Senator Don White to Seek Re-Election
State Senator Don White (R-41) dispelled rumors of his retirement last week when he announced his intention to seek re-election to the Pennsylvania State Senate.
The 41st Senatorial District includes all of Armstrong and Indiana Counties as well as parts of Butler and Westmoreland Counties.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve the people of the 41st District. While I am pleased with my accomplishments in the state Senate, these are difficult times for our region economically and there is much more to do. I am committed to moving Pennsylvania forward and continuing the effort to make our communities better places to live, work and raise families.
“Promoting job growth, restraining the cost of health care, fighting the current drug epidemic and providing meaningful property tax relief will remain my primary goals,” White continued. “With these issues in mind, and recognizing the work is far from complete, I am asking the voters to renew their trust in me once again as I seek another term in the state Senate.”
Economic redevelopment is a top priority of Senator White and will continue to be one of his primary objectives. “There is no question many of the people I represent are suffering financially. The energy industry is a critical component to our overall economy and, right now, it is in decline, partly because of a heavy handed regulatory environment. And while I recognize the need to protect our environment, I will continue my fight against the burden of regulations that threaten the most critical element of our region’s economy – development of our God given natural resources.”
Senator White specifically cited Marcellus Shale gas as playing a significant positive, impact on the regional economy. However, the current marketplace has led to the shedding of jobs. “While many of our communities have experienced significant and positive economic benefit as a result of this natural resource, we now face an issue of overproduction that prohibits this wealth of energy to be efficiently moved to market. One of my top priorities is to increase natural gas access to our more rural communities. We have a cheap and clean source of energy right beneath our feet, but many constituents I represent cannot use it for residential or business purposes. This must change.”
Also of major concern to Sen. White is the Obama administration’s constant assault on the coal industry and specifically the EPA’s proposed ‘Clean Power Plan’ regulations. “I led the fight to enact legislation ensuring the state legislature has significant input over any plans submitted by Pennsylvania to implement EPA regulations. If done incorrectly, these plans will further cripple our ability to produce energy from our abundant coal reserves. This important segment of our economy has already taken major hits but I’m committed to doing all I can to ensure the family sustaining jobs provided by our power plants and coal producers are here for years to come.”
Citing his service as a member of the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment (PENNVEST) Board, Senator White believes he is in a prime position to effectively serve his constituents.
“Serving on PENNVEST is a true pleasure. I’ve worked with communities all over the region to secure millions in funding for public water and sewer projects. When a community decides to pursue a project, I am very active in working to make the project as affordable to the ratepayers as possible,” said White, who has a strong desire to continue advocating future projects.
“Overall, our infrastructure has advanced dramatically to help create a better environment for economic growth and a strong quality of life. However, we have to move forward aggressively to encourage employers who are here to continue growing and convince employers in other areas of the state and country to consider the 41st District as a new home. We have the workforce, we are constantly improving our infrastructure and we need to sell our region.
Beyond economic and infrastructure development, Senator White is eager to attack the drug epidemic currently ravaging communities across Pennsylvania. “My heart breaks over the constant news reports and stories of families being torn apart by drug addiction. It’s a scourge that must be stopped and I am focusing on this issue with my colleagues in the Senate as well as law enforcement and local officials in the 41st District. Our families are our most precious resource and we must do more to prevent drug addiction from destroying them,” said White.
Senator White currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance and in this role he is attacking the spiraling cost of healthcare, namely prescription drug costs. “Drug costs account of 10% of all healthcare expenses in the country, yet Big Pharmacy has absolutely no accountability or transparency when it comes to the cost and pricing of drugs. I am the prime sponsor of legislation to reign in pharmaceutical prices in an effort to save individuals and employers millions in health care costs,” stated White.
Senator White has also been vigilant in promoting increased competition in the health insurance marketplace. “Competition is a key component of containing the overall cost of health care. The market has improved dramatically over the last five years, but there is a real need for increased competition in the western Pennsylvania marketplace,” concluded White.
Finally, Senator White reaffirmed his commitment to achieving meaningful property tax relief. “The property burden tax is the most significant frustration I have faced since taking office,” lamented White. “We must continue the fight, despite Governor Wolf’s veto threat, to enact SB 76 – the Property Tax Independence Act. Unless taxpayers are given the ability to control future property tax increases through referendum, the only option we have is total elimination. I will fight to give SB 76 another opportunity to become law.”
Born in Kittanning, Senator White has lived in Indiana most of his life and is a 1968 graduate of Indiana Area High School. He attended Juniata College from 1968 to 1972. Senator White enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1972 and served in Germany until receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1975.
Local News | KP NewsDesk January 27, 2016
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By Elderton Parent, January 27, 2016 @ 1:46 PM
I sure hope someone is running against him. He has wasted enough of the taxpayers money.
By lowfatlowcarbnosugarcheesecake, January 27, 2016 @ 9:18 PM
“There is no question many of the people I represent are suffering financially…”
Thank you for that insightful observation Don but when are you going to take responsibility for causing some of that financial hardship when you stopped renovations for the schools in ASD and supported this school board in opening the money pit of a new school?
I guess asking you to take responsibility for that would be like asking you to behave appropriately at a local event instead of showing up late and totally sloshed… slurring words and stumbling on stage… tsk tsk…
By worthingtonman, January 28, 2016 @ 7:46 AM
@lowfat
Please explain to us how this district would have been better off if we had kept the 3 schools opened and renovated? You borrowed the 80 million against taxpayer wishes and got your power stripped. I would just like to hear the logic behind your thought process.
By Patzu, January 28, 2016 @ 5:18 PM
lowfat,
Now, that was funny.
You are correct, though, White and Pyle, run their flaps about everything but the new and costly Castle on the Hill. Where is all the concern about the taxpayers? The novelty is already evaporating.
What excuse will they use to buffalo the taxpayers for the Sports Campus?
By Just sayin, January 29, 2016 @ 4:24 AM
He’s the one who started the ball rolling to close the Health Center in the future.