A VOICE FOR CHANGE
Priorities
Protecting Democracy
Today, it seems like our democratic republic is weaker than any time in recent memory. Politicians on both sides of the aisle have put themselves first and their constituents last. The people deserve better. You deserve a government that works for you, builds coalitions, reaches compromises, and puts the common good above a political expedience. Pennsylvania has been the cradle of liberty before, and working together, we can do it again. But we must act, and we cannot keep electing dividers; this moment needs uniters.
Institute a Respect Pledge for Public Service
Public office is a public trust. Citizens send their elected representatives to Harrisburg to do the hard work of legislating - not to dehumanize their opposition. I will introduce legislation creating the first in the nation Respect Pledge for Public Service. Every elected official in the Commonwealth is a community role model. They should act like it. The Respect Pledge will prohibit elected officials from engaging in personal and spurious attacks against their political opposition through public comments of social media. It's time to call our elected officials to a higher standard.
The People's Commission
The next session of the legislature should convene a bipartisan People's Commission. Members of both parties should travel to all 67 counties of the Commonwealth and meet the diverse perspectives of the people one-on-one. The best ideas come from the regular people of Pennsylvania. The people closest to the pain must be the ones closest to the power.
Let's invest in hearing the People of Pennsylvania and gather the best ideas to raise the political climate to a higher standard.
End Gerrymandering
Crooked maps lead to crooked politicians. The legislative and congressional redistricting process is too important to be left to political insiders. Pennsylvania must have a truly independent redistricting commission for this process.
More Voices in the Room - Not Less
Pennsylvania state law currently makes it extremely difficult for third party candidates to get on the ballot. Competition is the spirit of our democratic tradition. Ballot access must be equalized across the Commonwealth so voters have a real choice at the ballot box.
Total Gift Ban
Pennsylvania must enact the strongest gift ban in the nation. No legislator, judge, executive officeholder or employee should ever accept any type of gift of any amount from a lobbyist or special interest group. This improper influence leads to democratic decay and stacks the deck in the interests of the powerful. I will introduce legislation implementing a total gift ban for every elected official in the Commonwealth. No elected official should even accept so much as a cup of coffee from a lobbyist.
Campaign Finance Reform
The power of big money has corrupted our political system. Far too often, politicians answer to their largest donors and not to the people who elected them. Pennsylvania should move to a system of publicly funded elections. We must create an equal playing field so that good ideas can rise to the top and real debate can happen. It is time to kick the special interests out and let the people in.
Pennsylvania has been described as "the wild west" of campaign finance. No more. Along with publicly funded campaigns, we should implement strict individual and PAC donation limits.
There should be increased disclosure requirements on Independent Expenditure groups in the Commonwealth. Any dollar spent on politics and influencing our elections should be documented.
Foreign money should be prohibited from our elections.
End Per Diems for Legislators
Per diems have been rife with abuse for decades. It's far past time to put a stop to it. Your state legislators make six-figures a year. They do not need a $185 per day payment to have lunch with lobbyists.
When legislators are conducting officials duties, any additional compensation should be verified with receipts, not additional, unaccountable dollars - and not one cent more!
I pledge to not take any per diems if elected.
Seal the Revolving Door Shut
Harrisburg has become a revolving door. Well-connected politicians become lobbyists and use their insider knowledge to unfairly benefit their clients. I will propose legislation banning any elected official from becoming a registered lobbyist for 5 years upon leaving office.
Give Counties the Resources they Need
Pennsylvania elections are largely operated at the local level. This is a good practice that we must continue. The legislature must provide the adequate resources counties need to run free, fair and secure elections.
Protect and Expand Vote By Mail
It is always good to bring more people into the political process. I will oppose every effort to weaken or curb vote by mail.
Counties should be given adequate resources to provide pre-paid envelopes for return ballots. We must ensure the Department of State is giving clear guidance that is uniform across the Commonwealth.
In order to facilitate a quicker count, counties should be allowed to process mail-in ballots prior to election day.
We must reject bizarre conspiracy theories surrounding our elections and embrace the truth.
Democratize the House and Senate Rules
You send your legislators to Harrisburg to work. Yet far too often how long a legislator has been in Harrisburg counts more than if they have a good idea or not.
We must reform the way business is done in Harrisburg for Harrisburg to work for all of us. Committee chairs should be distributed based on relevant knowledge and experience.
Bills with equal Democratic and Republican sponsors should be the first priority when being considered and placed on the calendar.
Every legislator should have a bill guaranteed to see a vote in the respective committee.
Unity. Not Division.
I am a lifelong resident of Franklin County. I am from here. I am for the people here. I will never demonize the other side. My wife and I are different political party's. We don't bicker senselessly because that's not what life is about.
In Pennsylvania, Democrats and Republicans are in the legislature together. The people must always be the first priority. Our Commonwealth must come together to what is right by the people.
While politicians argue and bicker, nothing gets done. I offer these policies as a positive improvement to our political process. I am not planning on running for any other political office during my tenure. If you elect me to the state senate, I will serve my four years devoted to one task - the needs of Franklin and Adams Counties.