HARRISBURG — A new legislative session started Tuesday in Harrisburg, kicking off a two-year period that will likely feature debates over transit funding, the size of the budget, marijuana legalization, and more.
But first, state House and Senate lawmakers had to elect chamber leaders and pass key rules that govern their behavior and influence how power is wielded in the commonwealth.
kAmx? E96 DE2E6 $6?2E6[ !C6D:56?E !C@ %6>A@C6 z:> (2C5 W#][ (6DE>@C6=2?5X H2D 62D:=J C66=64E65 E@ 96C C@=6[ 2D H2D 6IA64E65 :? 2 492>36C F?56C 7:C> v~! 4@?EC@=]k^Am
kAms6>@4C2ED 92G6 2 @?6\D62E >2;@C:EJ :? E96 DE2E6 w@FD6 2?5 DE2CE65 E96 D6DD:@? 5@H? 2 >6>36C 27E6C DE2E6 #6A] |2EE96H v6C8=6J Ws][ p==6896?JX 925 2 >65:42= 6>6C86?4J 5FC:?8 E96 9@=:52JD]k^Am
kAm%92E >62?E E96 492>36C H2D E:65[ 2?5 s6>@4C2ED 4@F=5?’E 6=64E E96:C 49@D6? =6256C H:E9@FE D@>6 v~! 4@@A6C2E:@?] &=E:>2E6=J E96J 8@E :E[ 2?5 $A62<6C y@2??2 |4r=:?E@? Ws][ !9:=256=A9:2X H2D C66=64E65 E@ 96C C@=6 H:E9 =:EE=6 72?72C6]k^Am
kAmx? 2 D:>:=2C D:EF2E:@? EH@ J62CD 28@[ 2 D>2== 8C@FA @7 A@H6C7F= #6AF3=:42?D FD65 s6>@4C2E:4 G242?4:6D E@ 6=64E 2 DA62<6C @7 E96:C 49@:46] %96 D:EF2E:@? 56G@=G65 :?E@ 2 3:EE6C A2CE:D2? DECF88=6 E92E =67E E96 =68:D=2EFC6 F?23=6 E@ 7F?4E:@? 7@C E9C66 >@?E9D[ 2?5 4@?EC:3FE65 E@ 2 C6=2E:G6=J D=@H 2?5 E6DEJ EH@ J62CD @7 =68:D=2E:?8]k^Am
kAm}6:E96C 42F4FD[ 9@H6G6C[ H2D :?E6C6DE65 :? 2?@E96C AF3=:4 32EE=6 %F6D52J]k^Am
kAm#67=64E:?8 @? E96 C@F89 DE2CE :? a_ab[ DE2E6 w@FD6 |:?@C:EJ {6256C y6DD6 %@AA6C W#][ q657@C5X D2:5[ “x 5@?’E <?@H :7 E92E H@C<65 @FE 2== E92E H6== … 7@C 2?J3@5J]â€k^Am
kAmp5565 |2;@C:EJ {6256C |2EE qC257@C5 Ws][ |@?E8@>6CJX[ “x E9:?< H6 2C6 2== H:D6C 2?5 :? 2 36EE6C A=246 7@C E96 6IA6C:6?46]â€k^Am
kAm%92E >FEF2= 56D:C6 E@ 2G@:5 2?@E96C DE2?5@77 =65 E@ 4=@D65\5@@C ?68@E:2E:@?D @G6C 492>36C CF=6D 29625 @7 |4r=:?E@?’D 6=64E:@?]k^Am
kAm%9@D6 E2=<D =65 E@ 2 76H >:?@C:EJ A2CEJ\7C:6?5=J EH62<D E@ E96 CF=6D E92E :?4C62D65 #6AF3=:42?D’ G@:46 @? 4@>>:EE66D 2?5 C65F465 E96 ?F>36C @7 =68:D=2E:G6 E@@=D E96 s6>@4C2E:4 >2;@C:EJ 42? FD6 E@ BF:4<=J 6?5 A@=:E:42==J :?4@?G6?:6?E 5632E6D]k^Am
kAm#6AF3=:42?D 4@?EC@= E96 DE2E6 $6?2E6 af\aa[ H:E9 @?6 G242?4J :? 2 D276 #6AF3=:42? 5:DEC:4E] %96 G242?4J 2D:56[ E92E’D E96 D2>6 32=2?46 E96 492>36C 925 =2DE D6DD:@?]k^Am
kAms6>@4C2ED >2:?E2:?65 E96:C @?6\D62E DE2E6 w@FD6 >2;@C:EJ :? }@G6>36C[ E9@F89 42F4FD DA@<6DA6CD@? q6E9 #6>6?E6C E@=5 $A@E=:89E !p E92E v6C8=6J H:== =:<6=J 36 @FE “7@C D@>6 E:>6[†=62G:?8 E96 492>36C 67764E:G6=J E:65]k^Am
kAm#6=2E:G6=J D>@@E9 =6256CD9:A 6=64E:@?Dk^Am
kAmr2F4FD =6256CD :? E96 DE2E6 w@FD6 H6C6 =@4<65 :? AC:G2E6 ?68@E:2E:@?D @G6C 3@E9 E96 DA62<6C D6=64E:@? 2?5 492>36C CF=6D F?E:= =2E6 |@?52J 6G6?:?8[ D@FC46D E@=5 $A@E=:89E !p]k^Am
kAm(96? :E 42>6 E:>6 E@ G@E6[ E96 492>36C :?:E:2==J E:65 @? 2 DA62<6C[ H:E9 |4r=:?E@? C646:G:?8 E96 G@E6 @7 6G6CJ s6>@4C2E 2?5 %@AA6C C646:G:?8 E96 G@E6 @7 6G6CJ #6AF3=:42? :? 2 C@== 42==]k^Am
kAm%@AA6C E96? H:E95C6H 9:D ?2>6 7C@> 4@?D:56C2E:@? 2?5 42==65 7@C 2? :>>65:2E6 G@E6 @? E96 DA62<6CD9:A] (:E9 ;FDE @?6 42?5:52E6 7@C DA62<6C[ r9:67 r=6C< qC@@<6 (966=6C 42==65 7@C 2 C2C6 FA\@C\5@H? G@:46 G@E6 @? |4r=:?E@?’D 42?5:524J 7@C E96 A@DE[ H9:49 D96 H@?[ 2=E9@F89 :E H2D?’E F?2?:>@FD] (96? (966=6C 2D<65 7@C E96 ?2JD[ 2 =@F5 4CJ @7 “?@†6CFAE65 7C@> E96 v~! 324<36?49]k^Am
kAmx? 2 G@:46 G@E6[ ?@ C@== 42== :D E2<6?j C2E96C[ =2H>2<6CD @? E96 7=@@C J6== 2J6 @C ?@] xE :D EJA:42==J D2G65 7@C F?4@?EC@G6CD:2= >@E:@?D[ =:<6 25;@FC?>6?E[ 3642FD6 H:E9@FE 2 C@== 42==[ :E’D :>A@DD:3=6 E@ <?@H 9@H 6249 =68:D=2E@C G@E65]k^Am
kAm%92E >62?D 2?J #6AF3=:42?D H9@ 762C65 A@=:E:42= 3=@H324< 7@C DFAA@CE:?8 2 s6>@4C2E:4 DA62<6C H@F=5 36 D276 7C@> 4C:E:4:D>] ~?6 #6AF3=:42? =@DE 9:D AC:>2CJ =2DE J62C 27E6C 324<:?8 7@C>6C DE2E6 #6A] |2C< #@KK: Ws][ q6C<DX 7@C E96 A@D:E:@?]k^Am
kAm%96 :>A=:42E:@?D @7 E96 >2?6FG6C H6C6?’E =@DE @? 4@?D6CG2E:G6 4C:E:4D] $E2E6 #6A] q2C3 v=6:> W#][ rF>36C=2?5X EC:65 E@ 2D< 7@C 2 C@== 42== G@E6 @? |4r=:?E@? 3FE H2D?’E C64@8?:K65 3J (966=6C]k^Am
kAm“xE’D :>A@CE2?E E@ >J 4@?DE:EF6?ED E92E E96J <?@H H92E >J G@E6 H2D 3642FD6[ :? 2 G@:46 G@E6[ E96J 92G6 ?@ :562[†v=6:> E@=5 $A@E=:89E !p @7 96C C6BF6DE 7@C 2 C@== 42==]k^Am
kAm$96 25565 E92E D96 2?5 2 ?F>36C @7 @E96C v~! 4@==628F6D DF3>:EE65 ?@E6D 7@C E96 C64@C5 @7 H9@ E96J 324<65 7@C DA62<6C]k^Am
kAm(92E 5@ E96 CF=6D 5@nk^Am
kAmr92>36C CF=6D 2C6 :>A@CE2?E 3642FD6 E96J D6E E96 8F:56=:?6D =2H>2<6CD 7@==@H H9:=6 A2DD:?8 =68:D=2E:@?]k^Am
kAm%96J 4@G6C 6G6CJE9:?8 7C@> E96 D:K6[ ?F>36C[ 2?5 A2CE:D2? >2<6FA @7 =68:D=2E:G6 4@>>:EE66Dj E@ E96 DE6A\3J\DE6A AC@46DD E@ A2DD 2 3:==j E@ 6E:BF6EE6 H96? DA62<:?8 @? 2 492>36C 7=@@C]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 CF=6D 5@?’E EJA:42==J 492?86 D:8?:7:42?E=J 7C@> D6DD:@? E@ D6DD:@?[ D>2== EH62<D 42? >2<6 2 3:8 5:776C6?46] u@C :?DE2?46[ DE2E6 w@FD6 s6>@4C2ED A2DD65 2 ?6H 567:?:E:@? @7 “>2;@C:EJ†:? a_ab E92E 96=A65 E96> CF? E96 492>36C 5FC:?8 2 DEC:?8 @7 23D6?46D] %96J 2=D@ >256 2 76H EH62<D E@ E96 CF=6D E@ 6>A@H6C E96 >:?@C:EJ A2CEJ[ E9@F89 E96 492?86D 92G6 925 =:EE=6 :>A24E]k^Am
kAmv@@5\8@G6C?>6?E 8C@FAD @7E6? =@33J 7@C 492?86D E@ E96 CF=6D[ =:<6 6?5:?8 4@>>:EE66 492:CD’ 23:=:E:6D E@ D:?8=6\92?565=J 3=@4< =68:D=2E:@?]k^Am
kAm%9:D J62C[ DE2E6 w@FD6 s6>@4C2ED 2=D@ FD65 E96 CF=6D 2D 2 32C82:?:?8 49:A :? 86EE:?8 #6AF3=:42?D E@ 324< |4r=:?E@?’D DA62<6CD9:A]k^Am
kAm(9:49 CF=6D 492?865 E9:D D6DD:@?nk^Am
kAm}@ >2;@C CF=6 492?86D @44FCC65 :? E96 DE2E6 $6?2E6] s6>@4C2ED H2?E65 E@ 25@AE DEC:4E6C 7:?2?4:2= EC2?DA2C6?4J >62DFC6D 2?5 E@ >2E49 E96 DE2E6 w@FD6’D CF=6 7@C D6IF2= 92C2DD>6?E C6A@CE:?8[ 3FE v~! =2H>2<6CD G@E65 E@ D6?5 E96 AC@A@D2=D E@ 4@>>:EE66]k^Am
kAm$E2E6 w@FD6 =6256CD[ >62?H9:=6[ A2DD65 D6G6C2= CF=6 492?86D] p>@?8 E96 3:886DE H2D E96 255:E:@? @7 E9C66 ?6H 4@>>:EE66Di t?6C8J[ r@>>F?:42E:@?D 2?5 %649?@=@8J[ 2?5 x?E6C8@G6C?>6?E2= p772:CD]k^Am
kAm%92E 492?86 H2D @7 A2CE:4F=2C :?E6C6DE E@ s6>@4C2ED] %96 42F4FD 92D 9:DE@C:42==J 5:DEC:3FE65 492:CD 3J D6?:@C:EJ[ 3FE 5F6 E@ 2 H2G6 @7 C6E:C6>6?ED[ :E 925 E@ A:4< ?6H 4@>>:EE66 492:CD 7C@> 2>@?8 2 =2C86 4=2DD @7 =2H>2<6CD 7:CDE 6=64E65 :? a_`g] s64:5:?8 H9:49 =2H>2<6CD H@F=5 86E 2 AC@>@E:@? E@ @?6 @7 E96D6 A@H6C7F= A@DED 42FD65 :?E6C?2= EFC>@:= :? C646?E H66<D]k^Am
kAm%@AA6C 2C8F65 E92E E96 ?6H 4@>>:EE66D 4@F=5 2=D@ DAC625 @FE E96 H@C<=@25 2?5 C65F46 =68:D=2E:G6 =@8 ;2>D @? D@>6 H6:89EJ E@A:4D]k^Am
kAm%96 ?6H CF=6D :?4=F565 2 ?F>36C @7 D>2== EH62<D 7@C #6AF3=:42?D’ 36?67:E] %96J C6>@G6 2 567:?:E:@? @7 “>2;@C:EJ†E92E 2:565 s6>@4C2ED 5FC:?8 23D6?46D 3J 6DD6?E:2==J 32CC:?8 #6AF3=:42?D 7C@> FD:?8 2 E6>A@C2CJ >2;@C:EJ E@ D6:K6 A@H6C] %96J 2=D@ AC6G6?E E96 >2;@C:EJ 7C@> E23=:?8 >:?@C:EJ 7=@@C 2>6?5>6?ED 2D 2 8C@FA[ C2E96C E92? G@E:?8 @? 6249 :?5:G:5F2==J]k^Am
kAmp?5 E96J =:>:E H96? E96 >2;@C:EJ 42? FD6 2 4@?EC@G6CD:2= A2C=:2>6?E2CJ >2?6FG6C[ <?@H? 2D >@G:?8 E96 AC6G:@FD BF6DE:@?[ H9:49 :>>65:2E6=J 6?5D 5632E6]k^Am
kAm%96 CF=6D 2=D@ >2<6 :E 62D:6C 7@C E96 >:?@C:EJ E@ 2EE6>AE E@ @G6CC:56 2 4@>>:EE66 492:C H9@ C67FD6D E@ >@G6 2 A2CE:4F=2C 3:==[ 3J 6>A=@J:?8 H92E :D <?@H? 2D 2 5:D492C86 A6E:E:@?]k^Am
kAms6>@4C2ED 7C6BF6?E=J D@F89E E@ FD6 5:D492C86 A6E:E:@?D H9:=6 E96J H6C6 :? E96 >:?@C:EJ] pE E96 E:>6[ E96 CF=6 H2D E@@E9=6DD 3642FD6 4@>>:EE66 492:CD 4@F=5 4:C4F>G6?E :E 3J C676CC:?8 3:==D E@ @E96C 4@>>:EE66D]k^Am
kAm{2DE D6DD:@?[ s6>@4C2ED A2DD65 CF=6D E92E 8@E C:5 @7 E92E C676CC2= =@@A9@=6 H9:=6 2=D@ C2:D:?8 E96 32C 7C@> ad D:8?2EFC6D E@E2= E@ ad 7C@> 6249 A2CEJ ?66565 7@C 2 A6E:E:@?] #6AF3=:42?D ?6G6C >FDE6C65 6?@F89 DFAA@CE E@ <:4< 2 3:== @FE @7 4@>>:EE66 F?56C E92E D46?2C:@]k^Am
kAm%96 ?6H CF=6D =@H6C65 E96 32C 7@C 2 5:D492C86 C6D@=FE:@? 324< E@ ad D:8?2EFC6D H9:=6 C6DE@C:?8 E96 C676CC2= =@@A9@=6]k^Am
kAm“%96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 E@@=D E92E E96 >2;@C:EJ 92D 2E E96:C 5:DA@D2= F?56C 2?J D6E @7 CF=6D] %92E’D H9J E96J 2C6 E96 >2;@C:EJ[†%@AA6C D2:5] “qFE E96C6’D 2=D@ 2 H2J E@ >2<6 E96 AC@46DD[ :? @FC @A:?:@?[ >@C6 EC2?DA2C6?E[ 2?5[ BF:E6 7C2?<=J[ =625 E@ 2 >@C6 56=:36C2E:G6 AC@46DD]â€k^Am
kAm(92E =68:D=2E:@? :D @? E96 E23=6 E9:D D6DD:@?nk^Am
kAm~?6 @7 E96 3:886DE E9:?8D =2H>2<6CD =67E F?7:?:D965 :? E96 =2DE =68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@? H2D 2 562= E@ AC@G:56 255:E:@?2= 7F?5:?8 E@ !6??DJ=G2?:2’D EC2?D:E 286?4:6D] %96 =2C86DE[ !9:=256=A9:2’D $t!%p[ 92D H2C?65 @7 D6CG:46 4FED 2?5 72C6 9:<6D :7 >@C6 C64FCC:?8 7F?5:?8 5@6D?’E 4@>6 E9C@F89]k^Am
kAm%96 :DDF6 :D 2 AC:@C:EJ 7@C s6>@4C2ED[ 3FE #6AF3=:42?D 92G6 D:8?2=65 E96J’C6 @A6? E@ H@C<:?8 @? :E 2D =@?8 2D E96 7F?5:?8 562= :?4=F56D >@?6J 7@C C@25D 2?5 4@>6D H:E9 2 565:42E65 C6G6?F6 DEC62>]k^Am
kAm%92E C6G6?F6 4@F=5 4@>6 7C@> C68F=2E:@? 2?5 E2I2E:@? @7 D<:== 82>6D[ D=@E\>249:?6\=:<6 E6C>:?2=D E92E 4FCC6?E=J @A6C2E6 :? 2 =682= 8C2J 2C62] %96 :DDF6 :D A@=:E:42==J 4@>A=:42E65[ 3FE >6>36CD @7 3@E9 A2CE:6D 2?5 492>36CD DFAA@CE C68F=2E:@?]k^Am
kAmv~! =6256CD 2=D@ D2J E96J H2?E E@ A2DD >@C6 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E >62DFC6D H9:=6 =:>:E:?8 3F586E 8C@HE9]k^Am
kAms6>@4C2ED[ >62?H9:=6[ C6>2:? 9@A67F= E96J 42? >@G6 2 =@?8\DE2==65 2>6?5>6?E E92E H@F=5 2==@H G:4E:>D @7 49:=5 D6IF2= 23FD6 E@ DF6 E96 A6CA6EC2E@CD] %96J 2=D@ D2J E96J H2?E E@ 4@?E:?F6 E2=<D @? =682=:K:?8 C64C62E:@?2= >2C:;F2?2]k^Am
kAmx? 7=@@C DA66496D[ |4r=:?E@?[ %@AA6C[ 2?5 qC257@C5 6249 D2:5 E96J 9@A65 %F6D52J H@F=5 D:8?:7J 2 C6D6E 27E6C 2 C6=2E:G6=J F?AC@5F4E:G6[ 24C:>@?:@FD D6DD:@?]k^Am
kAm“p?JE9:?8 :D A@DD:3=6[†|4r=:?E@? D2:5] “p?5 x =@@< 7@CH2C5 E@ H@C<:?8 H:E9 2== @7 J@F @G6C E96 ?6IE EH@ J62CD E@ 5@ E96 E9:?8D E92E D66> E96 92C56DE]â€k^Am
kAm%2<:?8 :? E96 H9@=6 52J[ qC257@C5 42==65 %F6D52J 2 “766=\8@@5 DE@CJ]†q@E9 A2CE:6D D2H E96 =@?8\E6C> C62=:EJ 2?5 564:565 E@ 8@G6C? 244@C5:?8=J[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“x7 H6 ;FDE D2E 96C6 =@@<:?8 2E 6249 @E96C 7@C 2 4@FA=6 @7 >@?E9D[ E92E H@F=5 AFE FD 2E 2 9F86 5:D25G2?E286]â€k^Am
kAmk6>mqtu~#t *~& v~U96==:Aj x7 J@F =62C?65 D@>6E9:?8 7C@> E9:D 2CE:4=6[ A2J :E 7@CH2C5 2?5 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ $A@E=:89E !p 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^DA@E=:89EA2]@C8^5@?2E6QmDA@E=:89EA2]@C8^5@?2E6k^2m] $A@E=:89E !p :D 7F?565 3J 7@F?52E:@?D 2?5 C6256CD =:<6 J@F H9@ 2C6 4@>>:EE65 E@ 244@F?E23:=:EJ ;@FC?2=:D> E92E 86ED C6DF=ED]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.