GOP Rep visits Pitt

If citizens want the legislature to listen, they have to vote, according to a local… If citizens want the legislature to listen, they have to vote, according to a local politician.

Republican Tom Stevenson of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives spoke to Pitt’s College Republicans Tuesday night and gave a status report of what bills they are currently discussing in the house, from smoking bans to abortion.

“I’m glad to see Pitt’s government relations has courted him,” said College Republicans Vice President Matt Badger. “They have to develop good ties with the legislature.”

Stevenson, who represents the 42nd legislative district, said that five of his bills have become law in the last 10 years. He has worked on a bill that allows the children of parents who risk their life on the job, such as police officers or firefighters, to go to a state school or community college for free.

“It’s our way of saying thanks to their parents who risk their lives,” Stevenson said.

He also talked to the students about voting during election times and addressed the issue of voting fraud. He referred to an instance in Philadelphia where he said more people voted than were registered in an election.

“That is what we are trying to stop,” he said.

According to Meghan Fisher, president of the College Republicans, Stevenson has always been very active with Republicans in Pennsylvania. She said that, although Stevenson talked about issues like senior citizen voting and property, which may not be a priority for students, she could still relate.

“That is still important to me because I have grandparents like everyone else does.”

Jonathan Turban, a student who is registered to vote in Stevenson’s neighboring district, said that he understood the issues Stevenson talked about.

Stevenson said that he hears people complain about the House catering to senior citizens.

“There’s a reason for it,” he said. “They vote.”

“If you want to be catered to, you’ve gotta vote,” he said.

The College Republicans have welcomed Brad Maske, executive producer of the documentary, “Weapon of Mass Destruction,” from California Mike Dolan, candidate for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Justin Lokay, Tim Murphy’s campaign manager. Fisher said that she hopes that Tim Murphy will also come to Pitt and address the group.

“We don’t get to bring in Bon Jovi, but we do have like-minded students,” she said.