State Rep. Babette Josephs

First elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1984, Josephs represents the 182nd Legislative District, which encompasses Center City and South Philadelphia. A senior female Democratic legislator, she has served as the Democratic chairwoman of the House State Government Committee since 2001.

Josephs has a reputable reputation as a lawmaker for her dedication to civil liberties, and her efforts to advance health care, education, libraries and the arts in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.

The Philadelphia legislator is responsible for a number of laws and initiatives, including adding to the state Hate Crimes law crimes against a person for his/her sexual orientation. Josephs authored the law that guarantees confidentiality of HIV records. She also helped to pass a law providing for automatic recounts in close state election races, and has been at the forefront against limiting First Amendment rights.

Josephs has been honored repeatedly for her legislative advocacy and action, receiving such acknowledgement from Smokefree PA, Sameric Theatre Committee to Save the Sameric, Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition, Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations, Project Vote Smart and Pennsylvania National Organization for Women.

In addition to her numerous legislative efforts, Josephs also is very civic minded, affiliated with multiple organizations and boards.

Her current efforts are aimed at increasing state funding for public libraries and the arts, as well as securing adequate and permanent funding for public transit, improving access to health care for low-income working adults, increasing the minimum wage, allowing stem cell research and ending discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgendered individuals in health care, housing and employment.

Josephs received her bachelor's degree from Queens College and her law degree from Rutgers. She was married to the late Herbert B. Newberg and has two children and six grandchildren.