Josephs takes oath of office during House swearing-in ceremony

HARRISBURG, Jan. 7 -- State Rep. Babette Josephs Tuesday took the oath of office for her 13th term representing the 182nd District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

"It is indeed a privilege and an honor to continue serving my constituents," said Josephs, D-Phila.

In her more than two decades of tenure in the House, Josephs has been a strong advocate for civil liberties, women's rights, freedom of speech, voting rights and the environment, as well as public transportation, gun control, government reform, affordable health care, quality public education, relocating Philadelphia's casinos away from neighborhoods, libraries and the arts. She said she expects to continue her efforts in these areas for the 2009-10 legislative session.

"In these troubling national economic times, Pennsylvania, like most other states, is facing a difficult budget for the coming fiscal year," Josephs said. "Many cuts have already been made in an effort to minimize the shortfall, but current conditions will just make it a very difficult budget. We must make sure that not only are vital services maintained, but also that education, our libraries and the arts are not ignored. I look forward to federal help, which will jumpstart the economy by upgrading, making green and repairing our roads, bridges, mass transit systems, water systems and public buildings."

Josephs also will retain control of the House State Government Committee for the new session.

"The committee had a very busy two years during the last legislative session, and I expect more of the same for the next two," Josephs said. "I look forward to focusing on such issues as removing barriers to voting, ending discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and reforming campaign finance, among others."

Last session, Josephs' committee held numerous public hearings on a variety of issues, including universal mail-in balloting, taking testimony from Oregon's secretary of State on the success of its vote-by-mail program. This session, Josephs said she is committed to seeing that Pennsylvanians have the opportunity to vote early with no excuse as is done in 32 states currently.

Dozens of hearings and bills moved through the State Government Committee last session, but perhaps the most well-known issue Josephs' committee reviewed was legislation that reformed the way open records are handled in Pennsylvania. The law, which went into effect Jan. 1, presumes legislative and financial records of the General Assembly are open unless proven otherwise by the legislature.

Other issues the committee addressed included a number of land conveyance issues, some of which dealt with gambling facilities on the Delaware River and the protection of thousands of acres at the State Correctional Institution at Rockview in Benner Township, Centre County.

Josephs represents the 182nd District in Center City and south Philadelphia. She was first elected to the House in 1984; she was first appointed as Democratic chairwoman of the House State Government Committee in June 2001.

Tuesday's ceremonies officially marked the opening of the 193rd ^{session of the General Assembly.}