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Lisa Baker (Pennsylvania politician)

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This article is about the Pennsylvania State Senator. For the Western Australian MLA, see Lisa Baker (Australian politician).
Lisa Baker
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 20th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2, 2007[1]
Preceded byCharles Lemmond
Personal details
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Gary Baker
​
(m. 1985)​
Children1
ResidenceLehman Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
EducationShippensburg University of Pennsylvania (BA)
Alma materDallas High School
Signature

Elisabeth Baker[2] (née Jones) is an American politician from Pennsylvania currently serving as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from the 20th District since 2007. She chairs the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee.

Education

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Baker graduated from Dallas High School[3] and received a bachelor's degree in Government Administration from Shippensburg University in 1983.[4]

Political career

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Baker was first elected in 2006 beating Democrat Robert G. McNamara to represent the 20th Pennsylvania State Senate District and fill the seat of the retiring Charles Lemmond.[5] She won reelection in 2010 and 2014 unopposed and was reelected again in 2018 beating Green Party challenger John Sweeney with 82% of the vote.[6][7] Baker won re-election in 2022.[8]

Baker currently serves on six committees, and is chair of the Judiciary Committee and vice-chair of the Labor and Industry Committee. Prior to her election as a State Senator, Baker worked on the staff of her predecessor, State Senator Charles Lemmond, and on the staff of Governors Tom Ridge and Mark Schweiker.[4]

During her first term in office, Baker introduced legislation in response to the kids for cash scandal. Including proposals to aid the victims of the scandal and strengthening the juvenile justice system against such corruption.[9]

Baker voted in favor of Act 76, which would have abolished school property taxes in Pennsylvania, and also opposes a severance tax on natural gas drillers.[10] Baker voted against legalizing medical cannabis in Pennsylvania.[11] Baker is also against legalizing adult-use cannabis in the state.[12]

In 2019, Baker voiced concerns about due process and a proposed red flag law.[13]

In 2022, she sponsored a bill (SB 1200) that would ban ballot drop boxes in Pennsylvania, as well another bill (SB 982) to ban private money from funding election operations.[14][15] SB 982 was later enacted as 2022 Act 88.[16]

In late 2022, Baker was made the Majority Caucus Administrator for the 2023-2024 legislative session.[17]

Committee assignments

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  • Judiciary, Chair
  • Aging & Youth, Vice Chair
  • Banking & Insurance
  • Labor & Industry

Source:[4]

Personal life

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Baker's parents are Edward W. Jones, II and Martha C. Jones, both of whom are deceased.[4] Baker's ancestors, the Buckman family, arrived in Pennsylvania onboard the ship "The Welcome" in the year 1682 alongside William Penn.[18] She married her husband Gary Baker on April 20, 1985.[19] They currently live in Lehman Township with their son Carson.[3] She is a member of the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center Advisory Board and a trustee of the independent day school Wyoming Seminary.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "SESSION OF 2007 191ST OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY No. 1" (PDF). Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania Senate. January 2, 2007. pp. 2–3. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  2. ^ "2022 General Election Tuesday, November 8, 2022 Official Returns LUZERNE". electionreturns.pa.gov. Pennsylvania Department of State. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Biography". www.senatorbaker.com. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d "Senator Lisa Baker". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  5. ^ Sadowski, Michael (November 8, 2006). "Baker elected new state senator". Pocono Record. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  6. ^ Mocarsky, Steve (November 7, 2018). "Baker Earns Another State Senate Term". AP News. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  7. ^ Almukhtar, Sarah; Andre, Mike; Andrews, Wilson; Bloch, Matthew; Bowers, Jeremy; Buchanan, Larry; Cohn, Nate; Coote, Alastair; Daniel, Annie; Fehr, Tiff; Jacoby, Samuel; Katz, Josh; Keller, Josh; Krolik, Aaron; Lee, Jasmine C.; Lieberman, Rebecca; Migliozzi, Blacki; Murray, Paul; Quealy, Kevin; Patel, Jaymin; Pearce, Adam; Shorey, Rachel; Strickland, Michael; Taylor, Rumsey; White, Isaac; Whitely, Maxine; Williams, Josh (May 15, 2019). "Pennsylvania Election Results". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  8. ^ "SENATOR IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 20TH SENATORIAL DISTRICT". Luzerne County, PA Election Night Reporting. scytl.us. December 1, 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Senator Lisa Baker Announces Plans For Re-election". Times Leader. February 14, 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  10. ^ "Baker faces Green Party challenger". The Citizen's Voice. November 3, 2018.
  11. ^ "Senator Lisa Baker Statement on Medical Cannabis Act Vote". Senator Lisa Baker. 12 May 2015.
  12. ^ Kalinowski, Bob. "Baker, Yudichak offer differing opinions on recreational pot bill". The Citizen's Voice.
  13. ^ Mahon, Ed (September 26, 2019). "Key state senator voices doubts about gun safety bill in Pennsylvania". PA Post. WHYY. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  14. ^ Murphy, Jan (April 13, 2022). "Pa. Senate passes legislation banning ballot drop boxes, private funding of elections". PennLive Patriot-News. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Bill Information (History) - Senate Bill 1200; Regular Session 2021-2022". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  16. ^ "2022 Act 88". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Baker Joins Senate Republican Leadership Team". Senator Lisa Baker. November 18, 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  18. ^ Murphy, Jan (January 4, 2023). "Meet the 2023-24 Pa. General Assembly: Diversity, historic firsts and a doc in the House". PennLIVE Patriot-News. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  19. ^ O'Boyle, Bill (April 21, 2023). "Sen. Baker, Rep. Ryncavage open new offices in Nanticoke". Times Leader. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  20. ^ "Directory, Wyoming Seminary". Retrieved January 28, 2019.
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