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John Galloway has represented the 140th District since 2007

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Unknowns and uncertainty has been a universal hallmark of 2020.

From government ordered business shutdowns to a nationwide call for law enforcement reform, unemployment compensation, rental evictions and climate change are continuing issues with which state legislators have grappled. Pennsylvanians are facing the impact of these topics now, and for years to come.

Rep. John T. Galloway, a Democrat, is the incumbent candidate running to represent Pennsylvania’s 140th House District.

Galloway has served the 140th District, which includes Bristol Borough, parts of Bristol Township, Falls and Middletown townships, and parts of Morrisville Borough and Tullytown Borough since 2007.

“I absolutely agreed with the shutdown back in March, because we didn’t know what we were dealing with,” Galloway said.

He referenced a 1979 law, at the time vesting Pennsylvania’s governor with the power to issue an emergency declaration in the event of a substantial threat to public health and safety.

“Immediately [in March] we were attacked for overreacting. There were some who wanted to re-open immediately. In March that would have been a catastrophe,” Galloway said.

But since the initial shutdown and cautious phased reopening which continues, Galloway said it was important to take stock of recent months and evaluate “what we did right, and what we did wrong. Clearly, there is no playbook for this,” he said.

Galloway voted in favor of House Bill 2787, which gives local authorities the power to allow or not allow school sports play and audiences. His vote was “to keep the conversation moving” because many gatherings like weddings and funerals had been excluded from the bill.

“It doesn’t make sense to pick out one thing. There are literally thousands of things to consider,” he said.

Overall lowering the price of prescription drugs, or placing some caps on costs as well as lowering health care costs, should be considered by the legislature, Galloway said.

Government must help businesses weather the economic impact of Covid-19. He believes more money from the federal government, to be distributed on the state level is badly needed.

“It is critical to support state funding to help business survive, it has to happen. We are $4 billion dollars in debt and have to figure out we’ll deal with that,” Galloway way this fiscal year’s Pennsylvania budget shortfall.

A government ordered moratorium on tenant evictions as a result of massive unemployment and job losses has meant landlords are faced with shrinking income, too.

“I don’t think anyone – Republican or Democrat – is for evicting people during this time, and the landlords have to be included in the conversation. It’s not [only] about the people getting evicted it’s about the landlords, too,” he said.

While Pennsylvania currently has an eviction stay order in place, some local governments like the City of Philadelphia have control over evictions.

Further extensions on unemployment compensation benefits are another “fluid situation,” according to Galloway.

“The fact is we just don’t know what is going to happen the rest of October, November, December,” he said.

Galloway supports judicial reform, which he said is under the state’s legislative control, rather than restructuring policing agencies.

“I think there is unfairness in the judicial system toward minorities, and that is something in our control. We can also instruct local and state police not to do certain things, like choke holds. I think the reforms needed are clearly in the judicial space,” he said.

Galloway believes climate change is real, and supports legislation to limit its further negative impact on the environment.

“I try to find a balance between job creating, existing jobs, and the real problems we’re having with the climate today,” Galloway said.


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