Sign up for e-mail updates about news in the 182nd District!
HARRISBURG, Jan. 2 -- Joining 202 of her colleagues, state Rep. Babette Josephs today took the oath of office for her 12th term representing the 182nd District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
"It is indeed a privilege and an honor to continue serving my constituents," Josephs said.
After taking her oath with the 202 other legislators, Josephs cast her vote for Rep. Dennis O'Brien as speaker of the House, who ultimately was elected to the position over Rep. John Perzel. She said O'Brien's election as speaker spoke louder than words that the House is serious about reform.
"I voted for Speaker O'Brien because I want real reform in the way we do things here in the House," she said. "I think we should no longer have multiple subjects in any bill; no bill should be amended at the last moment on the floor in a way that changes its substance; neither the Rules nor the Appropriations Committee ought to amend any bills in a way that changes their substance; and the committee system ought to be respected.
"Reform activists didn't want the status quo, and now we have made that change. We are going to change the way we do business; we can do it the easy way -- by our own volition, or we can do it the hard way -- by being recycled by our voters. I prefer the former," Josephs added.
In her more than two decades of tenure in the House, Josephs has been a strong advocate for human rights, women's rights, the First Amendment and voting rights, as well as public transportation, affordable health care, education, libraries and the arts. She said she expects to continue her efforts in these areas for the 2007-08 legislative session, with particular emphasis placed on the needs of public transit agencies.
"Public transportation is a critical necessity for hundreds of thousands of people all across Pennsylvania, not only as a means to get to work, to school and to the store, but also for our economy and our environment. Time is long overdue to get down to work to craft a permanent, legislative solution to adequately fund public transportation," Josephs said.
Josephs represents the 182nd District in Center City and south Philadelphia.
Joining Josephs for Tuesday's swearing-in ceremonies were a number of supporters, including committeepeople, community activists, labor leaders, feminists, constituents and volunteers in her campaign.
The ceremonies officially marked the opening of the 191st session of the General Assembly.
© 2006 - 2007 State Representative Babette Josephs. All Rights Reserved. 215-893-1515 | 717-787-8529