Current Office: Senator
First Elected: 04/23/1996
Next Election: 2012
Party: Democratic

General

Gender: Male
Family: Wife: Roxanne; 3 Children
Birth date: 11/17/1957
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, PA
Home City: Forest Hills PA
Religion: Roman Catholic

Profession

Register of Wills of Allegheny County, 1992-1996 Deputy Sheriff, Allegheny County Sheriff's Department Attorney, Grogan Graffam Professional Corporation Former Adjunct Professor, Allegheny County Community College

Education

JD, Duquesne University School of Law, 1989 BA, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1979 AS, Community College of Allegheny County, 1977

Committees

Rules and Executive Nominations

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: Yea

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: Yea

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: Nay

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: Nay

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

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: Yea

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: Yea

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: Yea

SB 1385 Increase Tax Credit for Business Net Losses
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 1388 Change Formula for Calculating Corporate Net Income Tax
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 1387 Business Property Tax Deduction
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 1385 Increase Tax Credit for Business Net Losses
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 1388 Change Formula for Calculating Corporate Net Income Tax
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 1387 Business Property Tax Deduction
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

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

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

SB 1386 Poverty Income Tax Cut
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

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

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

SB 246 Smoking Ban
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

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

SB 246 Smoking Ban
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

A 2062 Exceptions to Clean Indoor Air Act
Stage: Amendment Vote
Vote: Yea

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

HB 804 Handheld Cell Phone Ban While Driving
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

SB 1230 Slot Supplier Elimination
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

SB 1090 Minimum Wage Bill
Stage: Passage
Vote: Yea

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

SB 999 Voting Standards
Stage: Concurrence Vote
Vote: Nay

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

HB 213 Ecoterrorism Bill
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

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

SB 1025 PA Clean Vehicles Program
Stage: Passage
Vote: Nay

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