Pennsylvania House Democrats today approved legislation that would provide critical investments to our state-related universities while ensuring greater transparency by the universities and instituting a tuition freeze at the universities, ensuring that higher education remains affordable for more than 70,000 Pennsylvania students. Read more
State House Speaker Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware joined Gov. Josh Shapiro and colleagues from the PA House and Senate to celebrate a new law (Act 5 of 2023) to improve the collection of data on maternal health and maternal mortality in Pennsylvania. Access to comprehensive and timely data can drive women’s health policies as well as help health care professionals and families make decisions about medical care. Read more
Kevin Butler’s 32 years in prison ended two years ago when his sentence was commuted, and on Monday he lobbied lawmakers for a change in Pennsylvania Board of Pardons rules that he said could give other aging, non-threatening offenders a second chance. Read more
Good morning, Chairman Briggs, Chairman Kauffman, members of the Judiciary Committee. Thank you for inviting me to join you briefly today to discuss my legislation, House Bill 1410 – which would create greater opportunities for incarcerated Pennsylvanians to receive a pardon or have their sentences commuted, offering compassion, saving taxpayer resources, and helping us continue to reform our criminal justice system. Having served as a public defender for nearly a decade, I’ve seen many issues with our justice system firsthand. Often people end up in our system because of systemic inequality, chronic disinvestment, undiagnosed or untreated mental health issues, and general lack of opportunity in their communities. As a legislature and a commonwealth, we’ve made tremendous progress on reforming the justice system by implementing meaningful - and bipartisan - updates including Clean Slate and state funding for indigent defense. These measures are already helping some and will help thousands of Pennsylvanians and their families. I’m extremely proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish over the past decade, but, of course, there is more to be done including reconsidering the standards for granting a pardon or commutation. In the late 1990s, Pennsylvania, like other states adopted a “tough on crime” approach to justice, which is judged by many to be a failure. Policy makers, advocates and academics agree that this kneejerk Read more
The chair of the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee said Monday that the panel will vote on a proposal on Nov. 14 that would amend the state constitution and lower the vote threshold required for the state Board of Pardons to recommend commutations for those with sentences of death or life imprisonment. Read more
HARRISBURG – Unanimity is necessary for the five-member Pennsylvania Board of Pardons to recommend that the governor grant a pardon or commute a sentence of life in prison or death. Read more
“More than $300 million is spent annually by the state to incarcerate elderly prisoners, despite the evidence that most prisoners over the age of 50 pose little or no threat to the public,” Butler told the state House Judiciary committee at a hearing on Monday. Read more
Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton has been selected as one of 19 leaders from across the country to join the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a selective national network of state and local elected officials with about 200 members, with honorary co-chairs U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (D-Wash.). Read more
Are you ready to vote? Do you have health insurance for 2024? Read more
Join us on Thursday, November 9th, as we honor those who've served our nation! Time: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Location: Pal Center: 5900 Elmwood Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143 RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/salutevets2023 Read more
Southwest Fall Festival Join us for our annual Fall Festival on Tuesday, October 31st! Time: 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Location: 5736 Chester Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143 Enter of the 58th Street side. We want to ensure that our youngest constituents can safely enjoy their Halloween. Come in costume for an afternoon full of fun with free food, games, bounce houses and face painting. There will also be information on PennDot, Dept of Human Service and employment support. Co-sponsored by The Common Place, Salt & Light and the 12th District Cops & Kids Read more
Southwest Fall Festival Join us for our annual Fall Festival on Tuesday, October 31 st ! Time: 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Location: 5736 Chester Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143 Enter of the 58 th Street side. We want to ensure that our youngest constituents can safely enjoy their Halloween. Come in costume for an afternoon full of fun! Are you prepared to vote? On November 7, Philadelphia voters will decide who will be our next mayor, who will serve on Philadelphia City Council and picking judges for many of the state’s courts. While this isn’t a presidential election, it’s just as important because the outcomes of this election will impact our neighbors all over the Commonwealth! To learn more about the importance of voting in this upcoming election, visit my website ! Contact or visit my office if you have questions about registering to vote! This week in Harrisburg Thank you to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition! Thank you to the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition for presenting me with a Pink Ribbon Award! When Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward told me about Act 1 it was imperative to me that this bipartisan legislation passed. Act 1 eliminates all costs associated with breast MRI/ultrasound and genetic testing/counseling for individuals at high-risk who are insured under Pennsylvania law Read more
Pennsylvania House of Representatives Speaker Joanna McClinton, who also represents parts of Delaware County and West/Southwest Philadelphia, has proposed an amendment to the state’s constitution that would update the commutations process. Read more
Washington, D.C. - Today, Pennsylvania Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton was selected as one of 19 leaders from across the country to join the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a selective national network of state and local elected officials with about 200 members, with Honorary Co-Chairs U.S. Senator Chris Coons and Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland. Members of the network have been chosen from more than 2,000 nominations over NewDEAL’s 13 years, and are united by their work to enact pro-growth progressive solutions across their diverse array of communities. As part of NewDEAL, they are recognized for their pragmatic, forward-thinking approach and commitment to making government work to solve challenges facing their constituents. Members have included U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, who joined as a mayor, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. McClinton joins the group at a time when state and local leaders are on the frontlines of responding to economic issues around the cost of living and the changing nature of work, as well as challenges caused by climate change, racial inequities, threats to our democracy, and emerging technologies. At a moment when unprecedented federal resources are flowing to states, counties, and cities from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and Inflation Reduction Act, NewDEALers are supporting each other in thinking big and Read more
As part of the Shapiro-Davis Administration’s commitment to making Pennsylvania a place for second chances, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis today endorsed House Speaker Joanna McClinton’s constitutional amendment to update the commutations process. Read more
Southwest Fall Festival Join us for our annual Fall Festival on Tuesday, October 31 st ! Time: 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. Location: 5736 Chester Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143 Enter of the 58 th Street side. We want to ensure that our youngest constituents can safely enjoy their Halloween. Come in costume for an afternoon full of fun! Property Tax/Rent Rebate deadline extended to Dec. 31 st ! The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program benefits eligible neighbors 65 and older, widows and widowers 50 and older, and people with disabilities 18 and older. Applications can be filed online at mypath.pa.gov . Please note that online applications will be processed faster than paper applications. For more information on eligibility requirements, visit revenue.pa.gov . Please contact my office if you need assistance completing this form! Are you prepared to vote? On November 7, Philadelphia voters will decide who will be our next mayor, who will serve on Philadelphia City Council and picking judges for many of the state’s courts. While this isn’t a presidential election, it’s just as important because the outcomes of this election will impact our neighbors all over the Commonwealth! To learn more about the importance of voting in this upcoming election, visit my website ! Contact or visit my Read more
Sometimes judicial elections get less attention than executive and legislative positions and can even fly under the radar. But every election matters. And each election gives voters an opportunity to exercise their right and share their voice. Read more
McClinton said she hopes the House and GOP-led Senate can agree on raising Pennsylvania’s minimum wage from $7.25 an hour, which is not at all competitive with those of neighboring states.House Democrats have passed other good bills, with varying degrees of support from the GOP. Proposals to reform cyber charter schools, require safe health care staffing levels, improve rail safety, provide tax credits for low-income workers, fund school building repairs and protect collective bargaining rights are now in the Senate’s hands. Read more
When it comes to gun violence people often talk about the problem, but what about the solutions? Read more
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! We kicked off October with a pink out of the Capitol fountain with the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition. Breast cancer knows no race, age, address or party and in our Commonwealth, we’re working together to beat cancer. Because of bipartisan efforts, Pennsylvania is the FIRST state to require insurers to cover the cost of preventative screening for high risk people! Schedule your mammogram today and if you’re too young to get one, give yourself an exam . Philadelphia Police Southwest Division Community Meeting The Philadelphia Police Department ’ s southwest division is hosting a community meeting on Wednesday, Oct 11. My colleagues from city council and the Capitol will be joining to discuss recent issues impacting our neighborhoods with law enforcement and neighbors. I hope to see you there at Kipp Charter school, 5900 Baltimore Ave. SEPTA Updates Great news, SEPTA now accepts card payments ! Riders on SEPTA’s city and suburban buses, trolleys, Market-Frankford Line, Broad Street Line, and Norristown High Speed Line will be able to simply tap any credit or debit card, in physical form or through apps like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, at a turnstile and as they board a bus or trolley. Also, as of Oct. 1, open strollers are now allowed on SEPTA vehicles. For more information on safety Read more
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