Having secured re-election to state House seats, a pair of local lawmakers are eager to get back to work on the budget and other legislative issues.

“I’m looking forward to the next term and being a committee chairman and getting things done,” state Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy, said.

Everett, who defeated Democratic challenger Linda Sosniak in the general election, said 2019 could prove to be an interesting year.

Gov. Tom Wolf may well be eager to push an agenda now that he is not facing re-election in the coming year.

“He may be more aggressive,” he said.

Everett said while he certainly doesn’t agree with everything the Democratic governor supports, he understands where he’s coming from on some issues.

Democrats have narrowed the majority held by Republicans in the House in this week’s election, but Everett isn’t so sure that will hurt his party.

He recalled when Republicans were the minority party in the House after he was first elected in 2006.

“I think we were actually tighter and more together when we were a minority because we had to be,” he said. “I think we might actually have a chance to be a little more efficient with not quite as big a majority.”

Like Everett, state Rep. Jeff Wheeland, R-Loyalsock Township, is fresh off an election victory after defeating Democrat Airneezer Page.

He said he sees the first part of 2019 as a time when budget issues will be addressed.

He said he’s hoping to secure a spot on the House Appropriations Committee.

The reason?

“You have access to a lot more information on the day to day budget negotiations,” he said.

He said Lycoming County would certainly benefit with a local lawmaker on Appropriations.

Everett said he is ready to serve on any committee.

“I have preferences. The (House) speaker makes the call though,” he said.

Everett has most recently served on the Appropriations, Environmental Resources & Energy, Game & Fisheries and the Judiciary committees.

Wheeland said he’s pleased to see tax revenues coming in at high levels to help stave off budget deficits.

But that shouldn’t open the door to the state going on a spending spree, he said.

“I think it’s critical that we continue to build the rainy day fund,” he said.

Wheeland also called for the privatization of liquor stores.