biographical statement

Herbert Fineman served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1955-1977, and he represented the 194th District of Philadelphia County. He was born on July 4, 1920 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and he attended Temple University, receiving his B.S. in 1942. He then went on to attend Temple University School of Law to get his LL.B. in 1945. He practiced as an attorney for many years. Fineman was very involved in his community. He was a member of the Philadelphia County Pennsylvania Appellate Courts and U.S. District Courts of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia Bar Association; Pennsylvania Bar Association; Lawyers’ Club of Philadelphia; Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association; American Jewish Congress; Philadelphia Fellowship Commission and Justice Lodge of B’nai B’rith; Circus Saints and Sinners Clubs of America; and Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc. Board Member. During his time in the House, he served on the Aeronautics Committee from 1955-1956, Judiciary Committee from 1955-1964 and as Vice Chair from 1959-1960, Military Affairs Committee from 1955-1956, Professional Licensure Committee from 1955-1962, Insurance Committee from 1959-1960, State Government Committee from 1959-1964 and as Chair from 1961-1962, Education Committee from 1961-1962, Rules Committee from 1967-1976, Committee on Committees from 1967-1968, and Legislative Budget and Finance Committee from 1967-1968. He was also a member of the Joint State Government Commission from 1965-1970 and the Pennsylvania Commission on Interstate Cooperation from 1967-1968, as well as the General State Authority, State Public School Building Authority, State Highway and Bridge Authority, and Pennsylvania Public Television Network Commission. Some of the major legislative initiatives during his tenure and credited to Mr. Fineman’s support or sponsorship included: eminent domain reform, tax reform and Pennsylvania’s 1st State income tax, lowering the voting age, the State Lottery, a wiretapping ban, gun control, the House Ethics Committee Code of Conduct, reducing House standing committees from thirty three to twenty one, changing representation on committees, installing of the vote lock system, and public hearings on legislation. Fineman helped improve staffing, services, space, salaries, sessions and other facilities in the House of Representatives, and he was instrumental in setting up the Legislative Office of Research Liaison (LORL), a non-partisan research agency to serve all Members. He was given the titles “architect of legislative reform,” and “father of the modern Pennsylvania legislature.” Fineman was the first Jewish Speaker of the House from 1969-1972 and 1975-1977. He also served as the majority whip in 1965-1966 and minority leader in 1967-1968. Fineman resigned from the legislature on May 23, 1977 after being indicted on an obstruction of justice charge. After he resigned from the House, he returned to the practice of law. Fineman passed away on August 18, 2016, in the city of Philadelphia.

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