General Assembly Sees Few New Faces

Two years after a significant upheaval in leadership for both the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Senate, both chambers gave their relatively new leaders an additional two years to accomplish their agendas for the 2017/18 legislative session. Both the Republican majority and Democratic minority reelected their slate of officers for the next term. The lone exception of power transfer occurred in the House, where longtime Appropriations Committee Chair Bill Adolph retired. Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York) won a contested election of his peers to assume that position.

The slate of officers are as follows:
House Republican
• Speaker - Mike Turzai, Allegheny
• Majority Leader - Dave Reed, Indiana
• Appropriations Chair - Stan Saylor, York
• Majority Whip - Bryan Cutler, Lancaster

House Democrat
• Minority Leader - Frank Dermody, Allegheny
• Appropriations Chair - Joe Markosek, Allegheny
• Minority Whip - Mike Hanna, Clinton

Senate Republican
• Senate President Pro Tempore - Joe Scarnati, Jefferson
• Majority Leader - Jake Corman, Centre
• Appropriations Chair - Pat Browne, Lehigh
• Majority Whip - John Gordner, Columbia

Senate Democrats
• Minority Leader - Jay Costa, Allegheny
• Appropriations Chair - Vince Hughes, Philadelphia
• Minority Whip - Anthony Williams, Philadelphia

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