State Society Sees Opportunities in New General Assembly Leadership

Physicians will have many opportunities during the 2007-2008 legislative session to develop and build fresh relationships with new legislators.

Faced with 55 new legislative members, the replacement of nearly half of all the leaders in the House and Senate since 2006, a shift in power in the House and the election of a Speaker from the opposition party, the General Assembly has taken more time than usual to complete caucus leadership elections, the selection of committee chairs and committee assignments for members.

The House has settled into the status of Democratic control with a 102-101 majority and a registered Republican as Speaker. In the Senate, Republicans held their 29-21 majority at the same level but the Republicans have new caucus leaders as the result of retirements, primary election defeats and even a contested caucus election.

Consequently there are significant changes among the committee chairs in both the House and the Senate.

Complete list of 2007–2008 legislative caucus leaders

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Republican leadership

Democratic leadership 

  • Rep. Dennis O'Brien (Philadelphia), House Speaker
  • Rep. Samuel H. Smith (Jefferson), Minority Leader
  • Rep. David Argall (Schuylkill), Minority Whip
  • Rep. Sandra Major (Susquehanna), Minority Caucus Chair
  • Rep. Jerry Stern (Blair), Minority Caucus Secretary
  • Rep. Michael Turzai (Allegheny), Minority Policy Committee Chair
  • Rep. Merle Phillips (Northumberland), Minority Caucus Administrator
  • Rep. Mario Civera (Delaware), Minority Appropriations Committee Chair
  • John M. Perzel (Philadelphia), Speaker Emeritus
  • Rep. Bill DeWeese (Greene), Majority Leader
  • Rep. Keith McCall (Carbon), Majority Whip
  • Rep. Mark Cohen (Philadelphia), Majority Caucus Chair
  • Rep. Frank Dermody (Allegheny), Majority Caucus Secretary
  • Rep. Todd Eachus (Luzerne), Majority Policy Committee Chair
  • Rep. Dan Surra (Clearfield), Majority Caucus Administrator
  • Rep. Dwight Evans (Philadelphia), Majority Appropriations Committee Chair
  

Pennsylvania Senate

Republican leadership 

Democratic leadership

  • Sen. Joseph Scarnati (Jefferson), President Pro Tempore
  • Sen. Dominic Pileggi (Delaware), Majority Leader
  • Sen. Jane Orie (Allegheny), Majority Whip
  • Sen. Michael Waugh (York), Majority Caucus Chair
  • Sen. Robert Robbins (Mercer), Majority Caucus Secretary
  • Sen. Jake Corman (Centre), Majority Policy Committee Chair
  • Sen. Terry L. Punt (Franklin), Majority Caucus Administrator
  • Sen. Gibson Armstrong (Lancaster), Majority Appropriations Committee Chair
  • Sen. Robert Mellow (Lackawanna), Minority Leader
  • Sen. Michael O’Pake (Berks), Minority Whip
  • Sen.Vincent J. Hughes (Philadelphia), Minority Deputy Whip
  • Sen. Jay Costa, Jr. (Allegheny), Minority Caucus Chair
  • Sen. Gerald J. LaValle (Allegheny), Minority Caucus Secretary
  • Sen. Richard A. Kasunic (Fayette), Minority Policy Committee Chair
  • Sen. Constance H. Williams (Montgomery), Minority Caucus Administrator
  • Sen. Gerald LaValle (Beaver), Acting Minority Appropriations Committee Chair


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Complete list of 2007–2008 committee chairs

Committees with specific jurisdiction over health care issues are in bold.

 House of Representatives

Senate 

  • Aging & Older Adult Services: Rep. Louise Williams Bishop (Philadelphia)
  • Agriculture & Rural Affairs: Rep. Mike Hanna (Centre)
  • Appropriations: Rep. Dwight Evans (Philadelphia), Republican Chair: Rep. Mario Civera (Delaware)
  • Childern & Youth: Rep. Phyllis Mundy (Luzerne)
  • Commerce: Rep. Peter J. Daley (Fayette)
  • Consumer Affairs: Rep. Joseph Preston (Allegheny)
  • Education: Rep. James Roebuck (Philadelphia)
  • Environmental Resources & Energy: Rep. Camille “Bud” George (Clearfield)
  • Finance: Rep. David Levdansky (Allegheny)
  • Game & Fisheries: Rep. Ed Staback (Lackawanna)
  • Gaming Oversight: Rep. Harold James (Philadelphia)
  • Health & Human Services: Rep. Frank Oliver (Philadelphia), Republican Chair: Rep. George Kenney (Philadelphia)
  • Insurance: Rep. Tony DeLuca (Allegheny), Republican Chair: Rep. Nicholas Micozzie (Delaware)
  • Judiciary: Rep. Tom Caltagirone (Berks), Republican Chair: Rep. Ron Marsico (Dauphin)
  • Intergovernmental Affairs: Rep. W. Curtis Thomas (Philadelphia)
  • Labor Relations: Rep. Robert E. Belfanti Jr. (Northumberland)
  • Liquor Control: Rep. Robert Donatucci (Philadelphia)
  • Local Government: Rep. Robert Freeman (Northampton)
  • Professional Licensure: Rep. Mike Sturla (Lancaster), Republican Chair: Rep. Bill Adolph (Delaware)
  • State Government: Rep. Babette Josephs (Philadelphia)
  • Tourism & Recreational Development: Rep. Tom Tangretti (Westmoreland)
  • Transportation: Rep. Joseph Markosek (Allegheny)
  • Urban Affairs: Rep. Thomas Petrone (Allegheny)
  • Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness: Rep. Tony Melio (Bucks) 
  • Aging & Youth: Sen. Patricia Vance (Cumberland)
  • Agriculture & Rural Affairs: Sen. Mike Brubaker (Lancaster)
  • Appropriations: Sen. Gibson Armstrong (Lancaster), Acting Democratic Chair: Sen. Gerald LaValle (Beaver)
  • Banking & Insurance: Sen. Don White (Indiana), Democratic Chair: Sen. Michael Stack (Philadelphia)
  • Communications & Technology: Sen. Robert Wonderling (Montgomery)
  • Community & Economic Development: Sen. Jane Earll (Erie)
  • Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure: Sen. Robert Tomlinson (Bucks), Democratic Chair: Sen. Lisa Boscola (Northampton)
  • Education: Sen. James Rhoades (Schuylkill)
  • Environmental Resources & Energy: Sen. Mary Jo White (Warren)
  • Finance: Sen. Patrick Browne (Lehigh)
  • Game & Fisheries: Sen. Chuck McIlhinney (Bucks)
  • Judiciary: Sen. Stewart Greenleaf (Montgomery), Democratic Chair: Sen. Jay Costa (Allegheny)
  • Labor & Industry: Sen. John Gordner (Columbia)
  • Law & Justice: Sen. John Rafferty (Montgomery)
  • Local Government: Sen. Robert Regola (Westmoreland)
  • Public Health & Welfare: Sen. Edwin Erickson (Delaware), Democratic Chair: Sen. Vince Hughes (Philadelphia)
  • State Government: Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (Dauphin)
  • Transportation: Sen. Roger Madigan (Lycoming)
  • Urban Affairs & Housing: Sen. John Pippy (Allegheny)
  • Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness: Sen. Elisabeth Baker (Luzerne)


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Last Updated: 10/11/2007