Jan. 23, 2023
My first week as a state representative certainly was one of celebrations, ceremony, and a little bit of chaos. From the swearing-in to electing a new House speaker, we experienced a little bit of everything. Serving as your state representative is the honor of my lifetime, and I am glad that the time is starting to get to work.
With over 30 years in the business world, I am used to moving fast. I realize that I joined a deliberative body that sometimes doesn’t move as fast as I would like, but I believe already that my background of bringing people together and finding solutions will serve me well in this job.
That is one of the reasons I decided to attend Gov. Josh Shapiro’s inaugural events. While I didn’t vote for him, I do recognize and respect that he is our governor and anything that I want to accomplish needs his signature. And I can assure you, there is a lot I want to accomplish for the people of Berks and Schuylkill counties.
I want to work to make sure that economic development in our community is not overlooked. The solution to so many of our area’s challenges is a good-paying, family-sustaining job. I will work hard to bring those jobs to our area.
At the same time, we cannot leave workers behind. That is why I will focus on issues such as workforce development and retraining so that every willing and able person has the skills needed to earn a living right here in our community.
And we cannot forget that the next generation is the key to our growth. That is why I will focus on quality education for our students. We need an education system that isn’t one-size-fits-all and meets the kids where they are to educate them. I will fight to invest more in our schools, but money alone isn’t the only measurement. We should make sure our kids are learning skills to serve them well in their futures, whether that means going to college or learning a trade.
These are areas where I am confident I can work with Gov. Shapiro.
While I look forward to working with Republicans and Democrats in the Legislature, I will not hesitate to stand up for our values.
If the governor or the Democrats try to raise taxes on working folks, I will oppose them.
If the governor or the Democrats try to infringe on our Second Amendment rights, I will oppose them.
If the governor or the Democrats try to make Pennsylvania a sanctuary state, I will oppose them.
I believe we can work together and stand up for Berks and Schuylkill counties’ values, and that is what I will do.
Ultimately, I am your representative. If you need anything from me or my office, please contact us in Tamaqua at 570-668-1240 or Harrisburg at 717-787-9029. You can also reach me through my website at
RepBarton.com/contact.
Representative-elect Jamie Barton
124th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Katie Park
717.260.6486
kpark@pahousegop.com
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