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• Experience as a Legislator
• Caucus Memberships
• Civic Involvement
• Legislation Accomplishments
• Current Legislative Initiatives
• Policy Priorities
• Past Initiatives
• Awards

Policy Priorities

Advocate for Philadelphia

• Reduction of taxes paid by city dwellers
• Public schools funding
• Adequate resources for libraries
• Finding a dedicated, long term, reliable source of monies for mass transit
• Originated the “Philadelphia Weekend” which brings members of the General Assembly to Philadelphia to see what a beautiful, vibrant city we are
• Invited the members of the Agriculture Committee to Philadelphia to tour Saul Agricultural Public High School, the port, and the food distribution center.

Education

• Supports increased funding for Philadelphia School District
• Opposes tuition vouchers
• Opposes the privatization of Philadelphia public schools
• Voted for charter schools

Crime Prevention

• Promotes responsible gun control
• Advocates for alternative sentencing for youthful, first-time, non-violent offenders
• Works to aid families of missing loved ones
• Brings back grants for neighborhood town watch groups
• Supports police district advisory committees made up of citizens who work directly with police to improve police/community relationships

Neighborhoods

• Closes nuisance bars
• Funds and promotes town watch groups (link).
• Supports community improvement groups and local small business associations
• Serves her district by providing efficient, prompt, and friendly constituent service

Public Transportation

• Fights for permanent public transit appropriations

Civil Liberties

• Only House member to vote against forced flag pledging and mandatory prayers in public and private schools
• Advocates for reproductive privacy
• Favors equal rights for lesbian women and gay men, supports same sex marriage
• Stopped English Only legislation

Environmental

• 100% vote record for the environment as rated by PennEnvironment
• Is the only member of the General Assembly who does not own, lease, or even drive a car. Babette depends on public transportation to get everywhere
• Working to make and keep state buildings green
• First elected official to join PhillyCarShare

Health Insurance

• Opposes using tobacco settlement monies for non-health related purposes
• Fights for mental health insurance parity
• Supports more stringent state control over managed health care entities
• Works for affordable prescription medication, especially for seniors
• Advocate for increased PACE PACE/NET program funding

Campaign Finance Reform

• Votes for campaign finance reform
• Favors lobbyist disclosure

Economy

• Supports an increased minimum wage
• Increase funding to the arts industry
• Increase supports for small business; has helped small businesses tranverse the city bureaucracy.
• Supports funding for public transportation and “green” transportation through alternative modes of transit.
• Favors expanding unemployment compensation

Disaster Recovery and Emergency Preparedness

• Would give governor power to declare emergency and designate a state agency to respond as lead agency
• Votes for improved public health system
• Supports restoration and maintaining of universal surface transit
• Favors gun control to keep weapons out the hands of terrorists
• Works for expansion in power of Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission to promote civil tranquility
• Promotes energy independence through recycling, renewable energy sources, and “green” buildings
• Wants to see comprehensive emergency preparedness planning on a national scale starting at the local level.