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Muddled leadership loses to Ohio

Pennsylvania’s nickname of the Keystone State, as variously reported, originates with the deciding vote for independence by a Pennsylvania member of the Continental Congress or in the commonwealth’s central location among the 13 colonies. The state’s prominence continued through the 19th and 20th centuries when its oil, coal and manufacturing prowess were major economic forces. Today, with Pennsylvania situated in the nation’s most densely populated region, the commonwealth’s geography and resources continue to enhance its national role. Yet if modern Penn’s Woods is to ...

Capital investment is the keystone

Pennsylvania has always matched industrial muscle with financial clout, and nowhere is that union clearer than in Pittsburgh, where steel mills rose alongside powerhouse financial institutions like Mellon and PNC. Today the same dynamic is accelerating statewide and in my district. Surging global demand for LNG and coal, the explosion of energy-hungry data-center campuses, and renewed interest—both foreign and domestic—in legacy industries such as steel are all chasing reliable transport and logistics. That convergence of capital and commerce proves that when private financing is ...

Americans must not be afraid of our enemies

The klaxon sounds on the telephone. It is horrifying, startling. The purpose of the klaxon when it sounds on Israeli cellphones is to warn civilians that incoming ballistic missiles and drones are on their way from Iran or Yemen. “Anyone who has anxiety, will feel it throughout their bones, when they hear the klaxon sound on the phone.” “When we hear that sound, we grab a drink, go to the bathroom, and head for the saferoom. The kids know what to do. They know to head to the saferoom, even if they are in the park playing.” Schools in Israel are closed. Businesses are ...

Pushing public notices to government websites would be a terrible move

Legislation in the Pennsylvania Senate risks allowing local governments to operate in the shadows, leaving taxpayers unaware of decisions affecting their pocketbooks, their communities and their quality of life. State Senate Bill 194, sponsored by Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Fayetteville, would ...

Energy regulations threaten Pennsylvania’s technology boom

Pennsylvania is on the short list of destinations for cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). However, the commonwealth – thanks to ill-advised policies pushed by Gov. Josh Shapiro – remains ill-equipped to handle this emerging market. Recently, the governor announced a $20 billion investment by Amazon to develop data centers statewide. Though a laudable investment, the governor’s publicity stunt highlights a glaring issue: State policies make it extremely expensive to set up shop in Pennsylvania and tap into the state’s abundant energy resources. And the ...

Democrats feckless on Iran

While our avowed admirer of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un spent American taxpayers’ dollars parading military hardware through Washington, D.C., in order to celebrate his 79th birthday and sent troops to quell protests about the forcible detention of immigrants, Democrats scratched their heads wondering why they’re so unpopular among Americans generally. A recent Economist/YouGov poll found that only 36% of Americans regarded the Democratic Party favorably and 57% regarded it unfavorably. A Quinnipiac poll last week found that 70% of Americans disapprove of Congressional ...