Murrysville's Bach named to governor's new Council on Reform

The hits keep coming for Mary Bach.

Less than a month after being named to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s Consumer Advisory Council, Bach, 74, has been appointed to Gov. Tom Wolf’s new Council on Reform.

Bach, a longtime independent consumer advocate from Murrysville, was named to the body Wednesday in Wolf’s executive order announcing the formation of an Office of Advocacy and Reform and a Council on Reform.

Wolf said in the executive order that state government has failed to protect and help “our most vulnerable residents” and needs further oversight to ensure better service. He specifically mentioned children, people with disabilities and the elderly.

The Council on Reform will have 25 voting members and will serve in an advisory capacity to the governor and to the Office of Advocacy and Reform. Bach will serve as a representative for older populations.

Beyond thrilled to have been appointed as a voting member to Governor Wolf’s Council on Reform to represent the elder population. My thanks to ⁦@AARPPA⁩! @billjwpa⁩ ⁦@MrRawle⁩ ⁦@NancyLeaMond⁩ ⁦@jsetz⁩ ⁦@bigragu19⁩ ⁦⁦@gardnersteveb⁩ pic.twitter.com/23y4jdRABo

— Mary Bach (@MBachadvocate) August 1, 2019

Both the council and the office are tasked with identifying reforms needed for Pennsylvania to better protect and support individuals relying upon services and assistance from state government, Wolf said.

The council’s first report is due to the governor by Nov. 1.

In July, Bach was named to a volunteer body that advises the state PUC on issues of importance to utility customers.

In June 2018, Bach and 11 other members of the AARP Pennsylvania Consumer Issues Task Force were honored at the state Capitol for their work on behalf of senior citizens.

Also last year, she testified before the Senate Select Committee on Aging on scams targeting the elderly.