Member, Environmental Resources & Energy Committee, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Present
Former Member, Local Government Committee, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Former Member, Professional Licensure Committee, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Former Member, Urban Affairs Committee, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Member, Aging and Older Adult Services
Member, Appropriations
Secretary, Environmental Resources and Energy
— Awards:
Chester County March of Dimes, Women of Achievement Award, 2015
Marine Corps League, Distinguished Citizen Award, 2014
Commencement Speaker: West Chester University Graduate School, 2013
West Chester University, Distinguished Alumni Award, 2011
Bayard Rustin Award for Social Justice, WCU LBGTQU, 2011
Main Line Today, "Top 20 Women on the Move", 2011
1. Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?
- Pro-choice
2. Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
- Yes
3. Do you support the prohibition of public funds for organizations that perform abortions?
- No
4. Other or expanded principles
- No Answer
1. Reducing state employee salaries AND/OR pensions?
- No
2. Instituting mandatory furloughs AND/OR layoffs for state employees?
- No
3. Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients?
- No
4. An income tax increase on any tax bracket?
- Yes
5. Other or expanded principles
- Everyone needs to pay their fair share. We need to end loopholes and ensure families and small businesses are empowered.
1. Do you support any limits on campaign contributions to state candidates?
- Yes
2. Do you support the regulation of indirect campaign contributions from corporations and unions?
- Yes
3. Do you support the use of an independent AND/OR bipartisan commission for redistricting?
- Yes
4. Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls?
- No
5. Do you support allowing early voting in Pennsylvania?
- Yes
6. Do you support reducing the size of the Pennsylvania General Assembly?
- No
7. Other or expanded principles
- The problem is not the size of the General Assembly, it's the effectiveness of the Assembly. I have pledged to refuse my own pay if the legislature fails to pass a budget.
1. Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
- No
2. Do you support the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes?
- Yes
3. Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
- Yes
4. Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
- No
5. Should school safety meetings be made available to the public?
- Yes
6. Other or expanded principles
- We should focus on proactive solutions that will make our communities safer and will ease the burden on taxpayers.
1. Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth?
- Yes
2. Do you support lowering state taxes as a means of promoting economic growth?
- No
3. Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector?
- No
4. Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
- Yes
5. Do you support requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test in order to receive benefits?
- No
6. Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Pennsylvania?
- Yes
7. Do you support increasing state funding for road repairs?
- Yes
8. Other or expanded principles
- Building a fair economy and creating jobs are key to improving the lives of Pennsylvanians.
1. Do you support adopting federal education standards in Pennsylvania?
- Yes
2. Do you support state funding for charter schools?
- Yes
3. Should immigrants unlawfully present in the United States who graduate from Pennsylvania high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
- Yes
4. Do you support providing virtual charter school alternatives to all K-12 students?
- Yes
5. Other or expanded principles
- As a former educator, and as a mother, I have prepared hundreds of kids for college, and I know what they need to succeed. I fight to ensure our schools receive fair funding from pre-k to college. Every child should have access to pre-k, as well as affordable college so our children are not burdened with debt.
1. Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?
- Yes
2. Do you support state government regulations of greenhouse gas emissions?
- Yes
3. Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives?
- Yes
4. Other or expanded principles
- I am a longtime environmental champion. I sit on the Board of Directors for the World Information Transfer, an environmental NGO to the United Nations. I advocate for drastic climate change prevention, so we have a healthy planet to pass on to future generations.
1. Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
- Yes
2. Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
- Yes
3. Should teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
- No
4. Should a license be required for gun ownership?
- Yes
5. Other or expanded principles
- We must fight to reduce gun violence through commonsense changes, including universal background checks.
1. Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse?
- Yes
2. Do you support Medicaid expansion through Pennsylvania's health care programs?
- Yes
3. Do you support requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance?
- Yes
4. Do you support legislation that grants citizens the right to choose to die through euthanasia?
- Yes
5. Do you support eliminating religious exemptions for vaccinations?
- Yes
6. Other or expanded principles
- Health care is a right.
1. Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Pennsylvania's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes
2. Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Pennsylvania's anti-discrimination laws?
- Yes
3. Do you support greater efforts by Pennsylvania state government in closing the pay gap between men and women?
- Yes
4. Other or expanded principles
- Everyone should be treated fairly. Period.
In the following area, please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.
- My top priorities are passing a balanced budget, enacting commonsense gun reform, and ensuring pipeline safety.
Tue 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM EST
Tue 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT