Matthew E. Baker (born January 24, 1957) is a former
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 House of Representatives for the
68th District and was elected in 1992. He resigned from the House on February 19, 2018, to accept a job with the Trump Administration, regional director of the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services office in Philadelphia. For the 2017–18 legislative session, Baker was Republican Chairman of the House Health Committee. Upon his resignation, Rep. Kathy Rapp (R-65) was named to chair the committee.
Education
Baker graduated from
Cowanesque Valley High School in
Westfield. He holds an associate degree from
Corning Community College
Corning Community College is a public community college in Corning, New York. It was initiated in 1957 and moved to its Spencer Hill campus in 1963. This two-year college serves three counties: Steuben, Chemung, and Schuyler. It is one of the ...
, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree as an honors scholar from
Elmira College
Elmira College is a private college in Elmira, New York. Founded as a college for women in 1855, it is the oldest existing college granting degrees to women that were the equivalent of those given to men. Elmira College became coeducational in a ...
in
Elmira, New York. He also has a Certificate in Business Management, and attended
Mansfield University
Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is a campus of Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania and it is located it in Mansfield, Pennsylvania. Part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), the campus' total enrollment is 1,6 ...
.
Career
Prior to his election to the House, Baker served as a district legislative aide for 13 years. He worked in a Wellsboro law firm for twelve years where he specialized in serving people with disabilities. He helped them obtain
Social Security
Welfare, or commonly social welfare, is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refer specifical ...
and
disability benefits before federal administrative law judges.
Baker has seen many of his bills become law, including Act 22 of 2012, known as Pennsylvania's Identity Theft Act, which makes it a felony of the third degree to commit a first offense of the crime of identity theft and provides a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine. A third or subsequent offense raises the crime to a felony of the second degree with a maximum penalty of 17 years in prison and a $125,000 fine. Act 166 of 2004 allows auto accident investigators to file summary charges up to a year after an accident, thereby giving law enforcement officials the necessary time needed to complete their investigation of the most difficult incidents – ones that cause serious bodily injury or death and frequently involve multiple vehicles.
["Representative Baker's Web Profile" http://repbaker.com]
Opposition to marijuana legalization
Baker is opposed to
cannabis
''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: '' Cannabis sativa'', '' C. indica'', and '' C. ruderalis''. Alternative ...
legalization and does not support the legalization of
medical cannabis. As chairman of the House Health Committee, Representative Baker has blocked medical cannabis legislation in PA. According to Baker: ''"Federal law places Marijuana as being so potentially harmful and dangerous that it has listed the drug as a schedule 1 drug right next to Heroin, LSD, Ecstasy, Meth, and many other drugs. This is in stark contrast to marijuana activists claiming Marijuana is harmless and should be approved as medicine. I have not found a preponderance of evidence that would support putting either children or adults at risk of serious adverse health reactions for cannabis oils that have not conclusively been proven to be safe, effective or even have the necessary support by the American Epilepsy Society, FDA, American Academy of Pediatrics, ... and many other groups too numerous to recite."''
Baker has said that his stance against medical cannabis is based on "150 scientific studies showing the dangers of marijuana". Baker provided a list with "194 links to the information that he says has formed his unfavorable opinion of medical marijuana" to the ''Pittsburgh City Paper''. The City Paper said that few links went to scientific studies.
Personal life
Formerly of
Westfield, Pennsylvania
Westfield is a borough in Tioga County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,113 at the time of the 2020 census.
Geography
Westfield is located at (41.917910, -77.540315).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough ...
, Baker resides in
Wellsboro, Tioga County, with his wife Brenda.
References
External links
Representative Baker's official web sitePennsylvania House profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Matt E.
1957 births
Elmira College alumni
Living people
Republican Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Politicians from Buffalo, New York
21st-century American politicians