WASHINGTON — Last week, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro delivered his 2024 budget address, where he highlighted a sweeping progressive agenda that includes support for and investments in gun violence prevention. He invited Pennsylvanian Meredith Elizalde, who lost her son Nick to gun violence and shared the story of this tragic and preventable loss. Thanks to the Democratic majority in the Pennsylvania House, Democrats passed bills to establish a red flag law and close the gun show loophole last year. Unfortunately, Republican Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward has refused to take a meeting with Elizalde, and she continues to block life-saving legislation around gun violence prevention.
A reminder: In addition to holding the Pennsylvania House, making gains in the Pennsylvania Senate is also on the DLCC’s target map in 2024.
From Meredith Elizalde in TribLive:
- “I have repeatedly requested a meeting with State Senate President Pro-tempore Kim Ward. She has refused to take a meeting with me.”
- “Gov. Josh Shapiro invited me to the Capitol for his budget address, in which the legislators were present…Many of those in attendance gave Nick a standing ovation and they showed me on the screen. I was fighting back tears. Directly beneath me, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton stood and turned to face me, clapping.”
- “Ward, next to Davis, remained seated and scrolled on her phone. She did not look at my amazing boy’s photo or me. She ignored us. How could any mother disrespect a school shooting victim in this way? It’s inexcusable. Vile.”
- “This is the woman who nearly singlehandedly controls gun legislation in our state. She has the power to prevent more children from being slaughtered at school. She has the power to prevent more mothers from feeling the absolute, unceasing torment and despair I feel. Her behavior tells me all I need to know about her true intentions and feelings toward Nick and all the other victims and survivors.”
Pennsylvania Republicans are putting Pennsylvanians’ safety in the line of fire, which is why the DLCC is all hands on deck to hold the Pennsylvania House and make gains in the Pennsylvania Senate this November.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Communications Director Abhi Rahman issued the following statement:
“No legislative leader should ignore the stories of gun violence victims and block legislation that would save lives. Unfortunately, that’s exactly where the Pennsylvania Republican Party and the Republican Pennsylvania Senate, led by Kim Ward, stand today. As gun violence continues to take lives, Republicans in Pennsylvania have shown their constituents they’re utterly indifferent. That’s why holding the Pennsylvania House and making gains in the Pennsylvania Senate is so important this cycle. We must answer the calls of Pennsylvanians like Meredith Elizalde and deliver common-sense solutions to address our gun violence epidemic. We can build a better Pennsylvania.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) is the official Democratic Party committee dedicated to winning America’s state legislatures and building state infrastructure. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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