HARRISBURG -- In the latest fallout from a government corruption scandal, House committee assignments are being shuffled after a state lawmaker arrested last week was stripped of his post as ranking Republican on the Urban Affairs Committee.

John Perzel, R-Philadelphia, was removed from the position of ranking Republican in accordance with House rules preventing lawmakers from top committee posts if they've been charged with a crime.

Taking the place of Mr. Perzel is Rep. Chris Ross, R-Chester.

That move opened up a spot on the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee, whose Republican leader had been Mr. Ross.

Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, was tapped for that spot.

The committee considers legislation dealing with the relationships among local, state and federal government bodies.

Last session, Intergovernmental Affairs considered legislation dealing with Real ID, a federal act mandating nationwide standards for state driver's licenses and identification cards.

Mr. Metcalfe said he plans to use his position on the committee to advance his opposition to gay marriage, socialized medicine and benefits for illegal immigrants.

"The work of this committee presents a prime opportunity to uphold and defend the foundational documents of the American way of life and to affirm, protect and advance our God-given -- not government-given -- personal liberties," Mr. Metcalfe said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Perzel and nine former underlings in the House Republican caucus are preparing to fight hundreds of charges lodged against them by Attorney General Tom Corbett.

They are accused of misusing state resources to support political campaigns when he was speaker. Charges against them center on the alleged use of tax dollars to buy computers and database programs that were used to track voter behavior and to target campaign efforts.

The arrests came in the second phase of a public corruption investigation that began with a probe into House Democrats' use of state money to provide bonuses to staffers who had worked on campaigns.

A trial is scheduled to begin Dec. 1 for former state Rep. Sean Ramaley, the first of 12 House Democrats arrested in the ongoing probe.

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