House and Senate Leadership Changes

Member Group : Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania

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House and Senate Leadership Changes

November 14, 2014:

Earlier this week, members of the House and Senate met to elect chamber and caucus leadership. House Speaker Sam Smith’s retirement meant a drastic reorganization in that chamber. Here is the new leadership team:

Rep. Mike Turzai, Speaker
Rep. Dave Reed, Majority Leader
Rep. Bryan Cutler, Whip
Rep. Bill Adolph, Appropriations Chairman
Rep. Sandra Major, Majority Caucus Chairman

As we had mentioned previously, there was an uproar in the Senate regarding the leadership of Sen. Dominic Pileggi. We are happy to report that Pileggi is no longer Majority Leader. His ouster was instigated by CAP member Sen. Scott Wagner and resulted in significant changes to Senate leadership:

Sen. Joe Scarnati, President pro tempore
Sen. Jake Corman, Majority Leader
Sen. Pat Browne, Appropriations Chairman
Sen. John Gordner, Majority Whip
Sen. Bob Mensch, Majority Caucus Chairman

While much has been made of the changes to Senate leadership, including a write-up in the Wall Street Journal, we would encourage conservatives to keep their eye on the ball. The rightward shift at the top of Senate leadership is certainly remarkable and should be celebrated. However, it is worth pointing out that the Appropriations Chairman and Majority Caucus Chairman are both facing censure from their local GOP committees for their vote against ending paycheck protection legislation.

The next item that will give Pennsylvanians a sense of whether the House and Senate Republicans are serious about moving pro-taxpayer, pro-free market policy will be who leadership assigns to committee chairmanship positions and who sits on what committees.

Will leadership continue to reward lawmakers who have stood in the way of good policy with positions where they can continue to obstruct reform? Or, will the committees next session reflect the more conservative nature of each chamber?
Only time will tell.

Citizens Alliance of Pennsylvania (CAP) is a non-profit organization founded to raise the standard of living of all Pennsylvanians by restoring limited government, economic freedom, and personal responsibility. By empowering the Commonwealth’s employers and taxpayers to break state government’s "Iron Triangle" of career politicians, bureaucrats, and Big Government lobbyists, this restoration will occur and Pennsylvania will prosper.

November 14, 2014:

Earlier this week, members of the House and Senate met to elect chamber and caucus leadership. House Speaker Sam Smith’s retirement meant a drastic reorganization in that chamber. Here is the new leadership team:

Rep. Mike Turzai, Speaker
Rep. Dave Reed, Majority Leader
Rep. Bryan Cutler, Whip
Rep. Bill Adolph, Appropriations Chairman
Rep. Donna Oberlander, Majority Caucus Chairman

As we had mentioned previously, there was an uproar in the Senate regarding the leadership of Sen. Dominic Pileggi. We are happy to report that Pileggi is no longer Majority Leader. His ouster was instigated by CAP member Sen. Scott Wagner and resulted in significant changes to Senate leadership:

Sen. Joe Scarnati, President pro tempore
Sen. Jake Corman, Majority Leader
Sen. Pat Browne, Appropriations Chairman
Sen. John Gordner, Majority Whip
Sen. Bob Mensch, Majority Caucus Chairman

While much has been made of the changes to Senate leadership, including a write-up in the Wall Street Journal, we would encourage conservatives to keep their eye on the ball. The rightward shift at the top of Senate leadership is certainly remarkable and should be celebrated. However, it is worth pointing out that the Appropriations Chairman and Majority Caucus Chairman are both facing censure from their local GOP committees for their vote against ending paycheck protection legislation.

The next item that will give Pennsylvanians a sense of whether the House and Senate Republicans are serious about moving pro-taxpayer, pro-free market policy will be who leadership assigns to committee chairmanship positions and who sits on what committees.

Will leadership continue to reward lawmakers who have stood in the way of good policy with positions where they can continue to obstruct reform? Or, will the committees next session reflect the more conservative nature of each chamber?

Only time will tell.