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In this Update:
Thank You to Pennsylvania’s Veterans and Military Families
November is National Veterans and Military Families Appreciation Month, a time to recognize and thank the brave men and women who have served our country and the families who support them. As a proud supporter of Pennsylvania’s veterans and military families, I am grateful for their sacrifice, dedication and service. Our veterans and their families face unique challenges, from accessing quality health care to finding meaningful employment. It is our responsibility to ensure they have the resources, respect and opportunities they deserve. If you are a veteran or family member, I encourage you to sign up for my monthly Veterans E-newsletter. This valuable resource provides information on local veteran events, available resources and benefits you can take advantage of. This month, I encourage all Pennsylvanians to take a moment to thank a veteran or military family for their service and reflect on the sacrifices they make to keep our communities and nation safe. My Thoughts on the 2025-26 Pennsylvania State Budget
Pennsylvania taxpayers are facing another year of reckless spending, growing deficits and rising inflation under the newly passed 2025-26 state budget. I criticized the General Assembly for continuing a cycle of unchecked spending that puts our families and the state’s economic stability at risk. The more government spends, the more inflation rises — economics 101. Yet, despite losing population and businesses, the General Assembly and Gov. Josh Shapiro are set to spend an additional $2.5 billion, over 5% more than last year, for a total of $50.1 billion. They plan to cover it with about $44 billion in revenue after returning $2 billion in owed refunds. That leaves taxpayers on the hook for nearly $6 billion more than the state takes in. This is fiscal chaos. I have serious concerns about several areas in the budget. Education spending continues to rise without meaningful accountability, even as brick-and-mortar school enrollment declines, academic performance remains low and truancy increases. At the same time, growing cyber charter schools face funding cuts and new administrative hurdles. Counties struggling to provide mental health services will remain level-funded, while school districts failing to educate students are given $120 million to administer mental health care. Higher education funding increases despite declining enrollment, and new entitlements, like a $100 million recurring Medicaid expansion and increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding, are added without addressing waste, fraud or long-term sustainability. The budget also doubles contractor registration fees, broadens Fish and Boat Commission spending, creates a housing tax credit that could drive inflation and allocates more than $3 million to expand the governor’s social media operations all while veterans services and agriculture see significant cuts. State Treasurer Stacy Garrity and the Independent Fiscal Office have both warned that Pennsylvania faces a fiscal cliff if spending is not brought under control. Without changes, Pennsylvanians can expect future tax hikes. Now is the time to exercise fiscal responsibility and implement meaningful reforms that protect hardworking families. You can watch my full Senate floor budget comments here and read my news release here. Exciting Redevelopment in West York
I recently toured The Bakery Complex, a redevelopment project transforming the former JB Fishel’s Bakery into a multi-tenant entertainment hub, with the York County Economic Alliance. The project aims to bring new life to West York and create a destination that residents and visitors can enjoy. The vision for the complex includes food and beverage vendors, retail shops, sports simulators, rage rooms, live music and spaces for parties and meetings. I am excited to see how this project will energize the community, support local businesses and contribute to the area’s economic growth. Attending the York County Bells Across PA Dedication
This past Friday, I had the pleasure of attending the York County Bells Across PA Dedication at the York County History Center. York County, in partnership with America250PA, unveiled six fiberglass bells designed by local artists. These bells will be displayed at six locations along portions of the rail trails across York County to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. Congratulations to the talented artists whose designs were selected. Below is the list of artists, the name of their bell design and the location where the bell will be displayed:
These installations showcase the creativity of local artists while celebrating our nation’s history. I am excited to see these works on display along the rail trails, providing residents and visitors with public art to enjoy for years to come. Your Chance to Learn About Property Tax Relief
Don’t miss our upcoming School Property Tax Elimination town hall on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 5 p.m. Join State Reps. Jeremy Shaffer, Roman Kozak, Aaron Bernstine, Wendy Fink and me at the West Deer American Legion, 57 Superior Rd., Tarentum. You can RSVP to our host, Rep. Shaffer, online or by calling 412-369-2230. This town hall is an important opportunity to learn more about the legislation Rep. Fink and I introduced to eliminate school property taxes and finally deliver meaningful relief to Pennsylvania homeowners. We will walk through how this proposal creates a fairer, ability-to-pay funding model, one that gives you greater control over your own finances and ends the pressure placed on families whose tax bills rise simply because of where they live. If you are interested in bringing this discussion to your own community, my office can help you host a town hall to share how this proposal would ease the burden on homeowners and strengthen education funding across the commonwealth. To get started, call my office at 717-432-1730. Oh Say, Can You Sing? The PA Farm Show National Anthem Contest
Think you’ve got what it takes to sing the National Anthem at the Farm Show? The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture is looking for singers to kick off each day of the 2026 edition of the nation’s largest indoor agricultural exposition. Submit your original video entry by Nov. 24 to be considered. Winners will be selected by fan voting on Facebook. You must be available at least one day of the Farm Show, which runs from Jan. 10 through Jan. 17. You can find details about eligibility, video requirements, voting and how to apply here. PennDOT Roadwork Schedules for Cumberland and York Counties
To help you stay informed and plan your travels, I will be sharing weekly updates on PennDOT’s roadwork schedules for Cumberland and York counties. This information comes directly from PennDOT but may not include every roadwork project or be completely accurate. Updates will be posted every Friday as long as PennDOT provides the information. There may be weeks when no new details are shared. I hope these updates help you avoid delays and make your travel easier.
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