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Josephs to chair House State Government Committee

HARRISBURG, Jan. 16 -- State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., has been appointed to serve as majority chairwoman of the House State Government Committee for the 2007-08 legislative session.

After serving nearly six years as minority chair of the committee, Josephs said she is eager to serve as majority chairwoman and work on an agenda that ensures every Pennsylvanian the opportunity to vote.

The State Government Committee reviews legislation on issues ranging from voting and elections to campaign finance reform and oversees the State Employees' Retirement System, the state lottery commission, state land conveyances, and the Pennsylvania Human Relations and Women's commissions. As majority chairwoman, Josephs will set the committee's legislative agenda for the upcoming term.

"Low voter turnout distresses me; I will work hard to remove all barriers to voting, and since people tend to mistrust the new electronic voting machines, I suggest we study a system which works in other countries and states -- universal mail-in balloting," Josephs said. "Oregon, a state that has no voter fraud and a 70 percent turnout in this last election, employs a universal mail method for voting. It's a very intriguing idea and I'd think it's time to investigate it.

"Other items on my agenda include strengthening the Human Relations Commission so that it can actively respond to discrimination and other problems, and ending discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We took the first steps on this a few years ago when we placed these groups under the protection of the hate crimes law. Now it's time to prevent discrimination in housing and employment."

Josephs was first appointed to chair the State Government Committee in June 2001. She represents the 182nd District in Center City and south Philadelphia.