Dear PAOLMA Members,

This week three of the 4 legislative caucuses in the Pennsylvania General Assembly elected their leadership teams for the 2021-22 legislative session which begins in January, 2021.  House Republicans chose their team earlier this week as did House Democrats and Senate Republicans today.  Senate Democrats will chose their leaders next week.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS

*Speaker-                                                                                            Bryan Cutler (Lancaster)                            

Majority Leader-                                                                                Kerry Benninghoff (Centre)

Majority Appropriations Committee Chairman-                         Stan Saylor (York)

Majority Whip-                                                                                   Donna Oberlander (Clarion)

Majority Caucus Chairman-                                                             Mike Reese (Westmoreland)

Majority Caucus Administrator-                                                     Kurt Masser (Columbia/Northumberland)

Majority Caucus Secretary-                                                              Martina White (Philadelphia)

Majority Policy Committee Chairman-                                          Martin Causer (Bradford)

* The Speaker of the House is elected by the entire body of the House in an election which will occur on reorganization of the House in January, 2021.  Today’s vote was a nominating vote by the Republican Caucus but does not afford Mr. Cutler the Speaker’s position until all Republicans and Democrats vote for the position in January.  Democrats have the right to nominate a member of their caucus for Speaker of the House but, of course, would not have enough votes to elect that person unless the Republicans in the majority decided to support the Democrat candidate for Speaker—which is highly unlikely.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Minority Leader-                                                                               Joanna McClinton (Philadelphia)

Minority Appropriations Committee Chairman-                        Matt Bradford (Montgomery)

Minority Whip-                                                                                  Jordan Harris (Philadelphia)

Minority Caucus Chairman-                                                            Dan Miller (Allegheny)

Minority Caucus Administrator-                                                    Mike Schlossberg (Lehigh)

Minority Caucus Secretary-                                                            Tina Davis (Bucks)

Minority Policy Committee Chairman-                                         Ryan Bizzarro (Erie)

SENATE REPUBLICANS

*President Pro Tempore–                                                                 Jake Corman (Centre)

Majority Leader-                                                                                Kim Ward (Westmoreland)

Majority Appropriations Committee Chairman-                         Pat Browne (Lehigh)

Majority Whip-                                                                                   John Gordner (Columbia/Northumberland)

Majority Caucus Chairman-                                                             Bob Mensch (Montgomery/Bucks)

Majority Caucus Secretary-                                                              Ryan Aument (Lancaster)

*As in the House Speaker’s position, the Senate President Pro Tempore must be elected by the entire body of the Senate.  That vote, with both Republicans and Democrats casting votes, did occur today and Senator Corman has been elected to the position of President Pro Tempore for the 2021-22 legislative session in the Senate