State Rep. Frank LaGrotta – 7/20/05

This page was last updated on July 23, 2005.

Rendell to put minimum wage issue atop of his agenda for fall; Alison Hawkes – Times Capital [sic] Bureau; Beaver County Times; July 20, 2005.

The subject article didn’t appear on the Times website. It was only in the print edition (page A7).

The article mentioned Mr. LaGrotta in only the final two paragraphs. Rather than transcribe the entire article, I included only the LaGrotta-related paragraphs below.

See LaGrotta watch for more critiques of Mr. LaGrotta’s positions.

Below is a critique of the subject opinion piece.

“State Rep. Frank LaGrotta, D-10, Ellwood City, who co-sponsored both House bills, called the minimum wage hike ‘the single most important piece of legislation we could pass’ with broad bipartisan support.

“LaGrotta said of the opposition: ‘It’s more than un-American. It’s a sin. I would ask them this question: What would Jesus do?’”

[RWC] Let’s get this straight. If you disagree with increasing the minimum wage, you are worse than un-American and you are a sinner?

This is classic LaGrotta. When he can’t successfully debate you with facts (not the made up kind) and logic, he retreats to demonizing and name-calling.

You’ll note that when I questioned Messrs. Biancucci and LaGrotta earlier this year regarding Mr. LaGrotta’s proposed increase of the PA minimum wage, I didn’t stoop to name-calling.

I think his question, “What would Jesus do?”, is tacky, especially for someone whose biography claims, “He is a committed Christian who worships at Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Church in Ellwood City, where he is a lector, a member of the Holy Name Society and a Catechism instructor.”

Let’s address Mr. LaGrotta’s question. I have no idea what Jesus would do, and neither does Mr. LaGrotta, but let’s look at what Mr. LaGrotta wants us to believe Jesus would buy into. Mr. LaGrotta wants us to believe Jesus would support Romans forcing Jews to pay their workers more than their labor was worth.

Let’s look at another question, “What wouldn’t Jesus do?” Again I can’t speak for Jesus, but I doubt He would stoop to demonizing and name-calling to make His point.