{"id":2344850,"date":"2024-09-23T13:42:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T17:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pa-gov-wont-send-troops-to-u-s-border-but-will-help-ukraine\/"},"modified":"2024-09-23T13:45:10","modified_gmt":"2024-09-23T17:45:10","slug":"pa-gov-wont-send-troops-to-u-s-border-but-will-help-ukraine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pa-gov-wont-send-troops-to-u-s-border-but-will-help-ukraine\/","title":{"rendered":"PA Gov. Won&#8217;t Send Troops To U.S. Border But Will Help Ukraine"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpa-gov-wont-send-troops-to-u-s-border-but-will-help-ukraine%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2344850&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, is taking significant actions regarding international military support while hesitating\u2063 to\u2062 protect the \u200bU.S. border. He has sent over 150 \u200ctroops to aid Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict, and recently hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at\u2063 a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/unprepared-for-long-war-us-army-under-gun-to-make-more-ammo\/\" title=\"The US Army is feeling the heat as they scramble to produce more ammunition for the long haul of war. With their current stockpile running low, they find themselves unprepared for the battle ahead. It&#039;s a race against time as they work tirelessly to keep up with the demand for ammo. Will they be able to keep up? Only time will tell.\">munitions plant<\/a> in \u200cPennsylvania. During this visit, they discussed additional financial and military assistance as the U.S. has already invested $56 billion in support of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>Shapiro signed a five-year sister\u200d state agreement with the Russian-occupied\u2064 region of Zaporizhzhia, which\u200d aims to help in post-war reconstruction and create business \u200copportunities for Pennsylvania. The agreement includes a vague commitment regarding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/7-tips-to-boost-financial-wellness-no-matter-what-your-financial-situation\/\" title=\"7 Tips to Boost Financial Wellness, No Matter What Your Financial Situation\">financial responsibilities<\/a>, stating\u200c that each party will \u2062handle its own expenses.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the \u2064military focus\u2063 abroad, Shapiro has \u200ddeclined to deploy the\u200b Pennsylvania National Guard to the\u2064 southern\u2064 U.S. border, where there has been a notable increase in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bidens-blue-state-claw-back\/\" title=\"Biden\u2019s Blue State Claw Back\">illegal immigration<\/a> and associated issues like drug overdoses. This decision follows\u200b a resolution passed by the Pennsylvania Senate urging him to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/greta-thunberg-is-wrong-americans-should-be-first-in-line-for-american-made-vaccines\/\" title=\"Greta Thunberg Is Wrong. Americans Should Be First In Line For American-Made Vaccines.\">send troops<\/a> to aid \u200cborder security.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, the well-connected Democrat who was nearly picked as Kamala Harris&rsquo; running mate, refuses to send the Pennsylvania National Guard to protect the U.S. border, but has sent more than 150 American troops to boost Ukraine&rsquo;s war effort.<\/p>\n<p>Shapiro and Sen. Bob Casey, D-Penn., on Sunday hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant (SCAAP) in Lackawanna County, one of two major munitions plants in northeastern Pennsylvania. SCAAP is a U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command facility that manufactures large-caliber projectiles and mortar projectiles for the U.S. Department of Defense.<\/p>\n<p>The United States has already spent $56 billion in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gzeromedia.com\/news\/watching\/zelensky-visits-the-us-to-present-his-victory-plan\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">support<\/a> of Ukraine, and Zelensky is back, hat in hand, asking for more money, more weapons with more range into Russia, and international diplomatic support.<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Photos show Shapiro and Zelensky at the munitions plant writing on large-caliber projectiles presumably meant for Russia. There is something jarring about an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.everytown.org\/press\/governor-josh-shapiro-signs-executive-order-re-establishing-pennsylvania-office-of-gun-violence-prevention\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">anti-gun<\/a> governor laughing and writing messages on weapons that kill people. <\/p>\n<h2>Signs Agreement with Russia-Occupied Region<\/h2>\n<p>During Zelensky&rsquo;s visit, Shapiro also signed Pennsylvania up for a five-year sister state <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pa.gov\/content\/dam\/copapwp-pagov\/en\/governor\/documents\/ukraine%20mou.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">agreement <\/a>with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2024\/mar\/06\/deportation-re-population-russia-occupied-ukraine-zaporizhzhia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Zaporizhzhia<\/a>, Ukraine, which is mostly occupied by Russia. Zaporizhzhia holds a vital <a href=\"https:\/\/thebulletin.org\/2024\/06\/despite-the-risks-russia-continues-to-use-ukraines-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-as-a-source-of-leverage\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">nuclear <\/a>power plant that Russia has occupied since March 2022.<\/p>\n<p>The agreement with Pennsylvania claims it will help the Zaporizhzhia region rebuild after the war while creating businesses opportunities in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The agreement contains just one sentence about financial contributions, saying each participant will bear its own expenses in connection with the agreement.<\/p>\n<h2>Prioritizing Ukraine Over U.S. Borders<\/h2>\n<p>The U.S. Department of Defense announced in December 2022 that it was expanding U.S.-led training for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The program trains one Ukrainian battalion per month and helps Ukrainian units learn how to use specialized equipment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>This month, Shapiro deployed more than 150 soldiers from the <a>Pennsylvania National Guard&rsquo;s <\/a>56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team to Germany. The Pennsylvania National Guard &ldquo;Task Force Independence&rdquo; is currently training Ukrainian forces in combined arms and maneuver training for battalion-sized units.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, Pennsylvania&rsquo;s adjutant general and head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said in a statement that training is key to Ukraine&rsquo;s success on the battlefield.<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In March, the Pennsylvania Senate passed a resolution that called on Shapiro to send Pennsylvania National Guard troops to the U.S. border between Texas and Mexico.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The more than 7.3 million illegal migrants that have crossed the southwest border under President Joe Biden&rsquo;s watch has brought stress to communities throughout Pennsylvania with fentanyl overdoses and synthetic opioids,&rdquo; Pennsylvania <a href=\"https:\/\/senatorward.com\/2024\/03\/19\/senate-president-pro-tempore-kim-ward-calls-on-gov-shapiro-to-support-efforts-to-secure-our-nations-border\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Senate President Pro Tempore<\/a> Kim Ward said at the time. &ldquo;We are seeing our taxpayer dollars redirected away from hard working taxpayers who need and use government programs, to illegal lawbreakers entering our country, adding to the continuing federal debt and inevitably affecting our state budget. To protect our nation and state from further deterioration, Gov. Shapiro must support Texas to secure our nation&rsquo;s border by deploying the Pennsylvania National Guard to Texas in support of Operation Lone Star.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Within hours of Ward&rsquo;s statement, Shapiro announced he would not deploy the Pennsylvania National Guard for the U.S. border.<\/p>\n<figure><figcaption><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Presidential politics may be behind Sunday&rsquo;s display of Ukrainian support. Battleground Pennsylvania has one of the largest concentrations of <a href=\"https:\/\/worldpopulationreview.com\/state-rankings\/ukranian-population-by-state\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ukrainian Americans<\/a> in the nation, with a population of 104,929. They settled largely in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and lean conservative, preserving their culture through the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and cultural clubs. Many have <a href=\"https:\/\/kyivindependent.com\/political-divide-over-ukraine-manifests-in-pennsylvania-crucial-us-swing-state\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">supported<\/a> Donald Trump in the past.<\/p>\n<p>But many also still have family in Ukraine and have strong feelings about the war. It is possible this Democrat-led photo opportunity for Shapiro, Casey and Zelensky could sway some Ukrainian Americans to vote Democrat in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Beth Brelje is an elections correspondent for The Federalist. She is an award-winning investigative journalist with decades of media experience.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a prominent Democrat who was almost chosen as Kamala Harris&#8217; running mate, has declined to deploy the Pennsylvania National Guard to secure the U.S. border. Instead, he has dispatched over 150 American troops to support Ukraine&#8217;s military efforts. On Sunday, Shapiro and Senator Bob Casey welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant (SCAAP) in Lackawanna County, one of two major munitions facilities in northeastern Pennsylvania. SCAAP is operated by the U.S. Army Joint Munitions Command and produces large-caliber projectiles and mortar rounds for the Department of Defense.<\/p>\n<p>The United States has already invested $56 billion in aid for Ukraine, and during his visit, Zelensky sought additional funding, advanced weaponry with greater range into Russia, and international diplomatic backing. Photos captured Shapiro and Zelensky at the munitions plant inscribing messages on large-caliber shells intended for use against Russia\u2014a striking image given that Shapiro is known as an anti-gun advocate.<\/p>\n<p>During Zelensky&#8217;s visit, Shapiro also formalized a five-year sister state agreement between Pennsylvania and Zaporizhzhia\u2014a region largely under Russian occupation that houses a crucial nuclear power plant seized by Russia since March 2022. The agreement aims to assist Zaporizhzhia&#8217;s post-war recovery while fostering business opportunities in Pennsylvania; however, it only briefly mentions financial contributions by stating that each party will cover its own expenses related to the agreement.<\/p>\n<p>In December 2022, the U.S. Department of Defense announced an expansion of training programs for Ukrainian forces led by U.S. personnel\u2014training one battalion per month on specialized equipment usage. This month saw Shapiro send over 150 soldiers from Pennsylvania\u2019s National Guard\u2019s 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team to Germany as part of &#8220;Task Force Independence,&#8221; which focuses on combined arms training for Ukrainian units.<\/p>\n<p>Despite calls from some state senators urging him to deploy National Guard troops to address issues at the Texas-Mexico border\u2014citing concerns about illegal immigration impacting communities across Pennsylvania\u2014Shapiro quickly rejected those requests.<\/p>\n<p>Political motivations may be influencing this show of support for Ukraine; Pennsylvania hosts one of America&#8217;s largest populations of Ukrainian Americans (approximately 104,929), primarily concentrated in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh where they maintain their cultural identity through institutions like the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Many within this community have historically supported Donald Trump but also have family ties back home in Ukraine that shape their views on current events.<\/p>\n<p>This Democratic-led event featuring Shapiro alongside Casey and Zelensky could potentially influence some Ukrainian Americans&#8217; voting preferences toward Democrats in upcoming elections<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104,"featured_media":2344851,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/26595_gov_zelenskyy_28-scaled.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[41529,9689,41530],"class_list":["post-2344850","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","tag-pa-gov","tag-troops","tag-us-border"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/26595_gov_zelenskyy_28-scaled.jpeg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2344850","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/104"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2344850"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2344850\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2344851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2344850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2344850"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2344850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}