School districts across Pennsylvania are developing and implementing strategies and security plans to help increase school safety and keep Pennsylvania students safe. As the House Education Committee chairman, I held a lengthy hearing on this topic which included four panels and 14 witnesses, earlier this year in preparation for the 2018-19 state budget.

Work requirements have put thousands of Americans on a pathway to independence.

Last week, I visited two elementary schools in one of my school districts. This is not new for me. I have visited schools in my district many times in my time as a state legislator.

It is now well over 100 days since June 30, when a state budget should have been enacted. The latest vote in the General Assembly and comments by Gov. Tom Wolf have made it even more unclear when a budget agreement may be reached.

The state House of Representatives will have an important legislative agenda for the new year with proposals dedicated to improving the budgetary and economic climates in the Commonwealth.

Last week was a pretty productive one in Harrisburg, with fiscal responsibility topping the list. As we continue to face a sluggish national economy, the Commonwealth finds itself in the same situation many Pennsylvania households are in – making the difficult choices needed to live within our means.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly and Gov. Tom Corbett were able for the second year in a row to pass an on-time and balanced budget for the Commonwealth. You can learn more about the main points of the $27.656 billion budget below.

This month the House unanimously approved legislation I co-sponsored heightening the penalties for drug dealers who produced and/or sold drugs in the presence of children. But, the incidents that led to this measure, House Bill 1289, being authored are almost too disturbing to recount.

When we go to the polls to cast our vote for a person to represent our interests on our behalf in a government body – the most basic freedom we have as Americans – we expect that vote to count. In fact, very few of us give it a second thought.

As a strong advocate of limited government, I don’t believe passing lots of new laws all the time is necessarily a good thing. However, of the missions voters do choose to delegate to their elected representatives, public safety is key.

Vehicle accidents are the No. 1 cause of death for teenagers in the United States. In fact, teen drivers have fatal crashes at four times the rate of adult drivers, and distracted driving caused by talking on a cellphone or texting are two reasons this number is so high.

Vehicle accidents are the No. 1 cause of death for teenagers in the United States.

One of the greatest benefits of living in Pennsylvania is our system of local government.

The federal government seems to have it backward when it comes to job creation.

One of the greatest benefits of living in Pennsylvania is our system of local government.