Legislator Spotlight: Pennsylvania Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta

Top photo by Swiger Photography. This interview was conducted via Zoom and has been edited for length and clarity.

How would you define what it means to be a successful state legislator? 

I think first and foremost, you have to do the homework. When I come into a committee hearing, it is very rare that I've not read every line of a bill or the analysis of the legislation. Even if it's seemingly benign legislation, there may be things in it that are bad for my constituents. 

Even more, there might be opportunities to make the legislation better. For example, a colleague who is not my favorite person on the Republican side—introduced a bill to have outside health experts oversee the Department of Health. So I introduced multiple amendments to include a deep dive into the racial disparities of COVID.

How did you figure out that you should try to introduce amendments?

Being in the minority, I seek opportunities to introduce priorities into broader pieces of legislation. If I can make amendments, then we can make life a little bit better for the community members who are not often centered in our policy conversations. Politics is a math problem. If the minority doesn't have 102 votes in the [Pennsylvania] House, 26 votes in the Senate, and a governor who's willing to sign the legislation, then it is not going to become law. It's very rare that I get 102 votes on something, but there are ways for me to use the amendment process. 

What surprised you about being a state legislator?

It should not have surprised me that it takes a really long time to get anything done. It is incredibly disappointing because there are chronic issues that are impacting people I love and care about. Those lived experiences are what drove me to run in the first place.

As a member of the minority, we don't control the calendar or when a bill comes up, so a lot of time is spent sitting around waiting for things to happen. The reason being, people see the meal based on where they're sitting at the table, so if you're sitting in front of the turkey that's the most important thing. 

In Pennsylvania, we are a large, diverse state, so, for some, doing something about Volunteer Fire companies is the most important. For others, it's charter schools, bus contracts, etc. So the question is, how do we find synergy around the time in which we approach those priorities? 

Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta conducting a telephone town hall with thousands of constituents. (Photo: Facebook)
Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta conducting a telephone town hall with thousands of constituents. (Photo: Facebook)

What's your proudest moment or accomplishment?

I'm deeply proud of protecting the right to vote in our democracy, especially while the [former] president tried to dispute the election. Until the very last hours of the session, GOP legislators were introducing legislation to try to overturn the electors. With Pennsylvania being the tipping-point state, it was an important feat just to come to work and speak up. I was also a party to a number of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party lawsuits against the president, and I'm deeply proud of that.

How do you stay true to your values in a political system that's designed to uphold the status quo?

We shouldn't be trying to build compromise, we should try to build consensus. Building consensus is about ensuring that your values are in the room and talking openly and honestly about what makes people's lives better. 

Even more, it is about figuring out how we build coalitions to make lasting, substantive change. We have to get buy-in from a bunch of different people, which takes real skill and real commitment. It is not about taking any deal just to get a deal. It's about getting a deal that doesn't just bandaid the problems we face and instead is a real surgical approach to the things that are deeply broken.

What advice would you give newly elected state legislators as they enter their first session?

Remember why you ran. When you get into the hustle and bustle of it all, sometimes we forget some of the conversations that inspired us or forget the people who encouraged us. They saw something in us, and they still want to see that in action.

I say to my constituents all the time, yes, I want you to vote for me and I appreciate your vote, but I also need you to write letters about the legislation I introduced. Secondly, when it's safe to, I need you to come up to Harrisburg and share your stories about why I introduced this legislation and what it can mean to your family. And finally, I need you to talk to the press and write op-eds.

Also, remember you are not in this alone, because there is literally nothing you can do by yourself. Everybody must recognize the stewardship required for our democracy to work, and elected leaders do not have the only role. 

To my fellow legislators: don't take on the pressure that you have to change the world alone. That is a reductionist mentality because you cannot do it all by yourself. Above all else, don't give up your personal life because it is very easy to do that. You can always be doing legislative work, but your family and the people who love you deserve to have you too. 

Pennsylvanians Support Progressive Agenda in Harrisburg

A recent poll commissioned by the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) shows Pennsylvanians are concerned about the spread of COVID-19 and support widespread testing, prioritize working people in the economic response, and support reforms to make our democracy stronger. 

Pennsylvanians Broadly Support Widespread Free Coronavirus Testing, Vaccination, and Treatment 

Residents strongly agree with: 

Pennsylvania Voters Support Various Economic Responses that Prioritize Working People

A majority of residents agree that: 

Additionally, when presented with two possible solutions for addressing Pennsylvania’s budget shortfall due to the coronavirus pandemic, a solid majority of people gravitate toward the progressive argument for increasing taxes on the wealthy and out-of-state corporations. Nearly two in three Pennsylvanians express a preference for increased taxes while fewer than one in three voters prefer spending cuts on core services. 

Pennsylvanians are also broadly open to a range of working people’s policies, including a $15 minimum wage, paid family leave, and paid sick leave. 

Democracy Reform Agenda Broadly Popular, Particularly Among Black Voters 

Pennsylvanians are very supportive of democracy reforms, including:

For the full poll memo, see here. 

Legislator Spotlight: Pennsylvania Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky

C53A03505b15dRep. Krueger-Braneky represents the 161st legislative district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. SiX spoke to her about her work to combat sexual harassment. 

- Why is addressing sexual harassment and assault an important issue to you?

As more reports of sexual harassment have come to light, it’s become clear that our current system does not support survivors. As an elected official, I’ve shared my own #MeToo story. Afterwards, women who work in our state Capitol approached me to share stories of inappropriate behavior by legislators and their experience of a system which silences them on the issue. We need to take action now to ensure a fair and transparent system for handling complaints—independent of politics. From fast food workers to the State House, all employees should feel safe at work.

- How would the laws proposed this year combat sexual harassment?
Pennsylvania HB 1965, or what is better known as the #MeToo State House Act, is a piece of legislation that, among other things, protects staff and interns, puts in place reform procedures for investigation, resolution of complaints, improves training and transparency of sexual harassment prevention and response training in employment. My bill is part of a broader package of bills introduced by women in the PA House and Senate to tackle broader issues around sexual harassment and assault.

- How has the #MeToo movement impacted your work on this issue?

Last December, following horrific revelations about high-profile figures that launched the newest phase of the #MeToo movement, the House Democratic and Republican caucuses underwent sexual harassment training for the first time. A human resources professional walked us through slides showing examples of inappropriate and unprofessional conduct and behavior, as well as the criteria for a hostile work environment. I realized I had been subjected to each one of the hostile workplace behaviors—from inappropriate touching to sexual language to comments about my appearance—from colleagues on both sides of the aisle. And what I’ve heard from female staff and lobbyists in the Capitol is much worse than what I have experienced. We must shine a light on what’s happening and change the current culture that punishes survivors and forces them to live in shame and secrecy.

- What else can the state do to combat sexual harassment and sexual assault?

I’m grateful to the members of the Pittsburgh City Council and the Philadelphia City Council for supporting HB 1965 and understanding the need to hold the powerful accountable and create a better environment for everyone working at the state Capitol. Their support, while appreciated, is not enough. We need a vote on HB 1965—and the broader package of related bills—in the State House.

- What other issues are you working on? What are you most passionate about?

My top three priorities in office are ensuring that public schools have adequate funding to provide a thorough and efficient education to all children, protecting our environment, and un-rigging the economy so that locally owned businesses and working families can get ahead.

- Is there anything else you would like readers to know?

Sexual harassment in the workplace has garnered much attention in recent months because the victims have been women privileged with the ability—financial or otherwise—to tell their stories. It’s important that we not forget that women, disproportionately women of color, make up 60 percent of minimum-wage employees. This means that many women lack the economic power to reject misconduct in the workplace. Ending sexual harassment in the workplace is an issue of economic freedom—regardless of a person’s gender identity, they ought to be respected and feel safe at work.