Public Health
Preventing HIV/AIDS:
In 1990, under my leadership, a diverse and broad based coalition, which included the PA Bar Association, the PA Medical Society, the Insurance Federation, nurses unions and professional groups, teacher and prison guard unions, AIDS activists, emergency workers and first responders, and the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Health Departments, wrote and pushed through landmark legislation. The HIV Records Confidentiality Act remains a national model; and because it protects privacy and promotes counseling, helps prevent the transmission of the virus.
I was one of only eleven (out of 203 members) who voted against a resolution condemning Prevention Point Clean Needle Exchange. After the vote, I took it upon myself to make sure that the executive directors of Prevention Point and the AIDS Law Project had educational discussions with the sponsor of the resolution. I support both Prevention Point and the AIDS Law Project through grants and my membership dues.
I bring back grants and funding for AIDS advocacy groups, and I walk in the AIDS Walk.
Supporting Longer Post-Childbirth Hospital Stays:
I'm a cosponsor of legislation which would mandate health insurance coverage for new mothers and babies where medical necessity dictates a post-delivery hospital stay of more than 24 hours.
Improving Emergency Room Accessibility:
I was instrumental in having legislation released from the Insurance Committee, which would stop the then common practice of insurers of punishing people who make good faith mistakes in seeking emergency room care. Under this legislation, no insurer could deny payment to a subscriber who had good cause to think her or his condition was life threatening even if it was not.
Curbing Youth Tobacco Consumption:
Republican attempts to make it safer for retailers to sell tobacco products to children and teens were set back temporarily because of my forceful and immediate actions. Although local, effective child protection ordinances were pre-empted by state legislation, which I opposed. However, I was able to stop big tobacco's plan to move enforcement against offending retailers out of the hands of the most effective people, that is, public health officials, and under the control of local police who have too many other important priorities.
I am still fighting for legislation that would tax tobacco products other than cigarettes: Pennsylvania is the only state that does not tax spit, chaw, snuff, pipe tobacco, cigars, or cigarillos. I propose that the revenue from these taxes should go towards health programs that have been cut or dramatically reduced. In addition, all studies show that tobacco consumer by youth is dramatically reduced as the price escalates. Youthful users are most likely to become addicted, and big tobacco knows this fact well. A stiff tax on all tobacco is not a win-win situation; it is a win-win-win. I have reintroduced this legislation and will continue to do so until it becomes law.
To learn more about Smoke Free businesses in Philadelphia, or to get assistance with quitting visit http://smokefreephilly.org.