The 207th Legislative Session Begins with a Surprise

By Tyler Burke, Associate, Milliron & Goodman Government Relations

On January 3, 2023, in a surprise move, Pennsylvania House Republicans nominated, and the House elected, Democrat Rep. Mark Rozzi (Berks) as Speaker of the House. The position of Speaker is the highest-ranking officer of the House, and as the Speaker has the power to moderate floor debate, call up bills for votes, and name the chamber’s committee chairs.

With only 99 Democrats and 101 Republicans in the House, neither party could come up with the votes to elect a speaker. The Democrats wanted to nominate House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia), but with only 99 members, they didn’t have the votes without Republican support that was not forthcoming.

Similarly, House Republicans met behind closed doors and chose Rep. Carl Metzgar (R-Somerset) to be their candidate over three other colleagues. However, the Republicans were not unified and at least one Republican member indicated that they would not vote for the chosen nominee. This provided much drama and uncertainty as the day transpired - with family and guests in attendance on the floor for swearing-in day.

Since neither party appeared to have the votes for a nominee for speaker to succeed, and a motion by Democrats to adjourn until after special elections in February failed with a tied vote (one Republican voting with the Democrats), the suspense grew.

Seemingly out of the blue, Rep. Jim Gregory (R-Blair) rose and nominated his friend and colleague from the other side of the isle, Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-Berks), to be Speaker. Republican Whip Tim O’Neal (R-Washington) then seconded Rep. Gregory’s nomination of Rep. Rozzi and time seemed to stand still while everyone watching tried to make sense of what was happening. Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton then endorsed the nomination and urged her colleagues to vote for Rep. Rozzi.

After some brief parliamentary wrangling over whether nominations were closed, Rep. George Dunbar (R-Westmoreland) nominated Rep. Carl Metzgar (R-Somerset) for Speaker. The vote was taken and Rozzi was elected speaker by a 115-85 vote, with 16 Republicans (including the elected leadership) joining Democrats who were unanimous in support of Rozzi’s nomination.

Addressing the House from the Speaker’s rostrum, Rozzi promised to be an independent Speaker of the House who will caucus with neither the Democrats nor Republicans. He also committed to having a staff made up of individuals from both parties. “I pledge my allegiance and my loyalty to no interests in this building and to no interest in our politics. I pledge my loyalty to the people of the Commonwealth,” Rozzi said. “Sometimes Republicans will win. Sometimes Democrats will win. And that is fine, so long as the beneficiaries are the people of this Commonwealth,” Rozzi concluded.

House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) said Rozzi’s election, given the narrow partisan divide, “necessitates all of us to work together. I think that’s ultimately why that came together.” He said Rozzi’s willingness to switch his party affiliation to independent was key.

However, there is still confusion as to which party (Democrats or Republicans) will have an operating majority since there are currently 99 Democrats and 101 Republicans with 3 vacancies. After the February 7, 2023, House special elections in Allegheny County, it is presumed (all three districts are heavily Democratic) that the makeup of the House will be 102 Democrats and 101 Republicans (assuming Rep. Rozzi doesn’t switch to Independent, which would make things 101 to 101 with 1 Independent). Rep. Rozzi reportedly told his Democratic colleagues that he will remain a Democrat, but not caucus with either party, allowing him to be independent. The Republicans maintain that Rozzi committed to changing his registration - so uncertainty remains.

To further complicate things, state Rep. Lynda Culver (R-Northumberland) is running for the open state Senate seat recently vacated by Senator John Gordner, so if she were to win the January 31 Senate Special Election, that would result in another state House seat being vacated.

The House still has to release a session schedule and adopt operating rules, which are being finalized now, and then announce committee chairs and committee assignments.

Finally, in the state Senate, everything went as planned on swearing-in day with Senator Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) elected as President Pro Tempore of the Senate. Having already announced its session schedule and adopted its operating rules, the Senate has also announced its committee chairs for the new session as follows:

The Senate Republican chairs are as follows, listed alphabetically by committee:

Aging & Youth: Judy Ward (R-Blair/ Fulton/Huntingdon)

Agriculture & Rural Affairs: Elder Vogel (R-Beaver/Butler/Lawrence)

Appropriations: Scott Martin (R-Berks/ Lancaster)

Banking & Insurance: John DiSanto (R-Dauphin)

Communications & Technology: Tracy Pennycuick (R-Berks/Montgomery)

Community, Economic, & Recreational Development: Chris Gebhard (R-Berks/Lancaster/Lebanon)

Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure: Pat Stefano (R-Bedford/ Fayette/Somerset/Westmoreland)

Education: Dave Argall (R-Carbon/ Luzerne/Schuylkill)

Environmental Resources & Energy: Gene Yaw (R-Bradford/Lycoming/Sullivan/ Tioga/Union)

Finance: Scott Hutchinson (R-Butler/ Clarion/Erie/Forest/Venango/Warren)

Games & Fisheries: Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland/Dauphin/Perry)

Health & Human Services: Michele Brooks (R-Crawford/Lawrence/Mercer)

Intergovernmental Operations: Jarrett Coleman (R-Bucks/Lehigh)

Judiciary: Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne/Pike/ Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming)

Labor & Industry: Devlin Robinson (R-Allegheny)

Law & Justice: Mike Regan (R-Cumberland/York)

Local Government: Rosemary Brown (R-Lackawanna/Monroe/Wayne)

Rules & Executive Nominations: Joe Pittman (R-Armstrong/Indiana/ Jefferson/Westmoreland)

State Government: Cris Dush (R-Cameron/Centre/Clinton/Elk/ Jefferson/Mckean/Potter)

Transportation: Wayne Langerholc (R-Cambria/Centre/Clearfield)

Urban Affairs & Housing: Frank Farry (R-Bucks)

Veteran’s Affairs & Emergency

Preparedness: Doug Mastriano (R-Adams/Franklin)

The Senate Democratic chairs are as follows, listed alphabetically by committee:

Aging & Youth: Maria Collett (D-Montgomery)

Agriculture & Rural Affairs: Judy Schwank (D-Berks)

Appropriations: Vincent Hughes (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia)

Banking & Insurance: Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia)

Communications & Technology: Jimmy Dillon (D-Philadelphia)

Community, Economic, & Recreational Development: Anthony H. Williams (D-Delaware/Philadelphia)

Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure: Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh/ Northampton)

Education: Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny)

Environmental Resources & Energy: Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester) Finance: Nick Miller (D-Lehigh/ Northampton)

Games & Fisheries: Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny)

Health & Human Services: Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia)

Intergovernmental Operations: Tina Tartgalione (D-Philadelphia)

Judiciary: Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks)

Labor & Industry: John Kane (D-Chester/ Delaware)

Law & Justice: Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny)

Local Government: Tim Kearney (D-Delaware)

Rules & Executive Nominations: Jay Costa (D-Allegheny)

State Government: Amanda Cappelletti (D-Delaware/Montgomery)

Transportation: Marty Flynn (D-Lackawanna/Luzerne)

Urban Affairs & Housing: Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia)

Veteran’s Affairs & Emergency Preparedness: Katie Muth (D-Berks/ Chester/Montgomery)

Milliron & Goodman will keep you updated as the picture in the state House becomes clearer and on legislation of interest as it is introduced. n