It’s Your Money

This page is available to provide you with a better understanding of how your state dollars are being spent.  All of the information contained on this page has been available to the public.

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Salary

As of December 1, 2023, my salary is $106,422.

Mileage and Expense Reimbursement

I do not use a state-owned or state-leased vehicle. Each month, I submit a statement of miles traveled on Senate business to the Senate’s Chief Clerk, requesting reimbursement. The current mileage reimbursement rate, established by the Internal Revenue Service, is 65.5 cents per mile. I use the per diem method of expense reimbursement for lodging and meals when I travel to Harrisburg for session.  Per diem rates are established by the United States General Services Administration.

District Offices

I have three district offices: one in Oil City, one in Warren, and one in Butler.  The monthly rent for each of these offices is $1358.40 (Oil City), $143.91 (Warren) and $1502.00 (Butler).

Additional Information

As a state legislator I have always supported efforts to make information about state government — particularly government spending — more easily accessible to the public.

Open Records Law

Pennsylvania’s Open Records Law (Act 3 of 2008), which I supported, makes many government records easily available to interested residents. Information about how to request records from any state executive branch office or local government office is available from the Office of Open Records. Information about requesting records from the Senate, the House, and the state Judiciary is also available.

Online Contract Database

Pennsylvania’s new Open Records Law also created an online contract database. State contracts valued at $5,000 or more are included in this database, which can be searched by agency, contracting party, contract amount, date, and subject matter.

PennWATCH: Online Budget Database

Act 18 of 2011, which I supported, requires the creation of a complete online state budget database known as PennWATCH. This database, designed to make details of state spending easily and freely accessible, became available on December 20, 2012.

Live Senate Video Feeds

Senate sessions can be viewed from any computer with an Internet connection using the Senate Session Live feed at the Senate’s website. A similar feed is available for House sessions.

Online Bill Room: Roll Call Votes and Fiscal Notes

The General Assembly’s website now includes links to fiscal notes for those bills that have been considered by the Senate or House Appropriations Committee. You can also access the roll call votes for every bill considered in a Senate committee, in a House committee, on the Senate floor, or the House floor.

Website for Mobile Devices

The General Assembly now has a website for mobile devices such as the iPhone, iPad, Android-based devices, and the BlackBerry. Visitors can use the site to search for bills by number or keyword, to read bill text, to access information about legislative committees, to watch or listen to Senate and House sessions, and to contact members of the General Assembly.

Sunshine Law: Tougher Penalties

Act 56 of 2011, which I supported, strengthens penalties for violating Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Law, which requires public access to open meetings and the opportunity for public comment.

Senate Rules of Ethical Conduct

On June 15, 2010, the Senate adopted a set of Rules of Ethical Conduct to make the division between legislative and campaign work clear, to provide annual ethics training, and to establish strong penalties for violations.

Independent Fiscal Office

Pennsylvania’s new Independent Fiscal Office, created by Act 120 of 2010, will improve the state budget process. The office’s responsibilities include preparing annual revenue estimates, providing an annual assessment of the state’s fiscal condition, developing performance measures for state programs, and analyzing tax and revenue proposals made by the Governor or the Office of the Budget. More information is available at the IFO’s website.

Other Sources of Information

In addition to those listed above, the following resources provide additional information designed to make the operation of state government more transparent and accountable.

Lobbyist Disclosure Reports

Pennsylvania’s Lobbying Disclosure Law, Act 134 of 2006, requires lobbyists and principals (the companies and individuals who hire lobbyists) to file quarterly reports. The Department of State maintains an online database of lobbyists, principals and the required reports.

Statements of Financial Interest

The Governor, members of the General Assembly, and other public officials are required to file Statements of Financial Interest with the State Ethics Commission. The Statements of Financial Interest are all available on the Commission’s website.

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