PA Bill Number: SB945
Title: Consolidating the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code; and making repeals.
Description: Consolidating the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code; and making repeals. ...
Last Action: Third consideration and final passage (199-0)
Last Action Date: Apr 17, 2024
Democrats hit Saccone over 'presumption of innocence' remark in Roy Moore discussion :: 12/07/2017
With allegations of sexual misconduct continuing to roil national politics, Pennsylvania Democrats are trying to link the Republican Party's most controversial candidate to state Rep. Rick Saccone, the Elizabeth Republican who is running to replace Tim Murphy in Congress.
“If Saccone and the Republican Party can’t condemn a man accused of child molestation, they can never again claim to support ‘family values,’” said a Democratic Party spokesman in a statement Thursday afternoon.
The statement refers to an exchange during a Dec. 5 press conference of legislators who support a bill that would all but banning abortions after 20 weeks of gestation. Video of the event shows Mr. Saccone standing with other leaders at the podium, though he did not speak formally at the event.
At the end of the event, Harrisburg reporter John Micek asked state Rep. Kathy Rapp, R-Warren, whether "you find it compassionate that your party may soon elect an accused child molester to the United States Senate." As Ms. Rapp objected that the question wasn't relevant, Mr. Saccone can be heard asking, "Do you believe in the presumption of innocence?"
That prompted Democrats to ask a question of their own: "Does Rick Saccone believe Roy Moore or his numerous victims?"
Mr. Saccone did not respond to a phone call or text message about the press conference on Wednesday afternoon, or to follow-up efforts to reach him Thursday.
But Greg Manz, spokesman for the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, said in a statement that it was “shameful” to attack Mr. Saccone.
"It’s clear that Conor Lamb would rather attack his opponent than talk about the issues that matter to the residents of Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district,” the statement said.
While Alabama's election won't be held until next week, Mr. Moore has already proved an albatross for Republicans. And Democrats have tried linking Mr. Saccone to Mr. Moore before.
Within minutes after Republicans chose Mr. Saccone has their nominee last month, the campaign of Democrat Pam Iovino sent out a statement asserting, "Today the Republican Party selected State Representative Rick Saccone — Pennsylvania's version of Roy Moore — as their candidate."
Ms. Iovino lost her own party's nomination to Conor Lamb the following week. He and Mr. Saccone will face each other on the ballot on March 16. The district, which sprawls across Allegheny and three other southwestern counties, has trended conservative and is viewed as reliably Republican.
But Pittsburgh-based pundit Salena Zito warned that the Iovino statement may have been the first attempt by Democrats to use Mr. Moore's candidacy against other Republicans. The statement, she wrote for the conservative Washington Examiner, "showcases the never-ending issues Republicans will face if Moore wins the U.S. Senate race."
