Why is the situation with steel tariffs suddenly a surprise?

We need to protect 1,500 jobs at the Butler Plant of AK Steel.

This isn’t a Republican issue or a Democratic issue.

It is not a conservative versus liberal issue.

This is a jobs issue.

This is a save the community issue.

Can you imagine 1,500 houses suddenly up for sale in the area? Do you know what that would do to the price of the average house being put up for sale?

Do you know what impact it would have on the job market if 1,500 able-bodied people were suddenly added to the unemployment rolls and to the list of those seeking work?

Well, none of those things would improve anything for the working class of Butler County. Sure, the government would come up with plans to give us back some of our own tax dollars in creative plans to retrain or even relocate some of the workers. But how often have you heard of any of those things improving someone’s lifestyle?

This community has been through plenty of tragic plant closings. People still talk about Pullman Standard, Trinity and many still swear allegiance to Armco, The Mill. Other Western Pennsylvania communities have very similar stories. We don’t need another chapter of the same.

We need a new scripture that tells the happy, good news story of how a wrong has been made right and how our elected officials from across the state stepped up and did exactly what we sent them to Harrisburg and Washington to do.

The question is often asked why we support Congressman Mike Kelly. That is a simple answer. We are 100 percent convinced that we are better off with a representative from Butler than we would be with one from Erie.

That hometown edge is far more important than being Republican instead of Democrat. When the time comes for Rep. Kelly to retire, we will most likely throw our support behind another local person, regardless of party affiliation.

Right now, we believe it is time to put this issue squarely on Rep. Kelly and ask him to carry us across the goal line. He can best carry our message to the powers above him.

This is a national issue, but we hope all elected officials, from union representatives, city council, school boards, county commissioners and college presidents to state representatives and U.S. senators, will consolidate their efforts to save the jobs of 1,500 workers. Church leaders and PTOs need to become vocal and make sure our voices are heard.

This is a time for loud voices, strong action and bold decisions. Don’t leave only memories for the next generation to remember what we once had in Butler. Call every influential person you know and demand their help.

We can do this together.