State Senator Lisa M. Boscola has spent the majority of her professional career working to improve the lives of Lehigh Valley residents. Born in Bethlehem on April 6, 1962, to Richard and Anna Stofko – Senator Boscola has remained a proud steel worker’s daughter and life-long resident of the Lehigh Valley, a fact which has made her intimately familiar with the issues that face her district and the people she represents.

First elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly in 1994, Senator Boscola served two terms in the state House and is serving her fifth term representing the 18th Senatorial District, consisting of Northampton and Lehigh Counties. Prior to her election to the General Assembly, Senator Boscola served as Deputy Court Administrator with the Northampton County Court. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees from Villanova University cum laude.

Throughout her legislative career, Senator Boscola has worked tirelessly to bring property tax reform to the forefront of the debate in the General Assembly. Senator Boscola has been a leading proponent of the total elimination of the local school property tax and has been a co-sponsor of Senate Bill 76. She has also introduced legislation to freeze property taxes on seniors so that they can remain in their homes.

Senator Boscola has also focused on the need for state government to promote economic development initiatives to provide family-sustaining jobs to the Lehigh Valley and across the Commonwealth. She has worked diligently to bring the Lehigh Valley region our fair share of state funds for worthwhile local projects. She has been a strong advocate for funding economic development programs with proven track records of job creation and retention such as the Ben Franklin Technology Centers, Small Business Development Center and the Manufacturer’s Resource Center. Most recently, she was instrumental in bringing a City Revitalization and Improvement Zone (CRIZ) designation to Bethlehem. Senator Boscola fought hard to ensure that Bethlehem had an opportunity to submit a CRIZ application and has worked to ensure that the incentive will be a tool that drives new growth to the region.

The CRIZ looks to leverage new state tax increment to complete difficult development projects in Bethlehem. Bethlehem and our region continues to recover from the loss of Bethlehem Steel. Redeveloping the vacant steel land into productive, diverse job opportunities will ensure Bethlehem and the region has a bright future. Senator Boscola recognizes that staying competitive requires creative incentives that help generate new growth in the region, which is what the CRIZ does.

Working with the private sector to drive growth, job expansion and retention has been a focus for Senator Boscola. Cutting out the red tape, ensuring the State’s incentives are competitive with surrounding states is one way government can help promote growth.

Since 2011, Senator Boscola has been Chair of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, where she is leading the fight to bring policies into state government that will create family-sustaining jobs, protect the rights of victims of crime, reform and reduce the size of state government and promote school-to-work opportunities. Additionally, Senator Boscola serves as the Chair of the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee where she has tirelessly protected consumers from utility rate increases.

Along with Consumer Protection, Senator Boscola is also a member of the Judiciary, Banking & Insurance, Game and Fisheries, Rules & Executive Nominations and Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committees. Senator Boscola is also involved in a number of legislative caucus’ including serving as co-chair of the Economy, Business & Jobs Caucus and the Community College Caucus. She is also a member of the Local & School Property Tax Relief Caucus, Legislative Sportsmen Caucus, Fire & Emergency Services Caucus, Early Childhood Education Caucus, among others.

Senator Boscola resides in Bethlehem Township with her husband, Ed Boscola and their two cats Turbo and Trixie.

For more information, head to Senator Boscola’s official website.