Kyle Cave
Staff Writer
November 12 officially ended the longest government shutdown in American history. It also marked the end of the 135-day Pennsylvania State Budget Impasse.
The Courier sat down with Representative Tarah Probst of Pennsylvania’s 189th District. Several topics were discussed, such as Democratic Party infighting, the Affordable Care Act Subsidies possibly expiring, and the Jeffrey Epstein fallout with the Trump administration.
Democrats have been furious with the eight Democrats who voted with Republicans to reopen the government. One senator who voted with Republicans, with whom Democrats have been dissatisfied, is Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.
When Fetterman was brought up in the interview, Probst said, “Bye, John Fetterman.” Probst also expressed how she believes he is not the same person as when he served as Lieutenant Governor, or when he was elected in 2022. She expressed in her own words, “He is not fit for office.”
As a follow-up question to this response, The Courier asked if Probst had any desire to run for Fetterman’s seat in the Senate. She responded no and said she is very comfortable where she is currently because of her love for her district.
Probst revealed to The Courier that she was asked to run for Congress against Representative Rob Bresnahan but declined. She expressed to The Courier that she believes without a doubt she could beat Bresnahan but said she “doesn’t have the capability to do it” because she believes she couldn’t get the chance to get to know those districts on a personal level in a short amount of time.
Probst also said with her son in college and other prior engagements with finances, she could not be a Senator.
“I’m not a millionaire like Rob Bresnahan, I don’t have a helicopter to jump in to go to DC,” said Probst.
When Probst was asked if she was satisfied with the current Democratic leadership, particularly Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Probst alluded that she was not satisfied with Senator Schumer as a leader.
She expressed her dissatisfaction by saying “A good leader keeps his caucus together,” referring to how Schumer was unable to get the eight Democrats to not vote with Republicans on the Senate funding bill.
Probst said she respects Schumer for his work in the past but says “I think it’s time to pass the gavel down.” Probst also referred to Senator Nancy Pelosi’s retirement from House Speakership to make way for a new generation of talent—and how Senator Schumer should follow in her footsteps. Probst also alluded to the idea of age limits for positions of power.
Probst was asked about the PA State Budget Impasse ending. For the impasse to end, Democrats had to sacrifice the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). This initiative contributed to fighting climate change by capping carbon pollution.
When asked if Probst agreed to the Democrats giving up RGGI, she said she was upset about it ending, describing it as “taking it on the chin” to pass the budget. However, Probst also expressed that “you can’t get 100% of everything if you don’t have 100% of government.”
Probst said she did not desire to give up the tax credits on education to fund school districts, mental health funding, and incentives for entrepreneurs and businesses. Probst believes that there will be other opportunities for climate funding and expressed she believed some PA Senate seats would flip blue next year in the midterms.
Probst expressed her reason the reason Republicans wanted to get rid of RGGI was because of the contributions they received from big oil companies, saying “follow the money.”
When Probst was asked about the bipartisan Senate deal that was passed on November 12 to reopen the government, she was sympathetic to the decision because Probst believes the Republicans were never going to agree to continuing the subsidies.
She justified the Democrats’ decision by saying, “we were punishing millions of Americans over one issue, which is a very important issue.” However, Probst said Democrats were playing what she described as “the long game.”
She described this long game by referencing the possible upcoming vote on the ACA subsidies in December. Probst believes that if Republicans do not vote for the ACA subsidies in December to get extended that “You can kiss them (the Republicans) goodbye in the 2026 midterms.”
Probst also said bringing the ACA vote to the floor holds Republicans accountable to the voters and that voters would make their decisions based on these subsidy votes. Probst said Republican senators are going be faced with the question of “What does Donald Trump want me to do and what is best for my constituents?”
Probst spoke about the Senate funding bill expiring on January 31 and the possibility of the federal government shutting down again. Probst believes 100% that Republicans will ultimately end up voting to extend the ACA subsidies because of her belief that Republicans have no real alternative plan for the ACA.
Probst was asked if the ACA subsidies were to expire, and premiums went up what she feels like would be a good alternative. Probst said that she believes Pennsylvania will “Step up to the plate and figure something out for Pennsylvanians.”
Probst was asked about the Jeffrey Epstein fallout with the Trump Administration. Probst said she believes that Trump was covering up for powerful people he’s close to when it came to Jeffrey Epstein. Probst also expressed that the victims deserved justice, and that people shouldn’t take their focus off the victims in this case.