State Sen. Pat Browne: State Faces 'Tremendous Challenges'

State Sen. Pat Browne told more than 400 constituents at his annual backyard barbecue at Lone Lane Park in Upper Macungie Township Sunday that the state faces "tremendous challenges."

Browne told the gathering that state funding for education and senior citizens will remain a priority, although revenues remain at the same levels as 2008. 

Browne, who serves as the state Senate's Majority Whip, told constituents that he is proud of the balanced budgets produced in recent years.

Browne also told the gathering that he favors privatizing the state's beer and liquor sales.

"It's time to give up a system that's been around since the end of Prohibition and get the state out of the liquor business," he said.

Browne said the state faces additional fiscal challenges with funding state pensions in coming years.

"The state should be looking to 401k's and IRAs as a way to provide state workers a good retirement," he said.

Browne represents the State Senate's 16th District, which includes the townships of Upper Macungie, Lower Macungie, South Whitehall, North Whitehall, Upper Saucon, Upper Milford and the boroughs of Alburtis, Macungie and Coopersburg.

Republican Congressman Charlie Dent also spoke to the crowd and decried the effect that he says Obamacare is having on jobs in Pennsylvania. Dent said more and more people are seeing their jobs cut below 30 hours per week, so employers can avoid providing healthcare.