For architects and historic preservationists, the year's significant legislative achievement - sponsored by Smucker - was the historic state tax credit; an annual credit to augment the federal tax credit that Gov. Tom Corbett signed into law.
To ensure passage of the legislation, which
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| Peter Durantine |
preservationists had sought for 15 years, Smucker fought against efforts to reduce the annual funding cap from $10 million to $500,000. He ultimately negotiated a $3 million cap for at least the first year.
In turn, he secured commitments to increase the funding cap in the next fiscal year's budget. It's not just Smucker's support of the bill that mattered, though, but his understanding of why it is so needed.
As he argued for the tax credit, which is expected to accelerate development of buildings once considered to expensive to rehabilitate, Smucker went before the annual meeting of the Economic Development Co. of Lancaster County and the EDC Finance Corp. in January.
There, he told members how one community's economic struggles affect other communities: "To believe that a city's woes will not ripple across the county is like saying 'Your end of the boat is sinking,'" he said.
That legislative success won him the Leadership in State Government and State Issues Award this year from Preservation Pennsylvania, which he shared with the tax credit bill's House sponsor, Rep. Robert Freeman (R-Northampton).
While it's a significant accomplishment for a first-term senator who was new to state politics when elected in 2008 (he replaced the retiring 23-year incumbent Sen. Gib Armstrong), the historic tax credit bill also reflects Smucker's interest in issues ranging from business and education to farmland preservation and urban re-development.
Smucker serves a Senate district that covers parts of Lancaster County, including the city of Lancaster, and York County. He is seeking a second term.
The senator can be creative on issues. Amid this year's controversial voter ID law, Smucker introduced a bill to encourage greater public participation in elections - online voter registration, already law in nine states.
"With more people using the computer for a wide variety of personal transactions, it makes sense to adapt this step in the voting process," he said. It's unlikely the bill will get approval before this year's election.
Another measure he proposed that became law this year allows school districts to share education resources, using various technologies like videoconferencing that gives students the ability to participate in classrooms in other schools.
Born in Lancaster in 1964, Smucker graduated Lancaster Mennonite High School in 1981 and attended Lebanon Valley College and Franklin & Marshall College. He lives in West Lampeter Township.
Smucker was owner for 25 years of the Smucker Company, a family-owned commercial construction firm in Smoketown that employed 150 people. In 2006, he sold his interest in the company to his brother and turned to business consulting.
While a businessman, he gained experience in local politics and government. He was twice elected as township supervisor and served four years on the planning commission, where his interest to encourage re-development in urban centers took hold.
Smucker came to the Senate with ideas to curb government spending and provide a better regulatory climate for businesses. With three children in public school, he found himself "really becoming interested in education," supporting school choice initiatives.
"I think competition will improve the public schools," he said.
In the Senate, he serves as chairman of the newly created Inter-governmental Operations Committee, which oversees proposals to restructure state government, such as consolidating state agencies to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
He's vice chairman of the Senate's Labor and Industry Committee and serves on the Appropriations, Education, Local Government and Urban Affairs and Housing committees.
As a lawmaker, Smucker, whose district is urban and rural, tends to see issues more globally. While the historic tax credit will help preserve old buildings and re-build tax bases in urban centers, he said, it also will help encourage farmland preservation.
