PR&LA Summer 2018

16  • PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters • Summer 2018 legislator spotlight Senator Gene Yaw (R, Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna (part) and Union counties) WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE? My father encouraged me to be involved in the political process shortly after I graduated from high school. At that time the voting age was 21. Following that encouragement, I participated in local politics and worked behind the scenes on many campaigns. I also served as Lycoming County chairman. I had numerous opportunities to run for office, but none really peaked my interest. Because I had practiced law for 30 years, when Sen. Madigan told me that he was retiring, I looked at the situation as a door opening and I had to make the choice of either stepping through that door or forgetting public service. I made the decision to run. I take the position very seriously and I will say that it has challenged every skill I developed as a lawyer. IF YOU COULD CHANGE ANYTHING WITH THE WAY GOVERNMENT IS RUN, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? If I could change anything, I would reintroduce the concept of collegiality and compromise into all legislative bodies. Too many times we hear that “it is my way or the highway.” Republicans are not always right nor are Democrats always wrong or vice versa. There has never been the perfect piece of legislation introduced or enacted. Progress can certainly be made by less than perfect legislation. If a problem exists, we need to be willing to agree to start somewhere to address it and that takes respect and compromise. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR CONSTITUENTS TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOU ON LEGISLATIVE ISSUES/ CONCERNS? Constituents can contact me through virtually every electronic media whether email, Twitter, Facebook, fax, phone or mail. I am somewhat unusual in the Senate in that I personally read all of my email. THE THEME OF PRLA’S MAGAZINE THIS QUARTER IS A FOCUS ON THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON SOCIETY AND THE WORKPLACE. YOU HAVE EMERGED AS A KEY LEADER ON THE ISSUE. WHAT MADE THIS SUCH A PRIORITY FOR YOU? I first became involved in combatting the heroin/ opioid epidemic over four years ago. I serve as chairman of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, which is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative agency of the General Assembly. The charge of this agency is to address issues which affect rural Pennsylvania. Four years ago, I was asked whether I could use the Center for Rural Pennsylvania as a vehicle to raise the awareness of the heroin problem in rural Pennsylvania. We held a hearing in Williamsport because Lycoming County had a heroin task force and was a little ahead of the curve in addressing the problem. We knew, based on the response to the first hearing, that this was an issue of major importance to Pennsylvania as a whole. Since the first hearing, we have held 12 others throughout the state. My website has 75 hours of presentations by experts in the epidemic ranging from addicts, law enforcement, health care workers, doctors, social workers, the state Chamber of Commerce, prison wardens and educators just to name a few. The CRP has also published two reports generated by the hearings which were the first comprehensive documents detailing the nature and scope of the heroin/ opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania. TYPICALLY, WHEN A CRISIS LIKE THIS RISES TO THE SURFACE, IT IMPACTS ONE PART OF THE STATE MORE THAN THE OTHER. THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC IS UNIFORMLY A PROBLEM ACROSS THE STATE— RURAL AREAS AND CITIES. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS? What is different about the heroin/opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania, and the nation, is that it is the only drug problem we have ever faced which has a legitimate and legal feeder system which is our medical care system. From our hearings, we heard many times that 80 percent of those addicted to heroin began by abusing prescription drugs in some manner. That could be by over-prescription, theft, sharing or some other method, but nevertheless at the core is a prescription. Doctors are part of the problem, dispensers are part of the problem