Mark’s Priorities

Mark is THE Pro-Choice candidate in this race, endorsed by Planned Parenthood, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the NOW, and #VoteProChoice. Mark will fight against the extremist efforts underway in Harrisburg to amend the state constitution to deny women reproductive rights. Pennsylvania currently has safe and legal abortion, with significant restrictions in place — further government regulations are not needed. Mark believes the right to decide when and whether to have children belongs to women, not politicians. A vote for Mark’s opponent would be a vote for the extremist bans.

As the son of a hardworking single mom, Mark also knows the importance of supporting families and children. He will take the lead on passing legislation to broaden health, nutritional, and community services, including top-notch childcare.

The rising cost of living is a top issue for many families right now. As Penndel Council Vice President, Mark cut property taxes two years in a row for borough families and seniors. He supports gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro's plan to address inflation that gives families direct relief by eliminating certain taxes and expanding the property tax and rent rebate program. Also, he is an advocate for universal pre-K, and for making quality, affordable childcare more accessible for our families.

As Mark has traveled the district talking to voters, he reports that many have cited the exorbitant cost of childcare as a top concern. Families with two parents are finding that one salary goes almost entirely to childcare. Our businesses are facing unprecedented labor shortages — it's no wonder why when you realize it's sometimes more cost effective for people to not work.

As a small business leader and caretaker for his mom, Mark knows how families and businesses are struggling with runaway inflation, soaring energy prices, and stagnant wages. Mark is committed to lowering taxes for working families and seniors by making giant corporations pay their fair share. He’ll also fight to expand Medicaid, increase funding for LiHeap, and reduce property taxes for homeowners so that all our families can achieve financial security.

Rules Reform is desperately needed. Mark will reject House Rules that empower a few party leaders. He supports a proposal by Fair Districts PA and the League of Women Voters of PA: 1) If a bill has strong bipartisan support, that bill should be discussed and voted on in committee. 2) If the bill passes favorably from committee, it must be guaranteed a vote on the chamber floor. 3) If one chamber passes the bill with bipartisan support, the other chamber should respect that with a corresponding vote.

Reducing polarization requires a mindset and approach that embraces bipartisanship and does not think Negotiation and Compromise are dirty words. For Mark, it's not about D vs R. He has worked with Democrats, Republicans and Independents to achieve our common goals. In Lower Makefield, Republican-controlled boards appointed him to Farmland Preservation and the Zoning Hearing Board. In Penndel, he was at odds with members of his own party as he tired of hearing "that's not how it's always been done."

Mark is endorsed by AFT Union and the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, the organization representing the faculty and coaches who have devoted themselves to providing quality higher education for Pennsylvania students.

Mark knows firsthand how vital high-quality, accessible, public education is for our childrens’ futures. As our State Representative, he’ll fight to ensure Harrisburg upholds its duty to provide the highest quality public education to every student in the Commonwealth. Mark will also be an advocate for free early childhood education, community college and vocational schools so all of our children have access to the education they need to be successful, no matter what path they choose.

Fully funding public education, without vouchers that send public money to private schools, is one of Mark’s priorities. His mom was a public school educator. Her service and her experience in the National Education Association was an important part of Mark’s life. He sees that the funding formulas used in Harrisburg are not working for everyone, and wants to ensure that every child has the same opportunities.

Mark also knows that if the state investment in public education was strengthened, our school districts would be less reliant on local property taxes for funding. Easing the local property tax burden is key to keeping life affordable for seniors who deserve to be able to live out their retirement in their own homes if they wish, without having to move because property taxes are too high.

As the son and grandson of union workers, Mark understands that our workers are the backbone of our economy. Mark will fight to ensure that workers are paid living wages, and expand the right to organize for workers across the Commonwealth. Mark will also fight to ease the burden on our local businesses by investing in our local corridors.

Mark opposes dangerous Right to Work legislation and supports prevailing wage laws. He is endorsed by the Working Families Party, and is advocating for a more fair tax system in Pennsylvania that closes loopholes for large corporations so that our small businesses can get a break and have a greater chance to thrive.

Opportunities abound in the area of incentives based on the booming cleaner energy sectors.

Pennsylvania is home to 1.1 million small businesses, representing 99.6% of all businesses in the state. We can help them save money. Mark supports offering commercial building owners a tax credit up to $5 per square foot to support energy efficiency improvements that deliver lower utility bills, and offering small businesses tax credits covering 30% of the costs of installing low-cost solar power and of purchasing clean trucks and vans for commercial fleets.

Mark supports tax credits covering 30% of the costs of community solar projects owned by local businesses. There are already 92,773 Pennsylvania workers employed in clean energy jobs, but these credits will create even more jobs across solar, wind, storage, and other clean energy industries. Credits should include bonuses for businesses that pay a prevailing wage, so that Pennsylvania workers earn a good paycheck as we build the clean energy future in America.

Manufacturers employ 542,600 workers in Pennsylvania, but Mark thinks we can boost clean energy and transportation technologies, and invest in the Advanced Industrial Facilities Deployment Program to better position us in the growing global market for clean steel, aluminum, cement, and more.

Pennsylvania has 52,700 farms. Mark proposes we help them lead on climate solutions and reward their stewardship.

The electorate should not have undue obstacles placed in the way of being able to exercise the sacred right to vote. Unfounded conspiracy theories and lies about elections being stolen threaten our democracy.

Mark would strengthen the vote by mail program, which has proven to be highly successful, popular and secure. Voters who wish to vote by mail on a regular basis should not have to reaffirm that wish every year by filling out unnecessary paperwork. Let's cut the red tape and bureaucratic burdens.

And let’s note here that the Republican gubernatorial candidate’s proposal that he and the state should appoint our presidential electors — regardless of how we, the people, vote — is a frightening, authoritarian proposal that needs to be defeated in order to keep our democracy, freedoms and rights intact.

Mark understands that investing in our physical infrastructure is necessary for our communities to grow and thrive. As a former council member and zoning board member, he understands that the path to success is funding our roads, bridges, and energy infrastructure. Mark will go to Harrisburg to fight for increased investment and community input for major projects like the Route 1 superhighway. He’ll also champion the next generation of energy generation, helping to fight climate change, while reducing the cost of energy for our families and creating high-paying jobs for our workers.

And Mark wants to make sure we have a legislature willing to appropriate the money we will receive from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that passed in Washington, D.C., late last year. This is the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the construction of the interstate highway system; Pennsylvania should expect to receive approximately $13.2 billion over five years in Federal highway formula funding for highways and bridges, along with many other monies.

Mark is endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, which strives to end discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and realize a world that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

Currently, Pennsylvania is the only northeastern state in the U.S. that doesn’t have basic human rights protections for residents who identify as LGBTQ+. This means an employer can fire an LGBTQ+ individual, or a landlord can deny housing, and it’s all legal.

There’s been an effort in Harrisburg to change this situation, but bills pertaining to LGBTQ+ rights struggle to be brought up for a vote, let alone placed on the governor’s desk.

Mark supports State Sen. Steve Santarsiero’s Bill 570, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act of 1955, which already includes 11 protected categories.

Mark is proud to be a Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate, and of his endorsement by CeaseFire PA. He supports red flag laws and strengthening background checks and firearm safety training provisions. He also supports a ban on military-style assault weapons. This is an issue that is often falsely framed. It is not a case of being supportive or not supportive of gun ownership. There are plenty of responsible gun owners who support common sense initiatives aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of those who should not have them.

Article 1, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution guarantees the rights to clean air, pure water, and the preservation of the environment.

As the candidate endorsed by Conservation Voters of PA and GiveGreen, Mark is committed to protecting our planet. And we can do this while also protecting our jobs. We can dramatically increase the production of clean and renewable energy while also turbocharging our state’s energy efficiency programs to lower costs for local businesses and working families. Investments in environmental protection can create family-sustaining union jobs; we can grow our economy and be more economically competitive.

There are those who frame the issue of the environment as a false choice between protecting jobs or protecting our planet — we must do both and we can. We can dramatically increase the production of clean and renewable energy while also turbocharging our state’s energy efficiency programs to lower costs for local businesses and working families.

Mark supports gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro’s focus on using investments in environmental protection to create family-sustaining union jobs. From installing new solar panels to replacing aging lead water pipes, the plan would grow Pennsylvania’s economy by expanding opportunities and making our commonwealth more economically competitive.

Mark also notes that electric cooperatives, which serve about 220,000 homes, businesses, and other customers in Pennsylvania, should be eligible for clean energy tax credits. And we should dedicate investments for rural electric cooperatives to boost resiliency, reliability, and affordability, including through clean energy and energy efficiency upgrades.