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About John

On January 2, 2009, John Pippy began his second full term in the Pennsylvania Senate. He was sworn in as the Senator of the 37th District serving portions of Allegheny County and a portion of Washington County. Previously, Senator Pippy served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the 44th District for eight years.

Senator Pippy is Chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee. The Law and Justice Committee has primary oversight for legislation, regulations and policies pertaining to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and the Pennsylvania State Police.

Senator Pippy also chairs the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, which is responsible for a wide range of research activities pertaining to the operation and performance of state-funded programs and agencies. The Committee makes recommendations aimed at eliminating unnecessary expenditures and assuring that public funds are being used as intended. In addition, he is a member of several other Senate Committees, including Appropriations, Game and Fisheries, Law and Justice, State Government, and Transportation.

Over the years Senator Pippy has introduced numerous bills that have been signed into law. Among them:

• Changes to Megan's Law to provide additional information on sex offenders on Pennsylvania's Megan's Law website.
• Preventing windfall tax hikes with Act 71, which requires municipalities and school districts in Allegheny County to establish revenue-neutral millage rates in the tax year immediately following the reassessment.
• Establishing a comprehensive list of ethical safeguards in Pennsylvania's gaming law and within the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
• Limiting the scope of protests at military funerals and memorial services.
• Allowing for Intrastate Mutual Aid Agreements between political subdivisions in Pennsylvania for emergency prevention and response efforts.
• Allowing colleges to offer military families lower, in-state tuition rates for on-line courses.

In addition, Senator Pippy authored legislation to reduce the size and the costs of the General Assembly. Under this proposal, the Legislature would be reduced from 50 to 40 senatorial districts and from 203 to 161 representative districts. The result would be a 20-percent reduction in the size of both chambers and a 20-percent reduction in taxpayer funds.

Senator Pippy's efforts to promote economic development and job creation also included his sponsorship of Senate Bill 1190, a bill that encourages and rewards employers who hire qualified former welfare recipients. Another priority issue for the Senator has been to reduce the Capital Stock and Franchise Tax in order to reduce the tax burden placed on businesses. This tax limits a business ability to expand, hire staff, and provide quality, high-paying jobs. In recognition of his job creation efforts, he has received the Guardian of Small Business Award which is presented by National Federation of Independent Business to legislators who voted favorably on key small business issues.

Senator Pippy has been a longtime advocate of early childhood education programs and special education funding initiatives. He has championed the effort to provide valuable services and funding to Pennsylvania's facilities servicing special needs children. He also serves on the Autism Caucus. He is an advocate of legislation aimed at increasing the number of environmentally friendly "green" buildings in Pennsylvania by providing tax credits for buildings that meet specific environmental and energy standards, and requiring that state-funded construction also meets those standards.

Born in Ubon, Thailand, Senator Pippy received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental engineering and served on active duty, assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. He is a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard and served with the Army Reserve on active duty in Iraq and Kuwait. Prior to entering the General Assembly, Senator Pippy worked at the U.S. Steel Clairton Works.

Senator Pippy is a member of the Advisory Boards for the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Pittsburgh Council/Boy Scouts of America, the Heinz History Center, and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. He is also an alumni member of the American Council of Young Political Leaders. He is a Board Fellow for the University of Pittsburgh's Institute of Politics and serves on the Boards of Leadership Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Botanical Garden. Senator Pippy is a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and a member of the Knights of Equity. Senator Pippy resides in Moon Township and is a member of St. James Catholic Church in Sewickley.

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