Twelve members of the House representing parts of 13 counties in NEPA have banded together as a delegation to fight for the issues that matter most to the area. Members of the delegation include (back row, from left): Reps. Matt Baker (Tioga/Bradford/Potter), Michael Peifer (Pike/Wayne), Jeff Wheeland (Lycoming), Aaron Kaufer (Luzerne), Jack Rader (Monroe); (front row) Jonathan Fritz (Susquehanna/Wayne), Tarah Toohil (Luzerne), Chairwoman Karen Boback (Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming), David Millard (Columbia), Tina Pickett (Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna), Rosemary M. Brown (Monroe/Pike) and Garth Everett (Lycoming/Union).
Submitted Article
To ensure that Northeast Pennsylvania has a strong and effective voice in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the 12 members representing parts of 13 counties in this region of the state have banded together as a delegation to fight for the issues that matter most to the area. The delegation is being chaired by Rep. Karen Boback (R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyoming).
“We know that strength does lie in numbers, and that’s why we felt it best to join collective forces and use our delegation as an agent of change that will ultimately benefit our region,” the members of the delegation said.
“We are blessed to live and work in Northeastern Pennsylvania – a diverse cross-section of rural and urban communities rich in natural resources,” said Boback. “Our entrepreneurial spirit and incredibly hard-working and resilient labor force make us special. I am extremely proud to lead this group of legislators as we work to stand up for the great people of Northeastern Pennsylvania.”
Since its founding at the beginning of the 2017-18 legislative session, the group is actively fighting against any new tax increases but is also working toward lessening regulations that suppress jobs and commerce, reform property taxes, enhance educational opportunities, improve health care access and affordability, support responsible development of natural gas opportunities with an emphasis on environmental protection, further enhance agriculture development, and improve technical and vocational education that creates job readiness.
“Northeastern Pennsylvania is a vibrant region whose needs can sometimes be overshadowed by Pittsburgh or Philadelphia, and with a dynamic group of legislators working together, we can make impactful changes that stand to benefit our region,” the group of legislators said.
The delegation reflects a variety of seniority, with three of its members being chairmen of House standing committees: Baker chairs Health Committee, Millard chairs the Tourism and Recreational Development Committee; and Pickett chairs the Insurance Committee.