Issues

Property Taxes & Education
You might wonder why I am putting these two issues together. Well, the reason your property taxes have been going up is that state government has not been fully funding our public schools. If the state had paid its due share, school boards would not have needed additional revenue sources. That means property taxes would not have increased. Ensuring appropriate funding for our public schools, thereby reducing property taxes, will be a top priority when I get to Harrisburg.

Additionally, we must work to eliminate the property tax burden on our seniors. People living on a fixed income cannot cope with tax hikes. I also will fight to make sure that we get the property tax relief from gaming revenues that we were promised.
Reform
I am not a typical politician. I never harbored a desire to run for office until I saw that state government was broken and had stopped working for the people of our district. I am committed to returning state government to the people.

That means more accountability and transparency in the workings of government. That means stricter ethical reforms and less influence in the hands of lobbyists and special interest groups. One thing I promise to you: Harrisburg will not change me. I will never forget that I am a hometown boy from Monaca who ran for office to do right by his fellow citizens.
Health Care
I cannot understand why Senate Republicans have stalled on providing affordable, high-quality health coverage to every Pennsylvanian. As a Roman Catholic, I believe that it is a moral obligation to care for everyone in our society as you would care for your brother or sister. By providing incentives to small business owners, we can cover every Pennsylvanian without raising taxes. It is long past time that we do so.

Preventive care is the best way to reduce costs in the long run. For a fraction of the cost of treating someone in the emergency room, we could provide insurance to every man, woman, and child in Pennsylvania. This would improve economic productivity and keep our family and friends with us longer. Now that is something we all can agree upon.
Energy
Our dependence on foreign oil is the leading economic and national security issue of our time. Every barrel of oil that we buy from the Middle East using money borrowed from China puts us less in control of our own future. We need to develop alternative energy technologies now for the sake of our economy and the environment.

Clean coal technologies can save the industry and create hundreds of new jobs in our area. We have to attract investment in so-called “green-collar” jobs and make the 47th District a good place to do business. I will work to do just that as your State Senator.
Economy & Jobs
Having worked in financial services for over 8 years, I understand the plight of small business owners. During the current economic downturn, state government has not done enough to ensure that these businesses and families stay on their feet. Not forcing these businesses to choose between solvency and health insurance is one step. We should promote employer-based coverage by providing tax breaks to responsible companies.

In addition, we have to do more to spur job growth and economic development. We must make greater use of loans and grants from the Department of Community and Economic Development to rebuild and restore urban areas in the 47th District. We have all the tools that we need at our disposal, and I am confident in our people. Now it is time for action.