Pennsylvania and New Jersey political figures express their responses following the U.S. military action against Iran.
The U.S. military recently carried out strikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran, following Iran's failure to make a deal despite months of President Trump's efforts to negotiate. The decision to wage war, however, has sparked debate among political figures in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Pennsylvania officials appear to be united in their support for the U.S. strikes, citing the perceived necessity of stopping Iran's nuclear capabilities. Governor Josh Shapiro emphasized that Pennsylvania is not facing any elevated threat levels and that his primary focus remains on the safety and well-being of Pennsylvanians. His administration has been coordinating with federal agencies like the State Police, National Guard, and Homeland Security to monitor the situation but has not reported any specific threats to the state.
Senators John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) both applauded the Trump administration's decision to conduct the strikes. Fetterman stated that the military action effectively destroyed Iran's nuclear program, framing the issue as transcending partisan politics. McCormick echoed the sentiment by emphasizing the necessity to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Chester County), however, called Trump's actions to bomb Iran without Congress' approval "unconstitutional" and "dangerous". U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Delaware County) also called for Congress to be immediately briefed and to exercise their constitutional authority by deliberating and voting on this matter. She requested an immediate briefing from the Trump administration on the full details of the strikes and the Americans currently in the region who are at risk.
U.S. Rep. Summer Lee (D-Allegheny County) criticized the strikes, stating that Trump is acting outside of his authority. She called for Congress to pass a War Powers Resolution to rein in Trump and expressed concern that the strikes bring the world closer to war and put millions of lives at stake. At a protest in Philadelphia, rally-goers warned against U.S. intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict and called for legislation to limit Trump's ability to enter into a war without Congress' approval.
In New Jersey, the stance of officials on the U.S. strikes remains unclear based on the current search results. New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Morris County) expressed concern over Trump's decision to order the strikes without first seeking legal authorization from Congress, as required by the Constitution.
The strike was joined by Israel, which began its assault on Iran on June 13. Republican Sen. Dave McCormick also approved of the strikes and stated that Iran must not have a nuclear weapon. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman applauded the strikes and stated that Iran cannot have nuclear capabilities. State Sen. Nikil Saval, D-Philadelphia, addressed the crowd and said "no war with Iran".
[1] https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/06/pennsylvania-governor-josh-shapiro-says-no-elevated-threat-levels-after-us-military-strikes-on-iran.html [2] https://www.inquirer.com/politics/john-fetterman-iran-nuclear-program-biden-2022-election-20220622.html [3] https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/06/pennsylvania-congressional-delegation-reactions-to-us-strikes-on-iran.html
Pennsylvania officials, such as Governor Josh Shapiro, support the U.S. strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities, but they emphasize the importance of monitoring the situation for potential threats and prioritizing the safety of Pennsylvanians. Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick from Pennsylvania applaud the military action, viewing it as a necessary measure to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, regardless of partisan politics.
In the general news and politics scene, congressional representatives like Chrissy Houlahan and Mary Gay Scanlon are critical of Trump's decision to carry out the strikes without Congressional approval, arguing that it is unconstitutional and dangerous. Some representatives, like Summer Lee and Mikie Sherrill, call for legislative measures to rein in Trump's war powers and protect millions of lives.
