Fred Keller in PA legislative records

On Abortion: Increase regulations for licensing of abortion clinics

SB732: An Act amending the Health Care Facilities Act, providing for licensure, for application for license, for issuance of license and for inspections.

Opposition by Women's Law Project:SB 732 will require abortion providers to comply with regulations now reserved for ambulatory surgical facilities. Known as "TRAP laws," ("Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers"), similar measures are a tactic recommended in several states for closing down women's clinics. Under SB 732, most or all of the 20 existing freestanding clinics in Pennsylvania may have to stop offering abortion care temporarily, while they hire architects and contractors to transform their small clinics into sophisticated medical facilities; or they may close permanently.

Legislative outcome:Passed Senate 38-12-0, Roll Call #165 on Jun/14/11; Passed House 151-44-8, Roll Call #981 on Dec/13/11; State Rep. Fred Keller voted YES; Signed by Governor Tom Corbett on Dec/22/11

Source: Pennsylvania legislative voting record: SB732 Dec 13, 2011

On Drugs: Establish state medical marijuana program

Excerpts from legislation:Scientific evidence suggests that medical marijuana is one potential therapy that may mitigate suffering in some patients and also enhance quality of life. Regulating the program which allows access to medical marijuana will enhance patient safety while research into its effectiveness continues. It is the intent of the general assembly to provide a program of access to medical marijuana which balances the need of patients with the need to promote patient safety. The program to provide access to medical marijuana serve as a temporary measure, pending federal approval of and access to medical marijuana through traditional medical and pharmaceutical avenues.

Legislative outcome: Rep. Keller voted YEA; bill passed House, 149-43-8 on March 16; bill passed Senate, 42-7-1 on May 12; signed by Governor Tom Wolf on April 17

Source: Pennsylvania legislative voting records: SB 3 Mar 16, 2016

On Energy & Oil: Establish process to replace coal plants with green energy

Legislative Summary: Pennsylvania Greenhouse Gas Regulation Implementation Act: Requiring approval from the General Assembly for a State plan to regulate carbon dioxide emissions for existing stationary sources.

Legislative text replaced: Reasonably-priced reliable sources including coal-fired electric generation power plants strengthen are vital to public interest. The premature deactivation or retirement of coal-fired electric generation, due to EPA regulations, negatively affects our economy, environment, and electric reliability.

OnTheIssues Analysis: This legislation slows green energy implementation. However, the previous law had strong pro-coal language, which the new version removes. On balance, we consider this bill a step backward from green energy.

Legislative Outcome: Rep. Keller voted YEA; passed House 144-59-0 on July 1; passed Senate 31-17-2 on Oct. 15; signed by Gov. Tom Corbett on Oct. 22

Source: Pennsylvania legislative voting records: HB 2354 Oct 22, 2014

On Government Reform: Account for military & religious issues in voter photo ID

Excerpts from legislation:If a voter has a religious objection to being photographed [such as Amish populations], a valid-without-photo ID card will serve as photo ID. ID documents must be unexpired or within one year after their expiration date, except for military ID's, which do not designate an expiration date. The Commonwealth shall disseminate information to the public regarding the ID requirements, including the availability of ID cards other than driver licenses.

OnTheIssues Analysis: This bill tinkers with the rules for photo ID requirements without changing the underlying requirement itself. Therefore, we interpret support of this bill as support of photo ID for voting, and opposition to this bill as supporting more open voting.

Legislative outcome: Bill passed House, 108-88-7 on June 23, 2011; Rep. Keller voted YEA; bill passed Senate, 26-23-1, on March 7, 2012; signed by Governor Tom Corbett on March 14, 2012

Source: Pennsylvania legislative voting records: HB 934 Mar 14, 2012

On Gun Control: Supports "stand your ground" expansion to self-defense

HB40: Providing for use of force in self-protection, for use of force for the protection of other persons.

Opposition by CeaseFirePA:Pennsylvania amended its traditional law of self-defense to include a so-called "Stand Your Ground" or "Shoot First" provision. Under the Castle Doctrine, the duty to retreat did not apply in one's home. The 2011 amendment removed the duty to retreat when one is outside one's home. The law now allows a shooter to offer an entirely perception-based legal defense with next to no provable, factual elements upon which to base guilt or innocence. Now we really would have a shoot first law--a law that could be used to justify race-based killings & hate-motivated crimes where self-defense was a fallacy.

Legislative outcome:Passed House 164-37-2, Roll Call #189 on Apr/12/2011; State Rep. Fred Keller voted YES; Passed Senate 45-5-0, Roll Call #180 on Jun/20/11; Signed by Governor Tom Corbett on Jun/28/11

Source: Pennsylvania legislative voting record: HB40 Apr 12, 2011

The above quotations are from Legislative voting records for Pennsylvania House and Senate. Click here for other excerpts from Legislative voting records for Pennsylvania House and Senate. Click here for other excerpts by Fred Keller. Click here for other excerpts by other Governors.
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Page last updated: Feb 13, 2023