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That’s one way to launch a Senate campaign…

As you have probably read in the news lately, state Representative Josh Shapiro (D-Montgomery) is being considered as a potential Senate candidate and he has certainly not been shy or coy about his interest in running for the office on the Democrat ticket.

Yesterday’s business on the state House floor did not do his chances for a potential bid any favors, as the House debated his hand-held cell phone ban. If you watched any of the seemingly endless debate on the House floor, you would certainly be justified in questioning his credentials. It was an embarrassing display for Shapiro and showed a bunch of weaknesses in him as a candidate.

First of all, I will try to get past the fact that, while our state is facing a record budget deficit, Shapiro and Democrats in the state House thought that it was in the Commonwealth’s best interest to debate whether soccer moms should be handcuffed if they make a call in a parking lot when they should be working to cut costs. It will be difficult to get past that point, but I’ll try.

What was so alarming about the theatre I witnessed on the House floor—and watching House conduct business under Democratic “control” is always great entertainment everyone should witness—was learning through the interrogation process just how poorly Shapiro’s legislation was written. There are a lot of members, Republican and Democrat, who are concerned about drivers using cell phones, and many were willing to support a ban of hand-held cell phones while driving. Nevertheless, this legislation was so sloppily written and so poorly defended by Shapiro that supporters of a cell phone ban were ganging up against him. Among the many mistakes and oversights in the bill, his legislation basically said that anyone in a running automobile in Pennsylvania parked, driving or otherwise, with a cell phone in their hands, whether they were using it or not, would have been found guilty and given a $50 fine, which really amounts to a new tax on hardworking Pennsylvanians.

It was not a strong showing for an individual who has aspirations of being a U.S. Senator one day. Josh Shapiro couldn’t cut it an institution where debate is the number one order of business every day.

April 23, 2009 at 10:39 am

--Michael Barley

Tags: Cell Phone Ban, Josh Shapiro, PA House

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