First elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1984, Rep. Josephs represents the 182nd Legislative District, which encompasses Center City and South Philadelphia. As the senior woman legislator in the General Assembly, she has served as chairwoman of the House State Government Committee since 2001; this committee oversees elections, campaign, the PA Human Relations Commission, and procurement of supplies by state government.
Babette has a strong reputation as a lawmaker dedicated to civil rights, and her efforts to reform the legislature, advance health care, education, libraries, the arts and her city have benefited millions of Philadelphians and Pennsylvanians. In addition to her numerous legislative efforts, Josephs is affiliated with multiple organizations and boards in Philadelphia including the American Civil Liberties Union, Center City Residents Association, the Jewish Labor Committee and the National Organization for Women (NOW).
She is a champion for public transit and recently played a pivotal role in securing a permanent, dedicated source of funding for SEPTA and other systems statewide. Her current efforts are aimed at increasing state funding for public libraries and the arts, improving access to health care for low-income working adults, increasing the minimum wage, allowing stem cell research, energy independence, and ending discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgendered individuals in health care, housing, and employment.
Babette received her bachelor's degree from Queens College and her law degree from Rutgers. She was married to the late Herbert B. Newberg and has two children and six grandchildren.
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