It's soon going to be a bright new year and like most Pennsylvanians, House Democrats are preparing our New Year's resolutions outlining our goals as the Majority Party in the state House. Too often, resolutions never make it out of January - we all know the people who say they're resolving to eat right, exercise and stop smoking, but before Valentine's Day arrives they're stubbing out a cigarette in an empty carton of ice cream while watching a reality TV marathon - but these are resolutions for every Pennsylvanian, and we're going to strive to achieve them during the 2007-08 session.
 

New Year's resolutions for the House Democratic Caucus
 

• Expand property tax relief with the incoming gaming revenue and new, innovative legislation to deliver deeper cuts for every homeowner
• Explore reforms that will make the legislative process more open and accountable
• Improve access to affordable quality health care for each and every Pennsylvanian
• Reform the business tax system to help job-creating small businesses and so every business pays its fair share
• Protect clean air, clean water and green spaces with smart-growth policies that keep the economy growing while ensuring a healthy environment
• Increase the state's share of school funding to control property taxes while giving students the advantages they need and deserve
• Examine new and innovative ways to improve the entire transportation system, fund mass transit, and repair roads and bridges

And we're just getting started!
 

Meet the newest House Democrats: Round 4 
 

This week we bring you the final installment of brief descriptions of the 27 new House Democrats. The General Assembly will convene to begin the new session at noon Tuesday, Jan. 2. To find out more about all the new and returning Democratic representatives, click here.

Rep. Ken Smith (D-112, Lackawanna) is a Keystone College graduate and the owner of Smith's Restaurant -- a family-owned business since 1934. Smith's civic activities include serving on the Lackawanna County Workforce Investment Board; chairman of the Lackawanna County Youth Council; board member of the Worthington Scranton Campus of Penn State University; and a member of the UNICO Scranton Chapter.

Rep. Matt Smith (D-42, Allegheny) studied law at Duquesne University and has handled legal issues for local employees and employers, including many family-owned businesses. He serves on the Mount Lebanon Hospital Authority Board and served on the Allegheny County Personnel Board until his election. He also is a member of the Pittsburgh Human Resources Association and the Society for Human Resource Management.

Rep. Rick Taylor (D-151, Montgomery) served on Ambler Borough Council and was a manager for IMS Health in Blue Bell. While earning his degree at the University of Minnesota, Taylor interned with the Minnesota House of Representatives and with the late Sen. Paul Wellstone as a constituent advocate. He also earned a master's degree in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University.

Rep. Chelsa Wagner (D-22, Allegheny) brings a unique blend of educational, professional and personal experience to the state House. She formerly worked as a policy analyst, reforming large state governments throughout the country and is currently a plaintiff's attorney. She holds a public policy degree from the University of Chicago and is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh Law School.

Rep. Jesse White (D-46, Washington/Beaver/Allegheny) earned a political science degree from Washington and Jefferson College and a law degree from Duquesne University. He served on the Cecil Township Board of Supervisors and also was elected chairman of the Cecil Township Board of Auditors. He currently runs two small businesses: his own law practice and a neighborhood coffee shop.
 

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS