Common Sense for Pennsylvania

The Problem: High earners stop paying into the system after $180,000, while working families pay on every dollar they earn.

The Fix: Remove the wage cap. Everyone should be held to the same standard. This strengthens the system for the long term without cutting benefits for the middle class.

Why This Matters

If working families are paying into Social Security on every dollar they earn, everyone else should too.

Right now, that’s not how the system works.

Social Security taxes stop after a certain income level, meaning higher earners stop contributing while working families continue paying on every dollar.

Most people don’t even realize this is how the system is set up.

What’s Broken

This creates a gap where the people who rely on Social Security the most are carrying the system, while others are allowed to step out early.

That’s not a system built on shared responsibility.

How I Approach This

This isn’t about left or right ideas.

It’s about equal responsibility.

If working families are expected to contribute on every dollar they earn, everyone else should be held to that same standard.

What Needs to Change

We need to remove the wage cap so everyone contributes under the same rules.

We need to strengthen Social Security long-term without reducing benefits for the people who depend on it.

We need a system that reflects basic fairness—no one stops paying while others continue.

Bottom Line

Working families are already doing their part.

The system should be built so everyone does theirs.

The Problem: Families pay thousands out of pocket before insurance kicks in. High deductibles force people to skip treatment or take on debt.

The Fix: Align insurance with its purpose—helping people when they are sick, not blocking access to care. No one should be financially punished for staying healthy.

Why This Matters

Having insurance should mean you can actually go see a doctor when you need to.

Right now, that’s not how the system works.

What’s Broken

High deductibles delay care.

Costs are shifted onto patients.

Coverage doesn’t always mean access.

People are paying every month for insurance, but still can’t afford to use it when something actually goes wrong.

How I Approach This

I’m not interested in left or right labels.

I’m interested in whether something works.

If a solution lowers what people pay out of pocket and allows them to actually use their insurance, I’ll support it. If it doesn’t, I won’t.

What Needs to Change

We need to reduce what people pay up front, not just lower premiums on paper.

We need a system where getting care early is easier and more affordable than waiting.

We need transparency so people understand their costs before they walk into an appointment.

Bottom Line

People should be able to go see a doctor when they need to.

That’s the baseline.

The Problem: Families are working just to afford childcare, often hitting a "benefits cliff" where making more money actually makes life harder.

The Fix: Lower the cost of childcare and ensure that working harder actually leads to moving forward. Right now, the system is backwards.

Why This Matters

Working more should mean getting ahead—not just covering the next bill.

What’s Broken

For many families, childcare takes up such a large share of income that working more doesn’t create progress—it just covers the cost of care.

In some cases, childcare costs as much as rent.

In others, it forces parents to cut hours or leave work entirely.

Childcare isn’t optional. If you need it, you need it.

At the same time, earning more can trigger the loss of benefits like Medicaid, leaving families worse off despite working harder.

How I Approach This

I’m not interested in where an idea comes from.

I’m interested in whether it works.

If a solution lowers the real cost of childcare and allows families to keep more of what they earn, I’ll support it. If it doesn’t, I won’t.

What Needs to Change

We need to lower the actual cost of childcare so families can breathe.

We need to fix benefit cliffs so earning more doesn’t backfire.

We need a system where work leads to forward movement—not just maintaining the status quo.

Bottom Line

This isn’t just about childcare.

It’s about whether working families can actually move forward—or stay stuck no matter how hard they try.