State Rep. Snyder announces re-election bid
State Rep. Pam Snyder announced Wednesday she will seek a fourth term as state representative of the 50th state House District, which includes all of Greene County and portions of Washington and Fayette counties.
Snyder said her top priorities if elected to another term will be to continue the fight for better, faster internet and other infrastructure, attract new family-sustaining jobs, protect public education, and assist in the crackdown on opioid abuse.
In her announcement, Snyder, D-Jefferson, touted her support of the energy industry and noted she was named during her current term the Democratic chairperson of the legislature’s Coal Caucus. She also pointed to her work with the state Department of Environmental Protection to secure mining permits to continue work at Bailey Mine.
“Working with coal rather than against it and the tens of thousands of Americans who produce low-cost and reliable energy from it is economically prudent, environmentally doable and cost-effective,” Snyder said.
She also has been credited for negotiating the deal that will allow American Power Ventures to build a natural gas-fired power plant on the old Hatfield Ferry PowerStation site, and consistently protected the natural gas impact fee that delivers funds directly to municipalities.
“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 has also been pushing on a bipartisan approach to improve rural broadband infrastructure in Pennsylvania and criticized the federal government for not holding companies and corporations accountable. Her House Resolution 630 urges the Federal Communications Commission to support the joint petition filed by the state Public Utility Commission and Department of Community and Economic Development earlier this year, which would safeguard Connect America funding.
“Millions of dollars from federal universal service surcharges paid by state residents and businesses are earmarked for internet upgrades in Pennsylvania,” Snyder said. “My district is the poster child for substandard broadband internet – and I want to change that.”
Snyder also was named Pennsylvania Corrections Officers Association’s Legislator of the Year in 2017 for her legislation to ensure every state correctional officer has access to pepper spray while on the job.
Snyder was elected to her first term in November 2012, and before that, served nine years as a Greene County commissioner. She previously worked as deputy district director for Congressman Frank Mascara.