The two highest ranking Republican Leaders in the Senate lost their bids to return to the Senate in Tuesday’s Primary Election due to the controversy over the pay raise, and other losses may causes changes in a variety of committee chairs in 2007.

President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer (R-Blair) and Senate Majority Leader David Brightbill (R-Lebanon), both lost their seats to Primary opponents setting in motion a change in Leadership for the Senate in 2007.

Sen. Brightbill is a former chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee where he was instrumental in passing legislation establishing Pennsylvania’s award-winning Land Recycling Program, adopting major changes to the state’s Air Pollution Control Act to comply with the federal Clean Air Act, creating the Small Water Systems Technical and Management Assistance Program and putting a $350 million water infrastructure bond issue on the ballot, adding Pine Creek, the Yellow Breeches and Tulpehocken Creeks to the state’s Scenic Rivers System, creating the Environmental Education Program and Fund, establishing DEP’s Agricultural Advisory Board, requiring compensation for structures and the replacement of water supplies affected by underground coal mining and expanding environmental cleanup coverage under the Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act, among other environmental legislation.

With the loss of Senators Jubelirer and Brightbill and other retirements in the Senate Republican Caucus, the remaining leaders in order of Leadership responsibilities are-- Majority Whip Jeff Piccola (R-Dauphin), Caucus Secretary Bob Robbins (R-Mercer), Caucus Administrator Mary Jo White (R-Venango), the current chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, and Policy Chairman Joe Scarnati (R-Warren).

Along with pending changes in Leadership, the Senate Republican Chair of the Appropriations Committee, selected by the Caucus, will also be a new face in 2007.

The retirement of Sen. Joe Conti (R-Bucks) has already caused a change in the chairmanship of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee who is now Sen. John Pippy (R-Allegheny).

Democrats in the Senate picked up one seat with the win by Chester County commissioner Andrew Dinniman, who replaces the late Sen. Bob Thompson.

But retirements and loss of 11 committee chairmen in the House also means there may be a domino affect in store for committee assignments there as well.

For example, the chair of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, Rep. Bruce Smith (R-York) is retiring and the vice-chair of the Committee Rep. Teresa Forcier (R-Crawford) lost her Primary bid.

Rep. Peter Zug (R-Lebanon), who has been active on the Chesapeake Bay Commission and was prime sponsor of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education Program Act, was also defeated.

By custom, House committee assignments are done largely on seniority, which means members with the most service generally get to pick which committees they chair.

There will be at least 44 new members of the House when it reconvenes in 2007.

Changes in leadership and committee chairs always makes navigating the General Assembly a little more uncertain.

Stay tuned for more! As one long-time observer said, “We don’t have a play in the playbook for this one.”

Session Schedule

The Senate cancelled session for the week of May 22 and will return to session with the House on June 5

On the Hill

· On the Senate, House Agenda

· Senate/House Bills Moving

Other News

· PUC Expresses Concerns With DEP Mercury Rule, EQB Asks for Comments

· PUC Begins Discussion on Options When Electricity Price Caps Come Off

· PA Energy Development Authority Proposes Project Financing Guidelines

· Geisinger Medical System Becomes New EPA H2E Partner

· Small Business Reduces Hazardous Waste/Energy Costs $35,000 a Year

· PA American Water to Undertake Ecological Restoration Project

· Yellow Breeches Creek Watershed Conservation Plan Finalized

· EPA, Agriculture Host Water Quality Trading Conference in Pittsburgh

· Only Two PA Watersheds Data System Workshops Left

· Wild Resource Conservation Program Schedules Grant Workshops

· Fish Commission Offers “Take Me Fishing” Times Three

· Philadelphia One of Four Sustainable Communities Showcased in PBS Project

· Time Is Running Out to Apply for Community Greening Award

· Audubon Sets May 27 Important Bird Area Cleanup in Harrisburg

· New Web Page Provides Important Information About Sinkholes

· Southwest PA Air Quality Partnership Rewards Park and Ride Commuters

· Two PA Groups Honored for Climate and Ozone Protection

· DCNR Says – Take A Hike! May 27- June 4

See & Hear

· DEP, Game Commission Host Falcon Banding Webcast May 24

Feature

· Part II– Smart Growth Opportunities In PA - Regional Growth and Planning Opportunities in Southwestern PA, By Jonathan R. Farrell

Go To the Watershed Awareness Month Events Section

Go To: PA Environment Digest Calendar Page

5/19/2006