PA Environment Digest

That earthquake you felt this week was the power shifting from East to West in the House and Senate Caucus elections for Leadership. This on top of the election of a new Governor from Pittsburgh.

House Democrats

Rand-and-file House Democrats pulled off the biggest change by unseating 20-year Democratic Appropriations Chair Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia) and replacing him with Rep. Joe Markosek (D-Allegheny). Evans lost decisively on the second round of voting 50 to 39.

While Philadelphians held just two of the House Democratic Leadership spots this year-- Appropriations Chair and Caucus Chair-- and lost those spots for next year, Philadelphia Democrats and Rep. Mike Gerber (D-Montgomery), who chaired the Caucus Campaign Committee, ran for four of the other top Leadership posts and lost.

Former Rep. Rick Taylor (D-Montgomery) said of the anti-Philadelphia vote, "West Virginia is flexing its muscles."

The full House Democratic Leadership includes:

-- Minority Leader: Rep. Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) elected unanimously;

-- Minority Whip: Mike Hanna (D-Clinton), was Frank Dermody;

-- Appropriations Chair: Joe Markosek (D-Allegheny), was Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia);

-- Caucus Chair: Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), was Mark Cohen (D-Philadelphia);

-- Caucus Secretary: Jennifer Mann (D-Lehigh) re-elected;

-- Caucus Administrator: Ron Buxton (D-Dauphin) elected unanimously; and

-- Policy Committee Chair: Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster) re-elected.

Senate Democrats

Less dramatic, but more exciting than any race the Republicans had, was the face-off for Senate Democratic Leader. Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) beat Sen. Michael Stack (D-Philadelphia) replacing former Senate Democratic Leader Bob Mellow (D-Lackawanna).

But unlike House Democrats, Senate Democrats elected Philadelphians at three of the six Leadership positions-- Appropriations Chair, Caucus Chair and Caucus Secretary positions.

The full Senate Democratic Leadership team includes:

-- Minority Whip: Sen. Michael O'Pake (D-Berks) - re-elected;

-- Appropriations Chair: Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Philadelphia), succeeding Jay Costa;

-- Caucus Chair: Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia), succeeding Vincent Hughes;

-- Caucus Secretary: Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia);

-- Caucus Administrator: Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh), succeeding Christine Tartaglione; and

-- Policy Committee Chair: Sen. Richard Kasunic (D-Somerset) - re-elected.

Senate Republicans

Senate Republicans had their own Leadership elections, but returned much of the same team with the exception of Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) at the Majority Whip spot, taking the place of indicted Republican Sen. Jane Orie (R-Allegheny).

Senate Republicans left two of their Leadership positions open-- Caucus Administrator, formerly held by Sen. Browne, and Policy Committee Chair held now by Sen. Ted Erickson (R-Delaware). They did not announce a timeline for filing those positions.

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