Mark B. Cohen
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State Representative Mark B. Cohen is a state legislator in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the Democratic Party. Cohen has held leadership leadership positions in the House Democratic Caucus since January, 1990 and is currently the Democratic caucus chairman and is second in seniority in the House. He is slated to become the majority whip beginning in 2007, contingent upon the Democrats electing the House Speaker on January 2, 2007.
Cohen is also the most active Daily Kos diarist and commenter among elective officials who write in their own names.
[edit] Biography
Cohen has a a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Lebanon Valley College. He also holds a juris doctor from Widener University School of Law and worked to bring a Widener Law School to Harrisburg, the state capital.
His father is the late David Cohen a former Councilman-at-Large in Philadelphia and his mother is Florence Cohen, a political activist. As a result, Cohen became involved in politics very early in life.
He became an officer of the College Young Democrats at the University of Pennsylvania and served as Co-Chairman of Philadelphia Students for Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. He was an intern in 1967 for Congressman William J. Green and later in 1968 for Senator Joseph S. Clark. He served as an aide to Milton Shapp's gubernatorial campaign in 1970 and as a member of the Youth Advisory Council of Governor Raymond P. Shafer.
[edit] Political career
Cohen was elected in a special election in May 1974 before his 25th birthday. Cohen represents the 202nd House District which encompasses Northeast Philadelphia west of Bustleton Avenue and south of Krewstown Road down to the border of LaSalle University and Central High School of Philadelphia
Cohen takes an interest in labor relations issues and served as the Chairman of the House Labor Relations Committee from 1983 through 1990. He is a member of the executive board of the National Labor Caucus of State Legislatures. Cohen is known as a strong supporter of a higher minimum wage. He sponsored bills in 1987 and 1988 which led to raising the Pennsylvania minimum wage above the Federal wage for the first time. In 2005 and 2006, he initiated legislation which raised the state minimum wage to $7.15 per hour effective July 1, 2007. He continues to seek further increases in the minimum wage.
Cohen's labor relations work included efforts to shore up the state unemployment compensation system and providing protection for whistleblowers.
As an attorney, Cohen has sought to expand funding for legal aid for the poor. He is also an opponent of limiting judicial tort awards.
Cohen is a Democratic committeeperson for the 53rd Ward, 16th Division in Philadelphia, a member of the Democratic State Committee representing Northeast Philadelphia, and was elected as a delegate pledged to Howard Dean for the 2004 Democratic National Convention. He continues to participate in various political organizations including Democracy for America and the Pennsylvania Democratic State Committee.
[edit] Personal
Married to the former Mona Getzes, a Philadelphia special education teacher, he lives with his wife and daughter Amanda, in the Castor Gardens section of Northeast Philadelphia.
