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Snyder announces bid for third term in state House

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JEFFERSON – State Rep. Pam Snyder, D-Jefferson, announced Wednesday she will seek a third term as state representative of the 50th Legislative District.

“I look forward to building on my first two terms and making sure the people of the 50th legislative district continue to be heard,” Snyder said.

Snyder was elected to her first term in November 2012. Prior to that, she served nine years as chairman of the Greene County Board of Commissioners. Snyder was named 2012 Outstanding County Commissioner of the Year by the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania. She previously worked as deputy district director for U.S. Rep. Frank R. Mascara.

“It is my privilege to represent the residents of the 50th District,” Snyder said. “I’m honored to be their voice because Pennsylvania needs new ideas on energy, public education, family incomes and the state budget.”

The district includes all of Greene County and parts of Washington and Fayette counties.

Snyder said her top issues for a third term will be to continue to fight the state’s drug epidemic and to work to create property tax relief, provide fair education funding and promote a diverse local economy.

“It is staggering that an estimated 70 percent of drug abusers are getting their drugs from family and friends who take old prescriptions being stored in family medicine cabinets,” said Snyder, who voted for legislation to create a prescription drug database. “Our addictions are ripping apart the fabric of our society and costing the state economy around $14.3 billion.”

Snyder currently serves on several House committees including consumer affairs, environmental resources and energy, labor and industry and local government. During her tenure in public service, Snyder said, she has supported both the coal and natural gas industries.

In October 2014, Snyder said she championed legislation that garnered national recognition and influenced laws in more than two dozen other states. Act 175 requires Senate and House approval of any plan the state Department of Environmental Protection submits to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including those from existing coal-fired power plants.

“Pennsylvania’s input and unique energy blend are critical to protecting the affordability and reliability of Pennsylvania’s electricity supplies while implementing the standards,” Snyder said.

“Federal law provides for state input and guidance on the proposed rules and my legislation ensures that Pennsylvania has a voice in how we curb emissions while protecting jobs, pocketbooks and power supplies.”

Snyder also voted to protect the current impact fee the natural gas drilling industry pays to local municipalities affected by Marcellus shale operations.

“Pennsylvania needs a wide variety of different energy sources to achieve affordable costs for customers and maintain grid reliability,” Snyder said. “Keeping those jobs and funds in the district is imperative for our economy and community.”

Snyder serves on the coal caucus, steel caucus, sportsman caucus and co-chairs the pro-life caucus. She is also a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association.

A graduate of Jefferson-Morgan High School, she received an honorary bachelor of arts degree from Waynesburg University. She is also a 2008 graduate of the Leadership Training Institute at New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

Snyder and her husband, Jack, live on a small family farm in Jefferson and have two adult daughters. Snyder and her family are members of St. Marcellus Catholic Church in Jefferson.

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