Mark B. Cohen
Encyclopedia
Mark B. Cohen is a Democratic
politician
from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. Succeeding Eugene Gelfand
, he has represented Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 202
in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
since June 10, 1974, making him the most senior member in the Pennsylvania General Assembly
since the December 27, 2010 death of Sen. Michael O'Pake.
Cohen served as a member of the House Democratic leadership from January, 1990, through November, 2010, in the positions of Democratic Caucus Chairman (1990–1992 and 1994–2010) and Majority Whip (1992–1994).
As an elected leader of the House Democratic Caucus
for 21 years, he worked to unite an often deeply divided group of Democratic legislators, His efforts sometimes led his colleagues to publicly praise him. His efforts for party unity did not always succeed.
His 7 years as Democratic (Majority) Chairman of the House Labor Relations Committee were also years of collaborative relationships with other legislators and legislative staff. Michael E. Cassidy
, elected to a single House term in 1976 beginning at the age of 21, has long served as his executive director. His current staff counsel Nia Wilson currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures
.
His long-time staff aides have included Eric Fillman, currently serving as Deputy Chief Counsel to the House Democratic Caucus and a longtime leader of the Finnegan Foundation
, and Dawn Reese, currently serving as Assistant Chief Clerk of the House and a longtime Chair of Pennsylvania's Organ Donation
Advisory Committee. Tragedy struck his legislative assistant Pamela Gleason, who lost her police officer husband due to his on-the-job murder, and then lost her life as she was trying to rebuild it. His aide Leola M. Stowall retired from his staff due to ill health, but continued her activism for grandparents raising grandchildren and others "who are more in need than I am" even as she was receiving dialysis
treatment for malfunctioning kidneys caused by high blood pressure and diabetes.
as Democratic (Minority) Chair of the "key" Human Services Committee in December, 2010, where he works closely with Republican (Majority) Chair Gene DiGirolamo
. One of the DiGirolamo-Cohen bills sought to enact tougher regulation of for-profit methadone
clinics. Cohen opposed the opening of for-profit methadone clinics near his legislative district. A second DiGirolamo-Cohen bill establishes the Pharmaceutical Accountability
Monitoring System in order to detect pharmaceutical drug abuse and substance use disorders by people with addiction to them.
Both Cohen and DiGirolamo worked to see that human services programs were adequately funded in a period of budget cutting. Both actively participated in the Department of Public Welfare's Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing. The Chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee hailed Cohen as "a longtime advocate of human services programs and a leader to restore funding in this year's spending plan."
DiGiralamo and Cohen held a hearing on House Bill 272 to ease treatments of Lyme Disease
, of which Cohen was a co-sponsor. The chances of enacting this legislation were limited by the opposition of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania due to its concerns about antibiotic resistance
and the legislation's (1) guaranteeing of insurance company reimbursement of long-term use of antibiotic
prescriptions and (2) requiring a high level of representation for the International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society
on the newly created task force on Lyme disease
and related diseases.
Both DiGirolamo and Cohen publicly opposed Governor Tom Corbett
's refusal to start up the newly established Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs as required by a law they had both actively supported, of which DiGirolamo was prime sponsor. On November 1, 2011, they held a public hearing in Harrisburg in which they both confronted Corbett Administration anti-Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs advocates. "Almost every crime that's committed in our local communities is related to drug use," DiGirolamo said. "We need leadership on this issue and I am going to fight you on this. Instead of building prisons, we could be closing them." Agreeing with DiGirolamo, Cohen added "Governor Corbett cannot pick and which laws he wants to implement." Cohen also said the governor was under pressure from insurance companies not wanting to cover drug and alocohol programs in their policies and existing bureaucrats locked in a "turf war," which the governor's office "flatly denied."
An editorial in the Intelligencer
of Doylestown, Pennsylvania
noted the concerns of both DiGirolamo and Cohen, concluding "What we find troubling is that the governor is ignoring an act of the Legislature that was signed into law by his predecessor. Whether Corbett thinks the idea of a Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has merit or not, most of the members of both the House and the Senate thought it did and presumably still do, since all but a few are still serving. Like a number of lawmakers, we wonder how the governor can get away with this. Besides that, there is significant sentiment outside of government--from social workers and others who see the tragedy of drug and alcohol abuse on a daily basis--that a new department could improve the way Pennsylvania addresses the problem...."
, first as a district councilman for Northwest Philadelphia
and then as a Councilman at Large, "A Position That Could Be Toughest Job in Town," The Public Record (newspaper) called it. and his brother Denis serves in the First Judicial District of the Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas
, where he was retained for a second ten year term as a Common Pleas Court Judge on November 8, 2011, with 75.5% of the vote. His sister Sherrie Cohen came in a close 6th for the 5 Democratic seats for nomination for Philadelphia Council at Large in the May 17, 2011 Democratic primary. Cohen worked on his father's eight successful and three unsuccessful campaigns to win local election for Philadelphia. He attended Central High School of Philadelphia, graduating in 1966, after participating in two projects of the Northern Student Movement
and a student Political Union modeled upon the Yale Political Union
, which has produced many national political figures.
He then enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania
, where he served as a features writer for The Daily Pennsylvanian
an officer of the Penn affiliate of the College Democrats of America, a member of the International Affairs Association, a contributor to the Distant Drummer
, an internship for Congressman William J. Green, III
and Senator Joseph S. Clark
, as well as being involved in, at different times, the Presidential campaigns of Eugene J. McCarthy, Robert F. Kennedy
and Hubert Humphrey
. He worked with Judge Clifford Scott Green
and others to prepare Philadelphia delegates to the White House Conference on Children and Youth
. He was one of the first group of 14 undergraduate students to serve on the University Council
, an advisory body to President Gaylord P. Harnwell. As a member of the University Council
, Cohen offered an amendment to a resolution opposing the War in Vietnam linking it to academic freedom
and freedom of speech
. The University Council
defeated the underlying antiwar resolution 51-28, but it "voted to support establishment of a peace memorial to those who have died in Vietnam" and to circulate a petition members of the Council "could sign, on an individual basis, urging the President and the Congress to adopt a stepped-up timetable for withdrawal from Vietnam." Cohen graduated in 1970 with a degree in political science
and served as an aide to Milton Shapp
's gubernatorial campaign after briefly working for the School District of Philadelphia
.
Cohen continued his education after elective office, earning a law degree from the Harrisburg campus of the Widener University School of Law
in 1993 and an M.B.A. from Lebanon Valley College
in 2000. Cohen is also an alumnus (2002–2003) of the Education Policy Fellowship Program of the Education Policy Leadership Center. As an active member of the Pennsylvania Bar, he is qualified in the practice of law
in Pennsylvania. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
, the United States District Courts for Pennsylvania, the United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, and the US Supreme Court. He has performed graduate work at Temple University
, Gratz College
, Antioch University
and the Pennsylvania State University
.http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?districtnumber=202
He and his wife Mona, a Philadelphia special education
teacher and advocate for children with autism
, have one daughter and reside in the Castor Gardens section of Northeast Philadelphia
. Their home has received scholarly attention as one of the first residences of Jewish people in Northeast Philadelphia
. The neighborhoods in and around his legislative district are rich in history of many kinds: social services, Jewish Universalist, and many others.
and Philadelphia Democratic Chairman Peter J. Camiel. He was officially nominated for the special election as the Democratic nominee for the vacant House seat by the executive committee of the Democratic State Committee. He was endorsed by the Philadelphia Daily News
columnist Chuck Stone
on May 20, 1974 in his "Page 10" column. His election was one sign among many that voters wanted legislators who were more active, more articulate, more engaged and less likely to be perceived as rubber stamps.
He was sworn in as a Member of the Pennsylvania House on June 10, 1974, taking the oath of office in a joint ceremony with fellow Members elected on the same day Bob O'Donnell and Raymond F. Lederer
. He was soon assigned by Democratic Leader Herbert Fineman
to the House Bipartisan Committee To Study Situations and Circumstances of Victims of Rape, chaired by Rep. Richard McClachey
. After the Bipartisan Committee concluded its hearings, Cohen joined other members of it in co-sponsoring House Bill 2706, giving powers and duties to the Pennsylvania State Police concerning victims of rape, and House Bill 2707, requiring schools of nursing to have courses of instruction in the handling and treatment of victims of rape.
Fineman later appointed him as Secretary of the State Government Committee and as Chairman of the Public Utility
Subcommittee of the Consumer Protection
Committee.
These assignments would be followed by his appointment to the Special Committee to Investigate the Three Mile Island accident
at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station
by Democratic (Minority) Leader K. Leroy Irvis
. The investigation took place in the 1979-1980 legislative session; Three Mile Island accident health effects
were not measured until later. Much of the work of the special committee was in demonstrating the need for an evacuation plan in the event of another nuclear accident.
As a member of the Consumer Protection
Committee in 1975-1976, and as the Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Public Utilities Subcommittee of the name-changed Consumer Affairs Committee in 1977-1978, both led by "Mr. Consumer," C.L. Schmitt, Cohen helped enact a vigorous pro-consumer agenda. Calling Pennsylvania's retail fair trade law--which allowed manufactures to set a minimum price for the sale of a product--"a noble experiment that has failed," Cohen was the prime sponsor of legislation to repeal it, with an exception for cigarettes.
On January 28, 1975, he co-sponsored a bill establishing a consumer advocate to argue for public interests before the Public Utility Commission of Pennsylvania
, the Milk Marketing Board
, and the Insurance commissioner
. The bill quickly passed the House and went to the Senate Committee on Consumer Affairs. There the bill was limited to the Public Utility Commission of Pennsylvania
, sent back to the House, rewritten by a conference committee, and finally enacted. Writing in 2010, the Chair of the Senate Consumer Affairs Committee in 1975, Franklin L. Kury, called the legislative creation of the consumer advocate "the single most important step" in improving the PUC. "It is impossible," Kury wrote,"for the commission to be both a judge of the rate increase application before it and an advocate for the rate payers at the same time. The ratepayers needed an independent lawyer to represent them. By establishing a consumer advocate, we ensured that for the first time a lawyer knowledgeable in utility law, with the support of a good staff, would confront the utility lawyers and make them prove their case for an increase." Kury attributed a major U.S. Supreme Court decision saving Pennsylvania consumers $44,267,054 to the creation of the consumer advocate, saying "The consuming public does not have standing to appeal PUC
decisions. The PUC could not (and would not) appeal a Commonwealth Court decision in its favor. But the consumer advocate has authority to appeal the PUC and Commonwealth court decisions, as well as to defend the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision before the U.S. Supreme Court. As Representative Schmitt and the rest of us contemplated, a consumer advocate could face off with the utility lawyers and give the consuming public representation that protected its interests."
On February 5, 1975, as Congress was considering whether or not to renew U.S. involvement in the War in Vietnam between North Vietnam
and the Viet Cong on one side and South Vietnam
on the other side, Cohen one of 6 state house Democrats to introduce House Resolution 29 to "memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation; or take such other appropriate action as may be necessary to prevent increased military and economic assistance to countries involved in the war in Southeast Asia
and to prevent the use of military forces of the United States to aid such countries." The sentiment the resolution expressed was widespread, and the US Congress did not renew military efforts there.
To deal with plant closings, a major threat to Pennsylvania workers, Cohen—following the enactments of the states of Maine
and Wisconsin
in 1971 and 1976 respectively -- introduced state legislation similar to and foreshadowing the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act
. Cohen's 1977 bill provided for 75 days advance notice for plant closings. In May, 1979, he introduced House Bill 1251, the more comprehensive Employee Protection and Community Stabilization Act. His legislation and a vigorous citizen/labor/clergy campaign led by the Delaware Valley Coalition for Jobs (DVCJ) helped lead to enactment of 60 day advance notice plant closing legislation by the City of Philadelphia, which, in turn, helped inspire the federal 60 day advance notice requirement enacted in 1988. Beyond its specific legal provisions, the federal plant closing legislation had broader social significance: it "has legitimized among policymakers the idea that firm managers ought to be responsive to a multiplicity of interests," a critic charged. Among strong supporters of plant closing legislation, the federal legislation was considered inadequate compared to other proposed bills or to Cohen's Employee Protection and Community Stabilization Act.
He supported the Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP), enacted in 1983 as the Pennsylvania
Foreclosure
Prevention Act, which ultimately gave delayed interest payment loans to 45,000 families to keep them from being foreclosed. He voted for it, as House Bill 500, on June 29, 1983, after joining with others to vote down a series of weakening amendments. He then supported the bill-- with the language it was amended in the Senate-- on December 14, 1983. It was approved by Governor Richard Thornburgh on December 23, 1983. In a June 30, 2009 press release calling for a $20 million annual HEMAP appropriation, he said that, since its inception, $211 million was appropriated to HEMAP, and $238 million has been repaid. On November 3, 2011, speaking at a prayer vigil in front of Governor Tom Corbett
's Philadelphia office building in support of emergency HEMAP funding , he said the program generated "more money paid back, including interest, than money appropriated, so it really doesn't cost very much."
As a member of the Philadelphia delegation in the House, he actively opposed—and helped kill—mayoral proposals to raise the Philadelphia wage tax in the middle of the fiscal year in the mid-1970s and early 1980s.
He supported legislation that made ward realignments in Philadelphia more diffficult, by requiring any ward realignment plan approved by the Common Pleas Court to be sent to the Philadelphia City Council for consideration and placement on the ballot.
He voted to make the office of Attorney General an elected office.
As a member of the House Appropriations Committee in 1981, he interrogated Secretary of Health and Welfare Helen O'Bannon
on the extent of the legislature's duty to follow an order by Federal Judge Raymond J. Broderick
to appropriate $900,000 for a special master
in the long-running Halderman v. Pennhurst State School and Hospital litigation. His questions and her answers were cited by both Judge Broderick and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals as part of her obstruction of his order, leading her and the Department of Public Welfare to be held in contempt of court
, and the Office of the Special Master
(in charge of the deinstitutionalization of Pennhurst patients who could be better treated in community settings) to be funded. Ultimately, with Cohen's support, deinstitutionalization led to the closing of all but six of the more than 20 Pennsylvania State Hospitals
, including Allentown State Hospital
, Dixmont State Hospital
, Harrisburg State Hospital
, Haverford State Hospital
, Lawrence Frick State Hospital
, Mayview State Hospital
, Pennhurst State School and Hospital, the Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry
, and Somerset State Hospital
among other facilities, and the downsizing of still other psychiatric hospitals. Hundreds of millions of dollars were saved each year.
Cohen was the only House Democrat to join most House Republicans in opposing allowing an objectionable appropriation of $150,000 to the office of Republican Pennsylvania General Counsel Jay Waldman
to delay the payment of checks to 80,000 welfare recipients.
by Speakers K. Leroy Irvis
and James J. Manderino
,Cohen served as Chairman of the House Labor Relations
Committee from 1983 to 1990, where he focused on increasing the minimum wage
and protecting worker's compensation benefits. His initial appointment in 1983 was seen by the Philadelphia Inquirer as one of a number of signs that the Philadelphia delegation "apparently is regaining significant influence in the General Assembly as the 1983-1984 session begins."
He helped enact Pennsylvania's first whistleblower
law, which was one of the more extensive in the nation, covering private sector employees reporting "waste" and "wrongdoing" as well as public sector employees reporting "waste" and "wrongdoing," terms that "are very carefully defined in the statute." The depth and breath of the wrong-doing private sector employees in government-funded programs are protected from losing their jobs from exposing is shown by a 2011 federal court decision holding that the Pennsylvania
whistleblower
law even covers an employee who reported that teachers were consuming meals provided for students, raising costs and leaving students hungry.
Cohen began his Labor Relations Committee Chairmanship by participating in public and private negotiations aimed at finding a solution to ensure solvency
in Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation fund in order to preserve unemployment benefits. His longterm efforts to raise Pennsylvania's minimum wage in accordance with rises in inflation
, coupled with aggressive statewide organizing led by the Philadelphia Unemployment Project and Pennsylvania labor unions, helped lead to minimum wage increase bill signings by Governors Robert P. Casey
in 1988 and Edward G. Rendell in 2006. The Pennsylvania minimum wage increases were part of a nationwide effort among state legislators which he helped organize. From the beginning of his efforts, he saw raising the minimum wage to match inflation as a longterm process, saying after the initial minimum wage increase, "We will come back next time and fight vigorously." His advocacy for increased minimum wages continued after the 2006 increase, too. His efforts as Chairman of the House Labor Relations Committee won him an award from the Pennsylvania
Chamber of Commerce
and the enthusiastic praise of the President of the Pennsylvania
AFL-CIO
.
A supporter of equal pay for equal work
and equal pay for women
, he supported a proposed bill seeking to raise the salaries of people in largely female occupations that was initiated by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, but was stymied when it yielded to political pressures and came out in opposition to its own bill.
He served as a member of the House Select Committee on Farm Labor, investigating the plight of the farm laborer in Pennsylvania, chaired by Rep. James J. A. Gallagher
, and worked to enforce the 1978 Seasonal Farm Labor Act. Upon listening to testimony from farm workers, he said "I was really shocked" the state government has shown "a lack of vigor and compassion" in the protection of farm laborers. He sought farmworker justice, seeking to fully enforce state laws protecting each farmworker. Years later, he would continue to press for increased legal help for farmworkers. Decades later, he would serve as a member of the Honorary Committee for the Friends of Farmworkers 30th Anniversary Celebration.
A May, 1986 Labor Relations Committee study of the length of time it took injured workers to get worker's compensation benefits, conducted under Cohen's direction, found that it took disabled workers an average of 10 months to get a decision on their eligibility. "it's much too long," he said. "The current system does little to create pressure for better safety practices, and lessens workers' respect for employers." Cohen sought remedial legislation to deal with workers compensation problems. The Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce offered its own reform program. Ultimately, elements of both plans took effect.
He held hearings on problems related to drug testing, and introduced legislation "requiring companies using drug testing to offer employee assistance programs, more rigorous confirmation tests and opportunities for workers to reform themselves." An essay he and Eric Fillman wrote in support of such legislation for State Government News was reprinted in two anthology textbooks on business ethics
by professors at DePaul University
as well as the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University and cited in a two others by professors at Salisbury University
. Cohen and Fillman wrote the Counterpoint to the question "Is Employee Drug Testing the Answer?" In addition to describing and advocating Cohen's legislation, they wrote "We must all remember that drug abuse is a health and social problem, not just a police problem. Employers genuinely interested in combating the drug problems of the workplace have the responsibility to make a sincere effort to help troubled employees. The continued success and proliferation of employee assistance programs in recent years suggest that such programs respond to the true needs of employers and chemically dependent persons alike....The ultimate goal of employers should be to prevent further drug use, not to reinforce its abuse by adding reasons for an employee to turn to drugs, such as the loss of a job. Firing otherwise productive workers on the basis of drug tests is not a satisfactory answer to the problems of drug abuse in the workplace."
He stopped the reporting out of legislation hostile to the goals of the Pennsylvania
labor movement.
Urging support of a higher minimum wage
, he spoke at a quickly called Labor Day
rally after a period of time in which the average Philadelphia labor leader had stopped hosting Labor Day events due to member disinterest. This rally marked the long-term resumption of Tri-State Labor Day events in Philadelphia. He has continued to participate in Labor Day events.
Due to the retirements of his Democratic successors as Labor Relations Committee Chairman Fred Belardi
, Frank Pistella
, and Robert Belfanti
, Cohen is the only member of the House Democratic Caucus in the 2011-2012 legislative session with the experience of having been Majority Chairman of the House Labor Relations Committee.
on the House floor, and in the Pennsylvania Capitol building. He strongly supported the legislative efforts to greatly reduce public exposure to second-hand smoke, and potential for damages
from it, supporting both the legislation banning much smoking in restaurants that was enacted in 2008 and the more comprehensive ban previously proposed.
He was the prime sponsor and part author of a chemical right to know
bill signed into law by Governor Richard Thornburgh. He then pressured the Thornburgh Administration to implement the bill after a long period of study. His chemical Right to know
law was ultimately upheld by the US Supreme Court in a lawsuit brought by the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association, after previously being upheld by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
He helped expose the selling of tainted meat to McDonald's
and testified before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Livestock and Poultry that U.S. food safety
laws should be strengthened.
Saying that "The steady escalation in health care costs today represents a major threat to the continued availability of affordable health care," he introduced a comprehensive 4 bill package—one bill establishing the Health Care Costainment Council, and other bills seeking to create a funding pool for low income health care for those without health insurance, competitive bidding for hospital purchases in excess of $2,500, require substitution of generic drugs for higher priced brand name drugs, and itemized bills for hospital patients—health care reform plan backed by the AFL-CIO in 1985, and held hearings on it in the Labor Relations Committee. Ultimately, the Health and Welfare Committee took jurisdiction, and succeeded in enacting the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, backed by both representatives of labor and business. His former aide Marc Volavka was a staff member, and then, beginning in 1998 executive director, of the Health Care Cost Containment Council, from 1993 through his retirement from state government in 2008.
He was an early supporter of mandated mental health coverage in all health care policies.
He sought state funds to replace eliminated federal funds to protect the health of migrant farm workers.
He opposed legal changes taking away benefits from injured workers, saying "Injured workers do not deserve to be treated like they are leeches on the business community. Injured workers should be treated with dignity and respect."
He helped create the state-run Northeast Philadelphia Veterans' home, to house and treat ill veterans and their spouses, on the southern edge of Benjamin Rush State Park
.
He was the main force in the House behind the establishment of Pennsylvania's Organ Donation
Trust Fund. The law establishing it gave organizations specializing in organ transplantation hospital access to potential organ donors, set up a system of drivers' license identification for each potential organ donor, and publicized the need for organ donation. It became a national model, and the basis for a new national policy during the Clinton Administration. Ultimately, after the death of Governor Robert P. Casey in 2000, the Organ Donation Trust Fund, which took effect March 1, 1995 was named by the legislature, in a bill sponsored by Cohen, as the Robert P. Casey Memorial Organ and Tissue Donation Trust Fund.
To protect the health and safety of Pennsylvania public sector
workers under the jurisdiction of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration
, he introduced a proposed law creating a state-run OSHA system for state and local governmental employees.
He was a co-sponsor of "Disability Awareness Day." He opposed cuts in services to the disabled.
In the 2011-12 legislative session, he serves as a member of the Health Committee, as well as of the Human Services Committee, where he is the Chairman for the Democratic minority members. His committee assignments deal with issues of both public health
and private healthcare
. They deal with the regulation of each Pennsylvania abortion clinic
, hospital, and hospice
. They deal with methadone maintenance
, substance abuse
, and substance dependence
. He previously had been a leader of Pennsylvania's efforts to promote organ transplantation, and a leader on behalf of issues affecting health care providers . He was a strong supporter of Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program, and the increase of Pennsylvania's cigarette tax to subsidize medical malpractice
insurance for physicians. His chemical right to know
legislation for workers and communities was signed into law by Governor Richard Thornburgh in 1984.
An early supporter of requiring insurers to cover telehealth
, Cohen found the administration of Governor Tom Corbett
praising telehealth
for "Access and Convenience," "Quicker/Correct Diagnoses Mean Reduced Healthcare Is Required," "Cost Efficiences," "Increased Independence" for the elderly, "Safety and Security" for healthcare information, "Less Anxiety for Patients," and "Growing Acceptance and Demand," but still hedging on insurance reimbursement, asking "Will the rate of reimbursement be based on face to face appointments, or will it provide a lower rate?"
He has strongly defended the right to choose of Pennsylvania women. He has repeatedly defended the rights of AIDS
victims to get state subsidized treatment and to have their privacy
protected. He introduced legislation setting up an Office of Environmental Monitoring in Pennsylvania's Health Department to conduct research into cancer clusters and other potential external sources of illnesses.
Cohen helped both the AFL-CIO
and Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce
enact a nationally controversial plan to make any hostile takeover of a Pennsylvania company unlikely.
Cohen helped enact the plan of Gov. Robert P. Casey
to reduce auto insurance rates.
Cohen helped enact the abolition of tax liens for recipients of welfare
in Pennsylvania.
Cohen was a leader of legislative efforts to establish the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority
to monitor the finances of the Philadelphia city government, and to require the city adopt five year fiscal plans as well as annual budgets.
, he also continues his service on the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
, where he has served since his Fall 1995 appointment by House Speaker Matthew J. Ryan
. He is currently the most senior member of the Council.
He was a member of Speaker of the House Dennis M. O'Brien
's Commission on Legislative Reform, and of work groups of his Speaker's Symposium on Crime and Violence. He was one of Speaker O'Brien's Speakers pro tempore
. O'Brien also appointed him to the Executive Committee of the Council of State Governments
.
, Cohen co-sponsored and actively pushed legislation introduced November 25, 1975, enacted in 1976, to enable an American citizen who was a foreign medical graduate to complete a 5th Pathway Program to receive a license to practice medicine in Pennsylvania. The 5th Pathway Program peaked nationally in 1979-1980, and ultimately the expansion of the programs offered by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
led its falling off and eventual elimination by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association
.
Cohen introduced House Resolution 313 on June 11, 1986, which established the Select Committee to Study the Feasibility of a Harrisburg Law School. After this resolution was approved by a 98 to 97 margin on June 18, 1986, Cohen chaired the committee, which strongly recommended that a Harrisburg law school be created and drew the interest of Delaware Law School of Widener University
. Delaware Law School did its own feasibility study, confirming the value of establishing a Harrisburg campus, gained funding from John Vartan
, and ultimately changed its name to Widener University School of Law
. Cohen's leadership in inspiring the creation of the Harrisburg campus of Widener University School of Law
was noted on Volume 1, Page 1 of the Journal of the Harrisburg Campus of the Widener School of Law and other sources. The law school opened in September, 1989, and graduated its first class of full-time students in May, 1992. The first evening class, of which Cohen was a member, graduated in May, 1993.
The Select Committee's law school feasibility study, of which House Local Government Committee Legal Counsel William M. Sloane was primary author, documented that Pennsylvania ranked lower than many other states in law schools per person, lawyers per person, and percent of lawyers working for state government. It compared lawyers in the state capitol of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
with lawyers in the state capitols of Lansing, Michigan
and Trenton, New Jersey
, both of which had evening law schools, and found that the Harrisburg attorneys were significantly less likely to have earned degrees at age 28 or higher, when they were more likely to be tied to a job. It found that 11 state capitols had law schools offering evening courses, and one state capitol had a law school offering part-time day courses. It found that there were 3.65 million Pennsylvanians for whom a law school in Harrisburg would be closer than any existing law school.
The success of the Widener University School of Law
led to emulation in law school expansion by other Pennsylvania
educational institutions. Dickinson School of Law
of Pennsylvania State University
opened a campus in University Park, Pennsylvania
in 2006. The Earle Mack School of Law of Drexel University
also opened in Philadelphia in 2006. Wilkes University
has announced intentions to open a law school by 2014, after taking steps with an earlier opening date in mind.
Cohen introduced House Resolution 323 on April 25, 1990 which, upon its adoption by the state house, created the Select Committee to Study the Feasibility of a Harrisburg University. Speaker Robert W. O'Donnell
appointed Cohen to chair the committee, which held hearings without producing a consensus and concluded that "further study" was needed. Further study, from the office of Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed and in the private sector, did take place, and the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
was chartered in 2001 and opened in 2005. Its affiliate, SciTech High
, opened in 2003. Harrisburg University's website credits "the idea for the university" to "business leaders, government officials, and the regional news media." Harrisburg University's website also says that "The University is a model of public-private partnership. The University receives external support from the corporate sector, private individuals, and state and federal government. Fortune 500
companies and other leading companies such as Hershey Company, Select Medical Corporation
, PPL (utility)
, Cleveland Brothers Equipment Company, Tyco Electronics
, and Penn National Insurance
all support the university."
In working successfully to establish Harrisburg University, Cohen and others reversed many years of elite indifference to educational opportunities for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
students and others who worked in Harrisburg or would have been interested in being educated there. In a long series of columns written for the Harrisburg Patriot-News from February, 1983 through March, 1984, columnist and historian Paul Beers, a graduate of Girard College
's boarding school for fatherless boys in Philadelphia, complained that "The gentry never considered establishing a college. Its feeling was that proper Harrisburgers could always be admitted to Yale--(former early 20th century Harrisburg mayor and longtime Harrisburg Patriot-News publisher) Vance McCormick was on its board for 23 years--or Princeton, or Penn, or Dickinson, or even rural Penn State--where McCormick also was a trustee for 38 years. The result was that Harrisburg was Pennsylvania's last major city to get a college." Continuing in the same vein, Beers wrote "The local civic achievement of the mid-1960's was strictly non-political. The founding of Harrisburg Area Community College
represented an outflanking of the old-guard politicos who seemed indifferent to Harrisburg as the last major city in Pennsylvania without a college....(Affluent and elite)Front Street for decades maintained its noble and lofty ideals by sending its offspring to Yale, Princeton, Penn and occasionally Dickinson. Only the rare and ambitious from the rest of town made it to college. As late as Sputnik in 1957, the Harrisburg area shamefully endured a high dropout rate and fewer than 20% of its seniors entered post-secondary education. Though imported college night-school courses were offered since the early 1930's, there were no state or Catholic colleges here. York, Lancaster, Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport were college towns, but not Harrisburg...."
At the beginning of the Gulf War
, Cohen introduced House Bill 2949 on October 2, 1990, to "reaffirm the support of this Commonwealth for members of the National Guard and other reserve components of the United States" and to declare "that the laws of this Commonwealth, providing support for the National Guard and other reserve components should be updated in light of the current duties and responsibilities of the National Guard and reserve component forces as part of the total force." Section 7313 of this bill provided for an "Educational Leave of Absence" for a Guard member "called or ordered to active duty" during their time of service, with restoration "to the educational status they had attained prior to their being ordered to military duty without loss of academic credits earned, scholarships or grants awarded or tuition and other fees paid prior to the commencement of the military duty." Educational institutions were required "to refund tution or fees paid on a pro rata basis or to credit the tuition and fees to the next semester or term after the termination of the educational military leave of absence at the option of the student...."
On November 13, 1990, Cohen introduced Amendment A3959 to Senate Bill 1366, which incorporated the above educational leave of absence language in Section 7313. Cohen's educational leave of absence amendment unanimously passed the House, as did the bill. Senate Bill 1366, as amended by Cohen, was signed into law by Governor Robert P. Casey
on December 17, 1990, becoming Act 174 of 1990. Cohen then, in the 1993-1994 legislative session, introduced legislation for "educational assistance grants" for members of the Pennsylvania National Guard; this program became, as a result of a House Appropriations Committee amendment to Senate Bill 698 passed by the House on May 21, 1996, with Cohen publicly supporting suspending house rules to expedite its passage, act 56 of 1996, signed into law by Governor Thomas J. Ridge on June 19, 1996.
to gain such approval. Rizzo's request was defeated in the state house, and Green's request never came up for a vote. No subsequent mayor requested a mid-year tax increase.
Like many other Philadelphia elected officials, Cohen did not sign off on plans of some advisors to Mayor W. Wilson Goode and Mayor Ed Rendell
for the city to surrender control of the Philadelphia Airport to a proposed multi-county or multistate authority. While Rendell still had the status of Mayor-Elect, Rendell's campaign manager and future Chief of Staff David L. Cohen
, no relation to the state legislator, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that "Control of the airport will be dealt with right after Rendell takes office on Jan. 6 and tackles the the city's three biggest problems,... 'finance, finance, and finance.'" Rendell found little out of state interest in the Philadelphia Airport, and then focused on a multicounty authority. "I think a Pennsylvania regional authority is the way to go, and I hope the state legislature puts it on the front burner when they come back into session," Rendell said. But he ran into resistance from the Philadelphia delegation to the House of Representatives, whose chairman Anthony Hardy Williams said " I'm looking for what's best for Philadelphia County. There is no crisis. We don't need to do anything right away."
An Inquirer article noted that the goals of a multicounty authority were to end requirements that airport employees be city residents, and to end restrictive procedures of competitive bidding that "make it difficult to buy equipment and supplies in a timely manner." Rendell was a strong critic of union work rules at the Philadelphia Airport. Along with getting increased state aid, cutting labor costs was a key for him to balance the city budget and cut city taxes.
As Democratic House Majority Caucus Chairman in 1992, Cohen was one of the people with the ability to put a bill establishing a state authority to run the Philadelphia Airport "on the front burner" of the House, but he did not do so. A strong ally of the labor movement and a strong supporter of residency requirements even when opposed by a labor union, Cohen was one of the least likely legislators to be converted to a plan endangering existing jobs and reducing the number of Philadelphians likely to be hired in the future. He endured petty harassment from Rendell's chief of staff and his biographer.
No bill creating an authority for the Philadelphia Airport ever became law. Cohen hailed a subsequent effort to form a special committee to study the sale of the Philadelphia Airport, on which he would later serve, saying it was much better to study it publicly than behind closed doors. The Philadelphia Airport was never sold.
When Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter proposed eliminating 11 branch libraries in 2008, Cohen strongly opposed the branch library eliminations. Two of the proposed library closings were in his legislative district. His public opposition began within days of Mayor Nutter's announcement. He called it "outrageous and deeply wrong" to cut libraries for lower-income people. "Cutting the services of low-income people in order to cut taxes for high-income people...is indefensible," he said, noting that the city's wealthiest neighborhoods had been untouched in planned library closures. Ultimately, none of the branch libraries were shut down.
as a member of the President's Council of Common Cause
. He tours schools with U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Jr.
and others to gain and share information about problems facing today's children. He joins fellow members of the House Democratic Policy Committee in hearing testimony on urgent public problems. He testifies before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
against rate increases affecting his constituents. He helps organize special events helping senior citizens and others needing information about health issues and health providers. He attends meetings of the Progressive States Network
. He attends Philadelphia public events of National Night Out
. and works to get resources to fight neighborhood crime. He supports Philadelphia town watch
/Neighborhood Watch
organizations, and Democratic Party picnics. He continues to participate in political/governmental advocacy organizations including Democracy for America
, Netroots Nation, MoveOn.org Pennsylvania's annual Progressive Summit, and the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee, the governing body of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party
. He is a Democratic committeeman for the 53rd Ward, 16th Division in Philadelphia, and is first vice-chairman of the 53rd Ward Democratic Executive Committee.
Citing "a great gap of leadership in American society, and... an adverse effect on the recent history of the United States," Cohen in 1975 introduced a resolution memorializing Congress "to appoint a committee or committees to begin a full, thorough and comprehensive investigation of the assassination of John F. Kennedy
, Robert F. Kennedy
, and Martin Luther King;" the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations
was established the following year to investigate the assassinations of just John F. Kennedy
and Martin Luther King. Cohen successfully supported the enactment of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a state holiday.
He also supported naming the Keystone Shortway, Interstate 80
, after Christopher Columbus
, but opposed naming Philadelphia's criminal justice center after former Philadelphia police commissioner and mayor Frank L. Rizzo, saying "Although it is appropriate to praise the dead, it is not necessarily appropriate to give the dead eternal recognition." He said the administration of criminal justice was "a signal failure of the Rizzo Administration." He never complained about the privately paid for Rizzo statue in front of the Municipal Services Building, however.
He was an early advocate of Edward M. Kennedy running for President in 1980. He was a contributor to the Presidential campaign of John B. Anderson
for the Republican Presidential nomination opposing both Ronald Reagan
and George H.W. Bush. He was an early contributor to the Presidential campaign of Al Gore
in 1999.
Cohen opposed the "highway robbery" of a company getting $2.5 million in state government loans, and then shutting down its operations less than three years later. "What did we get for our money?" he asked along with Reps. Dwight E. Evans
and Robert Belfanti
.
He was an early opponent of the Iraq War who favored responsible Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq
.
He was a delegate elected for Howard Dean
at the 2004 Democratic National Convention
, and for Barack Obama
at the 2008 Democratic National Convention
He was an early endorser of the successful campaign of R. Seth Williams
for Philadelphia District Attorney
in 2009. He campaigned for House Democratic colleagues, Louise Bishop, John Sabatina, Leanna Washington and others. He signed "An Open Letter to the Jewish Community," in the Jewish Exponent, which argued that 2010 Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Joseph Sestak was a strong supporter of Israel
. He engaged in political fundraising.
Attending the annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures
in 1987, he helped lead 60% of the state delegations to support a resolution opposing the pending US Supreme Court nomination of Robert Bork
by President Ronald Reagan
, despite the resolution's unanimous defeat in the convention's Law and Justice Committee. The Associated Press noted he "said the resolution was the only substantial statement that the delegates were considering. Other NCSL positions aren't newsworthy because they are the bland result of consensus," he said. Bork's nomination was never confirmed by the US Senate.
Saying "the Civil War is over and Slavery in the United States is illegal," he joined national efforts against the Stars and Bars
of the Confederacy (American Civil War) in the Georgia state flag in 1996; Five years later, threatened with national boycotts, the state of Georgia
quieted protesters by redoing its flag. The state flag was last modified in 2003.
He defended the practice of electing judges in Pennsylvania.
He argued strongly against the replacement of the winner take all allocation system for Pennsylvania's electoral votes by a system giving a candidate a single vote for each Congressional district carried, with just two votes for carrying Pennsylvania. Disagreeing with a high-powered lobbying effort, he sent a public letter to the two chief public advocates of one electoral vote per Congressional district plan—Governor Tom Corbett
and State Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi
--asserting that their proposal "unconstitutionally abridges the right to vote of Pennsylvania's minority citizens." His letter was cited by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette as one of the reasons to oppose the Corbett-Pileggi plan.
He supported the Philadelphia Newspaper Guild
in its 2006 labor dispute with publisher Brian Tierney
. He pressured the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, generally known as SEPTA, to come to terms with the Transport Workers Union
by co-sponsoring a bill which would have kept transportation subsidies in escrow until a transportation strike is settled. He supported organizing Mushroom Workers in their efforts to both form a union and grow mushrooms in a more sanitary manner. In support of the Mushroom Workers, he said "Laws don't mean anything without vigorous sustained advocacy, and a union would greatly increase the chances of that." He supported the organizing efforts of the Philadelphia Security Officers Union.
He called public attention to the millions of dollars in unspent money for residents of Pennsylvania in the federal Emergency Homeowners Loan Program, passed after the announcement of the Homeowners Affordability and Stability Plan
by President Barack Obama
, urging eligible people in danger of losing their homes due to financial distress to apply in press conferences held in both Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Pennsylvania became one of four states "to commit its full EHLP allocation," approving 3,056 applications for loans totaling $108 million, including $3 million in extra funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "During the final weeks of this program," Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) CEO and executive director Brian A. Hudson said,"our staff worked evenings and weekends to process every EHLP application. I'm proud of the tireless effort they made, and we're all very pleased to have helped so many families avoid the heartbreak of foreclosure. This not only directly helps those families, but it also helps stabilize communities hardest hit by the economic slowdown."
He worked on behalf of his constituents with numerous businesses, including the PECO Energy Company
,
His many years of governmental service and political activism have led to occasional recognition as a political pundit. He has often had occasion to eulogize top elected officials, fellow legislators lobbyists, political activists, civic activists, and bloggers. He has sometimes been a voice of caution, warning of difficulties ahead. He has sometimes been used by journalists as a source of legislative institutional memory.
He has expressed his views before the Philadelphia City Council
, the Delaware River Basin Commission
, the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
the Legislative Reapportionment Commission, and other official bodies.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for the seat in the US House of Representatives held by Joshua Eilberg
in 1978, at a time of widespread controversy over Eilberg's role in the decision of Jimmy Carter
to fire David Marston while Marston was conducting a criminal investigation of Eilberg. He actively campaigned in 2003 for the Democratic nomination for the Congressional seat being vacated by Joseph Hoeffel to run for the US Senate, but withdrew his candidacy in January, 2004 when it had become clear to him that Allyson Schwartz
had more support than he did.
liability should be limited. In a legislative debate on April 11, 2011, he asked "Who are we here for? Are we here for victims, or just for defendants, in civil litigation?"
He opposed the deportation of immigrants from Cambodia
who already had been punished for crimes they committed and had made new lives for themselves in Philadelphia.
He supported academic freedom
and actively opposed attempts inspired by conservative leader David Horowitz
and Pennsylvania legislators allied with him to probe the political beliefs of college professors employed by the state university system.
To preserve financially stressed newspapers in order to further freedom of speech
, he "has suggested that the only (new) 'content-neutral' way to to (governmentally) support newspapers and protect quality journalism is to subsidize newsprint." He viewed the long-repealed Fairness Doctrine
as producing an improved quality of public debate.
He improved the employment law rights of police officers after they had been engaged in a military deployment
, by getting legislation passed of which he was the prime sponsor allowing them to return to work, even if they had been abroad during their required recertification tests. He said that getting experienced police officers back on the streets was both "a matter of public safety" and "a responsibility to protect rights of our military service members.
He supported the inclusion of gays and lesbians in Pennsylvania's Ethnic Intimidation and Institutional Vandalism Act, saying "This bill is not about what ministers or Sunday School teachers say. This bill is about what thugs, hooligans, and murderers do."
a "terrible idea whose time should never come" that would reduce the range of political opinion in the legislative process, make election campaigns more expensive, make legislators "more remote" from their constituents, and "less representative of the average citizen." He said the fiscal impact would be the same as closing one high school of the List of high schools in Pennsylvania. He warned his colleagues that reducing the size of the state house after the 2022 elections meant that in 2022 about half of the House members would face challenges from other House members, and that this fact would undermine colleagiality in the House until these elections took place. Others shared his concerns. Still others partially agreed with him, but still favored a smaller legislature, or favored elimination of the 50 member Pennsylvania Senate instead.
, and David Cohen (politician), he joined other elected officials and leading Philadelphia consumer advocate Max Weiner as plaintiffs against a SEPTA fare increase, winning in both the Court of Common Pleas and in the Commonwealth Court on the claim that SEPTA failed to follow the state law and recognize two votes against the fare increase from Philadelphia board members and one vote from a Delaware County
board member as a veto of the fare increase. But, after subsequent decisions by SEPTA and the Common Pleas Court, the Commonwealth Court, on an appeal by SEPTA, said "We now supplement that holding by noting that a 'veto' can be exercised only by an 'express objection' made pursuant to the provision of Section 18(a) and that a negative vote without more is inefficient to constitute such objection," effectively reversing the orgininal decision.
Represented by Theodore M. Lieverman, Cohen was an amici curiae in New Jersey
State Chamber of Commerce
v. Hughey, which established that OSHA
's 1984 Hazard Communication Standard
did not preempt the pre-existing New Jersey
Worker and Community Right to know
Act "insofar as it regulates employers outside the manufacturing sector, or insofar as it requires identification and reporting of environmental hazards. The preempted provisions may be servered from those that are valid...." This decision, written by Judge Gustave Diamond
, sitting by designation of the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, was of precedential value in helping preserve Pennsylvania's similar law, of which Cohen had been prime sponsor.
Cohen, as Counsel of Record, with co-counsel Eric Fillman, filed an amicus curiae
brief in the case of Grutter v. Bollinger
on behalf of current and former Pennsylvania legislators seeking a continuation of affirmative action programs that were deemed by educational institutions to be in the best interests of the student body. His brief foreshadowed one of the arguments used by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
in writing the majority opinion: that the evidence before the trial court which had declared affirmative action unconstitutional did not support the holding. He called the majority opinion "a ringing affirmation of the goal of an inclusive society."
Cohen was an early plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit, filed after the 2007 pet food recalls
, seeking, and winning, compensation for damages for pet owners against companies which sold tainted pet food which killed or sickened many people's pets. Years earlier, working with the Philadelphia SPCA, he had forestalled litigation, and protected the right of Pennsylvania homeowners to own pets, by threatening to push through legislation banning insurance discrimination against pet owners, which led an offending insurance company to change its mind quickly.
Represented by Daniel Ocko, Cohen intervened as a plaintiff before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
in the Act 129 Pennsylvania electric utility energy efficiency and conservation proceedings of PECO Energy Company
filed on March 2, 2009, seeking to secure greater energy conservation
benefits for low-income residents of Pennsylvania
. Along with the Action Alliance of Senior Citizens of Greater Philadelphia and the Tenant Union Representative Network, Cohen helped persuade the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
to issue order #8 on October 15, 2009, requiring PECO to redraft its proposed procedure allowing it to shift funds for the benefit of one class of users to the benefit of another class of users, and replace it with a procedure requiring any change in beneficiaries to be submitted to the Commission instead. Dealing with another issue raised by Cohen, the Commission Order and Opinion said that "While we fully appreciate Representative Cohen's interest in mitigating the potential impact of future rate increases through consumer conservation," they felt the existing PECO Consumer Education Plan for 2008-2012 was adequate for informing consumers of rate-saving conservation techniques, and that no further order to PECO was necessary to maximize consumer outreach.
Cohen's November 10, 2010 Prehearing Memorandum to Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Administrative law
Judges Elizabeth H. Barnes and Dennis J. Buckley (1) opposed transfer of $1.8 million from the Residential Whole Home Performance Program to the Compact fluorescent lamp
program for both business and residential consumers; (2) favored "the identification and targeting of RH (residential heating) customers for all existing residential Act 129 programs with marketing materials that among other things would provide realistic estimates of future electric bills using past consumer usage in winter months with the new and future rates" and argued that RH (residential heating) customers are providing some of the millions of dollars of ratepayer's dollars that are being spent to implement Act 129 programs and with targeted efforts and programs they could pay an important role in conserving electricity," conserving energy; (3) favored the use of PECO subsidies to reduce the cost of a less expensive $25 or $20 LED bulb to $10 or $5 as opposed to reducing the cost of a more expensive $45 LED bulb to $30; (4) favored greater stakeholder participation in meetings with PECO.
, legalizing medical marijuana, and allowing people to get civil unions in Pennsylvania.
Cohen first introduced House Bill 1028 for Pennsylvania to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact
on April 5, 2007. He introduced House Bill 841 to join it on March 10, 2009. On May 12, 2011, he was the lead Democratic sponsor on House Bill 1220 to join it, while Republican Rep. Thomas C. Creighton was the prime sponsor. With the enactment of the compact in California
, Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes represent 14.5% of the remaining 138 electoral votes from ratifying states needed for the compact to take effect.
On April 29, 2009, Cohen introduced House Bill 1393 to legalize medical marijuana
in Pennsylvania saying that he believes it is time to get rid of a decades-old negative image surrounding marijuana and replace it with "a new, honest image.". Hearings on the bill were held, but not enough support obtained for the Health and Human Services Committee to call up the bill for a vote. The bill was rewritten, renamed the Governor Raymond P. Shafer
Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, reintroduced on June 15, 2011, and re-referred to the Human Services Committee on June 23, 2011. Despite the lack of public hearings in 2011, Cohen's medical marijuana bill continued to gain public support. On September 15, 2011, Cohen served as a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute faculty on the subject of Legalizing Marijuana, discussing his bill to have legal medical marijuana, and submitting materials for the course record. He told the Philadelphia Daily News
the difficulties in passing his legislation, saying "There's not a single Republican in the legislature who is willing to say he supports it. Governor Corbett said he'd veto it." He warned that "There will be people moving to New Jersey to take advantage of the (medical marijuana) law there. I think that is clear."
Cohen was the first House member to introduce legislation to seek Recognition of same-sex unions in Pennsylvania
, bringing forth legislation for civil unions on April 22, 2010 (House Bill 2447) and, with ultimately 43 co-sponsors, on February 14, 2011 (House Bill 708). His announcement press conference was hosted by the Pennsylvania Interfaith Alliance and other groups. Newsletter, February 9, 2011 The bill is in the House Judiciary Committee. Cohen, with seven other state legislators, also co-sponsored House Bill 1835 introduced by Babette Josephs
to bring marriage equality
to Pennsylvania
.
Cohen introduced legislation creating wheelchair accessible taxicabs for the disabled in Philadelphia (House Bill 1914) in 2010. He also supported a system of workers compensation coverage for taxi drivers. He supported a lawsuit filed by Disabled in Action
against the Philadelphia Parking Authority
claiming that Philadelphia's unique failure among the nation's ten largest cities to have accessible taxis violates the Americans With Disabilities Act. Cohen also involved himself in regulatory issues seeking to improve the economic viability of the Philadelphia taxicab industry.
Cohen has frequently opposed attempts to privatize Pennsylvania's governmental services. He has been an angry voice against Republican attempts to require the showing of identification, regardless of whether or not the voter's identity is known by election officials.
Cohen has long been active in issues of criminal justice, serving on the Crime and Corrections subcommittee in 1977-1978 under the leadership of Joseph Rhodes. In 2005, he unsuccessfully tried to get the FBI to reopen its investigation into the Pennsylvania murder of Baltimore
federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna
, focused on prosecuting drug dealers at the time of his death. The Luna case remains unsolved. He also tried to get the FBI to fully investigate the disappearance of Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar
, who was prosecuting drug dealers at the time of his disappearance. Gricar was in 2011 declared legally dead, but the search for him continues.
Whomever you quote, Mr. Speaker, there is no way to quote all people, and the idea that every course has to be a reflection of diverse perspectives on every issue kind of limits the amount of material you can cover in any course....
There is not and there will never be any universal agreement as to what is relevant in any given course. Every course on a college campus is somewhat different based on who is teaching it.
Let us face reality; let's protect the reputuation of our state colleges and of ourselves, and let us vote "no" on this resolution."
should not reappoint him as Superintendent. He said "the fact that Mr. Druce or other members of this House may disagree with remarks made by the superintendent of schools is absolutely no reason to use the powers of this House to seek his firing. As Mr. Roebuck said (James R. Roebuck), people in this country, even people who are despised by every single member of the State House, have the right to speak. It is not a right we graciously give people because we like them. Freedom of speech for those we like is meaningless. Mr. Hornbeck's freedom of speech is not dependent on whether he has majority support in the House of Representatives or not; it is something inherent in every American citizen and every Pennsylvania citizen.
To attempt to muzzle Superintendent Hornbeck's speech is an outrage. It is an invitation to endless further litigation.... The attempt to discipline a school superintendent because his remarks are disagreed with is at the very best a very, very foolish thing. I would hope over the next several weeks the maker of this threat would reconsider this threat and decide to let Mr. Hornbeck speak and to let a speech be just a speech and not an ongoing public issue."
Public Policy Coordinator Leah Kithcart, lobbyist Catharine M. Connor, now of Gmerek Government Relations, Inc., Erika Jeannette, now an associate at Triad Strategies
in Harrisburg, Sherika Thomas, Business Industry Political Action Committee staff member Daniel Goldstein, Emily Vargo,
Cohen told Hillel J. Hoffman, assistant director of news communications at University Communications at Temple University
, that "It's good to see students from Temple in the capitol, because students from Central Pennsylvania have dominated the placement of interns in Harrisburg. ( Temple's) Pennsylvania Capital Semester is a great program for students because internships can lead to jobs. Sometimes interns can even influence policy. I'm delighted that Temple is participating, and I hope that other colleges and universities in the Philadelphia region will follow it's lead."
on political alienation
that "Nothing can so alienate a voter from the political system as backing a winning candidate" has long been quoted on many internet websites and collections of famous quotations, apparently gaining appreciation from waves of public disillusionment towards public officials. He first contributed it to a book by prolific author Paul Dickson
, The Official Rules and Explanations, the first edition of which was published in 1979. Dickson's books on rules of human behavior
--generally culled from anecdotal generalizations rather than precise research—gave contributors the honorific title of Fellows in The Murphy Center for the Codification of Human and Organizational Behavior. The Murphy Center, and Dickson's books, were inspired by Murphy's Law
.
has long been followed. Nicole Casal Moore, "Bloggers Press for Power" State Legislatures Magazine, the official publication of the National Conference of State Legislatures
covering the State Legislature in the United States noted both his blogging and his outreach to other bloggers, sending them special press releases. David C. Wyld, "Government of the People, By the People, and For the People in Web 2.0
: A Survey of Blogging Office Holders in the U.S. Public Sector
and an Agenda for Future Research," in the Journal of New Communications Research found Cohen was the only Pennsylvania blogger among the high-ranking officials he surveyed.
"Call Him Rep. Blog," Lauren Fritsky wrote on the front page of the Northeast Times
referring to his posts on Phillyblog
. The Frankford Gazette of Frankford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
similarly noted his Phillyblog postings. The Public Record of Philadelphia noted his use of Facebook
in Tony West's article "You Gotta Have Friends: Politicians Are Opening Facebook," and the Patriot-News of Harrisburg, "Forget Anthony Weiner, Twitter is here to stay" noted his use of Twitter
and Facebook for legislative purposes. Patriot-News reporter Brett Lieberman revealed that Cohen was among his bipartisan group of Facebook friends. His "widely cited" Amazon.com
book review of Philadelphia politician Michael J. Stack, Jr.'s novel "Close Friends of the Mayor" was noted in The Public Record in its report on attendees at Stack's funeral. The Wikipedia article on the Daily Kos
lists him as a "prominent contributor."
Cohen was a Medallion Award Honoree of the Ducky Birts Foundation on April 17, 2010.
He received the "Feeling Blue Suicide Prevention
Leadership Award" on September 12, 2007, after securing some funds for the organization to help prevent suicides.
He was named an "environmental hero" by Penn Environment for his 100% environmental quality
voting record.
He received an "Outstanding Service Award" from his legal alma mater, Widener University School of Law
, in 2004.
He received an award from the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus
in 2002.
He received an award from the Pennsylvania National Guard
Associations in 1991, for drafting legislation providing benefits to reservists called to active duty in the Gulf and elsewhere.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Succeeding Eugene Gelfand
Eugene Gelfand
Eugene Gelfand is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.-References:...
, he has represented Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 202
Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 202
The 202nd Pennsylvania House of Representatives District is located in Philadelphia County and includes the following areas:* Philadelphia **Ward 17 [PART, Divisions 04, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 26 and 27],...
in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
since June 10, 1974, making him the most senior member in the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
since the December 27, 2010 death of Sen. Michael O'Pake.
Cohen served as a member of the House Democratic leadership from January, 1990, through November, 2010, in the positions of Democratic Caucus Chairman (1990–1992 and 1994–2010) and Majority Whip (1992–1994).
As an elected leader of the House Democratic Caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
for 21 years, he worked to unite an often deeply divided group of Democratic legislators, His efforts sometimes led his colleagues to publicly praise him. His efforts for party unity did not always succeed.
His 7 years as Democratic (Majority) Chairman of the House Labor Relations Committee were also years of collaborative relationships with other legislators and legislative staff. Michael E. Cassidy
Michael E. Cassidy
Michael Edward Cassidy is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.He was the youngest representative in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in history....
, elected to a single House term in 1976 beginning at the age of 21, has long served as his executive director. His current staff counsel Nia Wilson currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures
National Conference of State Legislatures
The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan non-governmental organization established in 1975 to serve the members and staff of state legislatures of the United States...
.
His long-time staff aides have included Eric Fillman, currently serving as Deputy Chief Counsel to the House Democratic Caucus and a longtime leader of the Finnegan Foundation
Finnegan Foundation
The James A. Finnegan Foundation was founded in 1960 and incorporated under Pennsylvania law as a 501 non-profit educational organization. It is governed by an independent Board of Directors, many of whom are Finnegan Alumni.-Founding:...
, and Dawn Reese, currently serving as Assistant Chief Clerk of the House and a longtime Chair of Pennsylvania's Organ Donation
Organ donation
Organ donation is the donation of biological tissue or an organ of the human body, from a living or dead person to a living recipient in need of a transplantation. Transplantable organs and tissues are removed in a surgical procedure following a determination, based on the donor's medical and...
Advisory Committee. Tragedy struck his legislative assistant Pamela Gleason, who lost her police officer husband due to his on-the-job murder, and then lost her life as she was trying to rebuild it. His aide Leola M. Stowall retired from his staff due to ill health, but continued her activism for grandparents raising grandchildren and others "who are more in need than I am" even as she was receiving dialysis
Dialysis
In medicine, dialysis is a process for removing waste and excess water from the blood, and is primarily used to provide an artificial replacement for lost kidney function in people with renal failure...
treatment for malfunctioning kidneys caused by high blood pressure and diabetes.
Current Position As Democratic Chair of Human Services Committee
He was appointed by Democratic Leader Frank DermodyFrank Dermody
Frank Dermody is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 33rd Legislative District since 1991...
as Democratic (Minority) Chair of the "key" Human Services Committee in December, 2010, where he works closely with Republican (Majority) Chair Gene DiGirolamo
Gene DiGirolamo
Gene D. DiGirolamo is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 18th District and first elected in 1995.-Career:...
. One of the DiGirolamo-Cohen bills sought to enact tougher regulation of for-profit methadone
Methadone
Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic and a maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients with opioid dependency. It was developed in Germany in 1937...
clinics. Cohen opposed the opening of for-profit methadone clinics near his legislative district. A second DiGirolamo-Cohen bill establishes the Pharmaceutical Accountability
Accountability
Accountability is a concept in ethics and governance with several meanings. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as responsibility, answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and other terms associated with the expectation of account-giving...
Monitoring System in order to detect pharmaceutical drug abuse and substance use disorders by people with addiction to them.
Both Cohen and DiGirolamo worked to see that human services programs were adequately funded in a period of budget cutting. Both actively participated in the Department of Public Welfare's Appropriations Committee Budget Hearing. The Chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee hailed Cohen as "a longtime advocate of human services programs and a leader to restore funding in this year's spending plan."
DiGiralamo and Cohen held a hearing on House Bill 272 to ease treatments of Lyme Disease
Lyme disease
Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is an emerging infectious disease caused by at least three species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto is the main cause of Lyme disease in the United States, whereas Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii cause most...
, of which Cohen was a co-sponsor. The chances of enacting this legislation were limited by the opposition of the Medical Society of the State of Pennsylvania due to its concerns about antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance is a type of drug resistance where a microorganism is able to survive exposure to an antibiotic. While a spontaneous or induced genetic mutation in bacteria may confer resistance to antimicrobial drugs, genes that confer resistance can be transferred between bacteria in a...
and the legislation's (1) guaranteeing of insurance company reimbursement of long-term use of antibiotic
Antibiotic
An antibacterial is a compound or substance that kills or slows down the growth of bacteria.The term is often used synonymously with the term antibiotic; today, however, with increased knowledge of the causative agents of various infectious diseases, antibiotic has come to denote a broader range of...
prescriptions and (2) requiring a high level of representation for the International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society
International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society
The International Lyme And Associated Diseases Society is a non-profit interest group which advocates for greater acceptance of the controversial medical entity of chronic Lyme disease....
on the newly created task force on Lyme disease
Lyme disease
Lyme disease, or Lyme borreliosis, is an emerging infectious disease caused by at least three species of bacteria belonging to the genus Borrelia. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto is the main cause of Lyme disease in the United States, whereas Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii cause most...
and related diseases.
Both DiGirolamo and Cohen publicly opposed Governor Tom Corbett
Tom Corbett
Thomas W. Corbett is the 46th and current Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. He is a former Attorney General of Pennsylvania and was elected to that office in 2004 and reelected in 2008...
's refusal to start up the newly established Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs as required by a law they had both actively supported, of which DiGirolamo was prime sponsor. On November 1, 2011, they held a public hearing in Harrisburg in which they both confronted Corbett Administration anti-Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs advocates. "Almost every crime that's committed in our local communities is related to drug use," DiGirolamo said. "We need leadership on this issue and I am going to fight you on this. Instead of building prisons, we could be closing them." Agreeing with DiGirolamo, Cohen added "Governor Corbett cannot pick and which laws he wants to implement." Cohen also said the governor was under pressure from insurance companies not wanting to cover drug and alocohol programs in their policies and existing bureaucrats locked in a "turf war," which the governor's office "flatly denied."
An editorial in the Intelligencer
Intelligencer
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, an intelligencer is "One who conveys intelligence or information", "One employed to obtain secret information, an informer, a spy, a secret agent", or "A bringer of news; a messenger; an informant; a newsmonger"...
of Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Doylestown is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 8,380. The borough is the county seat of Bucks County.- History :...
noted the concerns of both DiGirolamo and Cohen, concluding "What we find troubling is that the governor is ignoring an act of the Legislature that was signed into law by his predecessor. Whether Corbett thinks the idea of a Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs has merit or not, most of the members of both the House and the Senate thought it did and presumably still do, since all but a few are still serving. Like a number of lawmakers, we wonder how the governor can get away with this. Besides that, there is significant sentiment outside of government--from social workers and others who see the tragedy of drug and alcohol abuse on a daily basis--that a new department could improve the way Pennsylvania addresses the problem...."
Personal
The oldest child of longtime civic and political activists Florence and David Cohen, he is a member of what is now a prominent political family. His father David Cohen (politician) served in the Philadelphia City CouncilPhiladelphia City Council
The Philadelphia City Council, the legislative body of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, consists of ten members elected by district and seven members elected at-large. The council president is elected by the members from among their number...
, first as a district councilman for Northwest Philadelphia
Northwest Philadelphia
Northwest Philadelphia is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The official boundary is Stenton Avenue to the north, the Schuylkill river to the south, Spring Ln to the west, and Wister Street to the east. The area is divided by Wissahickon Creek into two subsections...
and then as a Councilman at Large, "A Position That Could Be Toughest Job in Town," The Public Record (newspaper) called it. and his brother Denis serves in the First Judicial District of the Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas
Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas
The Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania .The Courts of Common Pleas are the trial courts of general jurisdiction in the state....
, where he was retained for a second ten year term as a Common Pleas Court Judge on November 8, 2011, with 75.5% of the vote. His sister Sherrie Cohen came in a close 6th for the 5 Democratic seats for nomination for Philadelphia Council at Large in the May 17, 2011 Democratic primary. Cohen worked on his father's eight successful and three unsuccessful campaigns to win local election for Philadelphia. He attended Central High School of Philadelphia, graduating in 1966, after participating in two projects of the Northern Student Movement
Northern Student Movement
The Northern Student Movement was an American civil rights organization founded at Yale University in 1961 by Peter J. Countryman...
and a student Political Union modeled upon the Yale Political Union
Yale Political Union
The Yale Political Union , a debate society now the largest student organization at Yale University, was founded in 1934 by Professor Alfred Whitney Griswold , to enliven the university's political culture of the time. It was modelled on the Cambridge Union Society and Oxford Union...
, which has produced many national political figures.
He then enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, where he served as a features writer for The Daily Pennsylvanian
The Daily Pennsylvanian
The Daily Pennsylvanian is the independent daily student newspaper of the University of Pennsylvania.It is published every weekday when the university is in session by a staff of more than 250 students. During the summer months, a smaller staff produces a weekly version called The Summer...
an officer of the Penn affiliate of the College Democrats of America, a member of the International Affairs Association, a contributor to the Distant Drummer
Distant Drummer
Distant Drummer was a 1960s counterculture underground newspaper published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from November 1967 to August 1979. It changed titles twice: from October 2, 1970 to August 12, 1971 it was Thursday's Drummer, and subsequently it was known simply as The Drummer until its...
, an internship for Congressman William J. Green, III
William J. Green, III
William Joseph Green, III is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Green also served as the 94th Mayor of Philadelphia.-Youth:...
and Senator Joseph S. Clark
Joseph S. Clark
Joseph Sill Clark, Jr. was a U.S. lawyer and Democratic Party politician in the mid-20th century. He served as the mayor of Philadelphia from 1952 until 1956, and as a United States Senator from Pennsylvania from 1957 until 1969...
, as well as being involved in, at different times, the Presidential campaigns of Eugene J. McCarthy, Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
and Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Humphrey
Hubert Horatio Humphrey, Jr. , served under President Lyndon B. Johnson as the 38th Vice President of the United States. Humphrey twice served as a United States Senator from Minnesota, and served as Democratic Majority Whip. He was a founder of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and...
. He worked with Judge Clifford Scott Green
Clifford Scott Green
Clifford Scott Green was a judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Green was the eighteenth African American Article III judge appointed in the United States, and the second African American judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern...
and others to prepare Philadelphia delegates to the White House Conference on Children and Youth
White House Conference on Children and Youth
The White House Conference on Children and Youth was a series of meetings hosted over 70 years by the President of the United States of America, and the first White House conference ever held. Under the leadership of Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D....
. He was one of the first group of 14 undergraduate students to serve on the University Council
University Council
A University Council may be the executive body of a university's governance system, an advisory body to the University President, or something in between in authority....
, an advisory body to President Gaylord P. Harnwell. As a member of the University Council
University Council
A University Council may be the executive body of a university's governance system, an advisory body to the University President, or something in between in authority....
, Cohen offered an amendment to a resolution opposing the War in Vietnam linking it to academic freedom
Academic freedom
Academic freedom is the belief that the freedom of inquiry by students and faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy, and that scholars should have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts without being targeted for repression, job loss, or imprisonment.Academic freedom is a...
and freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
. The University Council
University Council
A University Council may be the executive body of a university's governance system, an advisory body to the University President, or something in between in authority....
defeated the underlying antiwar resolution 51-28, but it "voted to support establishment of a peace memorial to those who have died in Vietnam" and to circulate a petition members of the Council "could sign, on an individual basis, urging the President and the Congress to adopt a stepped-up timetable for withdrawal from Vietnam." Cohen graduated in 1970 with a degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and served as an aide to Milton Shapp
Milton Shapp
Milton Jerrold Shapp was the 40th Governor of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1979 and was the first Jewish governor of Pennsylvania.- Early life :...
's gubernatorial campaign after briefly working for the School District of Philadelphia
School District of Philadelphia
The School District of Philadelphia is a school district based in the School District of Philadelphia Education Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that includes all public schools in the city of Philadelphia. Established in 1818, it is the eighth largest school district in the nation.The School...
.
Cohen continued his education after elective office, earning a law degree from the Harrisburg campus of the Widener University School of Law
Widener University School of Law
Widener University School of Law is the ABA accredited law school of Widener University. The school, founded in 1971 as the Delaware Law School, operates on two of Widener's campuses, one in Wilmington, Delaware, and the other in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania....
in 1993 and an M.B.A. from Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College
Lebanon Valley College is a small, liberal arts higher education institution situated in the heart of Annville in Lebanon County, east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
in 2000. Cohen is also an alumnus (2002–2003) of the Education Policy Fellowship Program of the Education Policy Leadership Center. As an active member of the Pennsylvania Bar, he is qualified in the practice of law
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
in Pennsylvania. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the court of last resort for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It meets in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
, the United States District Courts for Pennsylvania, the United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, and the US Supreme Court. He has performed graduate work at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, Gratz College
Gratz College
Gratz College is a general college of Jewish studies founded in 1895 offering a broad array of credentials and programs in virtually every area of higher Judaic learning to aspiring Jewish educators, communal professionals, lay people and others seeking to become more knowledgeable of...
, Antioch University
Antioch University
Antioch University is an American university with five campuses located in four states. Campuses are located in Los Angeles, California; Santa Barbara, California; Keene, New Hampshire; Yellow Springs, Ohio; and Seattle, Washington. Additionally, Antioch University houses two institution-wide...
and the Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
.http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?districtnumber=202
He and his wife Mona, a Philadelphia special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
teacher and advocate for children with autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
, have one daughter and reside in the Castor Gardens section of Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia, nicknamed Northeast Philly, the Northeast and the Great Northeast, is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the 2000 Census, the Northeast has a sizable percentage of the city's 1.547 million people — a population of between 300,000 and 450,000,...
. Their home has received scholarly attention as one of the first residences of Jewish people in Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia
Northeast Philadelphia, nicknamed Northeast Philly, the Northeast and the Great Northeast, is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the 2000 Census, the Northeast has a sizable percentage of the city's 1.547 million people — a population of between 300,000 and 450,000,...
. The neighborhoods in and around his legislative district are rich in history of many kinds: social services, Jewish Universalist, and many others.
Early governmental career
Cohen was elected in a special election on May 21, 1974. He was 24 years old. Political observers at the time noted that he was backed by Reform Democrats in the Philadelphia chapter of Americans for Democratic ActionAmericans for Democratic Action
Americans for Democratic Action is an American political organization advocating progressive policies. ADA works for social and economic justice through lobbying, grassroots organizing, research and supporting progressive candidates.-History:...
and Philadelphia Democratic Chairman Peter J. Camiel. He was officially nominated for the special election as the Democratic nominee for the vacant House seat by the executive committee of the Democratic State Committee. He was endorsed by the Philadelphia Daily News
Philadelphia Daily News
The Philadelphia Daily News is a tabloid newspaper that serves Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The newspaper is owned by Philadelphia Media Holdings which also owns Philadelphia's other major newspaper The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Daily News began publishing on March 31, 1925, under...
columnist Chuck Stone
Chuck Stone
Charles Sumner "Chuck" Stone, Jr. is a former Tuskegee Airman, an American newspaper editor, columnist, professor of journalism, and author. After completing his service in World War II, Stone already had been admitted to Harvard University but chose to matriculate at Wesleyan University...
on May 20, 1974 in his "Page 10" column. His election was one sign among many that voters wanted legislators who were more active, more articulate, more engaged and less likely to be perceived as rubber stamps.
He was sworn in as a Member of the Pennsylvania House on June 10, 1974, taking the oath of office in a joint ceremony with fellow Members elected on the same day Bob O'Donnell and Raymond F. Lederer
Raymond F. Lederer
Raymond Lederer was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Pennsylvania's Third Congressional District from 1977 to 1981....
. He was soon assigned by Democratic Leader Herbert Fineman
Herbert Fineman
Herbert Fineman is a former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.Fineman was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1955 . Before being elected Speaker, he was the floor leader for the Democratic party in the Pennsylvania House.-References:...
to the House Bipartisan Committee To Study Situations and Circumstances of Victims of Rape, chaired by Rep. Richard McClachey
Richard McClachey
Richard A. McClatchey, Jr. is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.-References:...
. After the Bipartisan Committee concluded its hearings, Cohen joined other members of it in co-sponsoring House Bill 2706, giving powers and duties to the Pennsylvania State Police concerning victims of rape, and House Bill 2707, requiring schools of nursing to have courses of instruction in the handling and treatment of victims of rape.
Fineman later appointed him as Secretary of the State Government Committee and as Chairman of the Public Utility
Public utility
A public utility is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service . Public utilities are subject to forms of public control and regulation ranging from local community-based groups to state-wide government monopolies...
Subcommittee of the Consumer Protection
Consumer protection
Consumer protection laws designed to ensure fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional...
Committee.
These assignments would be followed by his appointment to the Special Committee to Investigate the Three Mile Island accident
Three Mile Island accident
The Three Mile Island accident was a core meltdown in Unit 2 of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania near Harrisburg, United States in 1979....
at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station
Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station
Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station is a civilian nuclear power plant located on Three Mile Island in the Susquehanna River, south of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It has two separate units, known as TMI-1 and TMI-2...
by Democratic (Minority) Leader K. Leroy Irvis
K. Leroy Irvis
K. Leroy Irvis was the first African American to serve as a speaker of the house in any state legislature in the United States since Reconstruction. John Roy Lynch of Mississippi was the first African American to hold that position. Mr...
. The investigation took place in the 1979-1980 legislative session; Three Mile Island accident health effects
Three Mile Island accident health effects
The health effects of the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear accident are widely, but not universally, agreed to be very low level. According to the official radiation release figures, average local radiation exposure was equivalent to a chest X-ray, and maximum local exposure equivalent to less than a...
were not measured until later. Much of the work of the special committee was in demonstrating the need for an evacuation plan in the event of another nuclear accident.
As a member of the Consumer Protection
Consumer protection
Consumer protection laws designed to ensure fair trade competition and the free flow of truthful information in the marketplace. The laws are designed to prevent businesses that engage in fraud or specified unfair practices from gaining an advantage over competitors and may provide additional...
Committee in 1975-1976, and as the Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Public Utilities Subcommittee of the name-changed Consumer Affairs Committee in 1977-1978, both led by "Mr. Consumer," C.L. Schmitt, Cohen helped enact a vigorous pro-consumer agenda. Calling Pennsylvania's retail fair trade law--which allowed manufactures to set a minimum price for the sale of a product--"a noble experiment that has failed," Cohen was the prime sponsor of legislation to repeal it, with an exception for cigarettes.
On January 28, 1975, he co-sponsored a bill establishing a consumer advocate to argue for public interests before the Public Utility Commission of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, the Milk Marketing Board
Milk Marketing Board
The Milk Marketing Board was a government agency established in 1933 to control milk production and distribution in the United Kingdom. It functioned as buyer of last resort in the British milk market, thereby guaranteeing a minimum price for milk producers...
, and the Insurance commissioner
Insurance commissioner
Insurance commissioner is an executive office in many U.S. states, some in the state cabinet. The office differs state by state:...
. The bill quickly passed the House and went to the Senate Committee on Consumer Affairs. There the bill was limited to the Public Utility Commission of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, sent back to the House, rewritten by a conference committee, and finally enacted. Writing in 2010, the Chair of the Senate Consumer Affairs Committee in 1975, Franklin L. Kury, called the legislative creation of the consumer advocate "the single most important step" in improving the PUC. "It is impossible," Kury wrote,"for the commission to be both a judge of the rate increase application before it and an advocate for the rate payers at the same time. The ratepayers needed an independent lawyer to represent them. By establishing a consumer advocate, we ensured that for the first time a lawyer knowledgeable in utility law, with the support of a good staff, would confront the utility lawyers and make them prove their case for an increase." Kury attributed a major U.S. Supreme Court decision saving Pennsylvania consumers $44,267,054 to the creation of the consumer advocate, saying "The consuming public does not have standing to appeal PUC
decisions. The PUC could not (and would not) appeal a Commonwealth Court decision in its favor. But the consumer advocate has authority to appeal the PUC and Commonwealth court decisions, as well as to defend the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's decision before the U.S. Supreme Court. As Representative Schmitt and the rest of us contemplated, a consumer advocate could face off with the utility lawyers and give the consuming public representation that protected its interests."
On February 5, 1975, as Congress was considering whether or not to renew U.S. involvement in the War in Vietnam between North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
and the Viet Cong on one side and South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
on the other side, Cohen one of 6 state house Democrats to introduce House Resolution 29 to "memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation; or take such other appropriate action as may be necessary to prevent increased military and economic assistance to countries involved in the war in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and to prevent the use of military forces of the United States to aid such countries." The sentiment the resolution expressed was widespread, and the US Congress did not renew military efforts there.
To deal with plant closings, a major threat to Pennsylvania workers, Cohen—following the enactments of the states of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
and Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in 1971 and 1976 respectively -- introduced state legislation similar to and foreshadowing the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 is a United States labor law which protects employees, their families, and communities by requiring most employers with 100 or more employees to provide sixty- calendar-day advance notification of plant closings and mass layoffs of...
. Cohen's 1977 bill provided for 75 days advance notice for plant closings. In May, 1979, he introduced House Bill 1251, the more comprehensive Employee Protection and Community Stabilization Act. His legislation and a vigorous citizen/labor/clergy campaign led by the Delaware Valley Coalition for Jobs (DVCJ) helped lead to enactment of 60 day advance notice plant closing legislation by the City of Philadelphia, which, in turn, helped inspire the federal 60 day advance notice requirement enacted in 1988. Beyond its specific legal provisions, the federal plant closing legislation had broader social significance: it "has legitimized among policymakers the idea that firm managers ought to be responsive to a multiplicity of interests," a critic charged. Among strong supporters of plant closing legislation, the federal legislation was considered inadequate compared to other proposed bills or to Cohen's Employee Protection and Community Stabilization Act.
He supported the Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP), enacted in 1983 as the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
Foreclosure
Foreclosure
Foreclosure is the legal process by which a mortgage lender , or other lien holder, obtains a termination of a mortgage borrower 's equitable right of redemption, either by court order or by operation of law...
Prevention Act, which ultimately gave delayed interest payment loans to 45,000 families to keep them from being foreclosed. He voted for it, as House Bill 500, on June 29, 1983, after joining with others to vote down a series of weakening amendments. He then supported the bill-- with the language it was amended in the Senate-- on December 14, 1983. It was approved by Governor Richard Thornburgh on December 23, 1983. In a June 30, 2009 press release calling for a $20 million annual HEMAP appropriation, he said that, since its inception, $211 million was appropriated to HEMAP, and $238 million has been repaid. On November 3, 2011, speaking at a prayer vigil in front of Governor Tom Corbett
Tom Corbett
Thomas W. Corbett is the 46th and current Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. He is a former Attorney General of Pennsylvania and was elected to that office in 2004 and reelected in 2008...
's Philadelphia office building in support of emergency HEMAP funding , he said the program generated "more money paid back, including interest, than money appropriated, so it really doesn't cost very much."
As a member of the Philadelphia delegation in the House, he actively opposed—and helped kill—mayoral proposals to raise the Philadelphia wage tax in the middle of the fiscal year in the mid-1970s and early 1980s.
He supported legislation that made ward realignments in Philadelphia more diffficult, by requiring any ward realignment plan approved by the Common Pleas Court to be sent to the Philadelphia City Council for consideration and placement on the ballot.
He voted to make the office of Attorney General an elected office.
As a member of the House Appropriations Committee in 1981, he interrogated Secretary of Health and Welfare Helen O'Bannon
Helen O'Bannon
Helen O'Bannon , sometimes referred to as Helen Bohen O'Bannon, was an economist and former Secretary of Public Welfare for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania....
on the extent of the legislature's duty to follow an order by Federal Judge Raymond J. Broderick
Raymond J. Broderick
Raymond Joseph Broderick was a United States federal judge, and the Republican Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1971.-Biography:...
to appropriate $900,000 for a special master
Special master
In law, a special master is an authority appointed by a judge to make sure that judicial orders are actually followed.In England, at common law, there were "Masters in Chancery," who acted in aid of the Equity Courts. There were also "Masters in Lunacy," who conducted inquiries of the same nature...
in the long-running Halderman v. Pennhurst State School and Hospital litigation. His questions and her answers were cited by both Judge Broderick and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals as part of her obstruction of his order, leading her and the Department of Public Welfare to be held in contempt of court
Contempt of court
Contempt of court is a court order which, in the context of a court trial or hearing, declares a person or organization to have disobeyed or been disrespectful of the court's authority...
, and the Office of the Special Master
Special master
In law, a special master is an authority appointed by a judge to make sure that judicial orders are actually followed.In England, at common law, there were "Masters in Chancery," who acted in aid of the Equity Courts. There were also "Masters in Lunacy," who conducted inquiries of the same nature...
(in charge of the deinstitutionalization of Pennhurst patients who could be better treated in community settings) to be funded. Ultimately, with Cohen's support, deinstitutionalization led to the closing of all but six of the more than 20 Pennsylvania State Hospitals
Pennsylvania State Hospitals
The Pennsylvania State Hospital System is a network of psychiatric hospitals operated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. At its peak in the late 1940s the system operated more than twenty hospitals and served over 43,000 patients. As of 2011 fewer than nine sites remain in use, and many of those...
, including Allentown State Hospital
Allentown State Hospital
Allentown State Hospital was a psychiatric hospital located at 1600 Hanover Ave. in Allentown, Pennsylvania. It served the counties of Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe, and Pike. It was one of seven remaining psychiatric hospitals in Pennsylvania....
, Dixmont State Hospital
Dixmont State Hospital
Dixmont State Hospital was a hospital located northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, Harrisburg State Hospital
Harrisburg State Hospital
Harrisburg State Hospital, formerly known as Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital from 1851 to 1937, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Dauphin County, on Cameron and McClay Streets, was Pennsylvania’s first public facility to house the mentally ill and disabled....
, Haverford State Hospital
Haverford State Hospital
The Haverford State Hospital was an abandoned mental hospital outside of Philadelphia. Its extensive former grounds occupy the northern sections of Delaware County west of the city of Philadelphia, in Haverford Township....
, Lawrence Frick State Hospital
Lawrence Frick State Hospital
Lawrence Frick State Hospital was a state mental health hospital near Cresson, Pennsylvania that had several different names and uses before becoming defunct and converted into a prison in the 1980's.-Cresson Tuberculosis Sanatorium :...
, Mayview State Hospital
Mayview State Hospital
Mayview State Hospital is a former psychiatric hospital located in South Fayette Township near Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. It spanned and had 39 buildings, 12 of which were used for patient care and hospital administration...
, Pennhurst State School and Hospital, the Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry
Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry
The Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry was a psychiatric hospital located in the Byberry neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. The name of the institution was changed several times during its history being variously named Philadelphia State Hospital, Byberry State Hospital,...
, and Somerset State Hospital
Somerset State Hospital
Somerset State Hospital was a Pennsylvania State Mental Health Hospital, located outside Somerset, about 70 miles east of Pittsburgh. The hospital, closed in 1995, was converted into a minimum-security correctional facility housing older males with geriatric/mentally challenging issues....
among other facilities, and the downsizing of still other psychiatric hospitals. Hundreds of millions of dollars were saved each year.
Cohen was the only House Democrat to join most House Republicans in opposing allowing an objectionable appropriation of $150,000 to the office of Republican Pennsylvania General Counsel Jay Waldman
Jay Waldman
Jay Carl Waldman was a U.S. district judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and a former federal judicial nominee to the U.S...
to delay the payment of checks to 80,000 welfare recipients.
Majority Chairmanship of House Labor Relations Committee
As a result of appointmentsby Speakers K. Leroy Irvis
K. Leroy Irvis
K. Leroy Irvis was the first African American to serve as a speaker of the house in any state legislature in the United States since Reconstruction. John Roy Lynch of Mississippi was the first African American to hold that position. Mr...
and James J. Manderino
James J. Manderino
James J. Manderino is a former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.James J. Manderino served as the 133rd Speaker in 1989. He was a Democrat from Monessen, Westmoreland County...
,Cohen served as Chairman of the House Labor Relations
Labor relations
Industrial relations is a multidisciplinary field that studies the employment relationship. Industrial relations is increasingly being called employment relations because of the importance of non-industrial employment relationships. Many outsiders also equate industrial relations to labour relations...
Committee from 1983 to 1990, where he focused on increasing the minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
and protecting worker's compensation benefits. His initial appointment in 1983 was seen by the Philadelphia Inquirer as one of a number of signs that the Philadelphia delegation "apparently is regaining significant influence in the General Assembly as the 1983-1984 session begins."
He helped enact Pennsylvania's first whistleblower
Whistleblower
A whistleblower is a person who tells the public or someone in authority about alleged dishonest or illegal activities occurring in a government department, a public or private organization, or a company...
law, which was one of the more extensive in the nation, covering private sector employees reporting "waste" and "wrongdoing" as well as public sector employees reporting "waste" and "wrongdoing," terms that "are very carefully defined in the statute." The depth and breath of the wrong-doing private sector employees in government-funded programs are protected from losing their jobs from exposing is shown by a 2011 federal court decision holding that the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
whistleblower
Whistleblower
A whistleblower is a person who tells the public or someone in authority about alleged dishonest or illegal activities occurring in a government department, a public or private organization, or a company...
law even covers an employee who reported that teachers were consuming meals provided for students, raising costs and leaving students hungry.
Cohen began his Labor Relations Committee Chairmanship by participating in public and private negotiations aimed at finding a solution to ensure solvency
Solvency
Solvency, in finance or business, is the degree to which the current assets of an individual or entity exceed the current liabilities of that individual or entity. Solvency can also be described as the ability of a corporation to meet its long-term fixed expenses and to accomplish long-term...
in Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation fund in order to preserve unemployment benefits. His longterm efforts to raise Pennsylvania's minimum wage in accordance with rises in inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
, coupled with aggressive statewide organizing led by the Philadelphia Unemployment Project and Pennsylvania labor unions, helped lead to minimum wage increase bill signings by Governors Robert P. Casey
Robert P. Casey
Robert Patrick "Bob" Casey, Sr. was an American politician from Pennsylvania. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 42nd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995...
in 1988 and Edward G. Rendell in 2006. The Pennsylvania minimum wage increases were part of a nationwide effort among state legislators which he helped organize. From the beginning of his efforts, he saw raising the minimum wage to match inflation as a longterm process, saying after the initial minimum wage increase, "We will come back next time and fight vigorously." His advocacy for increased minimum wages continued after the 2006 increase, too. His efforts as Chairman of the House Labor Relations Committee won him an award from the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
and the enthusiastic praise of the President of the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
.
A supporter of equal pay for equal work
Equal pay for equal work
Equal pay for equal work is the concept that individuals doing the same work should receive the same remuneration. In America, for example, the law states that "employers may not pay unequal wages to men and women who perform jobs that require substantially equal skill, effort and responsibility,...
and equal pay for women
Equal pay for women
Equal pay for women is an issue regarding pay inequality between men and women. It is often introduced into domestic politics in many first world countries as an economic problem that needs governmental intervention via regulation...
, he supported a proposed bill seeking to raise the salaries of people in largely female occupations that was initiated by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, but was stymied when it yielded to political pressures and came out in opposition to its own bill.
He served as a member of the House Select Committee on Farm Labor, investigating the plight of the farm laborer in Pennsylvania, chaired by Rep. James J. A. Gallagher
James J. A. Gallagher
James J. A. Gallagher is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.Friends and fellow politicians described Mr. Gallagher as a joy to be associated with, and a courageous individual who dealt with his serious medical problems with a positive attitude...
, and worked to enforce the 1978 Seasonal Farm Labor Act. Upon listening to testimony from farm workers, he said "I was really shocked" the state government has shown "a lack of vigor and compassion" in the protection of farm laborers. He sought farmworker justice, seeking to fully enforce state laws protecting each farmworker. Years later, he would continue to press for increased legal help for farmworkers. Decades later, he would serve as a member of the Honorary Committee for the Friends of Farmworkers 30th Anniversary Celebration.
A May, 1986 Labor Relations Committee study of the length of time it took injured workers to get worker's compensation benefits, conducted under Cohen's direction, found that it took disabled workers an average of 10 months to get a decision on their eligibility. "it's much too long," he said. "The current system does little to create pressure for better safety practices, and lessens workers' respect for employers." Cohen sought remedial legislation to deal with workers compensation problems. The Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce offered its own reform program. Ultimately, elements of both plans took effect.
He held hearings on problems related to drug testing, and introduced legislation "requiring companies using drug testing to offer employee assistance programs, more rigorous confirmation tests and opportunities for workers to reform themselves." An essay he and Eric Fillman wrote in support of such legislation for State Government News was reprinted in two anthology textbooks on business ethics
Business ethics
Business ethics is a form of applied ethics or professional ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and entire organizations.Business...
by professors at DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
as well as the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University and cited in a two others by professors at Salisbury University
Salisbury University
Salisbury University is a public university in Salisbury, Maryland.According to U.S. News and World Report's 2009 America's Best Colleges index, "In guidebooks and surveys by U.S...
. Cohen and Fillman wrote the Counterpoint to the question "Is Employee Drug Testing the Answer?" In addition to describing and advocating Cohen's legislation, they wrote "We must all remember that drug abuse is a health and social problem, not just a police problem. Employers genuinely interested in combating the drug problems of the workplace have the responsibility to make a sincere effort to help troubled employees. The continued success and proliferation of employee assistance programs in recent years suggest that such programs respond to the true needs of employers and chemically dependent persons alike....The ultimate goal of employers should be to prevent further drug use, not to reinforce its abuse by adding reasons for an employee to turn to drugs, such as the loss of a job. Firing otherwise productive workers on the basis of drug tests is not a satisfactory answer to the problems of drug abuse in the workplace."
He stopped the reporting out of legislation hostile to the goals of the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
labor movement.
Urging support of a higher minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
, he spoke at a quickly called Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
rally after a period of time in which the average Philadelphia labor leader had stopped hosting Labor Day events due to member disinterest. This rally marked the long-term resumption of Tri-State Labor Day events in Philadelphia. He has continued to participate in Labor Day events.
Due to the retirements of his Democratic successors as Labor Relations Committee Chairman Fred Belardi
Fred Belardi
Fred Belardi is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.Belardi attended Scranton Technical High School, Penn State Scranton, and Wilkes College.-External links:* official PA House profile ...
, Frank Pistella
Frank Pistella
Frank J. Pistella is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.He is a 1969 graduate of Central District Catholic High School. He earned a degree in history from John Carroll University in 1973 and a certificate from the John F...
, and Robert Belfanti
Robert Belfanti
Robert E. Belfanti, Jr. is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.On March 23, 2008, Belfanti's district office was damaged by fire in an arson set by a man who had been upset about the results of a child custody case in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.-References:...
, Cohen is the only member of the House Democratic Caucus in the 2011-2012 legislative session with the experience of having been Majority Chairman of the House Labor Relations Committee.
Improving the public's health
He cast decisive votes for a smoking banSmoking ban
Smoking bans are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, which prohibit tobacco smoking in workplaces and/or other public spaces...
on the House floor, and in the Pennsylvania Capitol building. He strongly supported the legislative efforts to greatly reduce public exposure to second-hand smoke, and potential for damages
Damages
In law, damages is an award, typically of money, to be paid to a person as compensation for loss or injury; grammatically, it is a singular noun, not plural.- Compensatory damages :...
from it, supporting both the legislation banning much smoking in restaurants that was enacted in 2008 and the more comprehensive ban previously proposed.
He was the prime sponsor and part author of a chemical right to know
Right to know
"Right to know", in the context of United States workplace and community environmental law, is the legal principle that the individual has the right to know the chemicals to which they may be exposed in their daily living. It is embodied in federal law in the United States as well as in local laws...
bill signed into law by Governor Richard Thornburgh. He then pressured the Thornburgh Administration to implement the bill after a long period of study. His chemical Right to know
Right to know
"Right to know", in the context of United States workplace and community environmental law, is the legal principle that the individual has the right to know the chemicals to which they may be exposed in their daily living. It is embodied in federal law in the United States as well as in local laws...
law was ultimately upheld by the US Supreme Court in a lawsuit brought by the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association, after previously being upheld by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
He helped expose the selling of tainted meat to McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
and testified before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Livestock and Poultry that U.S. food safety
Food safety
Food safety is a scientific discipline describing handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness. This includes a number of routines that should be followed to avoid potentially severe health hazards....
laws should be strengthened.
Saying that "The steady escalation in health care costs today represents a major threat to the continued availability of affordable health care," he introduced a comprehensive 4 bill package—one bill establishing the Health Care Costainment Council, and other bills seeking to create a funding pool for low income health care for those without health insurance, competitive bidding for hospital purchases in excess of $2,500, require substitution of generic drugs for higher priced brand name drugs, and itemized bills for hospital patients—health care reform plan backed by the AFL-CIO in 1985, and held hearings on it in the Labor Relations Committee. Ultimately, the Health and Welfare Committee took jurisdiction, and succeeded in enacting the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, backed by both representatives of labor and business. His former aide Marc Volavka was a staff member, and then, beginning in 1998 executive director, of the Health Care Cost Containment Council, from 1993 through his retirement from state government in 2008.
He was an early supporter of mandated mental health coverage in all health care policies.
He sought state funds to replace eliminated federal funds to protect the health of migrant farm workers.
He opposed legal changes taking away benefits from injured workers, saying "Injured workers do not deserve to be treated like they are leeches on the business community. Injured workers should be treated with dignity and respect."
He helped create the state-run Northeast Philadelphia Veterans' home, to house and treat ill veterans and their spouses, on the southern edge of Benjamin Rush State Park
Benjamin Rush State Park
Benjamin Rush State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The park is undeveloped and is the site of community gardens, believed to be one of the largest in the world. The park is home to the Northeast Radio Controlled Airplane...
.
He was the main force in the House behind the establishment of Pennsylvania's Organ Donation
Organ donation
Organ donation is the donation of biological tissue or an organ of the human body, from a living or dead person to a living recipient in need of a transplantation. Transplantable organs and tissues are removed in a surgical procedure following a determination, based on the donor's medical and...
Trust Fund. The law establishing it gave organizations specializing in organ transplantation hospital access to potential organ donors, set up a system of drivers' license identification for each potential organ donor, and publicized the need for organ donation. It became a national model, and the basis for a new national policy during the Clinton Administration. Ultimately, after the death of Governor Robert P. Casey in 2000, the Organ Donation Trust Fund, which took effect March 1, 1995 was named by the legislature, in a bill sponsored by Cohen, as the Robert P. Casey Memorial Organ and Tissue Donation Trust Fund.
To protect the health and safety of Pennsylvania public sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
workers under the jurisdiction of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress of the United States under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970...
, he introduced a proposed law creating a state-run OSHA system for state and local governmental employees.
He was a co-sponsor of "Disability Awareness Day." He opposed cuts in services to the disabled.
In the 2011-12 legislative session, he serves as a member of the Health Committee, as well as of the Human Services Committee, where he is the Chairman for the Democratic minority members. His committee assignments deal with issues of both public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
and private healthcare
Private healthcare
Private healthcare or private medicine is healthcare and medicine provided by entities other than the government. The term is generally used more in Europe and other countries which have publicly-funded health care, to differentiate the arrangement from the usual system.Ethical issues relating to...
. They deal with the regulation of each Pennsylvania abortion clinic
Abortion clinic
An abortion clinic is a medical facility that primarily performs or specializes in abortions. Such clinics may be public medical centers or private medical practices.-Canada:*There were 197 abortion providers in Canada in 2001....
, hospital, and hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
. They deal with methadone maintenance
Methadone maintenance
Methadone maintenance is the use of methadone over a prolonged time as treatment for someone who is addicted to opioids or has severe pain problems that are resistant to other drugs.-Modality:...
, substance abuse
Substance abuse
A substance-related disorder is an umbrella term used to describe several different conditions associated with several different substances .A substance related disorder is a condition in which an individual uses or abuses a...
, and substance dependence
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
. He previously had been a leader of Pennsylvania's efforts to promote organ transplantation, and a leader on behalf of issues affecting health care providers . He was a strong supporter of Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program, and the increase of Pennsylvania's cigarette tax to subsidize medical malpractice
Medical malpractice
Medical malpractice is professional negligence by act or omission by a health care provider in which the treatment provided falls below the accepted standard of practice in the medical community and causes injury or death to the patient, with most cases involving medical error. Standards and...
insurance for physicians. His chemical right to know
Right to know
"Right to know", in the context of United States workplace and community environmental law, is the legal principle that the individual has the right to know the chemicals to which they may be exposed in their daily living. It is embodied in federal law in the United States as well as in local laws...
legislation for workers and communities was signed into law by Governor Richard Thornburgh in 1984.
An early supporter of requiring insurers to cover telehealth
Telehealth
Telehealth is the delivery of health-related services and information via telecommunications technologies. Telehealth could be as simple as two health professionals discussing a case over the telephone or as sophisticated as doing robotic surgery between facilities at different ends of the...
, Cohen found the administration of Governor Tom Corbett
Tom Corbett
Thomas W. Corbett is the 46th and current Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. He is a former Attorney General of Pennsylvania and was elected to that office in 2004 and reelected in 2008...
praising telehealth
Telehealth
Telehealth is the delivery of health-related services and information via telecommunications technologies. Telehealth could be as simple as two health professionals discussing a case over the telephone or as sophisticated as doing robotic surgery between facilities at different ends of the...
for "Access and Convenience," "Quicker/Correct Diagnoses Mean Reduced Healthcare Is Required," "Cost Efficiences," "Increased Independence" for the elderly, "Safety and Security" for healthcare information, "Less Anxiety for Patients," and "Growing Acceptance and Demand," but still hedging on insurance reimbursement, asking "Will the rate of reimbursement be based on face to face appointments, or will it provide a lower rate?"
He has strongly defended the right to choose of Pennsylvania women. He has repeatedly defended the rights of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
victims to get state subsidized treatment and to have their privacy
Privacy
Privacy is the ability of an individual or group to seclude themselves or information about themselves and thereby reveal themselves selectively...
protected. He introduced legislation setting up an Office of Environmental Monitoring in Pennsylvania's Health Department to conduct research into cancer clusters and other potential external sources of illnesses.
General Legislative Efforts As Elected Democratic Leader
During the twenty years before Cohen became an elected Democratic leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Pennsylvania's population rose from 11,800,766 to 11,881,643, a gain of only 80,829 people. During the twenty census years Cohen was an elected Democratic leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Pennsylvania's population rose from 11,881,643 to 12,702,379, a more than tenfold gain of 820,726. Policies Cohen supported as a Democratic leader helped make that gain possible.Cohen helped both the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
and Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
enact a nationally controversial plan to make any hostile takeover of a Pennsylvania company unlikely.
Cohen helped enact the plan of Gov. Robert P. Casey
Robert P. Casey
Robert Patrick "Bob" Casey, Sr. was an American politician from Pennsylvania. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 42nd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995...
to reduce auto insurance rates.
Cohen helped enact the abolition of tax liens for recipients of welfare
Welfare
Welfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma of charity. This is termed "social solidarity"...
in Pennsylvania.
Cohen was a leader of legislative efforts to establish the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority
Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority
The Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority is a special administrative body created by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to oversee the finances of the City of Philadelphia....
to monitor the finances of the Philadelphia city government, and to require the city adopt five year fiscal plans as well as annual budgets.
Appointments by recent speakers
By appointment of current House Speaker Samuel H. SmithSamuel H. Smith (politician)
Samuel H. "Sam" Smith is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 66th District and was elected in 1986. The district includes portions of Jefferson, Indiana and Armstrong counties...
, he also continues his service on the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
Pennsylvania Council on the Arts
The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts is an agency serving the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.Established in 1966, its mission is "to foster the excellence, diversity and vitality of the arts in Pennsylvania and to broaden the availability and appreciation of those arts throughout the state." Each year...
, where he has served since his Fall 1995 appointment by House Speaker Matthew J. Ryan
Matthew J. Ryan
Matthew J. Ryan was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for over 40 years and served as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.Ryan was a 1950 graduate of Saint Joseph's Preparatory School, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
. He is currently the most senior member of the Council.
He was a member of Speaker of the House Dennis M. O'Brien
Dennis M. O'Brien
Dennis Michael "Denny" O'Brien is the representative from the 169th Legislative District and was the 137th Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He is the majority chairman of the House Committee on Children & Youth...
's Commission on Legislative Reform, and of work groups of his Speaker's Symposium on Crime and Violence. He was one of Speaker O'Brien's Speakers pro tempore
Pro tempore
Pro tempore , abbreviated pro tem or p.t., is a Latin phrase which best translates to "for the time being" in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who acts as a locum tenens in the absence of a superior, such as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate.Legislative...
. O'Brien also appointed him to the Executive Committee of the Council of State Governments
Council of State Governments
The Council of State Governments is a nonpartisan non-profit organization in the United States serving the state governments. It serves state legislatures, state courts, and executive branch officials and agencies, and is the only multi-branch organization of state governments in the United...
.
Expansion of educational opportunities and funding
Working with Dr. Miguel Cortes, a full-scholarship graduate of the medical school of the University of GuadalajaraUniversity of Guadalajara
University of Guadalajara is a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. It is the second oldest university in Mexico, the fifth oldest in North America and the fourteenth oldest in Latin America...
, Cohen co-sponsored and actively pushed legislation introduced November 25, 1975, enacted in 1976, to enable an American citizen who was a foreign medical graduate to complete a 5th Pathway Program to receive a license to practice medicine in Pennsylvania. The 5th Pathway Program peaked nationally in 1979-1980, and ultimately the expansion of the programs offered by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates
Through its program of certification, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates assesses the readiness of international medical graduates to enter residency or fellowship programs in the United States that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education...
led its falling off and eventual elimination by the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association
American Medical Association
The American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
.
Cohen introduced House Resolution 313 on June 11, 1986, which established the Select Committee to Study the Feasibility of a Harrisburg Law School. After this resolution was approved by a 98 to 97 margin on June 18, 1986, Cohen chaired the committee, which strongly recommended that a Harrisburg law school be created and drew the interest of Delaware Law School of Widener University
Widener University
Widener University is a private, coeducational university located in Chester, Pennsylvania.Its main campus sits on 108 acres , just southwest of Philadelphia...
. Delaware Law School did its own feasibility study, confirming the value of establishing a Harrisburg campus, gained funding from John Vartan
John Vartan
John Vartan was an American entrepreneur and a noted educational philanthropist in the Harrisburg area in which he lived.-Business career:...
, and ultimately changed its name to Widener University School of Law
Widener University School of Law
Widener University School of Law is the ABA accredited law school of Widener University. The school, founded in 1971 as the Delaware Law School, operates on two of Widener's campuses, one in Wilmington, Delaware, and the other in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania....
. Cohen's leadership in inspiring the creation of the Harrisburg campus of Widener University School of Law
Widener University School of Law
Widener University School of Law is the ABA accredited law school of Widener University. The school, founded in 1971 as the Delaware Law School, operates on two of Widener's campuses, one in Wilmington, Delaware, and the other in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania....
was noted on Volume 1, Page 1 of the Journal of the Harrisburg Campus of the Widener School of Law and other sources. The law school opened in September, 1989, and graduated its first class of full-time students in May, 1992. The first evening class, of which Cohen was a member, graduated in May, 1993.
The Select Committee's law school feasibility study, of which House Local Government Committee Legal Counsel William M. Sloane was primary author, documented that Pennsylvania ranked lower than many other states in law schools per person, lawyers per person, and percent of lawyers working for state government. It compared lawyers in the state capitol of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
with lawyers in the state capitols of Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
and Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, both of which had evening law schools, and found that the Harrisburg attorneys were significantly less likely to have earned degrees at age 28 or higher, when they were more likely to be tied to a job. It found that 11 state capitols had law schools offering evening courses, and one state capitol had a law school offering part-time day courses. It found that there were 3.65 million Pennsylvanians for whom a law school in Harrisburg would be closer than any existing law school.
The success of the Widener University School of Law
Widener University School of Law
Widener University School of Law is the ABA accredited law school of Widener University. The school, founded in 1971 as the Delaware Law School, operates on two of Widener's campuses, one in Wilmington, Delaware, and the other in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania....
led to emulation in law school expansion by other Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
educational institutions. Dickinson School of Law
Dickinson School of Law
Penn State University Dickinson School of Law is the law school of The Pennsylvania State University...
of Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
opened a campus in University Park, Pennsylvania
University Park, Pennsylvania
University Park, Pennsylvania is an unincorporated community in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States, and is the location of the flagship campus of the Pennsylvania State University....
in 2006. The Earle Mack School of Law of Drexel University
Drexel University
Drexel University is a private research university with the main campus located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees...
also opened in Philadelphia in 2006. Wilkes University
Wilkes University
Wilkes University is a private, non-denominational American university located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It has over 2,200 undergraduates and over 2,200 graduate students...
has announced intentions to open a law school by 2014, after taking steps with an earlier opening date in mind.
Cohen introduced House Resolution 323 on April 25, 1990 which, upon its adoption by the state house, created the Select Committee to Study the Feasibility of a Harrisburg University. Speaker Robert W. O'Donnell
Robert W. O'Donnell
Robert W. O'Donnell is a former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.O'Donnell was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1974. He was the majority leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1989–90, and was the speaker from 1990–92...
appointed Cohen to chair the committee, which held hearings without producing a consensus and concluded that "further study" was needed. Further study, from the office of Harrisburg Mayor Stephen Reed and in the private sector, did take place, and the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
The Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is a private teaching university in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. The university offers applied programs in the nationally critical science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. The University also matches students...
was chartered in 2001 and opened in 2005. Its affiliate, SciTech High
SciTech High
The Harrisburg University of Science and Technology High School also known as SciTech High, located in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, welcomed its first students in September 2003...
, opened in 2003. Harrisburg University's website credits "the idea for the university" to "business leaders, government officials, and the regional news media." Harrisburg University's website also says that "The University is a model of public-private partnership. The University receives external support from the corporate sector, private individuals, and state and federal government. Fortune 500
Fortune 500
The Fortune 500 is an annual list compiled and published by Fortune magazine that ranks the top 500 U.S. closely held and public corporations as ranked by their gross revenue after adjustments made by Fortune to exclude the impact of excise taxes companies collect. The list includes publicly and...
companies and other leading companies such as Hershey Company, Select Medical Corporation
Select Medical Corporation
Select Medical Corporation is a leading provider of specialized health care in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Based in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Select Medical has 27,300 employees throughout the United States. The company was co-founded in 1996 by Rocco Ortenzio and Robert Ortenzio...
, PPL (utility)
PPL (utility)
PPL, formerly known as PP&L or Pennsylvania Power and Light, is an energy company headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA. It currently controls about 19,000 megawatts of electrical generating capacity in the United States, primarily in Pennsylvania and Montana, and delivers electricity to...
, Cleveland Brothers Equipment Company, Tyco Electronics
Tyco Electronics
TE Connectivity, Ltd., previously known as Tyco Electronics, Ltd., and formerly a segment of Tyco International, is a leading global provider of engineered electronic components, network solutions, undersea telecommunication systems, and specialty products for customers in more than 150 countries...
, and Penn National Insurance
Penn National Insurance
Penn National Insurance is a property-casualty mutual insurance company, headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1919 by the Pennsylvania Farmers and Threshermen's Mutual Protective Association, under the name Pennsylvania Threshermen's and Farmer's Mutual Casualty Company, the...
all support the university."
In working successfully to establish Harrisburg University, Cohen and others reversed many years of elite indifference to educational opportunities for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
students and others who worked in Harrisburg or would have been interested in being educated there. In a long series of columns written for the Harrisburg Patriot-News from February, 1983 through March, 1984, columnist and historian Paul Beers, a graduate of Girard College
Girard College
Girard College is an independent boarding school on a 43-acre campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States.Girard is for academically capable students, grades one through 12, and awards a full scholarship with a yearly value of approximately $42,000 to every child admitted to the...
's boarding school for fatherless boys in Philadelphia, complained that "The gentry never considered establishing a college. Its feeling was that proper Harrisburgers could always be admitted to Yale--(former early 20th century Harrisburg mayor and longtime Harrisburg Patriot-News publisher) Vance McCormick was on its board for 23 years--or Princeton, or Penn, or Dickinson, or even rural Penn State--where McCormick also was a trustee for 38 years. The result was that Harrisburg was Pennsylvania's last major city to get a college." Continuing in the same vein, Beers wrote "The local civic achievement of the mid-1960's was strictly non-political. The founding of Harrisburg Area Community College
Harrisburg Area Community College
HACC, Central Pennsylvania's Community College is a community college in the United States serving the greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania metropolitan area. HACC is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools...
represented an outflanking of the old-guard politicos who seemed indifferent to Harrisburg as the last major city in Pennsylvania without a college....(Affluent and elite)Front Street for decades maintained its noble and lofty ideals by sending its offspring to Yale, Princeton, Penn and occasionally Dickinson. Only the rare and ambitious from the rest of town made it to college. As late as Sputnik in 1957, the Harrisburg area shamefully endured a high dropout rate and fewer than 20% of its seniors entered post-secondary education. Though imported college night-school courses were offered since the early 1930's, there were no state or Catholic colleges here. York, Lancaster, Wilkes-Barre and Williamsport were college towns, but not Harrisburg...."
At the beginning of the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, Cohen introduced House Bill 2949 on October 2, 1990, to "reaffirm the support of this Commonwealth for members of the National Guard and other reserve components of the United States" and to declare "that the laws of this Commonwealth, providing support for the National Guard and other reserve components should be updated in light of the current duties and responsibilities of the National Guard and reserve component forces as part of the total force." Section 7313 of this bill provided for an "Educational Leave of Absence" for a Guard member "called or ordered to active duty" during their time of service, with restoration "to the educational status they had attained prior to their being ordered to military duty without loss of academic credits earned, scholarships or grants awarded or tuition and other fees paid prior to the commencement of the military duty." Educational institutions were required "to refund tution or fees paid on a pro rata basis or to credit the tuition and fees to the next semester or term after the termination of the educational military leave of absence at the option of the student...."
On November 13, 1990, Cohen introduced Amendment A3959 to Senate Bill 1366, which incorporated the above educational leave of absence language in Section 7313. Cohen's educational leave of absence amendment unanimously passed the House, as did the bill. Senate Bill 1366, as amended by Cohen, was signed into law by Governor Robert P. Casey
Robert P. Casey
Robert Patrick "Bob" Casey, Sr. was an American politician from Pennsylvania. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 42nd Governor of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1995...
on December 17, 1990, becoming Act 174 of 1990. Cohen then, in the 1993-1994 legislative session, introduced legislation for "educational assistance grants" for members of the Pennsylvania National Guard; this program became, as a result of a House Appropriations Committee amendment to Senate Bill 698 passed by the House on May 21, 1996, with Cohen publicly supporting suspending house rules to expedite its passage, act 56 of 1996, signed into law by Governor Thomas J. Ridge on June 19, 1996.
Independence from City Hall
Under state law, Philadelphia is not allowed to raise taxes in mid-year without state legislative approval. Cohen actively opposed requests from Philadelphia Mayors Frank L. Rizzo and William J. Green, IIIWilliam J. Green, III
William Joseph Green, III is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Green also served as the 94th Mayor of Philadelphia.-Youth:...
to gain such approval. Rizzo's request was defeated in the state house, and Green's request never came up for a vote. No subsequent mayor requested a mid-year tax increase.
Like many other Philadelphia elected officials, Cohen did not sign off on plans of some advisors to Mayor W. Wilson Goode and Mayor Ed Rendell
Ed Rendell
Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell is an American politician who served as the 45th Governor of Pennsylvania. Rendell, a member of the Democratic Party, was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 2002, and his term of office began January 21, 2003...
for the city to surrender control of the Philadelphia Airport to a proposed multi-county or multistate authority. While Rendell still had the status of Mayor-Elect, Rendell's campaign manager and future Chief of Staff David L. Cohen
David L. Cohen
David L. Cohen is a businessman, attorney, and political figure in Pennsylvania. He is best known for being a close confidant of Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell...
, no relation to the state legislator, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that "Control of the airport will be dealt with right after Rendell takes office on Jan. 6 and tackles the the city's three biggest problems,... 'finance, finance, and finance.'" Rendell found little out of state interest in the Philadelphia Airport, and then focused on a multicounty authority. "I think a Pennsylvania regional authority is the way to go, and I hope the state legislature puts it on the front burner when they come back into session," Rendell said. But he ran into resistance from the Philadelphia delegation to the House of Representatives, whose chairman Anthony Hardy Williams said " I'm looking for what's best for Philadelphia County. There is no crisis. We don't need to do anything right away."
An Inquirer article noted that the goals of a multicounty authority were to end requirements that airport employees be city residents, and to end restrictive procedures of competitive bidding that "make it difficult to buy equipment and supplies in a timely manner." Rendell was a strong critic of union work rules at the Philadelphia Airport. Along with getting increased state aid, cutting labor costs was a key for him to balance the city budget and cut city taxes.
As Democratic House Majority Caucus Chairman in 1992, Cohen was one of the people with the ability to put a bill establishing a state authority to run the Philadelphia Airport "on the front burner" of the House, but he did not do so. A strong ally of the labor movement and a strong supporter of residency requirements even when opposed by a labor union, Cohen was one of the least likely legislators to be converted to a plan endangering existing jobs and reducing the number of Philadelphians likely to be hired in the future. He endured petty harassment from Rendell's chief of staff and his biographer.
No bill creating an authority for the Philadelphia Airport ever became law. Cohen hailed a subsequent effort to form a special committee to study the sale of the Philadelphia Airport, on which he would later serve, saying it was much better to study it publicly than behind closed doors. The Philadelphia Airport was never sold.
When Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter proposed eliminating 11 branch libraries in 2008, Cohen strongly opposed the branch library eliminations. Two of the proposed library closings were in his legislative district. His public opposition began within days of Mayor Nutter's announcement. He called it "outrageous and deeply wrong" to cut libraries for lower-income people. "Cutting the services of low-income people in order to cut taxes for high-income people...is indefensible," he said, noting that the city's wealthiest neighborhoods had been untouched in planned library closures. Ultimately, none of the branch libraries were shut down.
Political, civic and governmental activism
Cohen was appointed by Robert W. EdgarRobert W. Edgar
Rev. Dr. Robert William Edgar is president and CEO of Common Cause, a nonpartisan government watchdog organization, effective May 2007. He served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 1987, representing the 7th district of Pennsylvania...
as a member of the President's Council of Common Cause
Common Cause
Common Cause is a self-described nonpartisan, nonprofit lobby and advocacy organization. It was founded in 1970 by John W. Gardner, a Republican former cabinet secretary under Lyndon Johnson, as a "citizens' lobby" with a mission focused on making U.S. political institutions more open and...
. He tours schools with U.S. Senator Bob Casey, Jr.
Bob Casey, Jr.
Robert Patrick "Bob" Casey, Jr. is the senior U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania and a member of the Democratic Party. He previously served as Pennsylvania Treasurer, and Pennsylvania Auditor General. He is the son of former Governor Bob Casey, Sr..He is the first Democrat elected to a full term in...
and others to gain and share information about problems facing today's children. He joins fellow members of the House Democratic Policy Committee in hearing testimony on urgent public problems. He testifies before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is the public utility commission in Pennsylvania. It is composed of five commissioners, appointed by the Governor with the consent of the state Senate....
against rate increases affecting his constituents. He helps organize special events helping senior citizens and others needing information about health issues and health providers. He attends meetings of the Progressive States Network
Progressive States Network
The Progressive States Network is a grass-roots political organization in the United States that aims to transform the political landscape by sparking progressive actions at the state level...
. He attends Philadelphia public events of National Night Out
National Night Out
National Night Out is a community-police awareness-raising event in the US, held the first Tuesday of August....
. and works to get resources to fight neighborhood crime. He supports Philadelphia town watch
Town watch
The Town watch program is similar to that of the Neighborhood watch, the major difference is that the Town Watch tend to actively patrol in pseudo-uniforms, i.e. marked vests or jackets and caps, and is equipped with two way radios to directly contact the local police. The Town Watch serves as an...
/Neighborhood Watch
Neighborhood Watch
A neighborhood watch or neighbourhood watch , also called a crime watch or neighborhood crime watch, is an organized group of citizens devoted to crime and vandalism prevention within a neighborhood...
organizations, and Democratic Party picnics. He continues to participate in political/governmental advocacy organizations including Democracy for America
Democracy for America
Democracy for America is a progressive, people-powered political action committee, headquartered in South Burlington, Vermont. Founded by former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean in 2004, DFA leads public awareness campaigns on a variety of public policy issues, trains activists,...
, Netroots Nation, MoveOn.org Pennsylvania's annual Progressive Summit, and the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee, the governing body of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party
Pennsylvania Democratic Party
The Pennsylvania Democratic Party is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Pennsylvania. The party has had strong support in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia area for a long time, having controlled the mayoral office in Philadelphia since 1952, and the Pittsburgh...
. He is a Democratic committeeman for the 53rd Ward, 16th Division in Philadelphia, and is first vice-chairman of the 53rd Ward Democratic Executive Committee.
Citing "a great gap of leadership in American society, and... an adverse effect on the recent history of the United States," Cohen in 1975 introduced a resolution memorializing Congress "to appoint a committee or committees to begin a full, thorough and comprehensive investigation of the assassination of John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
, and Martin Luther King;" the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations
United States House Select Committee on Assassinations
The United States House of Representatives Select Committee on Assassinations ' was established in 1976 to investigate the assassinations of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. and the shooting of Governor George Wallace. The Committee investigated until 1978, and in 1979 issued its final...
was established the following year to investigate the assassinations of just John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
and Martin Luther King. Cohen successfully supported the enactment of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a state holiday.
He also supported naming the Keystone Shortway, Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
, after Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
, but opposed naming Philadelphia's criminal justice center after former Philadelphia police commissioner and mayor Frank L. Rizzo, saying "Although it is appropriate to praise the dead, it is not necessarily appropriate to give the dead eternal recognition." He said the administration of criminal justice was "a signal failure of the Rizzo Administration." He never complained about the privately paid for Rizzo statue in front of the Municipal Services Building, however.
He was an early advocate of Edward M. Kennedy running for President in 1980. He was a contributor to the Presidential campaign of John B. Anderson
John B. Anderson
John Bayard Anderson is a former United States Congressman and Presidential candidate from Illinois. He was a U.S. Representative from the 16th Congressional District of Illinois for ten terms from 1961 through 1981 and an Independent candidate in the 1980 presidential election. He was previously...
for the Republican Presidential nomination opposing both Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
and George H.W. Bush. He was an early contributor to the Presidential campaign of Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
in 1999.
Cohen opposed the "highway robbery" of a company getting $2.5 million in state government loans, and then shutting down its operations less than three years later. "What did we get for our money?" he asked along with Reps. Dwight E. Evans
Dwight E. Evans
Dwight Evans is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 203rd District . He currently serves as Majority Appropriations Committee Chairman.-Early life and education:...
and Robert Belfanti
Robert Belfanti
Robert E. Belfanti, Jr. is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.On March 23, 2008, Belfanti's district office was damaged by fire in an arson set by a man who had been upset about the results of a child custody case in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.-References:...
.
He was an early opponent of the Iraq War who favored responsible Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq
Withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq
The withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq has been a contentious issue within the United States since the beginning of the Iraq War. As the war has progressed from its initial 2003 invasion phase to a multi-year occupation, U.S. public opinion has turned in favor of troop withdrawal...
.
He was a delegate elected for Howard Dean
Howard Dean
Howard Brush Dean III is an American politician and physician from Vermont. He served six terms as the 79th Governor of Vermont and ran unsuccessfully for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee from 2005 to 2009. Although his U.S...
at the 2004 Democratic National Convention
2004 Democratic National Convention
The 2004 Democratic National Convention convened from July 26 to July 29, 2004 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts, and nominated John Kerry and John Edwards as the official candidates of the Democratic Party for President and Vice President of the United States, respectively, in the 2004...
, and for Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
at the 2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
The United States 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. The convention was held in Denver,...
He was an early endorser of the successful campaign of R. Seth Williams
R. Seth Williams
Rufus Seth Williams is the District Attorney of the city of Philadelphia. He began his term January 4, 2010. He previously served as an Assistant District Attorney. Williams is the first African-American District Attorney in Philadelphia and in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.-Early...
for Philadelphia District Attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
in 2009. He campaigned for House Democratic colleagues, Louise Bishop, John Sabatina, Leanna Washington and others. He signed "An Open Letter to the Jewish Community," in the Jewish Exponent, which argued that 2010 Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Joseph Sestak was a strong supporter of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. He engaged in political fundraising.
Attending the annual meeting of the National Conference of State Legislatures
National Conference of State Legislatures
The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan non-governmental organization established in 1975 to serve the members and staff of state legislatures of the United States...
in 1987, he helped lead 60% of the state delegations to support a resolution opposing the pending US Supreme Court nomination of Robert Bork
Robert Bork
Robert Heron Bork is an American legal scholar who has advocated the judicial philosophy of originalism. Bork formerly served as Solicitor General, Acting Attorney General, and judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit...
by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, despite the resolution's unanimous defeat in the convention's Law and Justice Committee. The Associated Press noted he "said the resolution was the only substantial statement that the delegates were considering. Other NCSL positions aren't newsworthy because they are the bland result of consensus," he said. Bork's nomination was never confirmed by the US Senate.
Saying "the Civil War is over and Slavery in the United States is illegal," he joined national efforts against the Stars and Bars
Stars and bars
Stars and bars may refer to* The first official flag of the Confederate States of America* A graphical method used to derive the formula for multiset coefficients and other combinatorial theorems* A 1988 film starring Daniel Day-Lewis...
of the Confederacy (American Civil War) in the Georgia state flag in 1996; Five years later, threatened with national boycotts, the state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
quieted protesters by redoing its flag. The state flag was last modified in 2003.
He defended the practice of electing judges in Pennsylvania.
He argued strongly against the replacement of the winner take all allocation system for Pennsylvania's electoral votes by a system giving a candidate a single vote for each Congressional district carried, with just two votes for carrying Pennsylvania. Disagreeing with a high-powered lobbying effort, he sent a public letter to the two chief public advocates of one electoral vote per Congressional district plan—Governor Tom Corbett
Tom Corbett
Thomas W. Corbett is the 46th and current Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. He is a former Attorney General of Pennsylvania and was elected to that office in 2004 and reelected in 2008...
and State Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi
Dominic Pileggi
Dominic Pileggi is an American politician from Pennsylvania who serves as Republican Leader of the Pennsylvania State Senate. Pileggi represents the 9th district, which includes portions of Chester and Delaware Counties. Pileggi earned a B.A. in economics from Saint Joseph's University in 1979 and...
--asserting that their proposal "unconstitutionally abridges the right to vote of Pennsylvania's minority citizens." His letter was cited by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette as one of the reasons to oppose the Corbett-Pileggi plan.
He supported the Philadelphia Newspaper Guild
Newspaper Guild
The Newspaper Guild-CWA is a labor union founded by newspaper journalists in 1933 who noticed that unionized printers and truck drivers were making more money than they did...
in its 2006 labor dispute with publisher Brian Tierney
Brian Tierney
Brian P. Tierney is an American a former advertising and public relations executive and publisher of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Born in Upper Darby Township, Pennsylvania, Tierney created Tierney Communications, one of the largest and most successful public relations and advertising firms in...
. He pressured the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, generally known as SEPTA, to come to terms with the Transport Workers Union
Transport Workers Union of America
Transport Workers Union of America is a United States labor union that was founded in 1934 by subway workers in New York City, then expanded to represent transit employees in other cities, primarily in the eastern U.S. This article discusses the parent union and its largest local, Local 100,...
by co-sponsoring a bill which would have kept transportation subsidies in escrow until a transportation strike is settled. He supported organizing Mushroom Workers in their efforts to both form a union and grow mushrooms in a more sanitary manner. In support of the Mushroom Workers, he said "Laws don't mean anything without vigorous sustained advocacy, and a union would greatly increase the chances of that." He supported the organizing efforts of the Philadelphia Security Officers Union.
He called public attention to the millions of dollars in unspent money for residents of Pennsylvania in the federal Emergency Homeowners Loan Program, passed after the announcement of the Homeowners Affordability and Stability Plan
Homeowners Affordability and Stability Plan
The Homeowners Affordability and Stability Plan is a U.S. program announced on February 18, 2009 by U.S. President Barack Obama. According to the US Treasury Department, it is a $75 billion program to help up to nine million homeowners avoid foreclosure, which was supplemented by $200 billion in...
by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, urging eligible people in danger of losing their homes due to financial distress to apply in press conferences held in both Harrisburg and Philadelphia. Pennsylvania became one of four states "to commit its full EHLP allocation," approving 3,056 applications for loans totaling $108 million, including $3 million in extra funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "During the final weeks of this program," Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) CEO and executive director Brian A. Hudson said,"our staff worked evenings and weekends to process every EHLP application. I'm proud of the tireless effort they made, and we're all very pleased to have helped so many families avoid the heartbreak of foreclosure. This not only directly helps those families, but it also helps stabilize communities hardest hit by the economic slowdown."
He worked on behalf of his constituents with numerous businesses, including the PECO Energy Company
PECO Energy Company
PECO is an energy company founded in 1881 and incorporated in 1929. It became part of Exelon Corporation in 2000 when it merged with Unicom. The company has approximately 2,300 employees; its call center and field craft personnel are members of IBEW Local 614...
,
His many years of governmental service and political activism have led to occasional recognition as a political pundit. He has often had occasion to eulogize top elected officials, fellow legislators lobbyists, political activists, civic activists, and bloggers. He has sometimes been a voice of caution, warning of difficulties ahead. He has sometimes been used by journalists as a source of legislative institutional memory.
He has expressed his views before the Philadelphia City Council
Philadelphia City Council
The Philadelphia City Council, the legislative body of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, consists of ten members elected by district and seven members elected at-large. The council president is elected by the members from among their number...
, the Delaware River Basin Commission
Delaware River Basin Commission
The Delaware River Basin Commission is a United States government agency created in 1961 by an interstate compact, signed into law by President John F...
, the Pennsylvania Rehabilitation Council, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is the public utility commission in Pennsylvania. It is composed of five commissioners, appointed by the Governor with the consent of the state Senate....
the Legislative Reapportionment Commission, and other official bodies.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination for the seat in the US House of Representatives held by Joshua Eilberg
Joshua Eilberg
Joshua Eilberg was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.-Early life and education:Eilburg was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
in 1978, at a time of widespread controversy over Eilberg's role in the decision of Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
to fire David Marston while Marston was conducting a criminal investigation of Eilberg. He actively campaigned in 2003 for the Democratic nomination for the Congressional seat being vacated by Joseph Hoeffel to run for the US Senate, but withdrew his candidacy in January, 2004 when it had become clear to him that Allyson Schwartz
Allyson Schwartz
Allyson Young Schwartz is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes parts of Montgomery County and Northeast Philadelphia...
had more support than he did.
Preserving Legal Rights
Cohen has repeatedly rejected the argument of business groups that tortTort
A tort, in common law jurisdictions, is a wrong that involves a breach of a civil duty owed to someone else. It is differentiated from a crime, which involves a breach of a duty owed to society in general...
liability should be limited. In a legislative debate on April 11, 2011, he asked "Who are we here for? Are we here for victims, or just for defendants, in civil litigation?"
He opposed the deportation of immigrants from Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
who already had been punished for crimes they committed and had made new lives for themselves in Philadelphia.
He supported academic freedom
Academic freedom
Academic freedom is the belief that the freedom of inquiry by students and faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy, and that scholars should have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts without being targeted for repression, job loss, or imprisonment.Academic freedom is a...
and actively opposed attempts inspired by conservative leader David Horowitz
David Horowitz
David Joel Horowitz is an American conservative writer and policy advocate. Horowitz was raised by parents who were both members of the American Communist Party. Between 1956 and 1975, Horowitz was an outspoken adherent of the New Left before rejecting Marxism completely...
and Pennsylvania legislators allied with him to probe the political beliefs of college professors employed by the state university system.
To preserve financially stressed newspapers in order to further freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
, he "has suggested that the only (new) 'content-neutral' way to to (governmentally) support newspapers and protect quality journalism is to subsidize newsprint." He viewed the long-repealed Fairness Doctrine
Fairness Doctrine
The Fairness Doctrine was a policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission , introduced in 1949, that required the holders of broadcast licenses to both present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was, in the Commission's view, honest, equitable...
as producing an improved quality of public debate.
He improved the employment law rights of police officers after they had been engaged in a military deployment
Military deployment
Military deployment is the movement of armed forces and their logistical support infrastructure around the world.-United States:The United States Military defines the term as follows:...
, by getting legislation passed of which he was the prime sponsor allowing them to return to work, even if they had been abroad during their required recertification tests. He said that getting experienced police officers back on the streets was both "a matter of public safety" and "a responsibility to protect rights of our military service members.
He supported the inclusion of gays and lesbians in Pennsylvania's Ethnic Intimidation and Institutional Vandalism Act, saying "This bill is not about what ministers or Sunday School teachers say. This bill is about what thugs, hooligans, and murderers do."
Preserving a small district legislature
Cohen called reducing the size of the Pennsylvania General AssemblyPennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
a "terrible idea whose time should never come" that would reduce the range of political opinion in the legislative process, make election campaigns more expensive, make legislators "more remote" from their constituents, and "less representative of the average citizen." He said the fiscal impact would be the same as closing one high school of the List of high schools in Pennsylvania. He warned his colleagues that reducing the size of the state house after the 2022 elections meant that in 2022 about half of the House members would face challenges from other House members, and that this fact would undermine colleagiality in the House until these elections took place. Others shared his concerns. Still others partially agreed with him, but still favored a smaller legislature, or favored elimination of the 50 member Pennsylvania Senate instead.
Public interest litigation
In June, 1980, represented by attorneys George D. Gould, John F. StreetJohn F. Street
John Franklin Street was the 97th Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. He was first elected to a term beginning on January 3, 2000, and was re-elected to a second term beginning in 2004...
, and David Cohen (politician), he joined other elected officials and leading Philadelphia consumer advocate Max Weiner as plaintiffs against a SEPTA fare increase, winning in both the Court of Common Pleas and in the Commonwealth Court on the claim that SEPTA failed to follow the state law and recognize two votes against the fare increase from Philadelphia board members and one vote from a Delaware County
Delaware County
Delaware County is the name of six counties in the United States of America:* Delaware County, Indiana* Delaware County, Iowa* Delaware County, New York* Delaware County, Ohio* Delaware County, Oklahoma* Delaware County, Pennsylvania...
board member as a veto of the fare increase. But, after subsequent decisions by SEPTA and the Common Pleas Court, the Commonwealth Court, on an appeal by SEPTA, said "We now supplement that holding by noting that a 'veto' can be exercised only by an 'express objection' made pursuant to the provision of Section 18(a) and that a negative vote without more is inefficient to constitute such objection," effectively reversing the orgininal decision.
Represented by Theodore M. Lieverman, Cohen was an amici curiae in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
State Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
v. Hughey, which established that OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress of the United States under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970...
's 1984 Hazard Communication Standard
Hazard Communication Standard
The Hazard Communication Standard requires employers to disclose toxic and hazardous substances in workplaces. This is related to the Worker Protection Standard....
did not preempt the pre-existing New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
Worker and Community Right to know
Right to know
"Right to know", in the context of United States workplace and community environmental law, is the legal principle that the individual has the right to know the chemicals to which they may be exposed in their daily living. It is embodied in federal law in the United States as well as in local laws...
Act "insofar as it regulates employers outside the manufacturing sector, or insofar as it requires identification and reporting of environmental hazards. The preempted provisions may be servered from those that are valid...." This decision, written by Judge Gustave Diamond
Gustave Diamond
Gustave Diamond is a United States federal judge.Born in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania, Diamond was in the United States Navy Seaman from 1946 to 1948. He received an A.B. from Duke University in 1951 and a J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 1956. He was a law clerk, Hon. Rabe F. Marsh,...
, sitting by designation of the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, was of precedential value in helping preserve Pennsylvania's similar law, of which Cohen had been prime sponsor.
Cohen, as Counsel of Record, with co-counsel Eric Fillman, filed an amicus curiae
Amicus curiae
An amicus curiae is someone, not a party to a case, who volunteers to offer information to assist a court in deciding a matter before it...
brief in the case of Grutter v. Bollinger
Grutter v. Bollinger
Grutter v. Bollinger, 539 U.S. 306 , was a case in which the United States Supreme Court upheld the affirmative action admissions policy of the University of Michigan Law School...
on behalf of current and former Pennsylvania legislators seeking a continuation of affirmative action programs that were deemed by educational institutions to be in the best interests of the student body. His brief foreshadowed one of the arguments used by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor
Sandra Day O'Connor is an American jurist who was the first female member of the Supreme Court of the United States. She served as an Associate Justice from 1981 until her retirement from the Court in 2006. O'Connor was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981...
in writing the majority opinion: that the evidence before the trial court which had declared affirmative action unconstitutional did not support the holding. He called the majority opinion "a ringing affirmation of the goal of an inclusive society."
Cohen was an early plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit, filed after the 2007 pet food recalls
2007 pet food recalls
The 2007 pet food recalls comprise the contamination and wide recall of many brands of cat and dog foods beginning in March 2007, and the ensuing developments involving the human food supply. The recalls in North America, Europe, and South Africa came in response to reports of renal failure in pets...
, seeking, and winning, compensation for damages for pet owners against companies which sold tainted pet food which killed or sickened many people's pets. Years earlier, working with the Philadelphia SPCA, he had forestalled litigation, and protected the right of Pennsylvania homeowners to own pets, by threatening to push through legislation banning insurance discrimination against pet owners, which led an offending insurance company to change its mind quickly.
Represented by Daniel Ocko, Cohen intervened as a plaintiff before the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is the public utility commission in Pennsylvania. It is composed of five commissioners, appointed by the Governor with the consent of the state Senate....
in the Act 129 Pennsylvania electric utility energy efficiency and conservation proceedings of PECO Energy Company
PECO Energy Company
PECO is an energy company founded in 1881 and incorporated in 1929. It became part of Exelon Corporation in 2000 when it merged with Unicom. The company has approximately 2,300 employees; its call center and field craft personnel are members of IBEW Local 614...
filed on March 2, 2009, seeking to secure greater energy conservation
Energy conservation
Energy conservation refers to efforts made to reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation can be achieved through increased efficient energy use, in conjunction with decreased energy consumption and/or reduced consumption from conventional energy sources...
benefits for low-income residents of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Along with the Action Alliance of Senior Citizens of Greater Philadelphia and the Tenant Union Representative Network, Cohen helped persuade the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is the public utility commission in Pennsylvania. It is composed of five commissioners, appointed by the Governor with the consent of the state Senate....
to issue order #8 on October 15, 2009, requiring PECO to redraft its proposed procedure allowing it to shift funds for the benefit of one class of users to the benefit of another class of users, and replace it with a procedure requiring any change in beneficiaries to be submitted to the Commission instead. Dealing with another issue raised by Cohen, the Commission Order and Opinion said that "While we fully appreciate Representative Cohen's interest in mitigating the potential impact of future rate increases through consumer conservation," they felt the existing PECO Consumer Education Plan for 2008-2012 was adequate for informing consumers of rate-saving conservation techniques, and that no further order to PECO was necessary to maximize consumer outreach.
Cohen's November 10, 2010 Prehearing Memorandum to Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is the public utility commission in Pennsylvania. It is composed of five commissioners, appointed by the Governor with the consent of the state Senate....
Administrative law
Administrative law
Administrative law is the body of law that governs the activities of administrative agencies of government. Government agency action can include rulemaking, adjudication, or the enforcement of a specific regulatory agenda. Administrative law is considered a branch of public law...
Judges Elizabeth H. Barnes and Dennis J. Buckley (1) opposed transfer of $1.8 million from the Residential Whole Home Performance Program to the Compact fluorescent lamp
Compact fluorescent lamp
A compact fluorescent lamp , also called compact fluorescent light, energy-saving light, and compact fluorescent tube, is a fluorescent lamp designed to replace an incandescent lamp; some types fit into light fixtures formerly used for incandescent lamps...
program for both business and residential consumers; (2) favored "the identification and targeting of RH (residential heating) customers for all existing residential Act 129 programs with marketing materials that among other things would provide realistic estimates of future electric bills using past consumer usage in winter months with the new and future rates" and argued that RH (residential heating) customers are providing some of the millions of dollars of ratepayer's dollars that are being spent to implement Act 129 programs and with targeted efforts and programs they could pay an important role in conserving electricity," conserving energy; (3) favored the use of PECO subsidies to reduce the cost of a less expensive $25 or $20 LED bulb to $10 or $5 as opposed to reducing the cost of a more expensive $45 LED bulb to $30; (4) favored greater stakeholder participation in meetings with PECO.
Electoral College Reform, Medical Marijuana, Civil Unions, and other pending state-level national issues
In recent years, Cohen has brought pending state-level national issues to the Pennsylvania House, introducing bills establishing Pennsylvania's membership in the National Popular Vote Interstate CompactNational Popular Vote Interstate Compact
The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is an agreement among U.S. states designed to replace current state rules governing the electoral college system of presidential elections with rules guaranteeing election of the national popular vote winner...
, legalizing medical marijuana, and allowing people to get civil unions in Pennsylvania.
Cohen first introduced House Bill 1028 for Pennsylvania to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact
National Popular Vote Interstate Compact
The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is an agreement among U.S. states designed to replace current state rules governing the electoral college system of presidential elections with rules guaranteeing election of the national popular vote winner...
on April 5, 2007. He introduced House Bill 841 to join it on March 10, 2009. On May 12, 2011, he was the lead Democratic sponsor on House Bill 1220 to join it, while Republican Rep. Thomas C. Creighton was the prime sponsor. With the enactment of the compact in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Pennsylvania's 20 electoral votes represent 14.5% of the remaining 138 electoral votes from ratifying states needed for the compact to take effect.
On April 29, 2009, Cohen introduced House Bill 1393 to legalize medical marijuana
Medical cannabis
Medical cannabis refers to the use of parts of the herb cannabis as a physician-recommended form of medicine or herbal therapy, or to synthetic forms of specific cannabinoids such as THC as a physician-recommended form of medicine...
in Pennsylvania saying that he believes it is time to get rid of a decades-old negative image surrounding marijuana and replace it with "a new, honest image.". Hearings on the bill were held, but not enough support obtained for the Health and Human Services Committee to call up the bill for a vote. The bill was rewritten, renamed the Governor Raymond P. Shafer
Raymond P. Shafer
Raymond Philip Shafer served as the 39th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1967 to 1971. He had previously served as Lieutenant Governor from 1963 to 1967...
Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, reintroduced on June 15, 2011, and re-referred to the Human Services Committee on June 23, 2011. Despite the lack of public hearings in 2011, Cohen's medical marijuana bill continued to gain public support. On September 15, 2011, Cohen served as a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute faculty on the subject of Legalizing Marijuana, discussing his bill to have legal medical marijuana, and submitting materials for the course record. He told the Philadelphia Daily News
Philadelphia Daily News
The Philadelphia Daily News is a tabloid newspaper that serves Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The newspaper is owned by Philadelphia Media Holdings which also owns Philadelphia's other major newspaper The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Daily News began publishing on March 31, 1925, under...
the difficulties in passing his legislation, saying "There's not a single Republican in the legislature who is willing to say he supports it. Governor Corbett said he'd veto it." He warned that "There will be people moving to New Jersey to take advantage of the (medical marijuana) law there. I think that is clear."
Cohen was the first House member to introduce legislation to seek Recognition of same-sex unions in Pennsylvania
Recognition of same-sex unions in Pennsylvania
Currently, Pennsylvania recognizes neither same-sex marriages, civil unions, nor domestic partnerships, though attempts have been put forth in the recent years to allow for such unions, as well as several measures that would block such legislation, such as amending the State Constitution to...
, bringing forth legislation for civil unions on April 22, 2010 (House Bill 2447) and, with ultimately 43 co-sponsors, on February 14, 2011 (House Bill 708). His announcement press conference was hosted by the Pennsylvania Interfaith Alliance and other groups. Newsletter, February 9, 2011 The bill is in the House Judiciary Committee. Cohen, with seven other state legislators, also co-sponsored House Bill 1835 introduced by Babette Josephs
Babette Josephs
Babette Josephs is a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Rep. Josephs was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1984 and represents the 182nd Legislative District, which encompasses Center City and South Philadelphia...
to bring marriage equality
Marriage Equality
Marriage Equality USA is an organization working for marriage equality for all non-heterosexual couples. The group works by doing public education and outreach, media campaigns and holding visibility events. Marriage Equality, Inc...
to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
.
Cohen introduced legislation creating wheelchair accessible taxicabs for the disabled in Philadelphia (House Bill 1914) in 2010. He also supported a system of workers compensation coverage for taxi drivers. He supported a lawsuit filed by Disabled in Action
Disabled in Action
Disabled In Action of Metropolitan New York is a civil rights organization, based in New York City, committed to ending discrimination against people with disabilities through litigation and demonstrations. Founded in 1970 by Judith E. Heumann and several other disabled friends, Disabled In Action...
against the Philadelphia Parking Authority
Philadelphia Parking Authority
The Philadelphia Parking Authority was created by a Philadelphia City Council ordinance adopted on January 11, 1950, as authorized by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Parking Authority Law The Philadelphia Parking Authority was created by a Philadelphia City Council ordinance adopted on January 11,...
claiming that Philadelphia's unique failure among the nation's ten largest cities to have accessible taxis violates the Americans With Disabilities Act. Cohen also involved himself in regulatory issues seeking to improve the economic viability of the Philadelphia taxicab industry.
Cohen has frequently opposed attempts to privatize Pennsylvania's governmental services. He has been an angry voice against Republican attempts to require the showing of identification, regardless of whether or not the voter's identity is known by election officials.
Cohen has long been active in issues of criminal justice, serving on the Crime and Corrections subcommittee in 1977-1978 under the leadership of Joseph Rhodes. In 2005, he unsuccessfully tried to get the FBI to reopen its investigation into the Pennsylvania murder of Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna
Jonathan Luna
Jonathan P. Luna was a Baltimore-based Assistant United States Attorney who was stabbed 36 times with his own penknife and found drowned in a creek in Pennsylvania.- Personal background :...
, focused on prosecuting drug dealers at the time of his death. The Luna case remains unsolved. He also tried to get the FBI to fully investigate the disappearance of Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar
Ray Gricar
Ray Frank Gricar was an American attorney who served as the district attorney of Centre County, Pennsylvania, from 1985–2005. On April 15, 2005, Gricar went missing under mysterious circumstances and has not been heard from since....
, who was prosecuting drug dealers at the time of his disappearance. Gricar was in 2011 declared legally dead, but the search for him continues.
Notable House speeches, academic freedom
"....Mr. Speaker, it is very difficult to know what academic orthodoxy is. Orthodoxy and independence are really in the mind of the beholder. If one believes that the United States was right in fighting the Revolutionary War over 200 years ago, to a British scholar that is ideological orthodoxy....Whomever you quote, Mr. Speaker, there is no way to quote all people, and the idea that every course has to be a reflection of diverse perspectives on every issue kind of limits the amount of material you can cover in any course....
There is not and there will never be any universal agreement as to what is relevant in any given course. Every course on a college campus is somewhat different based on who is teaching it.
Let us face reality; let's protect the reputuation of our state colleges and of ourselves, and let us vote "no" on this resolution."
Notable House floor speeches, freedom of speech
On November 16, 1999, Cohen defended Philadelphia School District Superintendent David Hornbeck from calls by Tom Druce that incoming Philadelphia Mayor John F. StreetJohn F. Street
John Franklin Street was the 97th Mayor of the City of Philadelphia. He was first elected to a term beginning on January 3, 2000, and was re-elected to a second term beginning in 2004...
should not reappoint him as Superintendent. He said "the fact that Mr. Druce or other members of this House may disagree with remarks made by the superintendent of schools is absolutely no reason to use the powers of this House to seek his firing. As Mr. Roebuck said (James R. Roebuck), people in this country, even people who are despised by every single member of the State House, have the right to speak. It is not a right we graciously give people because we like them. Freedom of speech for those we like is meaningless. Mr. Hornbeck's freedom of speech is not dependent on whether he has majority support in the House of Representatives or not; it is something inherent in every American citizen and every Pennsylvania citizen.
To attempt to muzzle Superintendent Hornbeck's speech is an outrage. It is an invitation to endless further litigation.... The attempt to discipline a school superintendent because his remarks are disagreed with is at the very best a very, very foolish thing. I would hope over the next several weeks the maker of this threat would reconsider this threat and decide to let Mr. Hornbeck speak and to let a speech be just a speech and not an ongoing public issue."
Legislative fellows and interns
Legislative fellows and interns in his legislative office have included Alzheimer's AssociationAlzheimer's Association
The Alzheimer's Association, incorporated on April 10, 1980 as the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc., is a non-profit American voluntary health organization which focuses on care, support and research for Alzheimer's disease....
Public Policy Coordinator Leah Kithcart, lobbyist Catharine M. Connor, now of Gmerek Government Relations, Inc., Erika Jeannette, now an associate at Triad Strategies
Triad Strategies
Triad Strategies, LLC is a lobbying and public relations firm based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.Triad Strategies was founded in 2002 with the merger of W.A. Hawkins Associates and Sellers, Feinberg & Associates. The firm specializes in lobbying and public relations management for the healthcare,...
in Harrisburg, Sherika Thomas, Business Industry Political Action Committee staff member Daniel Goldstein, Emily Vargo,
Cohen told Hillel J. Hoffman, assistant director of news communications at University Communications at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, that "It's good to see students from Temple in the capitol, because students from Central Pennsylvania have dominated the placement of interns in Harrisburg. ( Temple's) Pennsylvania Capital Semester is a great program for students because internships can lead to jobs. Sometimes interns can even influence policy. I'm delighted that Temple is participating, and I hope that other colleges and universities in the Philadelphia region will follow it's lead."
Quotations
Cohen's aphorismAphorism
An aphorism is an original thought, spoken or written in a laconic and memorable form.The term was first used in the Aphorisms of Hippocrates...
on political alienation
Political alienation
Political alienation refers to an individual citizen's relatively enduring sense of estrangement from or rejection of the prevailing political system....
that "Nothing can so alienate a voter from the political system as backing a winning candidate" has long been quoted on many internet websites and collections of famous quotations, apparently gaining appreciation from waves of public disillusionment towards public officials. He first contributed it to a book by prolific author Paul Dickson
Paul Dickson
For the football player of the same name see Paul Dickson .Paul Dickson is a freelance writer of more than 50 non-fiction books, mostly on American English language and popular culture. He has written many articles on a wide variety of subjects...
, The Official Rules and Explanations, the first edition of which was published in 1979. Dickson's books on rules of human behavior
Human behavior
Human behavior refers to the range of behaviors exhibited by humans and which are influenced by culture, attitudes, emotions, values, ethics, authority, rapport, hypnosis, persuasion, coercion and/or genetics....
--generally culled from anecdotal generalizations rather than precise research—gave contributors the honorific title of Fellows in The Murphy Center for the Codification of Human and Organizational Behavior. The Murphy Center, and Dickson's books, were inspired by Murphy's Law
Murphy's law
Murphy's law is an adage or epigram that is typically stated as: "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong". - History :The perceived perversity of the universe has long been a subject of comment, and precursors to the modern version of Murphy's law are not hard to find. Recent significant...
.
Social media
Cohen's use of social mediaSocial media
The term Social Media refers to the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0,...
has long been followed. Nicole Casal Moore, "Bloggers Press for Power" State Legislatures Magazine, the official publication of the National Conference of State Legislatures
National Conference of State Legislatures
The National Conference of State Legislatures is a bipartisan non-governmental organization established in 1975 to serve the members and staff of state legislatures of the United States...
covering the State Legislature in the United States noted both his blogging and his outreach to other bloggers, sending them special press releases. David C. Wyld, "Government of the People, By the People, and For the People in Web 2.0
Web 2.0
The term Web 2.0 is associated with web applications that facilitate participatory information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design, and collaboration on the World Wide Web...
: A Survey of Blogging Office Holders in the U.S. Public Sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
and an Agenda for Future Research," in the Journal of New Communications Research found Cohen was the only Pennsylvania blogger among the high-ranking officials he surveyed.
"Call Him Rep. Blog," Lauren Fritsky wrote on the front page of the Northeast Times
Northeast Times
The Northeast Times is an American newspaper, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that primarily targets the Northeast Philadelphia community. After being owned by The Philadelphia Inquirer parent company, it was sold to a newly formed company, Broad Street Media.-External links:* *...
referring to his posts on Phillyblog
Phillyblog
Phillyblog.com was an Internet forum or Virtual community whose focus was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and its surrounding communities. Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell was its honorary chairperson...
. The Frankford Gazette of Frankford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Frankford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Frankford is a large and important neighborhood in the lower Northeast section of Philadelphia situated about six miles northeast of Center City. Although its borders are vaguely defined, the neighborhood is bounded roughly by the original course of Frankford Creek, now roughly Adams to Aramingo...
similarly noted his Phillyblog postings. The Public Record of Philadelphia noted his use of Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
in Tony West's article "You Gotta Have Friends: Politicians Are Opening Facebook," and the Patriot-News of Harrisburg, "Forget Anthony Weiner, Twitter is here to stay" noted his use of Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
and Facebook for legislative purposes. Patriot-News reporter Brett Lieberman revealed that Cohen was among his bipartisan group of Facebook friends. His "widely cited" Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
book review of Philadelphia politician Michael J. Stack, Jr.'s novel "Close Friends of the Mayor" was noted in The Public Record in its report on attendees at Stack's funeral. The Wikipedia article on the Daily Kos
Daily Kos
Daily Kos is an American political blog that publishes news and opinions from a progressive point of view. It functions as a discussion forum and group blog for a variety of netroots activists, whose efforts are primarily directed toward influencing and strengthening the Democratic Party...
lists him as a "prominent contributor."
Awards received
Cohen was a "Spirit Award Winner" of the Keystone Alliance in 2011 "for bringing Gay Rights to the public's attention."Cohen was a Medallion Award Honoree of the Ducky Birts Foundation on April 17, 2010.
He received the "Feeling Blue Suicide Prevention
Suicide prevention
Suicide prevention is an umbrella term for the collective efforts of local citizen organizations, mental health practitioners and related professionals to reduce the incidence of suicide....
Leadership Award" on September 12, 2007, after securing some funds for the organization to help prevent suicides.
He was named an "environmental hero" by Penn Environment for his 100% environmental quality
Environmental quality
Environmental quality is a set of properties and characteristics of the environment, either generalized or local, as they impinge on human beings and other organisms...
voting record.
He received an "Outstanding Service Award" from his legal alma mater, Widener University School of Law
Widener University School of Law
Widener University School of Law is the ABA accredited law school of Widener University. The school, founded in 1971 as the Delaware Law School, operates on two of Widener's campuses, one in Wilmington, Delaware, and the other in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania....
, in 2004.
He received an award from the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus
Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus
The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus is an American political organization composed of African Americans elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly as Democrats.-Role:...
in 2002.
He received an award from the Pennsylvania National Guard
Pennsylvania National Guard
The Pennsylvania National Guard is composed of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. It is one of the largest National Guards in the nation. It has the largest Army National Guard of all the states and the fourth largest Air National Guard. These forces are...
Associations in 1991, for drafting legislation providing benefits to reservists called to active duty in the Gulf and elsewhere.
See also links providing context for Cohen's life and work
- AddictionAddictionHistorically, addiction has been defined as physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substances which cross the blood-brain barrier once ingested, temporarily altering the chemical milieu of the brain.Addiction can also be viewed as a continued involvement with a substance or activity...
- AdvocacyAdvocacyAdvocacy is a political process by an individual or a large group which normally aims to influence public-policy and resource allocation decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions; it may be motivated from moral, ethical or faith principles or simply to protect an...
- Advocacy groups
- Affluence in the United StatesAffluence in the United StatesAffluence in the United States refers to an individual's or household's state of being in an economically favorable position in contrast to a given reference group...
- American middle classAmerican middle classThe American middle class is a social class in the United States. While the concept is typically ambiguous in popular opinion and common language use, contemporary social scientists have put forward several, more or less congruent, theories on the American middle class...
- Central High School of Philadelphia
- CitizenshipCitizenshipCitizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
- Citizenship in the United StatesCitizenship in the United StatesCitizenship in the United States is a status given to individuals that entails specific rights, duties, privileges, and benefits between the United States and the individual...
- Civic intelligenceCivic intelligenceCivic intelligence is an "intelligence" that is devoted to addressing public or civic issues. The term has been applied to individuals and to collective bodies, like organizations, institutions, or societies.-The concept:...
- Collaborative intelligenceCollaborative intelligenceCollaborative intelligence is a term used in several disciplines, and has several different meanings. In a business setting, it can describe the result of accessing a network of people...
- Collective intelligenceCollective intelligenceCollective intelligence is a shared or group intelligence that emerges from the collaboration and competition of many individuals and appears in consensus decision making in bacteria, animals, humans and computer networks....
- Collaborative leadershipCollaborative leadershipThe term Collaborative Leadership describes an emerging body of theory and management practice which is focused on the leadership skills and attributes needed to deliver results across organizational boundaries...
- Common goodCommon goodThe common good is a term that can refer to several different concepts. In the popular meaning, the common good describes a specific "good" that is shared and beneficial for all members of a given community...
- Comparison of U.S. state governments
- Conflict resolutionConflict resolutionConflict resolution is conceptualized as the methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of some social conflict. Often, committed group members attempt to resolve group conflicts by actively communicating information about their conflicting motives or ideologies to the rest...
- David Cohen
- DemocracyDemocracyDemocracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
- Democratic Party(United States)
- DisabilityDisabilityA disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
- Economy of the United StatesEconomy of the United StatesThe economy of the United States is the world's largest national economy. Its nominal GDP was estimated to be nearly $14.5 trillion in 2010, approximately a quarter of nominal global GDP. The European Union has a larger collective economy, but is not a single nation...
- Educational attainment in the United StatesEducational attainment in the United StatesThe educational attainment of the U.S. population is similar to that of many other industrialized countries with the vast majority of the population having completed secondary education and a rising number of college graduates that outnumber high school dropouts. As a whole, the population of the...
- Elderly CareElderly careElderly care or simply eldercare is the fulfillment of the special needs and requirements that are unique to senior citizens. This broad term encompasses such services as assisted living, adult day care, long term care, nursing homes, hospice care, and In-Home care.-Cultural and geographic...
- Environmental HealthEnvironmental healthEnvironmental health is the branch of public health that is concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health...
- Federalism in the United States
- FreedomFreedom-Philosophy:* Free will, the ability to make choices* Political freedom, in the context of the relationship of the individual to the state* Economic freedom-Computing:...
- Group conflictGroup conflictGroup conflict, or hostilities between different groups, is a pervasive feature common to all levels of social organization .. Although group conflict is one of the most complex phenomena studied by social scientists, the history of the human race evidences a series of group-level conflicts that...
- Health Care in the United StatesHealth care in the United StatesHealth care in the United States is provided by many separate legal entities. Health care facilities are largely owned and operated by the private sector...
- Household income in the United StatesHousehold income in the United StatesHousehold income is a measure commonly used by the United States government and private institutions, that counts the income of all residents over the age of 18 in each household, including not only all wages and salaries, but such items as unemployment insurance, disability payments, child support...
- Human rightsHuman rightsHuman rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
- Income inequality in the United StatesIncome inequality in the United StatesIncome inequality in the United States of America refers to the extent to which income is distributed in an uneven manner in the US. Data from the United States Department of Commerce, CBO, and Internal Revenue Service indicate that income inequality among households has been increasing...
- Labor
- Labor law
- Labor rightsLabor rightsLabor rights or workers' rights are a group of legal rights and claimed human rights having to do with labor relations between workers and their employers, usually obtained under labor and employment law. In general, these rights' debates have to do with negotiating workers' pay, benefits, and safe...
- Labor union
- LawLawLaw is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
- Lebanon Valley CollegeLebanon Valley CollegeLebanon Valley College is a small, liberal arts higher education institution situated in the heart of Annville in Lebanon County, east of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.-History:...
- LegislationLegislationLegislation is law which has been promulgated by a legislature or other governing body, or the process of making it...
- LegislatureLegislatureA legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
- List of U.S. states by median income
- LobbyingLobbyingLobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
- Open politics
- PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
- Philadelphia
- Northeast PhiladelphiaNortheast PhiladelphiaNortheast Philadelphia, nicknamed Northeast Philly, the Northeast and the Great Northeast, is a section of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. According to the 2000 Census, the Northeast has a sizable percentage of the city's 1.547 million people — a population of between 300,000 and 450,000,...
- Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesPennsylvania House of RepresentativesThe Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
- Pennsylvania Senate
- Pennsylvania State CapitolPennsylvania State CapitolThe Pennsylvania State Capitol is the seat of government for the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is in downtown Harrisburg. It was designed in 1902 in a Beaux-Arts style with Renaissance themes throughout...
- Personal income in the United StatesPersonal income in the United StatesPersonal income is an individual’s total earnings from wages, investment interest, and other sources. In the United States the most widely cited personal income statistics are the Bureau of Economic Analysis’s personal income and the Census Bureau’s per capita money income...
- Political partyPolitical partyA political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
- Political participation
- Political ReformPolitical ReformThe Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia supports the promotion of a democratically governed Saudi Arabia. Due to its influence on an estimated 1.2 billion Muslims around the world, and its location with relation to the world's oil market, The Center believes that "Saudi Arabia...
- Political sciencePolitical sciencePolitical Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
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- Prohibition in the United StatesProhibition in the United StatesProhibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
- Prohibition of drugs
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- Race and ethnicity in the United States Census
- Representative DemocracyRepresentative democracyRepresentative democracy is a form of government founded on the principle of elected individuals representing the people, as opposed to autocracy and direct democracy...
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- Social class in the United States
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- Southeastern Pennsylvania
- State governments of the United StatesState governments of the United StatesState governments in the United States are those republics formed by citizens in the jurisdiction thereof as provided by the United States Constitution; with the original 13 States forming the first Articles of Confederation, and later the aforementioned Constitution. Within the U.S...
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External links
- Council of State Governments, http://www.csg.org
- Testimony of Rep. Mark Cohen on Medical Marijuana, December 2, 2009, before Health and Human Services Committee, http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/TR/transcripts/2009_0209_0001_TSTMNY.pdf
- The Pennsylvania Manual. Volume 119. P. 3-118.
- http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/cteeInfo/cteeInfo.cfm?cde=56&body=H
- Philadelphia City Council Members: David Cohen, John F. Street, Michael Nutter, John B. Kelly, Jr., Jared Ingersoll, Thomas M. Foglietta. General Books, LLC, 2010.
- Martindale-Hubble Law Directory.
- National Conference of State Legislatures, http://www.ncsl.org/
- Congressional Staff Directory.
- The Pennsylvania Manual, Volume 119. p. 3-118.
- Martindale-Hubble Law Directory.
- Pennsylvania House of Representatives - Mark B. Cohen official PA House website
- Project Vote Smart - Representative Mark B. Cohen (PA) profile
- Pennsylvania Act 150 of 1988.
- Pennsylvania Act 70 of 1990.
- Pennsylvania Act 159 of 1984.
- Follow the Money - Mark B. Cohen
- Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus - Rep. Mark B. Cohen official Party website
- Interview with Dr. Daniel E. Loeb Philadelphia Jewish Voice, February 2007