Current Office: Senator
First Elected: 11/04/2008
Next Election: 2012
Party: Democratic

General

Gender: Male
Family: Wife: Jennifer Anne Mirak; 2 Children: Brennan, Justin
Birth date: 1961
Birthplace: Philadelphia, PA
Home City: Upper Merion PA
Religion: Jewish

Profession

Adjunct Law Professor, Cedar Crest College Adjunct Law Professor, Muhlenberg College Attorney Former Co-Host, Political Debate Television Show

Education

JD, University of Houston, 1983 Degree, Political Science, Temple University

Committees

Communications and Technology
Education
Environmental Resources
Finance
Intergovernmental Operations
Judiciary

HB 934 Amends Voter Identification Laws
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HB 1950 Amends Statutes Concerning Oil and Gas Resources
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Nay

SB 1249 Congressional Redistricting
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 242 Permitting the On-Site Sale of Alcohol at Distilleries
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 1100 Regulation of Oil and Natural Gas Resources
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

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HB 934 Amends Voter Identification Laws
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HB 1950 Amends Statutes Concerning Oil and Gas Resources
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Nay

SB 1249 Congressional Redistricting
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 242 Permitting the On-Site Sale of Alcohol at Distilleries
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 1100 Regulation of Oil and Natural Gas Resources
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 1 Charter School Guidelines
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 595 Authorizes the Use of Red Light Cameras
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 1151 Fiscal Emergency Bill
Stage: Concurrence Vote With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HB 960 Public Assistance Program Amendments
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 330 Amending The Taxpayer Relief Act
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 960 Public Assistance Program Amendments
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

HB 1485 2011-2012 Budget
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 1131 Tort Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 612 Guidelines for Teacher Suspension
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 101 Education Law Amendments
Stage: Override of Veto
Vote: Yea

HB 1926 Amending Self-Protection Laws
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HB 2497 Retirement Law Amendments
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HB 1926 Amending Self-Protection Laws
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HB 2497 Retirement Law Amendments
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

SB 1042 2010-2011 Budget Implementation and Fiscal Law Amendments
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 2279 2010-2011 Budget
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SR 348 Audit of Methadone Treatment Programs & Medical Assistance Transportation Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 1161 Authorizing Qualified Inmate Transfer to Pre-Release Centers
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 711 Legalizing Table Games
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SB 711 Legalizing Table Games
Stage: Concurrence Vote With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HB 1416 2009-2010 Budget
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 1614 Fiscal Code Amendments
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

SB 1033 Gaming Law Amendments
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1531 Tax Law Amendments
Stage: Concurrence Vote With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HB 1828 Municipal Pension System Amendments
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: -

HB 1416 2009-2010 Budget
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Nay

SB 81 Liquor Tastings and Liquor Code Updates
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 850 2009-2010 Budget
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 490 Oil and Gas Lease Fund Appropriations
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 1067 Omnibus Education Bill
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

SB 1389 2008-2009 Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 1067 Omnibus Education Bill
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

A 7738 Real ID Biometric Data
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 246 Smoking Ban
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: -

SB 1278 Child Support Fee
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 2297 Expansion of the Keystone Opportunity Zone
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 6178 to HB 1845 Reporting Missing Firearms
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

SB 1137 Expanding Subsidized Health Care
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HB 1 Clean Energy Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1590 Public Transportation and Interstate 80 Toll Road
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 1286 2007-2008 Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SB 246 Smoking Ban
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HB 289 Presidential Primary Date Change
Stage: Passage With Amendment
Vote: Yea

HB 1286 2007-2008 Budget
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 1631 Funding for Local County Projects
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1590 Public Transportation and Interstate 80 Toll Road
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1200 Alternative Energy Incentives
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1202 Clean Fuels and Energy Independence Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1200 Alternative Energy Incentives
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1202 Clean Fuels and Energy Independence Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1200 Alternative Energy Incentives
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1202 Clean Fuels and Energy Independence Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1200 Alternative Energy Incentives
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1202 Clean Fuels and Energy Independence Act
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 2499 2006-2007 Budget
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

SB 1090 Minimum Wage Bill
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1588 Fluoride Content in Water
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 243 Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A7999 to HB 1959 English as Official Language
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 39 Property Taxes (Special Session)
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Yea

HB 698 Mental Retardation Consideration in Murder Cases
Stage: Passage
Vote: -

HB 2381 Marriage Definition Constitutional Amendment
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 999 Voting Standards
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

HB 257 Minimum Wage Increase
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 862 State Gaming
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

HB 1318 Voter Identification Requirements
Stage: Conference Report Vote
Vote: Nay

HB 1318 Voter Identification Requirements
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

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