SOLANCONEWS.com -- Cutler's Commentary: A Review of My First Month in Office

Cutler's Commentary: A Review of My First Month in Office
By Bryan Cutler, State Representative, 100th Legislative District
HARRISBURG -- If anyone ever said that being a state representative was a boring job, that person was certainly wrong! My first month in office has been a whirlwind of activity.

Of course, things started with a bang on swearing-in day, January 2, when I witnessed the election of a new Speaker of the House, Rep. Dennis O’Brien (R-Philadelphia). I took the oath of office with 50 other freshman House members, and I don’t think any of us were expecting the day to be so controversial and unpredictable.

Now that I have been sworn into office, I can finally start actively pursuing my legislative agenda, which will focus heavily on health care, agriculture and economic issues. I am already drafting several pieces of legislation that will have a direct impact on the 100th District, and I am eager to start examining Gov. Ed Rendell’s Prescription for Pennsylvania proposal. I have also voted several times on the House Floor.

On January 30, I learned of the legislative committees on which I will serve. They are the Health and Human Services (which is likely to have oversight into much of the governor’s Prescription for Pennsylvania), Children and Youth, Local Government, and the Game and Fisheries committees. I am looking forward to examining the legislation that will come through these committees. I also want the people I represent to know that they can contact me regarding any legislation of concern that might be referred to these committees or up for a vote on the House Floor.

On January 31, I testified at my first hearing. When I learned that the Speaker’s Commission on Legislative Reform was allowing testimony from House members, I jumped at the chance to speak about my ideas. My testimony included remarks on openness in government, limiting session hours, and eliminating the lame duck session in order to restore trust in government and transparency in the process. I also touched on per diems, spending and legislative benefits. It is my understanding that there will be future hearings to specifically address these last issues, and I intend to take the message of the 100th District to those hearings, as well.

I think my favorite experience so far was meeting local participants at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. Freddy Frey, and Kelsey and Nathanael Binkley were very kind in explaining the process of raising livestock, and they are an excellent example of the talented, dedicated, and hard-working young people we have in this area.

Aside from my activities in Harrisburg, I have been busy planning outreach events to serve the people of the area, assisting constituents in my district office, attending meetings throughout the district, and maintaining personal contact with the public, because ultimately, I believe the most important part of my job as your state representative is being accessible to you.

Finally, I am also very proud to have delivered a citation to Bart-Colerain Elementary School for its designation from the U.S. Secretary of Education as a Blue Ribbon School. Bart-Colerain is the first school in Lancaster County to have received such an honor, and the dedication of the teachers and administration was very evident during my visit.

I look forward to what the next month has in store for me and the 100th, and I hope Orphie is kind to us on February 2.

Editor's Note: Cutler's Commentary is expected to be a monthly column, written by Rep. Cutler.