Biographical Information
County
Delaware
Occupation
State Legislator
Education
Undergrad, West Chester University (Dual Degree in Secondary Education and History); Masters, University of Pennsylvania
Qualifications
Certified Teacher (Social Studies, grades 7-12); Experienced legislator who has: sponsored over 400 bills, authored two bills that became law & passed numerous bills sent to the state Senate, named one of America's 11 most accessible legislators by the Town Hall Project, 100% session attendance.
What do you see as the most pressing issues facing Pennsylvanians, and how would you address them?
I believe the most pressing issue facing Pennsylvania is ensuring affordability and equity across the Commonwealth. I hear from many people who are struggling to make ends meet--whether they are seniors who can't afford their property taxes or parents who can't afford child care. Too often, these issues are exacerbated depending on your zip code. We have already begun to address these problems in the House this year, but the work is not yet finished. In 2023, we passed a historic expansion to the child care tax credit, expanded the property tax & rent rebate program, and made the second-largest investment in public schools ever. We must continue to build upon these efforts because we're only just getting started.
What changes would you support making to Pennsylvania’s voting laws to expand access, ensure security, and support local election officials and processes?
The right to vote is the keystone of any vibrant democracy, and I believe that here in Pennsylvania, where American democracy was born, we should be leading by example and making it easier for all our citizens to vote. I have again sponsored a bill that would create an early voting period in our state. While my bill hasn’t become law yet, I was also happy to support Act 77 of 2019, which established mail-in early voting here in Pennsylvania. If re-elected, I will continue to support legislation to expand early voting, no excuse absentee voting, and mail-in voting, and oppose efforts to roll back our progress on these important issues. I also support automatic voter registration and applaud Gov. Shapiro for bringing this to our state.
What legislation would you support to comply with the Commonwealth Court's ruling that Pennsylvania’s school funding system is unconstitutional and must be reformed?
I would support legislation that addresses the inequity in our system by providing: more funding per student, funding to address capital investments, increased funding for mental health & special education services, and funding that creates equity for taxpayers when considering the burden they have been carrying to fund our schools, especially in districts across Delaware County. I also want to mention that I do not support the creation of any additional programs that would drive taxpayer dollars away from public schools.
What changes, if any, would you support making to Pennsylvania’s abortion laws?
I want to strengthen PA abortion law by codifying the right to abortion in our Constitution. I also want to codify into law protections for women seeking access to abortion services in our state, protections for doctors and nurses providing critical care in our state, and protections for anyone seeking access to reproductive assistance technology like IVF in the Commonwealth. To me, preserving women's reproductive freedom is of paramount importance and one of the most critical issues nationwide in this election.