House welcomes 29 new legislators
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HARRISBURG -- In their first floor vote, 29 new state representatives joined veteran lawmakers in unanimously electing Sam Smith of Punxsutawney as the new House speaker.
Addressing the chamber, Mr. Smith asked members to legislate responsibly, listen to all sides of issues and to allow wisdom to prevail over tyranny.
"Keep your feet on the ground and be mindful of why you wanted to be here and why the voters elected you," he said.
During the two-year legislative session, lawmakers will grapple with a $5 billion budget deficit and consider controversial proposals to privatize state liquor stores, generate state revenue from natural gas drilling, expand the right to use guns in self defense and find new funding sources for infrastructure maintenance.
State Rep. Jim Marshall, R-Big Beaver, who seconded Mr. Smith's nomination, said the new speaker is well prepared to address those issues.
"He knows that we must work together, lead by example and serve with integrity," Mr. Marshall said.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, Rep. Mike Turzai, R-Bradford Woods, and Frank Dermody, D-Oakmont, addressed the chamber for the first time as leaders of their caucuses.
Mr. Turzai said members should be prepared to work hard, to be accountable, to distribute tax dollars responsibly and, most importantly, to forge compromises on controversial legislation.
"While I like to think of myself as principled, I'm also pragmatic. To move an agenda forward, we need the participation of everybody," he said.
Mr. Dermody said he looked forward to working to improve access to health care, create jobs, maintain the infrastructure, and protect the environment. He said those goals will be especially challenging in light of the state's deficit.
"This is a crucial time in Pennsylvania state government. Painfully hard decisions will have to be made," he said. "The challenge for us will be finding ways to balance a state budget, as we are required to do, while keeping in place essential services to the people who so desperately need them."
The 29 new House members, he said, bring with them desperately needed vitality.
Those members include four from southwestern Pennsylvania: Brandon Neuman, D-North Strabane; George Dunbar, R-Penn Township; Eli Evankovich, R-Murrysville and Rick Saccone, R-Elizabeth Township.
Jim Brewster, D-McKeesport, is one of three new senators, all Democrats.
Twenty-one Republicans and eight Democrats joined the House, giving the GOP a 112-91 advantage.
During the swearing-in, members were surrounded by friends and family members who later attended private receptions scattered throughout the Capitol in hallways and offices.
Lawmakers are expected back in Harrisburg Jan. 18 for the swearing in of Tom Corbett as governor and Jim Cawley as lieutenant governor.
First Published January 5, 2011 12:00 am
