Scott Martin (Pennsylvania politician) explained

Scott Martin
State:Pennsylvania
State Senate:Pennsylvania
District:13th
Term Start:January 3, 2017
Preceded:Lloyd Smucker
Party:Republican
Alongside1:Dennis P. Stuckey, Craig Lehman
Term Start1:January 7, 2008
Term End1:January 4, 2016
Predecessor1:Dick Shellenberger
Pete Shaub
Molly Henderson
Successor1:Joshua Parsons
Birth Place:Portsmouth Naval Hospital, Virginia
Alma Mater:Millersville University of Pennsylvania (B.A.)
Residence:Lancaster County
Spouse:Amber Martin

Scott Martin is an American politician from Pennsylvania who has been a Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 13th district since January 3, 2017. He was previously a two-term Lancaster county commissioner and chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican County Commissioners Caucus. Martin is married to Amber Martin and they have four children.[1] After a six-month exploratory committee, on December 11, 2021, Martin announced his intention to seek the office of governor of Pennsylvania. He suspended his gubernatorial bid on February 11, 2022, because of complications from a broken leg and other injuries suffered in an accident, resulting in surgery.

Early life and education

Martin was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Lancaster Catholic High School and Millersville University with a degree in sociology/criminal justice.

He played professional American football in the Arena Football League.[2]

Political positions

Pediatric cancer

Martin authored legislation which was later signed into law as Act 73 of 2017, which allows Pennsylvanians to voluntarily donate $5 to the Pediatric Cancer Research Fund when electronically renewing a driver's license, photo identification card or vehicle registration.[3]

Martin has pushed for legislation that would allow Pennsylvania businesses to apply for tax credits if they make a donation to certain Pennsylvania medical centers for the purposes of pediatric cancer research/treatment. The total amount of tax credits could not exceed $10 million in any one fiscal year and the program would last ten years.[4]

Marijuana

Martin stated in 2019 that he is against the legalization of cannabis in Pennsylvania.[5] In 2021, Martin voted for House Bill 1024, which allowed cannabis corporations to remediate moldy product and use additional pesticides, among other provisions.[6] Martin voted against the home grow amendment for registered medical patients, Amendment No. A-2029, introduced by Senator Shariff Street in association with House Bill 1024.[7]

Charter schools

As Education committee chair, Martin introduced legislation opposed by school boards and teachers’ unions that seeks to make it easier to open charter schools and to accelerate state taxpayer subsidies for private and parochial schools by hundreds of millions of dollars in the coming years.[8] The bill also says that Charter schools would no longer be able to advertise themselves as "cost-free" or "free", as they often do in marketing themselves now. Additionally, it is said it would add transparency and accountability measures for charters to follow, as well as allowing all secondary schools to offer dual-enrollment programs with colleges.[9]

Committee assignments

Notes and References

  1. News: Field . Nick . SD-13: Martin Announces Candidacy . 9 December 2016 . PoliticsPA . 10 November 2015.
    - News: Pennsylvania 13th District State Senate Results: Scott Martin Wins . The New York Times . August 1, 2017 . 9 December 2016.
  2. Web site: Pennsylvania State Senate . Scott Martin . 5 May 2019.
  3. News: Local lawmakers introduce pediatric cancer bills . February 4, 2019 . Daily Local News .
    - News: On Politics: Bills advance . Janesch . Sam . June 29, 2018 . LancasterOnline .
    - Web site: Governor Signs Martin Bill into Law Encouraging Private Donations to Fight Pediatric Cancer . 2018-06-29 . Pennsylvania Senate Republicans . 2019-09-11.
  4. Web site: Martin Hosts Capitol Event Highlighting Bipartisan Efforts to Fight Pediatric Cancer . 2019-02-04 . Scott Martin . 2019-09-11.
  5. News: Scott . Martin . Risks of legalization far outweigh benefits . LancasterOnline .
  6. Web site: Roll Call: PA HB1024 - 2021-2022 - Regular Session.
  7. Web site: Sen. Ward's motion to table Amendment No. A-2029.
  8. Web site: Levy . Marc . State Sen. Scott Martin of Lancaster joins GOP field for Pennsylvania governor . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Associated Press . 2022-01-06 .
  9. News: McGoldrick. Gillian . Martin proposes a charter school reform bill . 2022-01-11 . LancasterOnline . June 7, 2021.
  10. Web site: Senator Scott Martin . 2021-11-19 . The Pennsylvania General Assembly.