The Work Is Never Done

How do we strengthen our democracy in times of deep division? What does it really take to improve people's lives through public service?

From Allen Kukovich, architect of Pennsylvania's pioneering Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)-which became the model for the national program now providing health care to millions of children-comes a powerful and inspiring call to service.  

Drawing on three decades in the Pennsylvania House and Senate, Kukovich takes readers behind the passage of CHIP and other landmark legislation, revealing how ideas become laws through negotiation, compromise, and perseverance. He recounts victories won on behalf of children, seniors, people with disabilities, steelworkers, LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians, and others whose voices too often went unheard. Just as candidly, he reflects on the causes he championed that never became law-including campaign finance reform and criminal justice reform-and the lessons learned through defeat.

Deeply influenced by the political upheaval of the 1960s and the tragedy at Kent State University, Kukovich entered public service convinced that politics should be about people, not power. Through stories of both success and setback, he shows how principled leadership, bipartisan cooperation, and perseverance can transform lives and leave a lasting legacy.

Building consensus instead of division, leading with compassion, and never losing sight of the responsibility to use power for good, Kukovich's story is a call to action for the next generation of leaders. Whether you're a student, an aspiring public servant, or simply someone who believes government should be responsive to needs and help improve lives, this inspiring account offers practical wisdom and a reminder that the responsibility of strengthening our democracy belongs to all of us.