Casey visits Greene County
WAYNESBURG – Greene County Democrats turned out en masse, eager to meet Auditor General Bob Casey Jr., whose gubernatorial campaign took him to the county seat for a rally Wednesday night. In fact, they were so eager that they waited nearly two hours for his arrival from an earlier stop in New Castle. But, to his many supporters gathered at the Waynesburg Elks lodge, the candidate’s tardiness couldn’t overshadow Casey’s message and appeal.
“Bob Casey relates well to the Democrats in this region,” said Dave Coder, chairman of the Greene County commissioners and one of the many elected Democrats sponsoring Casey’s rally. “He ran good races in Greene County when he was up for auditor general. The primary has been hotly contested and is bringing out a lot of interest. This area should be a big boost for him.”
Coder added that many people and “most elected officials” in the county are supporting Casey’s bid for the Democratic nomination in the May primary.
When Casey and running mate Jack Wagner, a former state senator from Pittsburgh, arrived, Casey delivered a brief message that touched on most of the issues raised in his race against former Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell.
Of foremost concern, he said, is developing ways to care for Pennsylvania’s increasingly aging population.
“One thing we must do together as one commonwealth is to make sure not to break faith with the older generation in Pennsylvania,” Casey said. “We must make sure that older Pennsylvanians who gave us life and love, who fought our wars and who worked in our factories, are provided a better system of long-term care.”
According to Casey, only a compassionate state governor, willing to work closely with families toward solutions, can meet these objectives.
“I think the governor should be able to stand in the shoes of these families (facing long-term care) and understand what they’re going through,” he said. “They deserve what we and our families would expect our loved ones to have.
“They deserve the kind of care where someone will be there for them, not just to give them medication, turn their bed or feed them, but to hold their hand and talk to them. People don’t just go there (nursing homes) to exist and die. They go there to live.”
In a related issue, Casey stressed the importance of bolstering prescription drug coverage for Pennsylvania’s seniors. His plan calls for reforms to the state lottery and the securing of federal funding to augment state prescription drug programs.
In another health-related issue, the candidate discussed methods to improve the state’s existing health care system.
“We have 1.2 million with no health insurance in this state, and a quarter of a million of those people are children,” Casey said. “We have to reduce that number by fighting for greater health insurance benefits for Pennsylvanians, especially those who’ve been laid off during this terrible recession.”
He added that, although many financial analysts have declared the national recession at an end, many Pennsylvania families are still suffering from its effects.
Finally, Casey mentioned his plans to correct public education and create higher-paying jobs throughout the state.
He called the current education system “outrageously unfair” and blasted Rendell for drawing all the state money toward Philadelphia schools.
“The whole state is paying for problems that Ed Rendell didn’t solve,” he added.
Similarly, he said many of Pennsylvania’s young citizens who do thrive in the state’s educational system are leaving the area for more lucrative jobs in other regions.
“There are a number of solutions, but it really focuses on wages and in creating more high-wage jobs,” Casey said. “In survey after survey (of people who left the state), one consistent answer is the word ‘wages.'”
He continued that as governor, he “would reach out to the younger population” and work for programs that institute more skilled jobs.
Before Casey’s arrival, a number of area politicians echoed his sentiment and endorsed his bid for governor.
In addition to Coder, state Sen. Barry Stout (D-Bentleyville), state Rep. Tim Solobay (D-Canonsburg) and state Rep. Bill DeWeese (D-Waynesburg), along with several labor union representatives, backed the Casey-Wagner ticket.
Before departing, Casey thanked the public officials and citizens who support his candidacy and called for Democrats to fight for all citizens.
“We must leave no one out and no one behind,” Casey said. “In order to make Pennsylvania a better state, we must make it a commonwealth not just in name, but a commonwealth in life.”