Chris Sainato
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}{{Use American English|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Chris Sainato
| image = File:Chris Sainato Mock Bill Signings (cropped).jpg
| caption =
| state = Pennsylvania
| state_house = Pennsylvania
| district = 9th
| term_start = January 3, 1995{{cite web |title = SESSION OF 1995 - 179TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - No. 1|work = Legislative Journal| publisher = Pennsylvania House of Representatives |date = 1995-01-03|url = http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/HJ/1995/0/19950103.pdf}}
| term_end = November 30, 2022
| predecessor = Thomas Fee
| successor = Marla Brown
| office2=Member of the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners
|term_end2=
| party = Democratic
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|5|8|mf=y}}
| birth_place = New Castle, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = Union Area High School
|education = Youngstown State University (B.S.)
| occupation =
| spouse =
| residence =
| website =
}}
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
Sainato was born on May 8, 1959, in New Castle, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Union Area High School in 1977 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Youngstown State University in 1982.{{cite web |title=Christopher Sainato |url=https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=90 |website=Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives |access-date=8 January 2023}}
Political career
From 1983 to 1993, Sainato served as an aide to Congressman Joe Kolter.
In 1994, Sainato was elected to represent the 9th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Sainato was re-elected thirteen times; facing a Republican challenger on only a few occasions.{{cite news |last1=Poole |first1=Eric |title=Democratic duo triumphs in contested campaigns |url=https://www.ellwoodcityledger.com/story/news/local/2012/11/08/democratic-duo-triumphs-in-contested/18601760007/ |access-date=8 January 2023 |work=Ellwood City Ledger |date=November 7, 2012}} In 2022, Sainato was defeated for re-election by Republican Marla Brown.{{cite news |last1=Previti |first1=Emily |title=Pennsylvania State House 9th District: A guide to the 2022 general election and candidates |url=https://www.wesa.fm/wesa-voter-guide/pennsylvania-state-house-9th-district-a-guide-to-the-2022-general-election-and-candidates |access-date=8 January 2023 |work=90.5 WESA |date=October 3, 2022}}
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."{{cite news |last1=Couloumbis |first1=Angela |last2=Bumsted |first2=Brad |last3=Janesch |first3=Sam |last4=Wereschagin |first4=Mike |title=How one Pennsylvania lawmaker billed taxpayers $1.8 million in expenses |url=https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2021/06/pa-lawmaker-per-diems-million-chris-sainato/ |access-date=27 June 2024 |work=Spotlight PA |date=June 22, 2021}} In 2013, 2016, and 2021, Sainato collected the most in per diems than any other representative; his total yearly reimbursements typically topped $30,000.{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Jan |title=Beyond salaries, taxpayers also pay to feed, house state lawmakers: A look at per diems |url=https://www.pennlive.com/politics/2017/06/feeding_and_housing_lawmakers.html |access-date=28 June 2024 |work=PennLIVE Patriot-News |publisher=Advance Local Media LLC |date=June 27, 2017}}{{cite news |last1=Maisel |first1=Matt |title=Pa. lawmakers spent nearly $2 million on meals, lodging, car leases in 2021 {{!}} Price of Politics |url=https://www.fox43.com/article/news/politics/fox43-capitol-beat/pennsylvania-lawmakers-per-diems-meals-lodging-car-lease-millions-fox43-capitol-beat-price-of-politics/521-0ecba8c3-ee4b-4efa-8308-4dcae905c4f3 |access-date=28 June 2024 |work=FOX43 |date=February 25, 2022}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Couloumbis |first1=Angela |title=During height of coronavirus pandemic, Pa. lawmakers still cashed in big on meals, lodging |url=https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2021/03/pa-coronavirus-lawmakers-legislature-expenses-highest-paid-united-states/ |access-date=28 June 2024 |work=Spotlight PA |date=March 15, 2021}}
In 2023, Sainato was elect as a county commissioner in Lawrence County.{{cite news |last1=Wachter |first1=Debbie |title=County officials take oaths of office in ceremony |url=https://www.ncnewsonline.com/news/local_news/county-officials-take-oaths-of-office-in-ceremony/article_30d005a6-a9af-11ee-aa02-038cdf8de819.html |access-date=27 June 2024 |work=New Castle News |date=January 3, 2024}}
Political positions
Sainato is a conservative Democrat who opposes abortion rights. 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.{{cite news |title=Pa. House votes against taking up gun bill after Texas school shooting |url=https://whyy.org/articles/pa-house-votes-against-taking-up-gun-bill-after-texas-school-shooting/ |access-date=27 June 2024 |work=WHYY-FM |agency=The Associated Press |date=May 25, 2022}} Sainato has been endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund.{{cite web |title=NRA-PVF {{!}} Pennsylvania |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/pennsylvania/ |publisher=NRA Political Victory Fund |access-date=28 June 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20141104210006/https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/pennsylvania/ |archive-date=November 4, 2014 |language=en-us |url-status=usurped}}{{cite web |title=NRA-PVF {{!}} Pennsylvania |url=https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/pennsylvania/ |publisher=NRA Political Victory Fund |access-date=28 June 2024 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20221105082825/https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/Pennsylvania/ |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |language=en-us |url-status=usurped}} 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.{{cite news |last1=Wachter |first1=Debbie |title=Despite outcry, commissioner repeal $5 road fee |url=https://www.ncnewsonline.com/news/local_news/despite-outcry-commissioner-repeal-5-road-fee/article_35f08c28-bfa7-11ee-a812-7f544ac71222.html |access-date=28 June 2024 |work=New Castle News |date=February 5, 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Wachter |first1=Debbie |title=Township officials, commissioners spar over $5 fee |url=https://www.ncnewsonline.com/news/local_news/township-officials-commissioners-spar-over-5-fee/article_15ee8adc-ba12-11ee-96e3-cba5457275e6.html |access-date=28 June 2024 |work=New Castle News |date=January 26, 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=90 Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Chris Sainato] official PA House website
- [http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=9228 Project Vote Smart - Representative Chris Sainato (PA)] profile
- Follow the Money - Chris Sainato
- [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=88540 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=65032 2004] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=13729 2002] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=49239 2000] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=62009 1998] campaign contributions
- [http://www.pahouse.com/Sainato/ Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus - Rep. Christopher Sainato] official Party website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sainato, Chris}}
Category:Democratic Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Category:20th-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Category:Youngstown State University alumni
Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly