What are your top three legislative priorities in 2025?
My priority since coming into office has been quite simple; make life better for all Pennsylvanians. I believe we can make progress on that by tackling three big issues; unleashing Pennsylvania’s limitless energy potential, ensuring every student has access to an excellent education by expanding school choice, and cutting red tape by reforming or repealing Pennsylvania’s 166,000 regulations.
As chairman of the Policy Committee this session, I have the privilege of bringing together lawmakers, experts, and community leaders to turn these priorities into actionable solutions.
What are the important issues
facing your district?
Rising costs driven by over regulation and the threat of new energy taxes are making it harder and harder to make ends meet. Pennsylvanians across the Commonwealth deserve to be able to pursue the American dream, but unfortunately, bureaucracy and big government makes that harder and harder every day.
Through my travels with the Policy Committee, I’ve seen firsthand that these struggles—and the opportunities to solve them—are not confined to my district. Whether it’s a rural community or a bustling city, the stories I hear echo the same need for common-sense reforms and policies that empower, not hinder, Pennsylvania’s families and businesses.
What is your favorite vacation destination?
Anywhere I get to spend lots and lots of time outside! I don’t pick a side in the “beaches or mountains” debate. Whether I’m able to hike through the woods, read by the water, or ski down a mountain, if I’m outside and the sun is shining, I’m having a great time!
How can state government better support local retailers in overcoming today’s challenges and thrive?
Every small business owner I talk to shares the same frustration with state government; too many taxes and too much regulation. Most recently, I heard a heartbreaking reflection by a local small business owner who has spent several years and tens of thousands of dollars trying to comply with a relentless chain of demands by DEP. He told me, “I don’t need these headaches, I can retire to Florida and be with my kids.” His remarks perfectly summarize why Pennsylvania has lost electoral college seats every census for the last century. If we want to stop losing our friends, neighbors, and family members to other states, we must do better for our small businesses by rolling back hostile regulations and passing commonsense small business tax reforms like repealing the Accelerated Sales Tax prepayments provision.
What are your biggest challenges and successes as a legislator?
As a former township supervisor, I was accustomed to only having two elected colleagues to work with. It was certainly an adjustment realizing how challenging it can be to get good legislation across the finish line in the State House with 202 elected colleagues. But I have been honored for the opportunity to build relationships, learn more about the challenges facing districts other than my own, and to be elected by my colleagues to serve on the Republican leadership team.
What is your favorite food or meal to cook?
Everyone jokes about the new legislators gaining the freshman fifteen. For me that ended up being the freshman fifty! This year I finally decided to do something about it so I switched to the carnivore diet. I am not a very good cook so a pan-seared steak in a cast iron skillet is my go-to dinner now!
What do you like to do for fun?
Fortunately, my job can be a lot of fun! I have the privilege of being the only member of the Pennsylvania House to represent four counties, each one full of wonderful, hard-working people who I get the privilege to meet and work with every day.
What is your greatest success as a
legislator over the past few years?
Every day I get an opportunity to serve my constituents, I consider it a success. With my fantastic team of staff both in the district and in Harrisburg, nothing makes our day more than when a constituent reaches out to let us that we have been able to assist them successfully with an issue and make their lives just a little easier. ■