Bloom Views 2017-18 Appointments as New Opportunity to Fight for Taxpayers
Pension reform and taxpayer protection are top priorities in new session
HARRISBURG – With pension reform and taxpayer protection efforts topping his priority list, Rep. Stephen Bloom (R-Cumberland) today announced key appointments and committee assignments for the 2017-18 session which will aid in his legislative mission to fight for the hard-working taxpayers of the 199th District.
Bloom said he will again serve as the House majority member of the Board of Trustees of the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS), a special appointment by Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny).
“Steve Bloom is a dedicated representative who works constructively to get things done, and I’m pleased to reappoint him to the PSERS Board,” said Turzai. “Rep. Bloom is a level-headed fiduciary who brings to the table a deeply knowledgeable perspective on the complex economic, fiscal and political issues surrounding the pressing need for public pension reform in Pennsylvania.”
The PSERS Board of Trustees serves in a fiduciary capacity over the investments and disbursements of the PSERS retirement fund, which manages assets of approximately $52 billion and has a membership of more than 600,000 active school employees and retirees.
“As someone who is deeply committed to resolving our state’s public pension crisis, I am grateful for the opportunity to be on the forefront of the challenge to meet our pension obligations while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Bloom said. “I refused the legislative pension to which I would have been entitled so I could always be a zealous advocate for pension reform.”
In addition, Bloom will again serve as a deputy chair of the House Majority Policy Committee. In this capacity, he plans to continue striving to protect taxpayers by educating the public and his colleagues on the urgency of tax reform, responsible state spending and reduced government waste.
“With historic Republican majorities in the House and Senate, we have an opportunity to lead with a fiscally conservative agenda on statewide policy issues that can benefit millions of Pennsylvanians. As a deputy chair, I look forward to taking an active role in promoting innovative ways to reduce the size and cost of government,” he added.
In addition to the PSERS appointment, Bloom was again appointed to serve as a deputy whip for the 2017-18 session. Deputy whips have a variety of responsibilities on and off the House floor, including facilitating awareness of member positions on pending bills and helping to advocate on key legislative issues. They also keep the majority whip advised of concerns that members may have and other matters potentially impacting the legislative agenda and the majority caucus as a whole.
“I am humbled and honored to accept these additional responsibilities, and I’m grateful for the confidence our leadership team has placed in me to serve the citizens I represent,” said Bloom. “The positive relationships I have built on both sides of the aisle during my previous terms will facilitate my dedicated commitment to putting taxpayers first.”
Bloom has also retained his positions on the House Finance, Labor and Industry, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Environmental Resources and Energy committees.
To read more about Bloom’s legislative priorities, visit
RepBloom.com,
Facebook.com/RepBloom or
Twitter.com/RepBloom.
Representative Stephen Bloom
199th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Abbey Haslam
717.260.6222
ahaslam@pahousegop.com
RepBloom.com /
Facebook.com/RepBloom /
Twitter.com/RepBloom