State Rep. Dan Truitt (R-156)
State Representative Dan Truitt (R-156) announced his intention to run for re-election in 2016, Monday.
Truitt, who was originally elected in 2010, serves much of the greater West Chester area, including Birmingham in the Unionville area.
“It has been my honor and pleasure to serve the residents of the 156th District and work with them to focus on priorities like education funding, economic and job growth, and addressing important local issues,” Truitt said. “I humbly ask for their support again so that we can continue working together to reach our common goals.”
Truitt is expected to face a November challenge from West Chester Mayor Carolyn Comitta, a Democrat.
He points points to his experience in office as grounds to be returned to Harrisburg. He notes that upon taking office, h and his fellow legislators were faced with a nearly $4 billion budget deficit and a lagging economy, as well as the loss of billions of dollars in temporary federal stimulus funding. Working to develop responsible budgets that taxpayers can afford, Truitt has focused state spending on core priorities like education. Since taking office, Truitt said he has supported investing more state monies than ever before in education, and has restored the funding lost with the end of that temporary federal funding.
“Maintaining a strong education system is – and always will be – one of my top priorities,” Truitt said. “A strong education system prepares our children for the future, helps attract the jobs our families need to our area, and even helps maintain strong property values in our community.”
He said that he continues to show that support. Just this year, throughout the budget negotiation, Truitt said he has supported numerous budget packages that increase state funding for education to its highest level ever. He has also worked to re-focus education on teaching skills, rather than teaching to tests, by sponsoring and supporting legislation to end the Keystone Exam graduation requirement.
“Strong schools are about more than money. We need to make sure kids are learning the core skills in reading, writing, math, and technology they will need to succeed. We need to give schools back to local parents, teachers and administrators because they know better than Washington and Harrisburg bureaucrats what will work,” Truitt said.
Truitt said he has also focused his tenure on being fiscally responsible by demanding a proper balance between taxing and spending.
“Too many in Harrisburg forget that it is the people’s money,” he said. “They forget that too many in our state are struggling to get by. That’s why I have worked for common sense cost controls and reasonable items like a natural gas severance tax before asking more of taxpayers. The people of our community have told me repeatedly that now is not the time for broad-based tax increases, it is the time for responsible fiscal leadership that doesn’t increase their burden.”
Truitt notes his willingness to work to compromise on budget issues throughout his tenure. He is a co-sponsor of legislation to tax natural gas drilling in our state, but said that he continues to oppose broad-based tax increases on working families and seniors. He is also a supporter of public pension reform and liquor privatization initiatives that would save taxpayers billions of dollars over the long term.
He also said that he is continuing his commitment to reforming how state government works and ending the influence of special interests. He refuses the taxpayer-funded pension and has sponsored legislation to ban per diems while not collecting them. Truitt also did not cash a paycheck during the recent budget impasse.
During his tenure, Truitt also supported rules that required legislators to pay for a portion of their healthcare, and voted for laws that created two on-line databases that allow taxpayers to see how their money is being spent at both the school and state levels. He is continuing his effort to end the defined benefit pension system for legislators, and impose tough new reforms on special interest lobbyists.
“The public needs to know that the people they elect are working for them. That’s why I lead by example on issues of reform and continue to push to make Harrisburg change its ways,” Truitt said.
He said that he is frustrated by the polarization in Harrisburg and elsewhere, keeping legislators from doing the people’s work.
“I refuse to take part in the partisan games, name calling, and political spinning that results in polarization and, too often, lies,” Truitt said. “I have remained independent from party leadership and special interests in Harrisburg to ensure that the only interest I serve is that of the people I represent.”
Truitt, 47, and his wife Michele live in East Goshen Township and are the parents of two sons. Truitt is active in the Boy Scouts of America, the Knights of Columbus, and other local organizations.
The 156th District is home to more more than 62,000 residents and includes East Goshen, Westtown, Thornbury, and Birmingham Townships as well as portions of West Goshen Township and all of West Chester Borough.
