Pennsylvania State Representative District 137
Description of office: The General Assembly is the legislative branch of government in Pennsylvania. It is composed of two houses: the Senate is the upper house, and the House of Representatives is the lower house. A majority vote in both houses is necessary to pass a law. The PA House of Representatives consists of 203 members representing one district each, with an equal number of constituents. Representatives must be at least 21 years old, have been a citizen and a resident of the state four years and a resident of their respective districts one year before their election, and shall reside in their respective districts during their terms of service. The House develops budget packages, makes taxation decisions, allocates spending, and passes laws (including redistricting in collaboration with the Senate). The House also has the exclusive authority to impeach public officials. Representatives also serve on various policy committees that may propose legislation.Term: 2 yearsSalary: $113,591Vote for ONE.Note: On Democratic and Republican primary ballots, voters will also choose members of the State and County Committees. We do not list these candidates on Vote411. For information on these candidates, we suggest you contact your local Democratic or Republican Party committee.
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Jeff Warren
(Dem)
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Joe Emrick
(Rep)
What do you see as the most pressing issues facing residents of your district, and how would you address them?
What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
What are your thoughts on the state budget process? What changes, if any, would you support so that the budget is enacted in a timely manner?
Should the state legislature enact laws concerning the impacts on water, energy, or land use from the development and operation of data centers? Would state regulation of data center development and operation interfere with the authority of municipalities to establish ordinances under the MPC (Municipal Planning Code)?
County
Northampton
Occupation
Director of Community Outreach at CASA SHaW (nonprofit helping foster youth)
Education
Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Penn State University; Master's Degree in Electronic Media from Kutztown University
Qualifications
Currently, County Commissioner on Northampton County Council (Chair of Economic Development Committee, Chair of Human Services Committee); Former Member of the Hanover Township Board of Supervisors; Former Member of Easton City Council (Chair of Public Safety Committee)
I will be laser focused on lowering the everyday costs facing working folks and families in our communities. By expanding attainable housing, supporting accessible child care, and working to reduce healthcare expenses, my goal is to initiate and support common sense proposals to ease financial burdens, strengthen our workforce, and ensure everyone has the opportunity to live and thrive in our communities.
Our kids deserve the best education possible because their future is what's on the line. Our state government needs to fairly fund our schools, which currently is not the case. I'll work every day as State Representative to make sure Harrisburg is sending more dollars back to our school districts so our kids have the tools to succeed.
As County Commissioner, I have supported establishing more drop boxes throughout Northampton County so it is more convenient for working folks to submit their ballots. I also support Northampton County's "pop up" voter outreach initiative where residents would be able to register to vote, apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot and/or receive and complete an on-demand ballot that could be deposited in a secure box on-site. The state legislature should also pass reforms to create in-person early voting and give counties more time to process mail ballots.
Frankly, state legislators should be required to stay in session until a state budget is enacted. There should also be an earlier and more transparent negotiation process that would help reduce reliance on last-minute omnibus budget bills.
Common sense regulations on data centers should be a priority in the years to come, especially when they affect the cost of electricity for ratepayers. State government should absolutely give our local municipalities more tools. We should require statewide sitting standards, environmental impact reviews, and grid-capacity planning while allowing local governments to approve or deny projects to protect infrastructure, land use priorities, and community quality of life.
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