For four years I have had the distinct honor and privilege to be your voice in Harrisburg. Yesterday, with much gratitude and humility, I took the oath of office to represent the people of Chester County in the 155th legislative district for a third term.
Losing everything is not losing your money. Losing everything is when you lose the ones you love. Today, I voted against legislation that would put the health & safety of Pennsylvanians at risk
#StaySafe
#PAHouse
#COVID19
Vouchers by any name are a scam to dismantle & defund the public education system. Don't believe me? Look who's lining up behind Lifeline Scholarships. Betsy DeVos, ALEC, and the West Chester Moms for Liberty group are among the anti-public school names on this letter.
A coalition of public figures, schools and advocacy groups are making a public push for tuition vouchers — referred to as Lifeline Scholarships by supporters — ahead of the state’s June 30 budget deadline.
Here’s a letter they sent to Gov. Josh Shapiro and his admin 👇
Today, I took the oath of office to work for you. Protecting our communities from Marcellus Shale drilling, fighting to make sure our students have good schools and ensuring affordable and available healthcare. Let’s get started.
#PeopleFirst
#PaHouse
Throughout our nation's history, we have seen attempts to undermine the very principles our country was founded on. But it is not those who attack our democracy who are remembered for their actions, it is the people who stood up against injustice who will be remembered.
Last night, I joined my colleagues
@SenatorMuth
and
@RepHerrin
in sending a letter to the
@PAAttorneyGen
requesting that he invoke his authority under the Clean Streams Law to file an emergency injunction to halt construction on Mariner East. We need action now,
@PennsylvaniaDEP
.
While I support investing in rebuilding our infrastructure, relying on the natural gas industry to get us there is not the only way. Yesterday's joint House/Senate Policy Hearing looked at this issue.
#Plan4PA
#PeopleFirst
School may be out for children across Pennsylvania, but for the Otten kids, Civics Class is always in session. This week, I had the pleasure of having my children accompany me to Capitol to see exactly what goes on during a week of session.
I don't take my son to a cardiologist for a lung issue. We heard testimony from a geologist who wrote a book about
#ClimateChange
, and I questioned his qualifications as an "expert" on the issue during a meeting of the
#PAHouse
Environmental Resources & Energy Committee.
Yesterday,
@ConservationPA
released their annual Legislative Scorecard for 2021-22. This score reflects legislators’ votes on crucial bills that impact air, water, and public health. This year I received a score of 100%.
Under existing law, corporations can sue state and federal governments to override community attempts to protect themselves from projects with the potential to cause great personal or environmental harm. It is time we correct that failure.
Today, I joined House and Senate colleagues in sending a letter to
@GovernorTomWolf
,
@PennsylvaniaDEP
Secretary McDonnell, and
@PA_PUC
Chairperson Dutrieuille urging them to take immediate action:
This is across the street from my home. These are my neighbors, friends and families that mean the world to me. I will continue to fight for justice for them and to endure this never happens again in Pennsylvania 💔✊🏻
@Will_Bunch
Residents were misled to sign easement agreements, with often-repeated phrases like “You’ll never know we’re here” and “We will be finished in two weeks.” Two years later, families subjected to uniquely-dangerous industrial development feet from their homes.
#VoicesOfMarinerEast
Today at noon, I will be sworn in for my second term as a member of the PA House of Representatives. It has been a great honor to serve and represent the people of our community the past two years.
Doubling down on 20 more years of fracking in Pennsylvania? No thanks.
“You will never collect enough money to make up for all the devastating harm that fracking imposes on communities,” said Maya van Rossum, leader of
@DelRiverkeeper
.
I fought long and hard for my Student Teacher Stipend Program to be included in last year’s budget and I am proud to see this program finally come to fruition.
I stand with all of you who have reached out to say, "ENOUGH." Enough moments of silence. Enough “thoughts and prayers.” This legislature has the power to do something about our gun violence crisis, and we have a moral obligation to act.
I’m proud to be part of
#ZeroWastePA
. My legislation would ensure we’re diverting our food waste from our general trash to a compost system. This simple move improves our environment and saves taxpayers.
Congratulations to Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as she is sworn in as the first Black woman to ever serve as a Supreme Court Justice. Justice Jackson is replacing former Justice Stephen Breyer, who retired this morning at the end of the Supreme Court’s current term.
The people of PA need us to do our jobs. You deserve more than a budget deal made at the 11th hour. We are sitting on billions of dollars in unallocated funds that belong to the people, and
@PaHouseDems
have been transparent with our priorities for months.
Our recent vote in the Environmental Resources & Energy Committee is getting coverage all over the country. I voted no on SB790 in committee this week, and I’ll vote no again when it comes to the floor.
This week,
@PaHouseDems
fought and won on behalf of survivors of childhood sexual abuse. For too long, survivors have been denied the opportunity for justice and relief. Today, we came together to provide survivors the justice and dignity they deserve.
This morning,
@PAAttorneyGen
Josh Shapiro came to Marsh Creek State Park to announce 48 criminal charges against
@EnergyTransfer
, the developer of the Mariner East II pipeline.
Feb. 1st marked the start of
#GVSurvivorsWeek
. You may be wondering why it is recognized this week, and the dreadful reason is that by February 1 of each year, the number of gun deaths in America surpasses the number of gun deaths in comparable countries for the entire year. 🧵
I proudly opposed legislation claiming to protect infants with disabilities, when in reality, it’s aimed at interfering with the critical relationship between doctors, patients & complicated, intimate decisions between couples.
The Norfolk Southern rail crash earlier this month in East Palestine, Ohio, just over the border from Pennsylvania, is yet another glaring example of how we all pay the price when corporations are permitted to neglect the safety of their infrastructure and their operations.
In the aftermath of a fiery train derailment that released hazardous chemicals into their community, East Palestine residents are worried they might cede their right to take future legal action against Norfolk Southern if they claim reimbursements.
On Friday,
#SCOTUS
*took away* rights for the first time in history. Overturning
#RoevWade
will have a devastating impact on access to reproductive healthcare. We have a lot of work to do, and I will keep fighting.
Thank you PA State Rep. Chris Quinn for joining the bipartisan call for public safety on
@MarinerEast2
.
Public Safety, Private Property Rights and Environmental Protection are red, white and blue 🇺🇸
ICYMI: Earlier this week, I tweeted an article in reference to the Mariner East pipeline in my community. The language I used in that tweet was insensitive, and I sincerely apologize for my choice of words and to all who were hurt by my post.
I opposed HB 1500 because when families face these impossible decisions, they already do so with the weight of the world on their hearts. They need the guidance of trusted doctors, not the interference of lawmakers.
As a typical rainy day leaves us w/stormwater mgt. issues we haven’t seen in the history of PA, we are gearing up for another week of
@RepMetcalfe
denying
#climatechange
and allowing industry to write the rules in the ERE committee.
In a House Energy Committee hearing next week will be Wrightstone, the author the book "Inconvenient Facts: The Science that Al Gore Doesn't Want You to Know."
Thank you to everyone who joined us in Harrisburg to rally to demand
#SafetyOverSunoco
, a moratorium on the Mariner East pipeline, and legislation that ensures the health and safety of our families.
#PeopleFirst
A budget is a moral document; it is a statement of our values and priorities. The pandemic has exposed deep inequities in our society, and We The People - PA seeks a state budget that works for everyone.
Keystone First is the largest Medicaid plan in southeastern PA, providing insurance coverage for thousands of children and families for whom losing access to CHOP doctors would have had devastating and potentially life-threatening consequences.
Today I’m sitting in on the PUC hearing of Wilmer Baker vs. Sunoco, LP. Sitting here watching the only “process” for citizens to formally dissent dangerous energy infrastructure in their backyards is nothing short of heartbreaking and infuriating.
I am so proud to be a part of this program and to stand with incredible legislators to move Pennsylvania forward on environment and responsibility for our impact on the Earth 🌎❤️🇺🇸🌳
This morning I want to lift up the story of the 5 families of Lisa Drive in Exton who have been driven from their homes by
@MarinerEast2
construction. As a result of construction activities, their homes are no longer safe to live in.
Nothing says, you were born for this moment than doing the brave and difficult work, on your birthday! Happy birthday
@SenatorMuth
! I stand with you today and every day.
#timesup
Rape culture is an epidemic that is plaguing our communities and our government. If we as a society don’t call for action against it, people will continue to suffer.
PA's Clean Streams Law provides clear protocols for reporting & public notification when possibly harmful substances are spilled or discharged into our waterways. Under current law, DEP decides the proper course of action to take, and DEP is tasked with notifying affected users.
While I am relieved to hear this news, I hope CHOP and insurance providers will continue to prioritize the needs of children and families and work to prevent any lapses in medical coverage in the future.
Yesterday in Harrisburg, I joined my colleagues and advocates from across the state in support of a package of bills that would extend protections for LGBTQ+ youth in our schools.
I am once again calling on
@GovernorTomWolf
,
@PennsylvaniaDEP
, and
@PA_PUC
to revoke Energy Transfer's permits to operate in PA, hold the polluters accountable for their dangerous, negligent, and willfully unlawful actions, and protect our right to clean air and pure water.
What the overdose crisis "illustrates is not that there are a few bad apples in the pharmaceutical industry, but that the country’s entire health care system is driven by profit at the expense of public health and safety."
On
#PeriodActionDay
, we continue the fight to end period poverty. My legislation, HB 1954, would require public schools to make period products freely available to students in grades 6-12. We must do better for the children of PA & provide them with the basic supplies they need.
This
#PABudget
plan is full of sweetheart deals for special interests, but it leaves working families behind. I voted NO, & I explained why in detail on the House floor. Just click on the link to watch!
#PeopleFirst
Care workers show up every day, even in a pandemic, and they deserve to make a living wage. I support allocating federal funds to those who provide direct care to Pennsylvanians with autism and intellectual disabilities.
#PeopleFirst
When we talk about plastics, we cannot just talk about banning plastic bags and straws. We must talk about plastics from beginning to end. PA got first mention for our Shell Ethane Cracker plant in Beaver County and…
On Friday, I submitted a letter to
@GovernorTomWolf
to convey our district’s priorities and express the urgent need for Pennsylvania to make meaningful investments in our neighbors, our families, and our local workforce.
Councilman Donald Braceland introduces the room to
@JakeCorman
by way of reminding everyone of the viral story of our local
@SenatorMuth
and the
#SaveGeneralAssistance
fight. He explains, this ban is a sweetheart deal for a plastics manufacturer in Senator Corman’s district.
One year ago yesterday,
@EnergyTransfer
spilled more than 8,000 gallons of drilling mud of undisclosed composition into the wetland, two tributaries, and the lake at Marsh Creek State Park.
I am deeply sorry that my choice of words detracted from the work we are doing together. Please accept my humble apology and my sincere commitment to continue to stand for all of us in Harrisburg.
Today I stand with my colleagues and
@CeaseFirePA
activists across Pennsylvania as we recommit to continuing the fight for common sense gun safety legislation.
#notonemore
#enough
Today, I joined
@SenatorMuth
,
@SenatorComitta
,
@RepSappey
, and
@Aidans_Heart
to urge my House and Senate colleagues to support legislation that would help to save lives in Pennsylvania schools and on our youth sports fields in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest.
Thes soul crushing moments in this job. The weaponization of Jesus. My God is a loving God, my God does not condone hate and as a Christian woman, I denounce the sacrilegious abuse of his name to mask hate, xenophobia and racism in the chambers of THE PEOPLE’S HOUSE! ALL PEOPLE.
🚨🚨🚨WOWZA🚨🚨🚨
You think
@PAHouseGOP
would someone less offensive to say opening prayer on the day that Pennsylvania's first Muslim woman is sworn into the
#PAHouse
.
Rep Borowicz mention:
Jesus - 13x's
God - 6x's
Lord - 4 x's
& prayers for Trump and Israel multiple times.
Nowhere does this letter from Sunoco mention a new plan to add a drill rig that will operate for 75 to 200 business days—through the holidays—just feet from people’s back doors.
Earlier this week, I tweeted an article in reference to the Mariner East pipeline in my community. The language I used in that tweet was insensitive, and I sincerely apologize for my choice of words and to all who were hurt by my post.
I am thrilled to announce that on Wednesday, my legislation to create a Student Teacher Stipend Program passed both the House and Senate as part of the Education Code bill (SB 843) and was signed into law by
@GovernorShapiro
.
The court decision is comprehensive and clear. Our current system of school funding is unconstitutional under both the the Education clause and the Equal Protection clause. It is time for the General Assembly to act.
#FundOurSchools
Today is the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark SCOTUS case that established a woman’s constitutional right to safe & legal abortion. Unfortunately, when our current activist court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, nearly 50 years of established protections were erased.
The power of one raise will be multiplied over and over, with ripple effects benefiting local businesses, communities, and people who make more than minimum wage. A minimum wage increase is a win for everyone.
It's long overdue that Pennsylvania
#RaiseTheWage
On Thursday, I joined
@foodandwater
, the
@O_R_V_I
, and
@SenatorMuth
to host a legislative briefing for members and staff on a 2021 opinion poll gauging how Pennsylvanians really feel about drilling and fracking and it's impact on our clean air and water.
I had a serious conversation 2 wks ago w/Sam from
@GovernorTomWolf
’s office about his legacy. I asked point blank, is this the legacy he wants to leave as his mark on Pennsylvania? I asked him how many families have to lose their homes? Or will someone need to lose their life?
When the upstream costs of single use products that have no recycling market are things like cancer, raging fires and exploding homes, it’s time to rethink what we call “cheap.”
#BreakFreeFromPlastics
#ZeroWastePA
Last week,
@SenatorMuth
and I submitted a joint statement to the
@PennsylvaniaDEP
expressing our concerns over the safety of and the transparency in the permit review process for Sunoco/Energy Transfer pipeline projects.
The 2022-2023 PA budget allocates $125 million to establish the Whole-Home Repair program. This program, administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development, is the very first of its kind in Pennsylvania.
UPDATE: IT GETS WORSE morphs into HELL ON EARTH.
Hundreds sickened after charred storage tank collapses and releases toxic flood of carcinogenic BTX chemicals. Also the whole place reignites.
Houston Suburb Sees Wave of Sickness as Disaster Intensifies
My son, Jack, was born with Hirschsprung’s Disease – a rare illness that can be deadly for newborns. He joined me on the House floor to help raise awareness. Hear our story in the video below.
I was so honored to have a front row seat for the moving swearing in ceremony of,
@RepMovita
, the first Muslim woman to serve in the legislature. A mother, who lost her child to gun violence, instead of laying down, stepped up to make a difference. A brave
#mamabear
❤️🇺🇸✊🏻
This morning, I joined
@PAWomensHealth
,
@RepFiedler
, and several more of my amazing colleagues to introduce a package of bills designed to explicitly reaffirm and protect Pennsylvanians’ right to make their own personal reproductive decisions.
Women’s rights are human rights. Proud to own the debate with a collective voice for women’s reproductive freedom and to lift up the story of my sister’s brave journey to becoming a special needs mom and advocate.
Your Wednesday Morning Coffee is ready: How the House’s Democratic women owned the debate over Down syndrome abortion ban | Wednesday Morning Coffee
#papolitics
@EnergyTransfer
has pending felony charges, has yet to clean up their mess in Marsh Creek State Park, and has left residents across their path without clean drinking water, but they’re allowed to continue to put pipe in the ground to meet shareholder expectations.