Lisa Baker () is an American politician from Pennsylvania currently serving as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

member of the

Pennsylvania State Senate The Pennsylvania State Senate is the upper house of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, the Pennsylvania state legislature. The State Senate meets in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. Senators are elected for four year terms, staggered ev ...

from the 20th District since 2007. She chairs the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee.

Education

Baker graduated from Dallas High School and received a Bachelors degree in Government Administration from

Shippensburg University Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (Ship or SU) is a public university in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. Founded in 1871, it later became the first teachers college in Pennsylvania ...

in 1983.

Political career

Baker was first elected in 2006 beating

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

Robert G. McNamara to represent the 20th Pennsylvania State Senate District and fill the seat of the retiring Charles Lemmond. She won reelection in 2010 and 2014 unopposed and was reelected again in 2018 beating

Green Party A green party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of green politics, such as social justice, environmentalism and nonviolence. Greens believe that these issues are inherently related to one another as a foundation f ...

challenger John Sweeney with 82% of the vote. 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 Thomas Joseph Ridge (born August 26, 1945) is an American politician and author who served as the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security from 2001 to 2003, and the first United States Secretary of Homeland Security from 2003 to 2005. ...

and

Mark Schweiker Mark Stephen Schweiker (born January 31, 1953) is an American businessman and politician who served as the 44th governor of Pennsylvania from October 5, 2001 to January 21, 2003. Schweiker, a Republican, assumed the governorship in 2001, when ...

. During her first term in office, Baker introduced legislation in response to the

kids for cash scandal The "kids for cash" scandal centered on judicial kickbacks to two judges at the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, US. In 2008, judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella were convicted of accepting money in retu ...

. Including proposals to aid the victims of the scandal and strengthening the juvenile justice system against such corruption. 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. Baker voted against legalizing

medical cannabis Medical cannabis, or medical marijuana (MMJ), is cannabis and cannabinoids that are prescribed by physicians for their patients. The use of cannabis as medicine has not been rigorously tested due to production and governmental restrictions ...

in Pennsylvania. Baker is also against legalizing adult-use cannabis in the state. In 2019, Baker voiced concerns about

due process Due process of law is application by state of all legal rules and principles pertaining to the case so all legal rights that are owed to the person are respected. Due process balances the power of law of the land and protects the individual pers ...

and a proposed

red flag law In the United States, a red flag law is a gun violence prevention law that permits a state court to order the temporary removal of firearms from a person who they believe may present a danger to others or themselves. A judge makes the determina ...

. 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. SB 982 was later enacted as 2022 Act 88.

Committee Assignments

* Judiciary, Chair * Labor & Industry, Vice Chair * Aging & Youth * Banking & Insurance * Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure * Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness

Personal life

Baker's parents are Edward W. Jones, II and Martha C. Jones, both of whom are deceased. She lives in Lehman Township with her husband Gary and her son Carson. She is a member of the Gino J. Merli Veterans Center Advisory Board and a trustee of the independent day school Wyoming Seminary.

Education

Political career

Committee Assignments

Personal life

References

External links