“I’m excited about all that we have accomplished over the last 18 years and I’m particularly excited about the opportunities we have advanced recently, both here in the district and in Harrisburg,” Hanna said.
He pointed to his active involvement in economic development projects in both Clinton and Centre counties, which he believes “need my continued support to bring them to completion.”
In Clinton County, Hanna noted his involvement with Renovo Rail, the Renovo Visitors Center, First Quality’s ongoing expansion, the Shaner hotel project in Lock Haven and the community stadium project in Bald Eagle Township.
“My efforts, together with the support of Gov. Ed Rendell are part of the reason these projects are moving forward,” he said. “While we approach a year full of national economic concern, the 76th District and most of Pennsylvania have reason for optimism.”
In Centre County, Rep. Hanna said he is working with Milesburg, Boggs Township, the local water authority and a group of Bald Eagle Valley businesses to improve the water system to protect jobs in the Wingate area.
Hanna has also played a role in the development of the new business park located off Interstate 99 in Benner Township.
In Harrisburg, Hanna said major initiatives are moving ahead to reform the way the legislature does business.
“I have been a major proponent of rule changes, which are improving the way the House does business and I have supported the Open Records law, which will soon provide for much greater access to all government records,” Hanna said. “I want to continue my efforts for reform, particularly with respect to changing the way legislative districts are drawn.”
Hanna said he will work to see that new legislation to get politics out of the drawing of legislative boundaries is adopted.
Rep. Hanna is the Majority Chairman of the House Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee, which has oversight for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s programs affecting the state’s top industry.
“I’m proud of my committee’s accomplishments in advancing food safety legislation, improving dog law and regulations and helping the administration implement the REAP program designed to provide $10 million of tax credits to farmers who use best management practices to protect our environment.”
Hanna is a member of the Board of Governors of the State System of Higher Education, which is responsible for the management of the state’s 14 public universities including Lock Haven University.
“I’m honored to be able to help insure that our universities can offer a quality education at an affordable price, and particularly happy to be in a position to help Lock Haven University continue its leadership as the system’s fasting growing university,” he said. “LHU is so important to our students and also to the economic health of our community.”
Hanna said there is much to be done in Harrisburg, including the fight to reverse the plan to toll Interstate 80, and efforts to expand property tax reform for all Pennsylvanians.
“We have been successful in expanding the property tax and rent rebate program for seniors and this summer property tax relief will be delivered to all residential property owners because of my support for the tax on gambling in Pennsylvania,” he said. “While many other legislators worked against the gaming revenue plan and claimed it would never produce any tax relief, I dedicated my efforts to insuring that it raised the necessary revenue while we limited gambling’s negative impact on our constituents and communities. Those efforts were successful, as we will see over a half billion dollars in school property tax relief delivered this summer.”
The fight isn’t over as the House — with Hanna’s support — this past week took further action to bring even more property tax relief to homeowners.
“While I’m proud of what we have accomplished, I know there is much more work to do,” he said. “That’s why I’m asking the voters of the 76th District to return me to Harrisburg, to keep fighting for us.”
