2024 Political Q&A with Jay Costa: What You Need to Know About This Incumbent Candidate for PA Senate District 43

It’s my hope that Dems will control the Senate when we move into 2025, and then we can get to work on the hundreds of bills that the House sent us this session and the Governor promised he would sign. Early on, we’d pass LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination, an increase in the minimum wage, measures to prevent gun violence like Red Flag Laws and universal background checks, paid family and sick leave.

Meet the Candidate

Read this post of our 2024 election season series ‘Political Q&A’ with progressive candidates throughout Pennsylvania. Candidates can be anywhere in Pennsylvania running for any level of office. Please note that these are not necessarily endorsements, more of an opportunity for candidates to connect with the LGBTQ community, progressives neighbors, and others with an interest in Western Pennsylvania. If your candidate would like to participate in ase contact us pghlesbian at gmail dot com. We welcome candidates at all levels of government across the entire Commonwealth.

These Q&A’s are lengthy because there is a lot of ground to cover.

By participating in this Q&A series, candidates are saying that they

are an LGBTQIA+ ally, specifically supporting equality and dignity for transgender persons
identify as pro-choice
endorse Kamala Harris-Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election

I first met Senator Costa in the late 1990’s during my graduate school field placement. I remember liking that he looked me in the eye even though I was just an intern. He answered my questions rather than treating me like a mere note taker. I’ve hoped he would participate in this series because he’s a powerful man and you, my readers, deserve a chance for him to look you in the proverbial eye and answer my questions. That’s not a perfect analogy, but … the future of Pennsylvania requires us to ensure our stalwart elders are on top of contemporary issues and fighting to wrest control of the decisions into rational hands. I also wanted to ask the two questions everyone thinks, but maybe won’t say. And let you reflect on his answers.

Name: Jay Costa, Jr.

Pronouns: he/him

Office Sought in This Election: Pa Senate, SD43

How do you describe your identity? I’m a lifelong resident of Allegheny County, a graduate of Taylor Allderdice High School, IUP and Duquesne Law School. I’m a proud Italian American, husband, father and grandfather.

Questions and Answers

Tell us about your district. What is a hidden gem most people might not know about? There is an incredible amount of entrepreneurialism in the district. The 43rd includes a handful of wards in the City of Pittsburgh, in addition to Allegheny County suburbs and from corner to corner of this district, I am endlessly impressed by new businesses opening, tech being developed, and new, sustainable types of retail popping up.

In my official capacity, we feature these businesses, nonprofits and startups regularly in a program we call “In The 43rd”

What legislative accomplishment gives you the most pride? A few years ago, it came to my attention that students who had lunch debt at school were being given cold food or no food at all – in front of their peers. This practice is called ‘lunch shaming’ and I introduced legislation to prohibit it, which was ultimately included in a budget code bill and passed into law. A parent’s ability to pay should not impact a young person having access to a warm lunch without shame.

You have served in the Senate since being elected in 1996. You had a background in law enforcement and a law degree.Tell us how you made that transition to elected office. At that point, did you intend a career in state politics? Was it intentional? Public service has always been a calling, and I was not sure whether it would be in elected office or another route but I have found it deeply fulfilling and rewarding. When there was an opening in the Register of Wills office, it felt like a natural next step and the same with the Senate after that.

Your jobs include representing your district in the Senate and serving in a leadership role as floor leader. Please describe the multiple hats you wear as a Senator, party leader, committee chair, and so forth. How do you balance your powers?

I’m humbled that my colleagues elected me to leadership and have continued to reelect me as Democratic Leader. In this role, I’m the caucus’ lead advocate in negotiations with the other caucuses and the Governor’s office. As the Leader, I don’t regularly chair a committee but do represent the caucus on Rules, which is a technical committee to move things like nominations through the chamber. I’m able to use these positions to strongly advocate for my district, as well as all districts held by Democrats in the Senate.

Since then-AG, now-Gov Shapiro made his grand jury investigation public, I have supported the measures that were recommended and I’ll include them here below but I also believe that we can create a civil window statutorily and do not need to wait for the constitutional amendment process. Other states have done this and it withstood challenges.

You are a full-time elected official with many duties. You are also a principal in a law firm, Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote. Please explain what being a principal means. Please explain the ethical implications of elected officials holding top-level executive positions with law firms.

I advise as I’m able to the clients of the firm, none of which involves state legislative affairs. It’s an opportunity to use my legal training, and I remain an active member of the bar in good standing. Were there ever to be legislation that would impact my work with the firm, I would recuse myself from the vote and ask for a ruling of the Pro Tempore to ensure that was the best course of action. This will happen from time to time by other members, particularly those who are landlords or own businesses. I do not have an equity stake in the firm.

Dems control the House and Governors. The Senate is where we’ll see significant efforts to move agendas forward. What issues do you foresee at the forefront in 2025?

If we do not deliver 25 Dems to the Senate, I fear this coming session will look a lot like the previous, with pro working families bills heading to the upper chamber to languish in committee.

Please tell me about your familiarity with the LGBTQ community in Allegheny County. I’ve worked with Steel City Stonewall Democrats and Planned Parenthood of Western PA on local LGBTQ issues, and have earned the endorsement of both.

Based on this, what do you understand to be our current top LGBTQ concerns and priorities for the Senate? How will you respond to those priorities? Pennsylvania is embarrassingly late on a statewide non discrimination ordinance, so that is a top priority but we’ve also had to defend against a lot of heinous, anti LGBTQ bills that are targeted at young people.

Of course I’d love to hear more about the community’s priorities and how you feel I can best be helpful in the Senate.

Pennsylvania’s legislature has had almost zero effectiveness in passing LGBTQ affirming legislation – most of our rights and support comes from the courts and executive decisions. Please share your thoughts on why the General Assembly has been unable to pass even the simplest bills. Is Pennsylvania truly that intolerant?

I do not believe the majority of Pennsylvanians are intolerant. I believe the way that legislative maps are drawn has made it difficult to elect a progressive majority in both chambers that would pass affirming legislation. In fact, the Senate has been so conservative that they have refused to pass a nonbinding resolution simply honoring Pride Month.

How has a Democrat controlled PA House changed the landscape? I think it’s shown folks what is possible. Good bills are moving through the House and Shapiro has pledged to sign them, but voters see that the Senate is in the way and are ready to flip that chamber too.

A few years ago, it came to my attention that students who had lunch debt at school were being given cold food or no food at all – in front of their peers. This practice is called ‘lunch shaming’ and I introduced legislation to prohibit it, which was ultimately included in a budget code bill and passed into law.

What you have personally and professionally done to protect trans kids?

A few years ago in the Senate, we were working to reauthorize funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and some extremists in the Senate wanted to ban funds from being used on gender affirming care, and I refused to make a deal with them on this.

When they proposed banning trans kids in intramural sports, I was a vocal no.

When they wanted to ban books with “explicit content,” which was really just any LGBTQ content, I voted no.

You’ve been an advocate for education in your career. Please tell us the steps to move to a state funded public education system.

We need a funding formula that addresses the historic, inadequate and unconstitutional underfunding of our schools. The rate at which some schools grew and others saw new needs has not been handled well by our existing funding structure. The intent of the public school system was always to split the funding burden between local governments and the state, but now local governments are bearing too great a burden, forced to raise their property taxes beyond what residents can afford, and wealthy areas are able to offer much different educational opportunities. Every child deserves a high quality education and it’s on the state to come up with an adequate formula that addresses needs appropriately.

In my opinion, some charter schools are necessary – such as one on the Northside that addresses the needs of students with dyslexia at a level of precision not realistic from every single public school under current funding structures. But does Allegheny County really need over 27 brick and mortar charter schools? Really?

No, and I think that charter schools have to be held to the same standards as public schools. There are too many that are not delivering high quality education and are siphoning a lot of resources from traditional public schools.

In the coming session, we have to address public education funding and Allegheny County has drastically different districts with different needs. I’ve seen firsthand how our previous formulas have failed these districts, and I understand how different needs must be addressed – from increasing enrollment size, to aging infrastructure. We need someone with this experience at the table when a new formula is negotiated

What are the predominant environmental concerns in your district?

I think access to clean air has been an issue in our area and requires a better-funded DEP to enforce.

Western Pennsylvania was heavily, perhaps overly represented, in the number of dioceses with credible allegations and victims in the Attorney General Report on Sexual abuse in the Catholic Church – including some of my friends and neighbors. What legislative accountability measures have you supported? Do you oppose any in particular?

Eliminate the criminal statute of limitations for sexually abusing children. Current law permits victims to come forward until age 50. The grand jury recommends eliminating the criminal statute of limitation entirely for such crimes.
Create a “civil window” so older victims may now sue for damages. Current law gives child sex abuse victims 12 years to sue, once they turn 18. But victims in their 30s and older fall under a different law; they only get two years. The grand jury called that “unacceptable” and recommends a limited “window” offering victims a chance to be heard in court for an additional two years.
Clarify penalties for a continuing failure to report child abuse. The grand jury recommends changing the abuse reporting law to clarify the duty to report abuse. The new language imposes a continuing obligation to report “while the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe the abuser is likely to commit additional acts of child abuse.”
Specify that Civil Confidentiality Agreements do not cover communications with law enforcement. The grand jury wrote that the Church has used confidentiality agreements as a way to silence abuse victims from speaking publicly or cooperating with law enforcement. The grand jury proposes a new statute which clearly states that no past or present non-disclosure agreement prevents a victim from talking to police. Additionally, future agreements should state contact with police about criminal activity is permitted.

There’s a clear need to actively create space for women, especially Black women and other women of color, in elected office AND on campaign and legislative staffs. These are issues of representation and realities. Tell us about your campaign team.

My campaign team consists of a woman campaign manager, a woman treasurer, and two consultant teams for fundraising and communications – and both of those firms are owned by women.

On the official side, my press secretary is a woman of color and my chief of staff is a woman.

Representation and diverse points of view are very important to me in my political and public work.

Voter turnout is a significant concern, especially for municipal/local elections. What advice would you offer to organizations and groups concerned with turnout in Pennsylvania?

Talk to your neighbors! Organizing can be as simple as broaching the subject of voting with your friends, your colleagues, the folks in your community, where you shop, where you eat. Those direct conversations with people that you know are so important, and I’ve found move more people toward voting than hearing from strangers.

Political family dynasties have been a topic of discussion in almost every election. Your extended family has often been at the center of those discussions. What are your thoughts on the topic?

My family taught me growing up about the value of public service and I tried to instill those values in my own children. The opportunity to serve is not one that I take for granted, nor do I believe any of my family has, and when the Costa name appears on the ballot, voters get to make the decision about whether we will return to that service.

Tell us about your endorsements.

I’ve received a breadth of endorsements from local and statewide labor organizations, like the Allegheny Fayette Labor Council, the PA AFL CIO, environmental organizations like Sierra Club, and reproductive justice advocacy groups like Planned Parenthood PA.

Finally, what are three reasons people should vote for you/support your campaign?

I am going to remain the strongest advocate for our region in Harrisburg. When it comes to introducing legislation that impacts us directly, like my Longtime Owner Occupied Property (LOOP) bill that addresses rising property taxes in Allegheny County and became law this year, or fighting for state resources, grants and programs to come to the 43rd, no one will champion you harder.
In the coming session, we have to address public education funding and Allegheny County has drastically different districts with different needs. I’ve seen firsthand how our previous formulas have failed these districts, and I understand how different needs must be addressed – from increasing enrollment size, to aging infrastructure. We need someone with this experience at the table when a new formula is negotiated
I don’t think I have all the answers, but I do think that my office and campaigns have always listened well to constituents. I am always open to new ideas, suggestions and criticism. I want to know what you think is going well, and what you think isn’t.

Please list your social media accounts and your donation links.

x.com/jaycostapa

Facebook.com/jaycostapa

Instagram.com/jaycostapa

Jay Costa — Donate via ActBlue

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I appreciate the tough questions and the opportunity to respond directly!

Thank you, Senator Costa.

Other Q&A’s

In addition, read other Q&A’s in this election cycle series. You can read previous cycle Q&A’s here. If your candidate would like to participate, please contact us pghlesbian at gmail dot com.

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