Since being elected in 1984, Rep. John Taylor has confronted many problems and challenges faced by his native city of Philadelphia with a determination and a roll-up-your-sleeves style that reflect the working class attitudes of the city neighborhoods he represents. John continues to focus on finding solutions to critical issues that impact the families and communities of his district and the surrounding region.
Learn more on his Facebook page.
For the 2011-12 legislative session, John has been named Republican chairman of the House Liquor Control committee, which provides oversight of the state’s beverage alcohol industry and the more than 20,000 licensed hotels, restaurants, clubs, eating places, breweries and wineries statewide.
The problem of school violence in Philadelphia city schools has been an issue that Rep. Taylor has been deeply involved in over the last few years. He heads a bipartisan group that monitors the problem of school violence. Recommendations from the group have led to the creation of the Office of School Victim Advocate and a series of practical recommendations that have been presented to the new School Reform Commission.
In addition, he will continue to serve on the House Urban Affairs committee, which he chaired last session. As chairman, John was at the forefront of the fight against the abuse of OxyContin, a prescription painkiller. He spent significant time increasing awareness about the dangers of the drug, which has been tied to the deaths numerous Philadelphia citizens.
Previously, John served as co-chairman of the Joint Select Committee to Examine Elections Issues. That bipartisan committee, formed in 2001, examined the elections process in Pennsylvania to ensure the efficiency and integrity of the election process. As a result of the joint select committee’s ongoing examination, legislation was signed into law in January 2002, establishing a statewide central voter registration system, known as SURE. The SURE system is a uniform, integrated computer system that contains a database of all voters in the state. All county registration commissions are required to be tied into the system.
In the late 1990s, John was a member of the bipartisan "Gang of Five," a group of legislators from Philadelphia who spurred debate that led to a package of anti-crime measures and a new strategy toward fighting crime in the city.
Through his sponsorship of related amendments to House legislation in 1999, Rep. Taylor played an instrumental role in the state Department of Welfare’s decision to relax its 20-hour-per-week work rule to allow welfare recipients an additional six months to finish their educational studies.
Over the years, John has addressed a variety of health and human services issues as a member of the House Select Committee on Pharmaceuticals, the Task Force on Child Care, the Task Force on Mental Retardation Services Delivery System, and the Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol.
In his home district, Rep. Taylor’s three district offices have helped countless constituents through the years. John has brought millions of dollars back home to help support various youth groups, service groups and senior citizen organizations.
Rep. Taylor is a 1973 graduate of Northeast Catholic High School for Boys. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Central Florida in 1980. John completed his law degree at Temple University School of Law in 1984. Currently, he is of Counsel to the Philadelphia law firm of Archer & Greiner P.C.
Born on April 9, 1955, John resides in the Northwood section of Philadelphia with his wife, Evelyn Frosch Taylor. He has four children: Sean, Sheila, Jillian and Brian.
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