Yesterday afternoon, President Donald Trump announced he is withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, and Pennsylvania’s elected officials started giving their perspective on the move.
Pennsylvania Democrats were united in their opposition to the decision, while the Republicans were split with most agreeing with the decision but the ones from the southeast voicing slight dissent.
PoliticsPA is giving the ‘party warrior award’ to Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Luzerne) and Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Allegheny) for most strongly articulating the party line. Barletta voiced unwavering support for the decision, while Doyle argued that the decision gives up the U.S.’s leadership position.
The ‘temperance award’ to Rep. Pat Meehan (R-Delaware) and Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia). Meehan blasted the decision and argued that the best course was to work to fix problems with the agreement, while Evans vowed to continue to work for the goals of the agreement even with the decision.
Below are the highlights from each statement that was released from elected officials. PoliticsPA will update with additional statements as we receive them.
Governor Tom Wolf
“I urge President Trump not to abdicate the United States’ global leadership and seat at the table on climate change – a pressing issue for Pennsylvania’s economy, especially energy, agriculture and tourism, and our resident’s health. Pennsylvania is an energy leader and addressing emissions presents opportunities for Pennsylvania’s natural gas, renewable energy and energy efficiency industries to grow and create new jobs.”
Senator Bob Casey
“Additionally, pulling out of this climate change agreement will undermine the clean air that every Pennsylvanian has a right to expect. Vulnerable children will be particularly impacted by the lack of action to protect clean air. Without action on climate change, more children will suffer from diseases like asthma and malnutrition. Climate change is a serious challenge which requires action, not retreat.”
PA-1 Rep. Bob Brady (D-Philadelphia)
“The announcement today By President Trump is short-sighted and a giant step backwards as he has now linked arms with Syria and Nicaragua and ignored the more than 190 nations who are part of the Paris accord. He has also ignored the views of the Pentagon who see climate change as a major national security issue.”
PA-2: Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia)
“Nevertheless, President Trump’s action to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, does not mean that my colleagues and I will advocate less for what is in the best interest of the Philadelphians, Pennsylvanians and the American people. On the contrary, today’s decision calls on the resistance to speak out. I will continue to be your voice & speak up in Congress on climate issues.”
PA-3: Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Butler)
“Today’s announcement is great news for the American people. It is a victory for our economy, our sovereignty, and our Constitution. The Paris Agreement – which should have been considered a treaty from the very beginning – was written with Americans and their elected representatives as an afterthought. It would result in unfair domestic harm for American workers, taxpayers, consumers, manufacturers, and energy producers. We would shoulder most of the cost and gain no measurable reward.”
PA-4: Rep. Scott Perry (R-York)
“I’ve advocated for removing government barriers to the development of hydropower, which would create thousands of American jobs and provide power to millions of Americans at low cost. But decisions can’t be made unilaterally. Our removal from the Paris Climate Agreement is a solid first step to reasserting the role of the U.S. Constitution in international affairs and domestic policies.”
PA-6: Rep. Ryan Costello (R-Chester)
“I am disappointed by the Administration’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. This decision is a setback to sustainable energy innovation across our country and forfeits an opportunity for the United States to lead on an issue of economic and environmental significance. While the Paris Agreement has its flaws, the solution should not be to pack up, walk away, and surrender our position of influence.”
PA-7: Rep. Pat Meehan (R-Delaware)
“The Paris Agreement isn’t perfect. But by abandoning it, America is relinquishing that seat at the table. It calls into question our commitment to protecting and preserving the environment. And it forfeits our ability to drive countries like China and India to reduce their carbon footprint and compete on a level playing field. Ultimately, this disappointing decision diminishes America’s leadership role on the world stage.”
PA-8: Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks)
“I urge the Administration to keep the United States in the Paris Climate Agreement. Last month, I joined members of both parties in urging the President to remain in the agreement and to keep our seat at the table, and our words are worth repeating: ‘The world’s leading nations must work together… It is imperative that we maintain our seat at the table in global discussions of how to address the threats posed by climate change.’ I share Secretary of Defense Mattis’ view that this challenge must be addressed proactively and head-on, and I agree with both our Secretary of State and Secretary of Energy that retaining our seat at this table is vitally important. A renegotiation is a better option and will benefit our nation in the long run.”
PA-11: Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Luzerne)
“The Paris Accord, which President Obama signed without the consent of the American people’s elected representatives in Congress, would have been disastrous for American workers, energy consumers, and our economy. I commend President Trump for withdrawing from this terrible deal and announcing his willingness to re-negotiate a better agreement that responsibly balances protecting our environment and family-sustaining jobs.”
PA-12: Rep. Keith Rothfus (R-Allegheny)
“Ending antigrowth obstacles like the Paris Agreement opens the way to a brighter future, with America in the lead. In applauding President Trump’s move today, I stand with Western Pennsylvania manufacturers, boilermakers, power plant workers, railroad workers, truckers and miners in opposition to the Washington and global elites who want to concentrate power in their own hands.”
PA-13: Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Philadelphia)
“All Americans should be deeply concerned by the President’s retreat from American leadership and ideals on the global stage, from climate change to human rights. This combined with the President’s failure to fully support NATO, signals to the world that under his leadership our country is in a state of withdrawal. The United States, the leader in reaching the 2015 agreement, is the second highest emitter of greenhouse gases. Previously, only Syria and Nicaragua declined to join the agreement. I cannot believe that President Trump would choose to join these ranks with this historic mistake. Rather than ‘negotiating better deals’, the President is removing us from the bargaining table altogether.”
PA-14: Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Allegheny)
“Today’s reversal on the Paris Agreement is foolhardy and incredibly disappointing. President Trump clearly doesn’t understand the Paris treaty – and he certainly doesn’t understand my district. By withdrawing from this non-binding agreement, we’re giving up our leadership on the issue and we won’t even have a seat at the table. I will continue to fight for policies that address climate change by creating good jobs for Pittsburghers.”
PA-17: Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Lackawanna)
“President Trump has chosen to go against world opinion as well as American business opinion. With this as well as with many other international issues, America should be leading. I am sorry that isn’t happening right now. My hope is that President Trump will reconsider his ill-advised choice.”
16 Responses
President Trump made the best decision so far in his Presidency to pull out of the Paris Agreement! If this “agreement” had been put before the U.S. Senate like it should have been (it’s a Treaty) it never would have passed. This “agreement” is really all about making the U.S.A. pay almost 3 Trillion dollars to “emerging” countries so they can play “catch up” with the industrialized world. Meanwhile, China and India don’t have to do a thing for nearly 20 years while they pollute their countries with…….COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS!
Thank you President Trump!
Detractors of the Paris agreement are uninformed and ignorant. This was nothing more than a temper tantrum from the most unpopular president in this country’s history, without substance, without merit, without understanding, and without even an ounce of compassion for our planet and all the people of our world.
RMLAU Result 2017
GNDU Result 2017
mgsu revaluation result 2017
Uniraj Result
CBSE 12th compartment result 2017
President Trump is better than I expected him to be ! Thank you for pulling us out of the Paris Climate agreement.
Tronald Dump is worse that expected in every possible way. Only an uninformed citizen could think that any of DT’s actions are favorable. The Paris Accord is supported by all reasonable, thinking individuals: citizens, environmentalists, business leaders, governors, even the Mayor of Pittsburgh (against what DT claimed in his announcement).
Trump is great! Thanks god or allah but he’s great…
“Thanks for sharing information very interesting and useful. Do not forget to visit our website to share information and knowledge about health”
cara Menghilangkan Flek Hitam Di wajah
spam
Barletta claimed he would never vote for a Climate Accord named for Paris; he insisted it must be changed to Pittsburgh Climate Accord, so we could brag about all our soot and noxious sulphur fumes from Clairton. He did all this while scarfing down a big bowl of Freedom Fries in celebration of the Scranton Salad Accord.
Seems you expect as much from Pennsylvania Republican politicians as I do from their Democratic counterparts.
Predictable, even, sadly, down to Meehan and Costello’s craven, vain, and useless disavowel of the President’s action. And everyone pretty much said what they could be expected to say. Certainly for the Democrats here in the state none of the extremes of the unhinged, bizarre rhetoric their colleagues at the national level have been screaming all day. But still bad enough, and mostly nonsense.
Why criticize vain? Hell, the GOP voted for it.
Bye bye RINO Costello-
It will actually be nice to support a Vet who stands for something that a political pimp like Costello and the others 3 stooges- Meehan , Fitzpatrick and Luny Charlie Dent. For years Republixsnd who are fed up with Paul Ryan and these worthless clowns- had no choice.?bectyear we do/ and we will. Republican conservatives and moderates will unite to defeat these worthless RINOs- bye bye
Ryan- we will be glad to see u go!
Oh what the hell. Covfofo. You figure out what I’m trying to say. This English language is too damn hard.
Toomey?….
Rothfus stands with laborers? The only one he ever met was the guy La familia sent to rescue him from the turnpike snowstorm. The godfather asked me to go but my jeep broke down at Joe’s Bar in Ligonier.