State Sen. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Jefferson Hills) is one of the most junior senators in Pennsylvania. He was first elected in a special election in 2015, defeating Democratic challenger Heather Arnet, and then won re-election in 2016. However, his short tenure hasn’t stopped him from proposing a wide-ranging set of bills, many of which are unfriendly to the environment, organized labor and immigrants. (His big splash into the state senate is what got him on City Paper’s Shit List in 2016.)
Now, in the new era of angry constituents demanding town halls from Republican lawmakers, Reschenthaler is catching some heat. On Feb. 27, a group of more than 50 constituents held a protest outside his Bethel Park office, and then went in to attend Reschenthaler’s open house to voice their opposition to the senator’s stances. Reschenthaler’s district encompasses most of southern and western Allegheny County, including Sewickley, Robinson and Mount Lebanon, as well as a small portion of Washington County.
Lynda Park, of Mount Lebanon, helped organize the event and took a day off work to attend. She said those who could not attend wrote letters, and she delivered more than 40 letters expressing criticisms to Reschenthaler’s office. Park is a naturalized U.S. citizen from South Korea, and she takes offense to Reschanthaler’s introduction of SB 10, a bill to cut off funding to municipalities who limit communication and cooperation with federal immigration officials. “His policy on SB 10, I take that as an affront to all immigrants,” said Park. “He was not representing the views of all his constituents when supporting that bill.”
Steve Hvozdovich, of Whitehall, was upset with Reschenthaler’s sponsorship of SB 175, which would limit regulations the state could place on methane emissions from fracking sites.
“Senator Reschenthaler’s sponsorship of SB 175 shows he’s more pushing corporate polluters’ interests than his own constituents,” said Hvozdovich in a press release. “As the Trump administration moves to scale back environmental protections, it’s more important than ever that we ensure Pennsylvania has the ability to move forward with protections for our health and environment.”
Other constituents also expressed criticism of Reschenthaler’s support of recent bills aimed at limiting organized labor and restricting abortion. Park says many constituents told very personal stories on how SB 3, a bill that Reschenthaler voted for which would ban abortions at 20 weeks into pregnancies, would hurt them.
A video posted by labor-organizing coalition Pittsburgh United shows Reschenthaler addressing some of the upset constituents, saying “democracy doesn’t work when you have one person making decisions and one point of view. We need everyone in this room with all different opinions, so I really appreciate it.”
But when City Paper reached out to Reschenthaler to ask if some of his positions might change because of input from constituents, his office didn’t respond.
Park said the senator didn’t give any indication he would change his stances, but added that she hopes he does.
“That is my hope,” said Park. “But I don’t know if I am confident. My main thing is that we, as his constituents, will be watching him and the legislation he tries to pass.”
This article appears in Feb 22-28, 2017.
Go Guy, keep it up. Everyone else is behind you. 🙂
So Sen. Reschenthaler is pursuing enforcement of LAW and punishing communities that wantonly disregard the law and he is wrong?? Are these people NUTS?
Sen. Reschenthaler opposes government tax money being used to fund the wanton murder of babies in womb and he is wrong?? Again, are these people NUTS??
My mother used to tell me that every American has a right to their own opinion but NOT their own facts! I wholeheartedly support Senator Reschenthaler!! Semper Fi Brother!
This is the same guy that lied about what he did in the military. He defended rapist!
His election shows how pathetic his area is!
Champion of Women; it’s easy to throw pejoratives like ‘lie’ around when you don’t have the facts! I have met a Navy Seal friend of Sen. Reschenthaler, Carl Higbie, who would disagree mightily with your assessment of his military record. Also, I notice you do ‘not’ identify the ‘rapist’ case in your vitriol! Hiding something?? Facts maybe??
It is unfounded statements like this that has warped politics and impugned the reputation of good people and I’m sick of it! So ‘Champion of Women’ what have YOU ever done in your life?? Put on a uniform to defend this country? Challenged urban leaders and judicial officials who let career criminals back out of jail after a slap on their wrists to maim and kill?? I think not! You hide behind a name so you can’t be identified and take potshots at good men. Sad, TRULY sad!
Ugh, this is why you couldn’t pay me to move me or my business back to Pittsburgh.
What used to be a great city to work and live in has become Trump Central.