continue to push for this bill because I think it is something

56:30 - that impacts many, many Americans, especially those looking for work.

56:32 - that impacts many, many Americans, especially those looking for work.

56:34 - Representative Jim Prokopiac, thank you for joining us.

56:37 - Thank you, and have a good day.

56:40 - That concludes today's show.

56:42 - Join us for tomorrow's episode of the PCN Capital Preview,

56:44 - where we discuss legislative priorities in the General Assembly.

56:48 - With Jake Corman from OnePlus Strategies and Aaron Mulchaney from

56:52 - Buchanan, Ingersoll, and Rand. That's tomorrow morning live at 9am.

56:56 - I'm Francine Schertzer. Thanks for watching.

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