Op-ed by Senator Jay Costa
From the moment that President Trump was sworn into office, the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus has sounded the alarm about how he and his cronies would enrich themselves by making backroom deals and at the same time, enact heartless policies that ravage the pocketbooks of working families right here in Pennsylvania.
From interrupting SNAP benefits to purging long-tenured professionals from the federal government to building a ballroom, Donald Trump promised Americans affordability when he was campaigning, but delivered only riches for himself and his inner circle since assuming office.
Already, over 130,000 Pennsylvanians have lost access to healthcare because Trump and his Republican enablers in the federal legislature opted not to extend a tax credit that kept quality, affordable healthcare within reach for our families.
According to a Jan. 20 report from Democratic members of the congressional Joint Economic Committee, Pennsylvania families spent over $1700 more in 2025 due to inflation under the Trump administration.
Families are struggling to make ends meet, and these troubles are facing Pennsylvanians of every party, ZIP code, race, age, and faith. This crisis is not sparing anyone, no matter how they voted.
When Pennsylvania’s families look at the Republican leadership in Washington and in Harrisburg, they are not finding leaders who are invested in getting down to business and solving these problems – problems like skyrocketing healthcare costs, exorbitant gas prices, an unpredictable childcare market, and stagnant wages.
Our message is clear: While Republican leadership is failing and floundering at every level, the Shapiro Administration, House Democrats, and Senate Democrats are ready to enact commonsense, bipartisan legislation that will put money back in the pockets of Pennsylvania’s families.
Every member of the PA Senate Democratic caucus can tell you that affordability is the top concern for their constituents, whether they represent Philadelphia, or the Lehigh Valley, or Lancaster, or Harrisburg, or Pittsburgh.
That’s why our members have introduced and championed legislation that will not only reduce cost burdens for Pennsylvania’s families but also expand their economic opportunities so that their take-home pay goes up.
Firstly, Senate Democrats have long championed raising Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $15 per hour. Senator Tina Tartaglione has taken to the floor year after year to draw attention to the paltry wages being earned by thousands of Pennsylvanians, and the benefits of a $15 minimum wage to workers, employers, families, and communities.
The House of Representatives sent the Senate a bipartisan bill that would increase Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $15/hour on January 1, 2029 – a bill supported by an overwhelming majority of residents. But despite the urgency of increasing pay for workers, this bill has languished in the Senate for months.
Senate Democrats have also championed tax benefits that specifically go to working families, including expanding the Working Pennsylvanians Tax Credit and the Childcare Tax Credit. If we want families to grow, thrive, and make lifelong memories here in PA, we need to do everything possible to keep money in their wallets.
Across the board, the cost of housing continues to plague families in every single county. Senate Democrats have advocated for a handful of bills that would make it easier to build affordable homes, as well as removing barriers for families to access affordable homes, including the Golden Girls Bill, eviction sealing, protections for manufactured home communities, and more. We have also strongly supported Gov. Shapiro’s Housing Action Plan to build more homes and bring down the cost of housing.
Finally, Senate Democrats have been on the front lines of ensuring that every family, especially our children, can put food on the table and go about their days without the creeping pangs of hunger. When President Trump paused SNAP benefits, our members sprang into action, volunteering at food banks, advocating for increased food support, and demanding accountability from federal legislators.
In this year’s budget, Senate Democrats are fully supporting Universal Free School Breakfast and Lunch, so that no child has to learn on an empty stomach. Not only does this improve educational outcomes for our young learners, free school meals relieve parents of the worry and shame of lunch debt or SNAP benefits that don’t stretch quite far enough.