As Chairman of the Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee, I’ve worked to make government more transparent, efficient, and effective for Pennsylvania taxpayers. Here’s a look at some of the key actions I’ve taken:
Uncovering and Evaluating Governor’s Security Spending at Personal Residence
After the shocking attack on the Governor’s life at the official residence in Harrisburg, the state spent over $32 million on repairs and security upgrades there—and quietly added at least $1 million in security improvements at the Governor’s personal home in Montgomery County, without public disclosure. To bring transparency to these unprecedented expenses and the decision-making behind them, I requested details from the Administration. When they refused, my committee issued subpoenas—because no governor should operate in the shadows. I plan to hold additional public hearings on this issue.
Assessing Commonwealth Aircraft Operations
When I asked questions about executive aircraft use during the 2025 Budget Hearings, the answers were vague and incomplete. In June 2025, I convened a public hearing to dig deeper into flights provided by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) and PennDOT for top officials. We discovered:
- PennDOT failed to update flight logs as required by law.
- PSP was told to pay a $26,000 invoice for charter flights booked by the Governor’s Office.
- PennDOT spends about $1.7 million annually on operating costs for its executive aircraft—four times what’s billed to agencies and reported publicly.
The commonwealth’s aircraft operations, and opportunities for improved efficiency, will now be the subject of a Joint State Government Commission study after the passage in October 2025 of Senate Resolution 89, which I co-prime sponsored.
Improving Accountability of Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ)
The Allentown NIZ has diverted more than $700 million in taxes since its creation, yet required audits were never completed. When the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue Secretary refused to comply with a legislatively commissioned review of the program, my committee subpoenaed him. The Senate also passed Senate Resolution compelling him to testify about the NIZ. As a result of this testimony, I introduced Senate Bill 367, which passed the Senate unanimously. It clarifies the law to allow proper audits of NIZ tax transfers and revises board membership to ensure transparency and accountability.
Reducing Government Red Tape
Pennsylvania is one of the most heavily regulated states, creating unnecessary hurdles for entrepreneurs and citizens. That’s why I’ve championed regulatory reform and why my committee advanced legislation to cut red tape, including:
- Senate Bill 245 that would establish a Regulatory Sandbox Program as used in at least fifteen other states to temporarily waive certain regulations and facilitate safe innovation.
- At a June 2025 hearing the Intergovernmental Operations Committee reviewed Senate Bill 657, which would remove regulatory barriers for housing and work opportunities for individuals with an intellectual or developmental disability.
Ensuring Government Records Transparency
I held a public hearing in March 2025 on the use of messaging apps, by government officials, that automatically delete communication, sometimes within a day. This practice undermines transparency and accountability.
To prevent the untimely destruction of public records and uphold the public trust, I introduced Senate Bill 868 to prohibit message-deleting applications from being used on government-owned devices and Senate Bill 869 that would establish a minimum two-year retention period for any agency electronic record and impose penalties for violations.
To watch live Intergovernmental Operations Committee hearings and more, click here.