Toomey talks protests, PWSA, healthcare

Channel 11 sat down for an exclusive interview with Pennsylvania's U.S. Senator Pat Toomey who had a message for the "Tuesdays with Toomey" protesters outside his office each week, and who usually have a lot of issues on their minds.

Channel 11 asked Toomey about President Donald Trump's decision to pardon Arizona's controversial lawman Joe Arpaio:

"It would have been better to let the appeal go. I think a president ought to use the pardon power very, very rarely and judiciously."

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And his take on problems with the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority and whether federal dollars should be spent on replacing the city's aging water pipes?

"I don't think we want the federal government taking over responsibilities from municipal water systems."

But the issue Toomey spoke most passionately about is overhauling health care, a decision that could affect millions of Pennsylvanians.

Despite several defeats in Washington, Toomey says he's still working to repeal Obamacare and find a replacement.

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“I don't think it's (a) dead (issue) at all. It can't be dead. In any case, the Obama exchanges are collapsing and something is going to need to be done."

Toomey wouldn't put a timetable on health care, but says Congress owes it to the voters to repeal and replace.

As for the people who come to protest every week, Toomey says he will remain open to hearing out different perspectives.

"They've come into my office and I've sat down and met with them here in Pittsburgh and in Harrisburg and in Allentown and in Scranton and in Washington and repeatedly."

Cox Media Group