Republican State Representative Todd Polinchock is running for his third term to represent Bucks County’s 144th district and doesn’t have much to run on.
When running for his second term in 2020, Polinchock said climate change was part of his platform. His voting record, unfortunately, tells a different story with votes reflecting an anti-environmental pattern starting as early as 2019.
HB2025: Prohibits the PA Department of Environmental Protection (PA-DEP) from adopting a measure or taking any other action that is designed to abate, control, or limit carbon dioxide emissions.
Prohibits the DEP from joining or participating in a state or regional greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program, including the RGGI, and from establishing a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program, unless the General Assembly specifically authorizes such a measure or action by statute.
Voted Yes
Current Status of Legislation: Vetoed by the Governor
HB1100: Provides a tax credit for companies that use Pennsylvania methane in the manufacture of petrochemicals or fertilizers at a facility in Pennsylvania.
Voted Yes
Current Status of Legislation: Vetoed by the Governor
HR187: Urging the Governors of New York and New Jersey to end anti-pipeline policies that block Pennsylvania natural gas from reaching markets in New England.
Voted Yes
Status of Resolution: Passed & Adopted
HR189: Urging the President of the United States and the Congress of the United States to take measures to increase America’s long-term energy affordability and security by ensuring the continued operation and expansion of our oil and gas infrastructure.
Voted Yes
Status of Resolution: Passed & Adopted
So far, the 2021-2022 legislative session has revealed Republicans to be obsessed with (a) overriding safety measures recommended by the CDC to keep people safe from Covid; (b) dominating all aspects of the legislature including complete oversight of elections; and (c) empower Republicans to amass power.
Polinchuck voted for all four pieces of the following legislation that passed both chambers only to be vetoed by the governor:
HB2146: Reduces the number of congressional districts and constituent representation
Voted Yes: January 24, 2022
Current Status: Vetoed by the Governor
HB1300: Decimate the PA Election Code giving complete control to the legislature
Voted Yes: June 22, 2021
Current Status: Vetoed by the Governor
HB979: Allow gun owners and organizations to legally challenge local gun laws
Voted Yes: June 08, 2021
Current Status: Vetoed by the Governor
SB2: Change the PA Constitution to strip and limit the governor’s emergency powers
Voted Yes: February 05, 2021
Current Status: Passed via Referendum by 13% of the electorate via a municipal primary
Most confusing is Polinchock’s vote on SB106 primarily because the legislation contains an assortment of different and unrelated proposals.
Did Polinchock agree with one or all parts of the legislation? It’s impossible to tell.
The Republicans hope to place referendum questions addressing each of the issues contained within SB106 on the ballot at next year’s municipal primary election:
SB106: Ban abortion, drastically change voting laws, change the authority of the lieutenant governor.
Voted Yes: July 08, 2022
Current Status: Pending. Must clear both House and Senate chambers in 2023 to appear as multiple referendums
When you put all of the above pieces together you begin to get an idea of what Polinchock and the Republicans are attempting to accomplish by destroying norms, stripping authority from elected officials, controlling women, and imposing stumbling blocks to discourage people from voting.
If Republicans maintain majorities in the state house and senate and win the governorship it could potentially change Pennsylvania’s legislative landscape forever.
Democrat Brian Munroe will face off with Polinchock on Nov. 8.
If you’re not registered to vote, you may do so online before Oct. 24. To check your registration or to request a vote-by-mail ballot, click here.
