Senator Mastriano

Please enjoy reading my E-Newsletter from this week Link in bio.

We had wonderful weather for the groundbreaking ceremony of the new Butler Township Municipal Complex in Biglerville.

Co-Sponsorship: SR84 has been introduced.
(Re-Affirming Good Friday as an Official State Holiday in Pennsylvania)
Legislation that you have sponsored has been introduced.

Draft: D04188
Introduced as: SR84

Prime Sponsor: Senator Doug Mastriano
Subject: Re-Affirming Good Friday as an Official State Holiday in Pennsylvania

Re-Affirming Good Friday as an Official State Holiday in Pennsylvania

In the coming days, I will introduce a resolution to re-affirm to the public that Good Friday is a Pennsylvania state holiday as stated in ACT 138 of May 31st, 1893 ( Legal Holiday Law ).

It is time we publicly align ourselves with other states and bring to the forefront the public’s awareness, as other states such as New Jersey, Delaware, North Carolina, Kentucky, Texas, and others have taken, to honor and preserve our religious and cultural heritage.

Re-affirming Good Friday would:

• Honor the faith of millions of Pennsylvanians, reflecting the deep spiritual and historical importance of this day in Christian communities across our Commonwealth.
• Support family and community life by providing an opportunity for individuals to gather for reflection, worship, and observance without conflicting with school or work obligations.
• Promote cultural literacy and understanding, especially for younger generations, by officially acknowledging a holiday that has been integral to the global Christian tradition for over 2,000 years.
• Encourage values such as compassion, sacrifice, humility, and hope, which resonate universally and align with the moral foundation of diverse civic and religious traditions.
• Uphold the legacy of religious freedom and respect, a cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s identity since its founding by William Penn.
• Bring consistency to school and government observances, as many institutions already close or operate on limited schedules on Good Friday—this legislation would simply formalize an already common practice.

By re-affirming Good Friday as an official state holiday, we strengthen our commitment to honoring the beliefs of our citizens and preserving the values that have guided Pennsylvania for generations.



Good Fri

"When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:12-17

Doug in Afghanistan. Before departing for a patrol, Diesel the cat, stops by to say hello. #throwbackthursday

Josh Shapiro just handed $5 million in taxpayer money to a mosque in Philadelphia — and people are rightfully asking: Why?
This move becomes even more baffling when contrasted with his response to the East Palestine train disaster. While Western Pennsylvanians pleaded for help amid a toxic catastrophe, Shapiro was partying in a luxury skybox at the Super Bowl in Arizona — alongside Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs. Political calculations? Most likely. No Democratic votes to win in East Palestine, so he turned a blind eye and sipped wine while a chemical cloud poisoned his own state.
Now, compare that to his rapid response when a stretch of I-95 collapsed — fixed in just 12 days. Why the urgency? Easy: that’s deep blue territory, packed with Democratic voters.
And the mosque? Even if the Imam has made inflammatory comments about Israel, that didn’t stop Shapiro. For votes, it seems, he’s willing to look the other way.
That $5 million could have gone to countless other deserving causes — organizations like the Sisters of the Poor, for example. But instead of supporting them, Shapiro sued them not once, but three times — a stunning display of religious hostility. Yet now he’s writing checks to religious institutions with no concern for the so-called “separation of church and state.”
This is taxpayer money being used as political currency, and it seems hypocritical. For someone who’s built a career preaching fairness and separation of church and state, Shapiro’s actions speak far louder than his carefully crafted talking points.
In the end, it’s not about people. It’s about power. And if integrity gets left behind on the road to the “big prize,” so be it.
Hypocrisy, thy name is Shapiro.

This painting in the Pennsylvania Senate was created by Violet Oakley over a century ago and is based upon the first seven verses in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 28, which reads; Jesus Has Risen. After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”