Dick Hess named as GOP chair for House Transportation
Rep. Dick Hess
State Rep. Dick Hess (R-Bedford) was named today to succeed Rick Geist as Republican chairman of the House Transportation Committee, while Rep. Michael McGeehan of Philadelphia was reappointed Democratic chair.
Hess, a longtime Transportation Committee member, will take the assignment as legislative leaders and Governor Corbett prepare to address Pennsylvania’s transportation funding problem at the beginning of the new legislative session next year.
“Representative Hess’ experience with and understanding of transportation issues will be a great help in navigating funding legislation through the House,” said PHIA Managing Director Jason Wagner. “And with Representative McGeehan as the other chair, PHIA members and transportation advocates in general should be very pleased with the prospects of achieving the important public policy goals that pertain to transportation.”
Hess is in his 13th term, serving residents of the 78th Legislative District, which includes all of Fulton County as well as parts of Huntingdon and Bedford counties. He moves from chairing the House Commerce Committee in the recently completed 2011-12 legislative session. Additional biographical information is available at www.dickhess.com.
As Democratic chair, McGeehan www.pahouse.com/mcgeehan has been vocal in his support for a solution to the state’s transportation funding gap, calculated at $3.5 billion per year by the Pennsylvania Transportation Advisory Committee in 2010. The funding initiative is expected to begin in the Senate shortly after Governor Corbett presents his plan.
