Steve is Of Counsel to Stevens & Lee and General Counsel to GSL Public Strategies Group. Much of his practice is concentrated in working in the live events industry. As part of that practice, Steve was instrumental in assisting the Commonwealth to establish the Entertainment Economic Enhancement Program, a tax credit program designed to increase live events performances in Pennsylvania, as well as purchases of Pennsylvania live events goods and services. He advises and assists major musical performers obtain financial incentives offered by state government. Additionally, he advises manufacturers of concert tour equipment and promoters of live events regarding their interactions with state government, and is an industry informational resource to the Commonwealth’s Department of Community and Economic Development.
The remainder of Steve’s practice involves assisting state governments in increasing non-tax revenue options as well as reducing overall costs of services; assisting local governments and for-profit and not-for-profit entities in obtaining financial incentives offered by state government; and assisting for-profit business entities in obtaining state tax credits.
For over 20 years, he represented Pennsylvania’s governmental leadership on legal and legislative issues. He has the unique position of having provided counsel to elected officials in both chambers of the General Assembly and in the Executive Branch.
As former General Counsel to the Speaker, the Majority Leader and the Republican Caucus of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Steve served as chief legal advisor to the Speaker and the Majority Leader. In this capacity, he was responsible for developing policy, advising on legal and budgetary issues and identifying opportunities for legislative initiatives, which encompassed both the drafting of legislation and negotiating and communicating the legislative issues to the Governor’s Office, the Senate and outside interest groups. He also was responsible for approving debt issuances and monitoring the financial stability of institutions of higher education and public schools. Moreover, he provided oversight of gaming policy for both the Republican Senate and House Caucuses as demonstrated by his appointment to the Joint Legislative Caucus/Gaming Board regulatory drafting group and as point person for gaming amendments during the House’s consideration of both Acts 135 of 2006 (imposing increased financial requirements) and 1 of 2010 (authorizing table gaming). His most recent responsibility was to serve as the lead draftperson for Act 89 of 2013, the comprehensive amendments to the Transportation and Vehicle Codes.
Prior to his service with the House of Representatives, Steve served as Deputy General Counsel to the Majority Leader and Republican Caucus of the Senate of Pennsylvania. He also served the Ridge and Schweiker Administrations as Assistant General Counsel to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the capacity of legislative counsel, overseeing the legislative and regulatory actions of over 400 attorneys in 18 Executive Offices and Departments including insurance, public welfare, health, banking, community and economic development and revenue.
As a significant part of Steve’s service to the Commonwealth, he was instrumental in developing policy for, and drafting and negotiating some of the most important and high profile legislation in the Commonwealth, including the Procurement Code and Tax Reform Code as well as the establishment of the Commonwealth Financing Authority.
- Live Events Association of Pennsylvania, Member
- Chair, PA delegation to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (1999-2003)
- Counsel, Legislative Audit Advisory Committee (2011-2014)
- Liaison, The Commonwealth Financing Authority (2004)
- Liaison, Independent Regulatory Review Commission (1999-2003)
- Liaison, State Public School Building Authority (1995-2014)
- Liaison, Pennsylvania Higher Educational Facilities Authority (1995-2014)
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- Phone: 717.255.7386
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- Government Consulting
Steve is Of Counsel to Stevens & Lee and General Counsel to GSL Public Strategies Group. Much of his practice is concentrated in working in the live events industry. As part of that practice, Steve was instrumental in assisting the Commonwealth to establish the Entertainment Economic Enhancement Program, a tax credit program designed to increase live events performances in Pennsylvania, as well as purchases of Pennsylvania live events goods and services. He advises and assists major musical performers obtain financial incentives offered by state government. Additionally, he advises manufacturers of concert tour equipment and promoters of live events regarding their interactions with state government, and is an industry informational resource to the Commonwealth’s Department of Community and Economic Development.
The remainder of Steve’s practice involves assisting state governments in increasing non-tax revenue options as well as reducing overall costs of services; assisting local governments and for-profit and not-for-profit entities in obtaining financial incentives offered by state government; and assisting for-profit business entities in obtaining state tax credits.
For over 20 years, he represented Pennsylvania’s governmental leadership on legal and legislative issues. He has the unique position of having provided counsel to elected officials in both chambers of the General Assembly and in the Executive Branch.
As former General Counsel to the Speaker, the Majority Leader and the Republican Caucus of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Steve served as chief legal advisor to the Speaker and the Majority Leader. In this capacity, he was responsible for developing policy, advising on legal and budgetary issues and identifying opportunities for legislative initiatives, which encompassed both the drafting of legislation and negotiating and communicating the legislative issues to the Governor’s Office, the Senate and outside interest groups. He also was responsible for approving debt issuances and monitoring the financial stability of institutions of higher education and public schools. Moreover, he provided oversight of gaming policy for both the Republican Senate and House Caucuses as demonstrated by his appointment to the Joint Legislative Caucus/Gaming Board regulatory drafting group and as point person for gaming amendments during the House’s consideration of both Acts 135 of 2006 (imposing increased financial requirements) and 1 of 2010 (authorizing table gaming). His most recent responsibility was to serve as the lead draftperson for Act 89 of 2013, the comprehensive amendments to the Transportation and Vehicle Codes.
Prior to his service with the House of Representatives, Steve served as Deputy General Counsel to the Majority Leader and Republican Caucus of the Senate of Pennsylvania. He also served the Ridge and Schweiker Administrations as Assistant General Counsel to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the capacity of legislative counsel, overseeing the legislative and regulatory actions of over 400 attorneys in 18 Executive Offices and Departments including insurance, public welfare, health, banking, community and economic development and revenue.
As a significant part of Steve’s service to the Commonwealth, he was instrumental in developing policy for, and drafting and negotiating some of the most important and high profile legislation in the Commonwealth, including the Procurement Code and Tax Reform Code as well as the establishment of the Commonwealth Financing Authority.
Affiliations
- Live Events Association of Pennsylvania, Member
- Chair, PA delegation to the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (1999-2003)
- Counsel, Legislative Audit Advisory Committee (2011-2014)
- Liaison, The Commonwealth Financing Authority (2004)
- Liaison, Independent Regulatory Review Commission (1999-2003)
- Liaison, State Public School Building Authority (1995-2014)
- Liaison, Pennsylvania Higher Educational Facilities Authority (1995-2014)