Two new House Republican committee chairs were named this week to replace Rep. John Perzel who stepped down as Minority Chair of the House Urban Affairs Committee as a result of his indictment.

Rep. Chris Ross (R-Chester) was named Minority Chair of the House Urban Affairs Committee and Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) was named Minority Chair of the House Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, after Rep. Ross vacated that spot.

"Blight, abandoned property, local taxation, land planning and intergovernmental cooperation are issues with which all municipalities in our Commonwealth wrestle, and these are the issues of the Urban Affairs Committee," said Rep. Ross. "I see the committee's work on urban issues as critical in reducing sprawl in suburban and rural areas surrounding the cities, by preventing urban flight."

11/30/2009