John Pallone Announces Re-Election

Experience and Seniority

WORKING FOR  YOU!

     State Representative John E. Pallone - D - Armstrong & Westmoreland Counties, announced that he is seeking a sixth term in office.  Representative Pallone was first elected to represent the 54th Legislative District in 2000 to replace then retiring State Representative Terry Van Horne.  The 54th Legislative District includes Arnold, New Kensington, Lower Burrell, Upper Burrell, Allegheny Township, Murrysville, Export and part of Penn Township in Westmoreland County and Cadogan, Gilpin, Parks and Bethel Townships in Armstrong County.  

     Representative John Pallone accepted the Democratic Nomination for his fifth term as Representative in the General Assembly for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 2008 by receiving 78% of the votes cast in a victory over then opponent Anthony Shea.  Pallone was unopposed in the 2008 General Election and received 100% of the votes cast to earn the honor and privilege of representing the people of the 54th District in Harrisburg. 

     A lifelong resident of the communities of Arnold & New Kensington and the 54th Legislative District, Representative Pallone is 49 years old and married.  He is a graduate of Valley High School, Grove City College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Business and earned his Juris Doctor at the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law.  His extensive employment background and experience documents professional experience in both the public and private sectors.  "I'm proud of my background and work experience.  I worked hard throughout my life in positions from labor through management.  My experience and working relationship with local leaders will help make Armstrong and Westmoreland Counties a much better place to live, work and play.  It's about working together for the common good - partnerships, not politics!"  

     Representative Pallone has remained committed to the people of the 54th Legislative District and has a reputation for supporting stability and growth within the area.  "Since I took office, I have literally brought hundreds of millions of dollars in grant money and state project dollars back into the 54th District."  Property tax reduction and elimination is one of the most important issues facing Pennsylvanians today and Representative Pallone has a documented voting history of supporting legislation that will reduce your school property taxes.  I am committed to reducing your property taxes even further and ultimately eliminating your school property taxes by vigorously supporting additional tax reform legislation.

     Pallone stands strong as an advocate for the Alle-Kiski Valley and has a reputation for speaking out when government goes astray.  Pallone said, "I am one of only two Democrats in the House of Representatives who voted against a state tax increase in the 2009-2010 State Budget and was outspoken leading the charge to block the proposed 2009-2010 income tax increase."  Representative Pallone is one of only a few current representatives that voted against and did not accept the 2001 pension grab instituted by then Republican Governor Tom Ridge.  Pallone also spoke out and voted against the controversial 2005 pay raise, did not accept the unvouchered expense payment, and voted to repeal the pay raise.    

     Representative Pallone has worked to improve the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians by supporting financial assistance for our volunteer firefighters, local police and emergency personnel.  According to Pallone, he is working hard to serve his constituents by creating and retaining jobs, improving economic development, improving infrastructure, including roads, bridges, mass transit and commuter rail service from the Alle-Kiski Valley to Pittsburgh, increasing public education funding by more than 25% to all seven local area school districts since he took office, securing millions of dollars in grants for all 12 communities in the 54th Legislative District, and voted to reduce the cost of prescription drugs for our senior citizens by expanding the PACE/PACENET Program.

     "My seniority, together with my important committee assignments, has enabled me to bring millions of dollars to the district for a variety of infrastructure improvement projects, funding for the advancement of the commuter rail project, increased funding for special and basic education, funding for recreation programs and public libraries and much more," Pallone said.  "Experience and seniority carries with it influence in Harrisburg and is important to our area."