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Senator John C. Rafferty Jr. represents the residents of Pennsylvania's 44th Senatorial district, which includes parts of Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties. He was elected to the Senate in November of 2002 and 2006 and is serving his second four-year term in the General Assembly. A former state deputy attorney general, the Montgomery County native has an extensive background in public service and local government. Rafferty's top legislative priorities include reducing the property tax burden, protecting our environment, reducing health care costs, providing quality care for senior citizens, fighting prescription drug abuse and ensuring that our police and firefighters have the resources they need to do their jobs.
Senator Rafferty serves as Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee and is member of the Senate Appropriations, Judiciary, Law & Justice, Banking and Insurance and the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committees. Senator Rafferty has achieved a long list of accomplishments and earned the respect of his colleagues, local government officials and community leaders. Senator Rafferty has been successful in bringing millions of dollars of funding to his district for economic development, including revitalization projects in Pottstown and Coatesville, as well as many other projects around the 44th district. He has legislatively addressed the operations of landfills and brought local officials, community and business leaders together to seek common ground in improving our community's quality of life. Senator Rafferty has also fought hard for the protection of our children with his sponsorship of Jessica's Law and support of improvements to Megan's Law. Additionally, Senator Rafferty has opposed every possible tax increase considered in the General Assembly and continues to push the Legislature to address the burden of property taxes.
Senator Rafferty received the Legislator of the Year Awards from the Tri-County Area Chamber of Commerce in Pottstown, the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians and the Association of Retarded Citizens of Montgomery County.
Prior to running for the Senate, Senator Rafferty served as an attorney in private practice, focusing on education, real estate, zoning and business and estates law. As Deputy Attorney General for the Commonwealth from 1988 to 1991 he worked in the Criminal Law Division and conducted Grand Jury Investigations.
Senator Rafferty has been active in local government, serving on various boards, authorities and commissions. As a member of the Lower Providence Township Board of Supervisors he was involved with issues relating to growth and development, environmental protection and recreation improvements. He was a member of the Montgomery County Board of Assessment Appeals from 1996-2002.
Senator Rafferty also gained valuable knowledge of education issues as a member of the Methacton School Board from 1980-84. From 1981-84, Rafferty represented Methacton in the operation of the Vo-Tech School as a member of the North Montco Vo-Tech Joint School Authority.
Senator Rafferty earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, his master's degree from Beaver College, and his law degree from Temple University.
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