HARRISBURG, Pa. – Former state Sen. Pat Browne, one of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s cabinet nominees, has officially become Secretary of Revenue.
Browne and other nominees became secretaries of their respective offices in accordance with the Pennsylvania Constitution, it was announced Thursday.
- Pat Browne, who departed the state Legislature in December, was a nominee for Secretary of Revenue
- Browne and other cabinet nominees officially became secretaries of their respective offices Thursday
- Prior to his nomination, he served 28 years in the General Assembly representing Lehigh and Northampton counties
A Republican, Browne served for 28 years in the General Assembly representing Lehigh and Northampton counties. For years he was the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, making him one of the most powerful figures in Harrisburg.
Browne's signature legislation was considered to be the Neighborhood Improvement Zone, or NIZ. The special tax zone incentivized developers to invest in parts of Center City Allentown by allowing them to use state taxes and local earned income tax to pay off debts.
Dec. 31, 2022: Pat Browne, Allentown's longtime power broker, prepares for life after Senate
Browne was nominated to serve as Secretary of Revenue in January. In a release Thursday, the state lauded his leadership during a successful tax filing season that processed more than 6.5 million returns. He was also credited with advocating for Shapiro’s proposed budget, which includes an expansion of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate program.
Browne is the first Lehigh Valley resident to serve in the governor’s cabinet since Don Cunningham was appointed Secretary of General Services under Gov. Ed Rendell in 2003.
