Following swearing in ceremonies in Harrisburg on Tuesday, Pennsylvania lawmakers returned to work and the agenda has been set with three top priorities: creating jobs, improving schools and restructuring government.
The oath of office was administered for members in both the Senate and House of Representatives — including 22 new representatives and five freshmen senators.
The 2017-18 session of the House of Representatives opened with the election of Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, as speaker after 200 of the 203 members of the General Assembly took their oaths of office. Republicans padded their already comfortable margins, entering the session with a 121-82 margin in the House and 34-16 in the Senate. The House has 40 female members, a record.
The Associated Press reported that Democratic Rep. Leslie Acosta resigned her seat Tuesday. She pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges last year.
The House also adopted a set of rules governing how the body operates.
“It’s a new year and a new legislative session for Pennsylvania,” Turzai said in an emailed news release. “Pennsylvania voters sent a message last year to rein in government and reconnect it to the everyday values of its citizens. Those values will help guide us as we represent working families and work to strengthen Pennsylvania through controlled spending, smaller government, greater accountability and a strong free enterprise.”
In a House Chamber packed with family, friends and guests, including Gov. Tom Wolf, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, Attorney General-Elect Josh Shapiro and Treasurer-Elect Joe Torsella, House members recited the oath of office administered by Judge Craig Dally, of the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas.
House Majority Leader Dave Reed, R-Indiana, spoke of the 2017-18 House agenda and the opportunity to reshape how government operates and delivers services.
“When the national unemployment rate drops and the state rate grows exorbitantly, something is wrong and needs to be fixed,” Reed said. “The House will focus on improving the business climate so employers can grow and create family-sustaining jobs and better careers for Pennsylvanians.”
The leaders noted one of the biggest issues facing the state is the large deficit if nothing is changed in the budget. According to the Independent Fiscal Office and the Governor’s Office of the Budget, through natural growth, the state may face a $3 billion deficit if the current budget was to be adopted for the next fiscal year.
Two new subcommittees will be created, bringing the total number of House subcommittees to 48: Government and Financial Oversight in the Appropriations Committee; and Career and Technical Education in the Education Committee.
Pashinski begins sixth term
State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Wilkes-Barre, was sworn in to begin his sixth term representing the 121st Legislative District.
Pashinski, who has become one the Legislature’s senior members, reiterated his support for reducing healthcare costs for working families and improving education in school districts.
“Prior to last year, the state had under-funded school districts for years, forcing the major financial burden of operation on the local districts, and in turn, on the taxpayers,” Pashinski said in an emailed news release. “One of the outstanding concerns I hear from constituents is the need to lower their property tax bill, and I agree.”
Pashinski said he will advocate in a bipartisan manner for bills that would provide property tax relief for citizens. He said his priorities for the new session continue to be greater access to medical care for the working class and improved services and benefits for senior citizens.
The Luzerne County lawmaker plans to reintroduce legislation that would create a prescription drug donation program, clarify gaming-funded school property tax relief notices and create a budget impasse negotiation act that would provide for continued budget negotiations during a budget stalemate.
“Grandparents raising grandchildren also will continue to be one of my priorities,” Pashinski said. “Eighty-thousand grandparents are raising over 190,000 family members and a large percentage of the children are a result of the opioid crisis that is being experienced throughout the country.”
As a member of the HOPE (Heroin, Opioid, Prevention and Education) Caucus in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Pashinski said he will continue to work with colleagues to introduce legislation addressing that concern.
Also, Pashinski said he plans to reintroduce a proposal authorizing parking authorities in second- and third-class cities, such as Wilkes-Barre, to enforce parking ordinances and resolutions, and will continue to introduce legislation to help those cities with their budgetary concerns.
Mullery starts fourth term
State Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Newport Township, was sworn in for a fourth term representing the 119th Legislative District.
Mullery said property tax reform, attracting and retaining family-sustaining jobs, providing for quality schools and safe neighborhoods remain his top priorities.
“My constituents are concerned with the escalating level of property taxes and their inability to pay them,” Mullery said. “I will continue to support the Property Tax Independence Act and efforts to eliminate property tax for homeowners.”
Recently, Mullery was recognized as an environmental champion by the state’s four largest citizen-based environmental advocacy groups. The champions scored 90 percent or higher. Members of the House and Senate were scored on votes cast on legislation relating to fracking, climate change and privatizing public lands.
Mullery said his district offices are consistently among the busiest in the Commonwealth and he plans to continue to make his office services as accessible as possible by continuing his mobile office hours throughout the 119th Legislative District.
Other state representatives from Luzerne County sworn in on Tuesday were Karen Boback, R-Harveys Lake; Mike Carroll, D-Avoca; Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston; and Tarah Toohil, R-Butler Township. Those four did not issue statements following the ceremony.
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State Rep. Eli Evankovich, R-Allegheny County, with his daughter Elissa, raises his hand to take the oath of office during swearing-in ceremonies at the state Capitol Senate Chambers on Tuesday in Harrisburg.
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State Rep. Eli Evankovich, R-Allegheny County, with his daughter Elissa, raises his hand to take the oath of office during swearing-in ceremonies at the state Capitol Senate Chambers on Tuesday in Harrisburg.
Dan Gleiter | PennLive.com via AP
State Representatives are seated before taking the oath of office.
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State Representatives are seated before taking the oath of office.
Dan Gleiter | PennLive.com via AP
Job creation, improving schoolstop Pennsylvania House agenda
By Bill O’Boyle
boboyle@timesleader.com
Gleason leaving state GOP
Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason Tuesday officially announced his intentions to not seek another term.
“Today, we swear in a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate including U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey; a Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives including 13 Republicans from Pennsylvania; a Republican majority of 34 in the State Senate; a Republican majority of 121 in the State House of Representatives; and 53 county courthouses under Republican control. We are 17 days away from swearing in a Republican President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. I cannot think of a better time to celebrate more than a decade of working for the best grassroots organization in the country,” Gleason said in a news release.
Gleason said after his re-election in 2013, he confided in his family, friends and closest advisors that this would be his final term as chairman. He said the state GOP has fought against tough odds from voter registration, powerful special interests and an ever-changing political climate to win key races year after year.
“I hope to spend the next few weeks thanking these incredible people and helping our President-elect Donald Trump, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, and friends throughout the commonwealth and the country with their transition to help make America great again,” Gleason said.
Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle. The Associated Press contributed to this story.