RoseMarie Swanger
{{short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image =
| name = RoseMarie Swanger
| state_house = Pennsylvania
| district = 102nd
| constituency =
| term_start = January 2, 2007{{cite web | title = SESSION OF 2007 191ST OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY No. 1 | work = LEGISLATIVE JOURNAL | publisher = Pennsylvania House of Representatives | date = 2007-01-02 | url = http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/HJ/2007/0/20070102.PDF | access-date =2009-01-09}}
| predecessor = Peter J. Zug
| successor = Russ Diamond
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1945|10|31}}
| birth_place = Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| alma_mater = South Lebanon High School
| occupation =
| residence = Jonestown, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| religion =
| website = [http://www.repswanger.com www.repswanger.com]
}}
RoseMarie Swanger (born October 31, 1945) is an American politician and former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 102nd District. A Republican, she was first elected in 2006 and served until 2014.
Early life and education
Swanger was born on October 31, 1945, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. She graduated from South Lebanon High School in 1963, and later attended the Thompson Institute and Lebanon Valley College.{{cite web |title=RoseMarie Swanger |url=https://archives.house.state.pa.us/people/member-biography?ID=1106 |website=Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives |access-date=28 December 2022}}
Political career
Swanger worked as a clerk in the mayor's office of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, from 1966 through 1972. She later worked as assistant city clerk from 1972 through 1974, and as city clerk for Lebanon from 1974 through 1984.{{cite web | title = Representative Rosemarie Swanger (PA)| work = Project Vote Smart| year = 2008| url = http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=60129| access-date =2009-01-09}} She served as a county commissioner in Lebanon County from 1984 through 2004.
=Pennsylvania House of Representatives=
Swanger defeated incumbent Pennsylvania State Representative Peter Zug in the 2006 Republican primary following Zug's support for the controversial 2005 legislative pay raise. She later won the general election to represent the 102nd District.{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Jan |title=Rep. RoseMarie Swanger announces her plans to step down from her state House seat |url=https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2014/01/rep_rosemarie_swanger_announce.html |access-date=28 December 2022 |work=PennLIVE Patriot-News |date=January 8, 2014}} Swanger won re-election in 2008, 2010, and 2012. In 2014, Swanger announced she would not seek re-election.
==Anti-Sharia bill==
In 2011, Swanger introduced HB 2029, a bill which would prohibit courts from "consider[ing] a foreign legal code or system" that lacks "the same fundamental liberties" as the Pennsylvania Constitution and U.S. Constitution.{{cite news |url-access=subscription |last1=Matza |first1=Michael |title=Pa. bill attacked as being 'Islamophobic' |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/news/politics/20111215_Pa__bill_attacked_as_being__quot_Islamophobic_quot_.html |access-date=29 December 2022 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=December 15, 2011}} In a letter to her Republican colleagues, Swanger claimed, "Increasingly, foreign laws and legal doctrines -- including and especially Shariah law -- are finding their way into U.S. court cases. Invoking Shariah law, especially in family law cases, is a means of imposing an agenda on the American people."{{cite news |title=Critics call Pa. bill attack on Shariah |url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/12/15/Critics-call-Pa-bill-attack-on-Shariah/87181323996179/ |access-date=29 December 2022 |work=UPI |date=December 15, 2011}} Her bill, based upon a model written by anti-Sharia activist David Yerushalmi,{{cite news |last1=Rodgers |first1=Ann |title=Proposed state law draws religious criticism |url=https://old.post-gazette.com/pg/11346/1196328-454-0.stm |access-date=29 December 2022 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=December 12, 2011}} was seen as "Islamophobic" and part of the wider anti-Sharia movement in the United States.{{cite journal |last1=Tankle |first1=Lee |title=The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself: Islamophobia and the Recently Proposed Unconstitutional and Unnecessary Anti-Religion Laws |journal=William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal |date=October 2012 |volume=21 |issue=1 |url=https://scholarship.law.wm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1633&context=wmborj |access-date=29 December 2022}} In addition to Islamic leaders,{{cite news |last1=Brode |first1=Noah |title=‘Anti-Sharia' Bill Blasted as Unconstitutional, Prejudicial |url=https://www.wesa.fm/2012-03-06/anti-sharia-bill-blasted-as-unconstitutional-prejudicial |access-date=29 December 2022 |work=90.5 WESA |date=March 6, 2012}} Jewish and Catholic leaders questioned whether the bill would also compromise elements of their religious code and liberties.{{cite news |last1=Tabachnick |first1=Toby |title=Jewish leaders brand anti-Sharia bill discriminatory |url=https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/jewish-leaders-brand-anti-sharia-bill-discriminatory/ |access-date=29 December 2022 |work=Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle |date=December 29, 2011}} In response, the Pittsburgh City Council passed a unanimous resolution condemning HB 2029. Swanger's bill ultimately failed to make it past committee in the State House.{{cite web |title=Regular Session 2011-2012 House Bill 2029 |url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2011&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=2029 |website=Pennsylvania General Assembly |access-date=29 December 2022}} Her reintroduction of the bill in 2014 was met with similar results.{{cite web |title=Regular Session 2013-2014 House Bill 2168 |url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billInfo/BillInfo.cfm?syear=2013&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=2168 |website=Pennsylvania General Assembly |access-date=29 December 2022}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/house_bio.cfm?id=1106 Pennsylvania House of Representatives - RoseMarie Swanger] official PA House website
- [http://www.repswanger.com/ Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus - Representative RoseMarie Swanger] official Party website
{{CongLinks |votesmart=60129}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swanger, RoseMarie}}
Category:Republican Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Category:Politicians from Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
Category:Women state legislators in Pennsylvania
Category:21st-century American women politicians
Category:Lebanon County Commissioners (Pennsylvania)
Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly