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Chris Sainato

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Chris Sainato
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 9th district
In office
January 3, 1995[1] – November 30, 2022
Preceded byThomas Fee
Succeeded byMarla Brown
Member of the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2, 2024[2]
Personal details
Born (1959-05-08) May 8, 1959 (age 65)
New Castle, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationYoungstown State University (B.S.)
Alma materUnion Area High School

Christopher Sainato (born May 8, 1959) is an American politician who represented the 9th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1995 to 2022. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life and education

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Sainato was born on May 8, 1959, in New Castle, Pennsylvania.[3] He graduated from Union Area High School in 1977 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Youngstown State University in 1982.[3]

Political career

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From 1983 to 1993, Sainato served as an aide to Congressman Joe Kolter.[3]

In 1994, Sainato was elected to represent the 9th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Sainato was re-elected thirteen times;[3] facing a Republican challenger on only a few occasions.[4][5] In 2022, Sainato was defeated for re-election by Republican Marla Brown.[4]

From the beginning of first term in 1995 to January 2021, Sainato collected $1.8 million dollars in taxpayer-funded reimbursements, perks, and per diems, according to Spotlight PA. When asked, Sainato balked at the alleged sum of his expenses. He also opposed changing the per diem structure to require documented expenses, labelling such an idea as an excess burden "for people like me who are very busy."[6] In 2013, 2016, and 2021, Sainato collected the most in per diems than any other representative; his total yearly reimbursements typically topped $30,000.[7][8] He defended the large reimbursement amounts by noting the 250-mile journey he took from his district to the capitol and his perfect attendance record.[9]

In 2023, Sainato was elect as a county commissioner in Lawrence County.[2]

Political positions

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Sainato is a conservative Democrat who opposes abortion rights.[4] He was the sole Democrat to vote against bringing a bill to ban high-capacity, semi-automatic firearms to the State House floor for a vote.[10] Sainato has been endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund.[11][12] He has also opposed tax increases and favored abolition, voting against a 30 cents per gallon gasoline tax as state representative. As a county commissioner, Sainato voted to repeal a $5 vehicle registration fee that funded Lawrence County's road construction despite large public opposition.[13][14]

References

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  1. ^ "SESSION OF 1995 - 179TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - No. 1" (PDF). Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. January 3, 1995.
  2. ^ a b Wachter, Debbie (January 3, 2024). "County officials take oaths of office in ceremony". New Castle News. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "Christopher Sainato". Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Previti, Emily (October 3, 2022). "Pennsylvania State House 9th District: A guide to the 2022 general election and candidates". 90.5 WESA. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  5. ^ Poole, Eric (November 7, 2012). "Democratic duo triumphs in contested campaigns". Ellwood City Ledger. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  6. ^ Couloumbis, Angela; Bumsted, Brad; Janesch, Sam; Wereschagin, Mike (June 22, 2021). "How one Pennsylvania lawmaker billed taxpayers $1.8 million in expenses". Spotlight PA. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  7. ^ Murphy, Jan (June 27, 2017). "Beyond salaries, taxpayers also pay to feed, house state lawmakers: A look at per diems". PennLIVE Patriot-News. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  8. ^ Maisel, Matt (February 25, 2022). "Pa. lawmakers spent nearly $2 million on meals, lodging, car leases in 2021 | Price of Politics". FOX43. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  9. ^ Couloumbis, Angela (March 15, 2021). "During height of coronavirus pandemic, Pa. lawmakers still cashed in big on meals, lodging". Spotlight PA. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  10. ^ "Pa. House votes against taking up gun bill after Texas school shooting". WHYY-FM. The Associated Press. May 25, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  11. ^ "NRA-PVF | Pennsylvania". NRA Political Victory Fund. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  12. ^ "NRA-PVF | Pennsylvania". NRA Political Victory Fund. Archived from the original on November 5, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  13. ^ Wachter, Debbie (February 5, 2024). "Despite outcry, commissioner repeal $5 road fee". New Castle News. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  14. ^ Wachter, Debbie (January 26, 2024). "Township officials, commissioners spar over $5 fee". New Castle News. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
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