Similar to its counterpart in the United States House of Representatives, the Pennsylvania House is struggling to figure out its next speaker. Not that it doesn’t have one now—Mark Rozzi (D-Berks) is the current speaker, but his election was both unusual and unexpected.
In November, Democrats won 102 out of 203 seats, but one member died and two more resigned before the speaker election could occur—all Democrats. The strong forerunner and obvious choice for Democrats was Joanna McClinton (D-Philadelphia), who has led the party for the last several years. However, they did not have enough votes because of the vacant seats, giving them a disadvantage—99 Democratic seats to the Republican 101.
Republicans could have elected a candidate from their party, but it would have to have complete unity, which is simply unattainable in the current political climate.
On Jan. 3, members stood to vote. Quickly, Democrats and Republicans rose to support Rozzi—including McClinton. Rozzi won 115-85.
In his acceptance speech, Rozzi said that he considered himself the “first independent speaker.” He hasn’t changed his party affiliation, although some lawmakers say that he promised to switch parties after the vote.
That leads Pennsylvania up to the special elections of Feb. 7, which will fill the three seats that Democrats lost. They are expected to win all three seats, giving them once again the majority they need to potentially elect a new speaker, likely McClinton.
In an Associated Press interview, Rozzi did not say he would step aside to support McClinton, who, if elected, would be the first female speaker of the House.
Currently, the House has not passed either internal operating roles or assigned members to committees, a move that some say shows Rozzi’s inability to lead.
“I think that if I can show people I can lead this House, maybe I could stay in this position,” Rozzi said.
The House still has not convened its first voting floor session for the 2023-2024 session.
At the start of the new year, when Rozzi was voted in, some Democratic lawmakers stated that there may be a new speaker by March. Whether or not Rozzi holds onto the gavel will be up to both lawmakers and party cooperation from Democrats and Republicans.
Both parties may have to deal with more traffic on their way to work each day. Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered over 2,000 state government employees to return to in-person work starting March 6. They will have to be in their office at least three days per week.
Republican lawmakers said having workers not physically present impacts the quality of service that Pennsylvanians receive from their state government. The move was unanticipated from the Democratic Shapiro.
On Capitol Hill, the newly elected U.S. Sen. John Fetterman is already co-sponsoring several bills and taking his seat on new committees. The Pennsylvanian will sit on the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee; the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee; the Environment and Public Works Committee; the Joint Economic Committee and the Special Committee on Aging.
BIlls co-sponsored by Fetterman include legislation to ban assault weapons, an act to make the District of Columbia the 51st state and an act to give federal employees an 8.7% raise in 2024.
“These bills all deliver on promises I made during our campaign,” Fetterman said in a statement.
Fetterman is also working with fellow Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey on the Better Care Better Jobs act to increase funding for Medicaid home and community-based services for seniors and disabled Americans. Fetterman will also work with Casey during committees, as Casey chairs the Special Committee on Aging.
