Pennsylvania: Babette Josephs

Thu, 12/18/2008 - 14:01

Josephs asks ‘Where is Senator Specter?’

State Rep. Babette Jospehs (D-Philadelphia) is trying to blame U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter for any coming collapse of the Big Three automakers.

In a statement Wednesday, Josephs said that "Senator Specter was ineffective when it was the U.S. Senate's turn to act on the House-passed bill that would have offered GM and Chrysler a $14 billion rescue plan."

She contrasted the state's senior Republican with U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, whom she said "has been very vocal and out in front in support of helping our auto industry and its workers.

Wed, 10/22/2008 - 09:29

Josephs: Pa. is ready for Election Day turnout

After holding a hearing to assess the state's readiness for the upcoming election, state Rep. Babette Josephs (D-Philadelphia) said Tuesday that Pennsylvania is equipped to avoid any major Election Day headaches.

Read More >
Fri, 10/17/2008 - 11:46

This Philly Republican isn't rolling over

Republican candidates in Philadelphia, especially in liberal Center City, are often called sacrificial lambs, doomed to failure by a Democratic electorate that outnumbers them 6-1.

Wally Zimolong is as much a long shot as any, but he's not giving up. The Republican nominee for the 182nd Legislative District has been heavily circulating campaign literature, making the rounds on news shows, and now, he's up with his first TV ad of the election cycle.

Read More >
Wed, 09/24/2008 - 23:52

Hearing to examine state's readiness for Election Day

State Rep. Babette Josephs will hold a hearing today to determine whether the state is ready to handle the huge turnout of voters expected on Election Day.

Josephs, who chairs the House State Government Committee, will take testimony from the U.S. Postal Service, government watchdog groups and state election officials.

The hearing is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the Ethical Society in downtown Philadelphia.

Read More >
Tue, 09/23/2008 - 21:12

Josephs, Zimolong to debate tonight

The candidates in Philadelphia's 182nd Legislative District are scheduled to debate Wednesday night in South Philadelphia.

State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-Philadelphia) is facing a challenge from Republican challenger Wally Zimolong. The district is overwhelmingly Democratic, leaving little hope for Zimolong's chances.

But he can take some solace in recent voter discontent over Josephs' stance on reform legislation.

Tue, 08/19/2008 - 17:52

Bill to reduce legislature size shot down in committee

HARRISBURG -- Gene Stilp wanted everyone to know what he thought of Tuesday morning's meeting of the House State Government Committee meeting. So the longtime reform activist made an announcement to the handful of legislators and staffers moments before they began debating a bill that would reduce the General Assembly's size.

The whole hearing was a sham, he said, designed for political posturing rather than reform.

Read More >
Thu, 06/19/2008 - 12:47

Metcalfe ignites controversy with Muslim remark

What was supposed to be a non-controversial resolution on the House floor Wednesday has become the genesis of a budding controversy.

And conservative lightning rod state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler County) is in the middle of it.

The lawmaker challenged a resolution that would have sponsored a Muslim group's convention in Philadelphia this weekend in Harrisburg.

Read More >
Tue, 06/17/2008 - 15:30

Lawmakers continue to jostle over redistricting reform

Harrisburg continues to be embroiled in a dispute over redistricting reform after Gov. Ed Rendell recently urged lawmakers to reconsider recently tabled legislation that would fix how Pennsylvania's congressional districts are drawn.

Read More >
Thu, 06/05/2008 - 15:45

Republican candidates chime in on redistricting reform

After lawmakers in Harrisburg tabled a measure to reform the way legislative districts are redrawn, Republican candidates in Philadelphia are speaking out in favor of the reform and hammering Democrats for putting it off.

Read More >
Wed, 06/04/2008 - 11:42

Following House, state Senate tables redistricting measure

Following a similar action in the state House that was criticized by government reform advocates, a state Senate committee on Tuesday tabled a proposal to take politics out of redistricting.

The Senate's State Government Committee put off a vote on the measure, which would have taken elected officials out of the process of redrawing districts.

Read More >