Issue Position: Reform

Issue Position

Since taking office in January 2009, Steve has fought for reform in Harrisburg. Steve is one of a handful of representatives who does not take the $163 per diem, the check that lawmakers get for just showing up to work at the Capitol. It's supposed to be for expenses, but they never have to prove that they incurred any expense. Most legislators use it for up to $30,000 in additional, non-taxable income each year. It's wrong and Steve doesn't accept it.

Steve is also one of the few representatives who voluntarily paid toward the cost of his health care before it became a requirement last year. Steve also refuses to take a cost of living increase in his salary and doesn't use a state car. Put simply, public servants should serve the public, not the other way around.

We also need to make structural reforms in the legislature. Steve supports term limits for the House and Senate (something between 12 and 16 years would make sense). Steve also supports cutting the size of the legislature and has voted for the Speaker's bill which would do just that. Doing so will reduce costs and make the legislature more efficient.

Finally, we need real campaign finance reform. Steve is a sponsor of legislation that would impose federal-style limits on the amount of contributions that can be made to candidates. Steve has also introduced a joint resolution of the Pennsylvania House and Senate proposing a 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution¹ that would make it clear that Congress and the states have the right to impose limits on both contributions and campaign spending. Such an amendment would overturn the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the Citizens United case of January 2011, which held that corporations and unions can contribute unlimited amounts to political campaigns.

There are only two ways to propose an amendment to the US Constitution: two-thirds of the Congress can do it or two-thirds of the states can do so by calling for a convention to draft the amendment. Since no one in Congress is taking action, Steve decided to start the process at the state level. A state senator in Maryland is doing the same thing. Hopefully we can start a movement on this important issue that spreads across the United States.

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