What are your top three legislative priorities in 2025?
Providing Living Organ Donors a Tax Benefit up to $10,000 to assist with unreimbursed costs such as travel and hotel expenses and lost wages; Employers currently have such a tax credit available, if an employee chooses to be a living donor, but we do not extend the same to the actual donor. As a kidney recipient myself, this hits very close to home.
Establishing an Elder Abuse Registry; I am not alone in having a constituent whose mother experienced unheard of abuse while in a nursing facility. This is a growing trend with our aging population.
Honoring the former Mayor of Shamokin Dam with the naming of the Joseph McGranaghan Memorial Highway. He was instrumental in the Routes 11&15 bypass project in Monroe Township and Shamokin Dam Borough, so it is fitting to name that portion of the highway in his memory.
What are the important issues facing your district?
The 27th District is made up of 5 counties that have their own challenges, but a few overarching themes revolve around the rural nature of the district, including access to healthcare. We have very good facilities and providers, but hospitals are closing, forcing residents to drive farther to receive care, and facilities are struggling to fill positions, particularly in the field of nursing. We also deal with the lack of broadband and internet access in areas, which halts economic development, and many communities are struggling with blighted communities, which is why I recently invited the Senate Majority Policy Committee to host a roundtable on the subject in the district.
What is your favorite vacation destination?
Cape May is one of my favorite places. I generally love the beach – there’s something so calming about the ocean air and the sound of the waves.
What are the biggest challenges for grocers in your district?
The major challenges for grocery stores in the 27th District often come down to supply chain issues – getting products reliably – and the ongoing difficulty of finding and keeping employees. I hear from them that it’s important for them to have consistent rules from the state government, and good transportation for deliveries is a key factor in their ability to operate smoothly and succeed.
What are your biggest challenges and successes as a legislator?
One of the biggest challenges is wanting to help as many people and fix as many problems with limited resources and knowing we can only get so many pieces of legislation across the finish line – whether that is because of a fiscal impact or an inability to reach an agreement.
What is your favorite food or meal to cook?
My favorite food, without a doubt, has to be chocolate – any kind, really! But when it comes to cooking, I really enjoy making homemade spaghetti and meatballs from scratch. There’s something about taking the time to create a meal like that, and it’s always a dish that I take pleasure in sharing.
What do you like to do for fun?
I find gardening to be a wonderful way to relax and unwind. I enjoy the process of nurturing plants and watching them grow, especially since I grow a lot of vegetables. It’s both calming and rewarding to see the progress and beauty that comes from tending a garden.
What is your greatest success as a legislator over the past few years?
I have introduced legislation and advocated for afterschool funding, which resulted in an $11.5 million appropriation for the Building Opportunity through Out of School Time (BOOST) program in the 2024-2025 state budget. I also had a bill signed into law last session to allow LPNs to make death pronouncements in hospice settings. I’d also say my appointment as the Senate Education Committee Chair in my first full-term as a Senator is a success. Another significant project I’ve been involved with for many years is the Central Susquehanna Valley Transportation (CSVT) Project. This ongoing effort to build a new 4-lane highway aims to improve safety and reduce congestion in the Northumberland, Snyder, and Union counties region. It’s been a long-term project, and I’m pleased to see the progress, with the Northern Section now open and the Southern Section anticipated to be completed in the coming years. ■
