Unwrapping a Better Commonwealth

December 19, 2025

As we celebrate the season of giving, I’m sharing my legislative Christmas wish list and no, it’s not for gifts or gadgets, but for meaningful reforms that would make Pennsylvania government more accountable, efficient and effective for the people it serves. 

Here’s what I’d like to see under the tree, or around the Menorah if you prefer, for the Commonwealth: 

• Suspend automatic pay raises for the Legislature. I’ve already introduced House Bill 1906 that would suspend automatic pay raises for the Legislature, the governor and lieutenant governor during any year in which a state budget is not passed by July 1.
• Enact Term Limits. This profession shouldn’t be a career. It should be something people do, serve for a while and go home. 
• Reduce the Size of the State House and Make the Legislature Part Time. We have one of the largest and most pricey full-time state legislatures in the country. 
• Eliminate Perks for Legislators. That means doing away with taxpayer-funded extras like travel reimbursements and daily food per diems that most Pennsylvanians don’t receive in their jobs. 
• Institute a Two-Year Budget. In seven of the past 10 years, the Legislature has failed to pass a budget on time. This holds up money for schools, nonprofits and other critical services that Pennsylvanians rely on. 

These priorities are all part of my “Reform for Pennsylvania Plan,” a blueprint for restoring trust in government and delivering real results for the people of our state. 

In 2026, I’ll keep working across the aisle to check off this wish list, one reform at a time. Because when it comes to building a better Pennsylvania, the greatest gift we can give is good governance.