(Beaver Falls, Pa.) 12th District United States Representative Keith Rothfus was a guest of Frank Sparks on Telforum Wednesday October  17, 2018, at 9:10 am. Also joining Frank in studio during the interview was Beaver County Radio News Director Pat Septak.

The three started out by discussing the new program of Opportunity Zones. Keith explained that it is part of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” that put more money in peoples pockets. Rothfus also stated that the economy is the best it has been in 20 years and that the unemployment is at it’s lowest since 1969. The opportunities zone is  a list comprised by each governor that had to identify 25 areas in their states that were perfect areas for opportunity zones. The map below shows the opportunity zones locally.

The guys also talk about the strong economy and job growth throughout the United States under the current administration. Rothfus said we need to continue steaming ahead like a locomotive and we don’t want to put on the brakes and we need to  keep the right policies in place. Rothfus said if we go back to previous policies under other administrations we will stall out the economy.

Frank asked Rep. Rothfus if there is any progress with being able to save the jobs at both Bruce Mansfield coal fired plant and Shippingport Nuclear Power Plant both owned by First Energy.  Rothfus said he continues to press ahead and lead the efforts in Congress to take action and the administration has already directed the Secretary of the Energy to take a look at this. He believes that the Federal Government can take action under the section 202 of the federal power act to make sure that the grid doesn’t go down. You can listen to Representative Rothfus entire interview by clicking on the play button below…