On the heels of another victory by progressives in Allegheny County, 34 state representatives have officially formed the Pennsylvania Progressive Caucus in the State House.

“For too long, political corruption and corporate interests have obstructed progress in Harrisburg, resulting in the Pennsylvania General Assembly being one of the least productive legislatures in the United States,” the leadership group said in a press release. “While this lack of progress harms almost everyone in our Commonwealth, our most marginalized communities are hit the hardest.

“As members of the Pennsylvania Progressive Caucus, we will be wielding our collective power as lawmakers to change this status quo by fighting for policies that prioritize working people over corporate interests, fight economic and social inequality, advance civil liberties, and ensure justice in every aspect of the lives of Pennsylvanians. We are dedicated to building an economy that prioritizes people over profit.”

The Caucus elected state Reps. Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny), Elizabeth Fiedler (D-Philadelphia), Rick Krajewski (D-Philadelphia), Izzy Smith-Wade-El (D-Lancaster) and Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) to its five-person leadership board.

“We are dedicated to welcoming colleagues who share our values of equity, intersectionality, transparency, accountability and public integrity,” the statement continued. “We are committed to creating a more equitable society and improving the lives of all Pennsylvanians. Specifically, we recognize the need for immediate changes to improve the minimum wage, criminal justice system and workers’ rights. We believe that health care, housing, and a safe, clean environment are human rights. Our new group is eager to pursue material changes in these areas and beyond.”