Although most Senate and House members in Leadership positions were re-elected this week, there were changes in the Senate Appropriations chairs and House Democratic Leadership that makes the geography of power different for the 2009-10 legislative session.

In the Senate, Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) will taken over as Minority Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee from Philadelphian Sen. Vince Fumo (D-Philadelphia). On the Republican side, the Appropriations Chair has been moving west in stages. Sen. Jake Corman (R-Centre) succeeds Sen. Gib Armstrong from Lancaster County next year, who took over from the late Sen. Bob Thompson (R-Chester).

House Democrats elected Rep. Keith McCall (D-Carbon) as Speaker of the House and Rep. Todd Eachus (D-Luzerne) as Majority Leader after Rep. Bill DeWeese (D-Greene) relinquished that position to become Majority Whip. Both McCall and Eachus were in Leadership before, but in lower positions.

The next step in organizing for next session will be selecting committee chairs.

In the Senate, both Sen. Mary Jo White (R-Venango) and Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne) are interested in retaining their positions as Majority and Minority chairs of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

On the House side, Rep. Bud George (D-Clearfield) would like to repeat as Majority Chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. There has been no word yet whether Rep. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) would like to continue as Minority Chair. Rep. Hutchinson also serves as Chair of the Joint Senate-House Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee.

NewsClips: Senate Sets Leaders For 2009-10 Session

Legislators Choose Their Leaders

11/21/2008