Upcoming in the General Assembly
During the summer the Pennsylvania House had a dramatic change in personnel . House Speaker Mike Turzai stepped down to take a job in the private sector . The House Republican caucus held leadership elections and former House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler ( R-Lancaster ) is the new Speaker of the House . The former Majority Whip Kerry Benninghoff ( R-Centre ) is the new House Majority Leader . The former majority Policy chair Donna Oberlander ( R-Clarion ) is the new Majority Whip .
The other three caucuses had significant leadership changes as well .
The House Democrats chose Joanna McClinton ( D-Philadelphia ) as their floor leader . Jordan Harris ( D-Philadelphia ) continues in his role as Democratic Whip . Matt Bradford ( D-Montgomery ) will remain the Democratic Appropriations chair . Caucus Chair Dan Miller ( D-Allegheny ), Caucus Secretary Tina Miller ( D-Bucks ), Caucus Administrator Mike Schlossberg ( D-Lehigh ), and Democratic Policy chair Ryan Bizarro ( D-Erie ) start their new roles in January .
Jake Corman ( R-Centre ) is the new Senate President Pro Tempore . Kim Ward ( R-Westmoreland ) is the new Senate Majority Leader . Majority Appropriations Chair Pat Browne ( R-Lehigh ), Majority Whip John Gordner ( R-Columbia ), Majority Caucus Chair Bob Mensch ( R-Montgomery ) and Majority Caucus Secretary Ryan Aument ( R-Lancaster ) keep their current positions .
The Senate Democrats added two senators from Montgomery County to their leadership team . Democratic Caucus Secretary Maria Collett ( D-Montgomery ) and Democratic Policy Committee Chair Katie Muth ( D-Montgomery ) take on their new duties at the start of the year . Democratic Floor Leader Jay Costa ( D-Allegheny ), Democratic Whip Anthony Williams ( D-Philadelphia ), Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent Hughes and Democratic Caucus Chair Wayne Fontan ( D-Allegheny ) were all re-elected to their current leadership roles .
Following November ’ s election there will be many new faces in Harrisburg in January . We will update you in future issues of the PDJ .
Fundraisers
This was the most unusual year ever for fund raising . As COVID-19 began to spread all fundraisers were cancelled . Eventually many of them were held but they were done virtually . As in person events returned , they were held under COVID restrictions .
February Rep . Sue Helm ( R-Dauphin ) – She is a longtime friend of PDA and is always willing to listen and help .
March Rep . Kerry Benninghoff ( R-Centre ) – He is the House Majority Leader . He advances or kills all bills in the House .