The James Finochio Show
The James Finochio Show is a long-form conversation podcast hosted by James Finochio. Each episode, James sits down with guests who have fascinating inner lives and something real to say — exploring topics across faith, science, philosophy, culture, history, human experience, and beyond. The show's edge isn't the topic list — it's James's genuine curiosity and commitment to going deeper than the surface, every single time. If you're tired of shallow content and echo chambers, you're in the right place. New episodes weekly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
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The James Finochio Show
He Gets The Credit, You Get The Tax Increase | Pennsylvania Representative Scott Barger
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Pennsylvania is $4.8 billion in the hole and the governor wants to use the rainy day fund to buy himself one more year before the bill comes due. District Representative Scott Barger from the 80th district in Blair County Pennsylvania sits down with James to break down exactly how the state got here, who's responsible, and why he thinks every Pennsylvanian is looking at a tax increase by 2028 if nobody makes the hard cuts that need to happen.
Scott doesn't hold back. He explains why legalizing recreational marijuana only generates $140 million in year one — a drop in the bucket against a $4.8 billion structural deficit. Why taxing skill games buys maybe 10% of the gap and wipes out small businesses and fraternal organizations in the process. And why he believes the only real solution is cutting spending, which nobody in Harrisburg wants to do because cutting spending doesn't get you reelected.
He also gets into the data center boom that's coming to Blair County whether people are ready for it or not, and why he's urging local township supervisors to get zoning ordinances in place now before corporations show up with lawyers and a checkbook. Including the possibility of small nuclear power plants attached to these facilities — something most municipalities haven't even begun thinking about.
The childcare crisis in Pennsylvania gets real time in this conversation too. Scott breaks down a package of 14 bills Republicans just introduced aimed at cutting red tape for daycare centers — staffing ratios, square footage rules, trash can lids, all of it — because the state has lost 60% of its in-home daycare providers and some centers have waiting lists of 600 kids.
Plus the cell phone in schools bill that just passed the House and why Scott voted against it even though he agrees with the idea behind it. And the ongoing drama around SB9, the bill that says only girls can compete against girls in Pennsylvania school sports, and why House Democrats keep moving it from committee to committee to avoid bringing it to a vote.
If you live in Blair County, central Pennsylvania, or you just want to hear a state representative talk about what's actually happening in Harrisburg without the spin, this one is worth your time.
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