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Please read below for details on John's work on important issues in Pennsylvania.
Reform
Safeguarding Our Children
Property Tax Reform
Spending and Taxes
Gaming
Protecting Our Environment
Reform:
John is a first-term Senator dedicated to reforming state government. He wants to clean up the political process, reform the General Assembly and bring integrity to public service. He voted against the legislative, judicial and Governor's pay raises. He did not accept the pay raise and fought successfully for the repeal. John drives his own car - not a taxpayer-paid car. John uses his own cell phone - not a taxpayer-paid cell phone.
Safeguarding Our Children:
John is Chairman of the Senate Law & Justice Committee and has taken a very active leadership role in the Pennsylvania Senate to address a number of important issues to protect our children. He is the sponsor of Jessica's Law, which would impose a mandatory minimum of 25-years and up to 50 years imprisonment for a first-time offender convicted of rape or involuntary deviate sexual intercourse involving a child less than 13 years of age. It also imposes a minimum sentence of life imprisonment for anyone convicted of rape or involuntary deviate sexual intercourse involving a child which results in serious bodily injury. The bill contains additional penalties for anyone convicted of knowingly harboring or aiding a sex offender who has failed to register under the current requirements contained in Megan's Law.
Additionally, John has held state wide hearings on the problem of underage drinking and sponsored a package of bills to address youth access to alcohol, better education and stiffer penalties. He has been praised by PA MADD and Pennsylvanian's Against Underage Drinking Association for his leadership role in this area.
Property Tax Reform:
John supports eliminating school property tax for homeowners. He believes that the burden of funding schools is becoming too great for homeowners and that it is time to replace the property tax with a more fair revenue source. As a former school board member, he also understands that school districts must become more responsible to the taxpayers by keeping the cost of education under control. John sponsored a law that opens the school district budget process to the public and requires that line-items budgets (with real information) be made available to the taxpayer's weeks before a vote by the school board.
Spending and Taxes:
John believes government should function within its means and on a tight budget, just like individuals and families do everyday. That is why he voted against the increase in state income tax; voted against the nursing home bed tax; voted to remove the ‘double' cell phone tax; and voted for income tax credits for health savings accounts and tuition account programs. John has also supported business tax cuts to reduce the Corporate Net Income Tax, the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax, the Sales and Use Tax; and voted for research and development business tax credits.
Gaming:
John voted against expanding gambling slot parlors. He also testified before the Pennsylvania Gaming Board in opposition to the proposed slot parlor in Limerick Township, supporting the residents and township officials who overwhelmingly did not want gaming in their neighborhoods. He is taking a lead in the effort to reform the Gaming Board, close the loop holes for corruption and make sure the Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office have proper oversight.
Protecting Our Environment:
John has worked with local and state environmental organizations, local and state government officials and businesses to fight the deadly pollutants contaminating our wells, streams and backyards. He pushed for the closure of the Pottstown Landfill and sponsored legislation to crack down on bad landfill operators. He recently pushed for hearings in the Senate to address the problems of radiation in landfills. He is also the sponsor of a number of bills to crack down contamination of our steams and waterways and establish riparian buffers. Additionally, John voted against bills to weaken car emission standards, mercury emission standards; and voted to expand the state's Growing Greener program to clean-up of environment and protect our open space.
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