Biography: State Senator Jay Costa represents portions of the City of Pittsburgh, East Hills communities, areas of the Mon Valley and South Hills (43rd District). He is the current Senate Democratic Leader. As a lifelong resident of Allegheny County, Sen. Costa was born and raised in Pittsburgh and now lives with his wife Roxanne in Forest Hills. He has three children – two sons and one daughter. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University. Over the course of his legislative career, Sen. Costa has been a strong, effective promoter of education. Sen. Costa serves on board of trustees of the University of Pittsburgh and is treasurer of the Community College of Allegheny County board. He also is on the boards of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Sen. John Heinz History Center, 3 Rivers Wet Weather, Pittsburgh Regional Health Initiative, CLO, Forest Hills Community Development Corporation and a lifetime trustee of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.
What are your top three legislative priorities in 2020?
This year, I’d like to see us raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour, address affordability and access to quality health care, and marshal the resources of the state to help folks recover from the economic problems caused by COVID 19.
What are the important issues facing your district?
Health care is a big issue for our region. It was just last year that we were facing a split between Highmark and UPMC and access to quality medical care was threatened. While that has been addressed, affordable health insurance is a challenge for many and we need to do more in this space.
Our current public health crisis has also shown gaps in accessibility of health care for many in our region. The Affordable Care Act offers many protections but given the uncertainty of the pending federal court challenges, I’d like to see these program benefits solidified at the state level. As we work on recovery from COVID broadly, I’d like our health care system to be part of that conversation.
Where do you shop locally for food?
I like to stop in the many small grocery stories and shops in our district. There are great, family-owned businesses that are the fabric of our business districts and community and have been around for generations.
What is your favorite vacation destination and why?
I love the beach and ocean. I have many great memories from our family trips to the Jersey Shore. Nothing better than the beach, the ocean and an evening walk on the boardwalk with your family.
What are the biggest challenges for grocers in your district?
During COVID-19 period, grocers everywhere consistently face making ends meet with small profit margins, but I think recent mask mandates will create a new and large challenge. Small business owners are responsible for mask adherence of their employees and customers, which will not be easy – although it is a necessary safety precaution. Adapting to the new way folks purchase food and groceries and delivery of these items will also be a new challenge for business owners.
What are your biggest challenges and successes as a legislator?
One of my biggest successes has been advocating for Pre-K spending at the state level. These are some of the most important dollars that we spend, and they pay back multiple times over in a child’s life and development. This is an ongoing issue, and I push early education funding year after year. I am also pleased by our successful efforts in creating a free health care clinic here in Pittsburgh a few years back. Helping to access resources and establish free health care to those in need has been very rewarding.
Reaching consensus is always a challenge – on nearly every issue we address. Everyone comes to the Senate with their ideas and legislative agenda, but to move policy through the chamber, we have to reach agreement within our own caucus and then with the other side of the aisle. When we work together, we’re able to accomplish great things but there are some challenging battles in the process.
What is your favorite food, or meal to cook?
In the fall and winter, I enjoy making many different types of soup. I make a very good Italian wedding soup and i always make enough for my family and friends. Every year, we get together with friends to make soppressata. The process takes a few months, and we start with a few hundred pounds of pork meat and at the end, we have more than 100 sticks to share with family and friends.
What do you like to do for fun?
I enjoy spending time with my family, and I’m blessed to have a large one – most of whom live locally.
Favorite sports team, or sport?
I root for all the Pittsburgh teams, but I played baseball myself and love the Pirates.
How is your district coping amid the coronavirus pandemic?
Allegheny has been particularly challenged in recent months by COVID-19. Early in the outbreak, we were able to get our new cases fairly well contained but poor adherence to the mask requirement has undone our progress. In addition to the health challenges, folks are struggling with un-and-under employment and relying on state benefits and local nonprofit aid. Our community has stepped up to help, but additional funding from the federal government would go a long way in filling gaps we are seeing locally and at the state level.
How has the pandemic altered your legislative priorities, if at all?
It’s reinforced my commitment to measures that I have supported for years and introduced new issues with regard to worker safety. The welfare of our essential and front line workers has been my top priority in the last several months.
If you could take any bill and instantly make it law, what would it be?
An immediate increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour. There are more than 100,000 folks in Pennsylvania being paid a poverty wage for their work. We lag behind other states and pay our workforce the bare minimum allowed by the federal government.
Profile will be featured in the July-August Spectrum edition.
What are your top three legislative priorities in 2020?
This year, I’d like to see us raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour, address affordability and access to quality health care, and marshal the resources of the state to help folks recover from the economic problems caused by COVID 19.
What are the important issues facing your district?
Health care is a big issue for our region. It was just last year that we were facing a split between Highmark and UPMC and access to quality medical care was threatened. While that has been addressed, affordable health insurance is a challenge for many and we need to do more in this space.
Our current public health crisis has also shown gaps in accessibility of health care for many in our region. The Affordable Care Act offers many protections but given the uncertainty of the pending federal court challenges, I’d like to see these program benefits solidified at the state level. As we work on recovery from COVID broadly, I’d like our health care system to be part of that conversation.
Where do you shop locally for food?
I like to stop in the many small grocery stories and shops in our district. There are great, family-owned businesses that are the fabric of our business districts and community and have been around for generations.
What is your favorite vacation destination and why?
I love the beach and ocean. I have many great memories from our family trips to the Jersey Shore. Nothing better than the beach, the ocean and an evening walk on the boardwalk with your family.
What are the biggest challenges for grocers in your district?
During COVID-19 period, grocers everywhere consistently face making ends meet with small profit margins, but I think recent mask mandates will create a new and large challenge. Small business owners are responsible for mask adherence of their employees and customers, which will not be easy – although it is a necessary safety precaution. Adapting to the new way folks purchase food and groceries and delivery of these items will also be a new challenge for business owners.
What are your biggest challenges and successes as a legislator?
One of my biggest successes has been advocating for Pre-K spending at the state level. These are some of the most important dollars that we spend, and they pay back multiple times over in a child’s life and development. This is an ongoing issue, and I push early education funding year after year. I am also pleased by our successful efforts in creating a free health care clinic here in Pittsburgh a few years back. Helping to access resources and establish free health care to those in need has been very rewarding.
Reaching consensus is always a challenge – on nearly every issue we address. Everyone comes to the Senate with their ideas and legislative agenda, but to move policy through the chamber, we have to reach agreement within our own caucus and then with the other side of the aisle. When we work together, we’re able to accomplish great things but there are some challenging battles in the process.
What is your favorite food, or meal to cook?
In the fall and winter, I enjoy making many different types of soup. I make a very good Italian wedding soup and i always make enough for my family and friends. Every year, we get together with friends to make soppressata. The process takes a few months, and we start with a few hundred pounds of pork meat and at the end, we have more than 100 sticks to share with family and friends.
What do you like to do for fun?
I enjoy spending time with my family, and I’m blessed to have a large one – most of whom live locally.
Favorite sports team, or sport?
I root for all the Pittsburgh teams, but I played baseball myself and love the Pirates.
How is your district coping amid the coronavirus pandemic?
Allegheny has been particularly challenged in recent months by COVID-19. Early in the outbreak, we were able to get our new cases fairly well contained but poor adherence to the mask requirement has undone our progress. In addition to the health challenges, folks are struggling with un-and-under employment and relying on state benefits and local nonprofit aid. Our community has stepped up to help, but additional funding from the federal government would go a long way in filling gaps we are seeing locally and at the state level.
How has the pandemic altered your legislative priorities, if at all?
It’s reinforced my commitment to measures that I have supported for years and introduced new issues with regard to worker safety. The welfare of our essential and front line workers has been my top priority in the last several months.
If you could take any bill and instantly make it law, what would it be?
An immediate increase in the minimum wage to $15 per hour. There are more than 100,000 folks in Pennsylvania being paid a poverty wage for their work. We lag behind other states and pay our workforce the bare minimum allowed by the federal government.
Profile will be featured in the July-August Spectrum edition.
RSS Feed