State Senator Larry Farnese is fighting to make Philadelphia a better and safer place to live, work, and raise a family. During his first term in office he fought for and passed laws that will significantly improve Philadelphia’s communities:

Reform

Farnese wrote and helped pass the bill that finally removed elected officials from the costly DROP program. (HB 1828 [Senate Amendment A03599])

Introduced legislation to restrict pay-to-play contributions by those seeking to do business with the state. (SB 892)

Larry also wrote legislation that would close municipal pension loopholes and prevent state and municipal employees convicted of sex crimes from collecting public pensions. (SB 893; SB 1290)

Public Safety

Wrote laws that would require a minimum one-year sentence for carrying an unlicensed firearm and temporarily bar those charged with violent felonies from purchasing or owning firearms. (SB 619; SB 620)

Created legislation that would close the “Florida Loophole” that gun permit rejects use to obtain gun permits in Pennsylvania and impose stiffer penalties on straw gun purchasers. (SB 622; SB 1028)

Farnese fought to increase funding for witness protection efforts and obtained a state grant to bring back the Philadelphia Police Mounted Unit.

Jobs

Larry is working with community leaders, private businesses, and elected officials on the Southport project, which would attract $300 million in private investments and create thousands of permanent, family-sustaining jobs.

Led successful fight against art taxes proposed in 2009 and 2010 and worked to restore arts funding cut in 2011, saving arts grants for dozens of local organizations.

Larry fought for continued port funding to develop an auto processing facility in the district, helping to sustain more than 600 well-paying jobs.