HARRISBURG — After months of attack ads and stump speeches, incumbent Governor Josh Shapiro and challenger Stacy Garrity were pressed on their views and promises to Pennsylvanians.
Click here to watch the full debate.
The pair appeared on stage together in their one and only debate Wednesday evening in Harrisburg.
Channel 11’s Lisa Sylvester was a co-moderator.
The debate wasted little time getting to the biggest flashpoint in the race - AI data centers.
Both candidates have adopted more conservative approaches in the last few months.
“If you want to build a data center in Pennsylvania, you have to generate your own power, protect air and water and earn support of the local community,” Shapiro said, citing a recent executive order.
Garrity went further. She committed to a pause on all data center development.
“I’ve talked to [local officials] and I’ve heard the same thing. They need time to get updated,” she said. She did not say how long the pause would be but promised to work quickly.
The pair was also asked about gas prices; specifically, whether they would support suspending the state gas tax. Other states, like Ohio, have done it.
“We will give a rebate for June, July and August at $750. It reduces the price by a third. We need to unleash the energy we have. We are the Saudi Arabia of natural gas,” Garrity said.
“I am open to that, but it requires an act of the legislature,” Shapiro said.
Then they tackled skill games. The machines are set to become illegal next week if the legislature does not act.
“I support a flat $500 per month for 50,000 machines,” Garrity said. That echoes what Channel 11 has heard from nonprofits that own machines.
Shapiro reaffirmed his position to tax skill games and says he’d like to see the revenue spent on mass transit.
“I’ve urged lawmakers to pass legislation which would allow 45,000 machines to be regulated and taxed at 52% so we wouldn’t advantage one type of gaming over another,” he said.
Starting October 14th, anyone operating a skill game machine can be prosecuted.
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