Local lawmaker to serve as Policy Committee chairman
HARRISBURG – Rep. Dave Reed (R-Indiana) today was selected by his colleagues in the Republican Caucus to serve as Republican Policy Committee chairman for the upcoming two-year legislative session, which will begin in January.
“The issues affecting Indiana County are not unique to our area,” Reed said. “Across the Commonwealth, folks share the same concerns about taxes, jobs and the way government works. They want us to advance policies that trim government expenses, promote economic expansion and bring common sense back to Harrisburg. I look forward to the opportunity to develop policies that will help put Pennsylvania back on the right track.”
Reed’s selection came one week after he was re-elected to serve another two-year term in the state House and Republicans retook control of the chamber for the first time in four years.
As Republican Policy Committee chairman, Reed will travel across the state to conduct hearings about important issues, gather testimony and information from key stakeholders and work with his colleagues in the House Republican Caucus to develop policies to address those issues.
Reed said his top three priorities will be to promote job growth legislation, identify new and innovative ways to reduce state costs and make state government more accountable to Pennsylvania citizens.
“Jobs are priority number one,” Reed said. “Obviously, what the state did for the past eight years did not work. I look forward to working with our caucus to push legislation that makes Pennsylvania more economically competitive.
“The Commonwealth also is facing significant budget challenges. When the current administration leaves, it will be hard to find pocket change in the couch cushions at the governor’s residence. They spent every dollar we had and some we didn’t. We’ll need to put the state’s fiscal house back in order.
“Finally, we need to take steps to restore the trust between folks across the Commonwealth and their government in Harrisburg. That means making state government accountable. In this area, I think actions will be more important than words.”
Reed will officially assume his chairmanship when the 2011-12 legislative session begins in January.
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