There are a lot of folks headed back to Harrisburg today with their tails between their legs.
Most of them would be House Democrats, in particular their leadership.
After basically getting their heads handed to them in the mid-term elections, in the process losing control of the House, Democrats decided to call it a day, and not take any votes in the lame-duck session.
This despite the fact that several crucial pieces of legislation, including one that offers a potential solution to the state’s burgeoning public pension plans, were on the agenda.
House leaders did not like the language in some of the bills, which they apparently saw as a way of watering down their power, and decided to simply close up shop instead.
This did not sit well with voters, who made their feelings quite clear.
And it did not sit well with some of the Democrat rank-and-file members.
Many of them wrote a letter to their leaders asking them to reconsider, return for the session, and take the key votes. Among them were Delco Dem state Reps. Greg Vitali and Thaddeus Kirkland.
Amid a statewide revolt, Democrat leaders gauged public opinion and took a U-turn.
Hence they are back in Harrisburg today and a vote on the public pension bill could come this week.
Among the biggest victims in this political squabble could be Rep.
Dwight Evans, the Philadelphia rep who has chaired the powerful House Appropriations Committee for years.
That means Evans ran the state budget, and was in a position to deliver lots of money for Philly projects.
With the House shifting over to GOP control, Evans already had lost the majority post. Now he’s facing a challenge from within his own party to be minority chair.
Evans has held the leadership position for two decades.
Part of this is an anti-Philadelphia backlash by lawmakers who operate under the belief that the city gets too much aid as it is.
But the rank and file also were less than thrilled by the move by Evans and others to call off any votes in this lame-duck session.
All of which will make for a very interesting week in Harrisburg.
Most of them would be House Democrats, in particular their leadership.
After basically getting their heads handed to them in the mid-term elections, in the process losing control of the House, Democrats decided to call it a day, and not take any votes in the lame-duck session.
This despite the fact that several crucial pieces of legislation, including one that offers a potential solution to the state’s burgeoning public pension plans, were on the agenda.
House leaders did not like the language in some of the bills, which they apparently saw as a way of watering down their power, and decided to simply close up shop instead.
This did not sit well with voters, who made their feelings quite clear.
And it did not sit well with some of the Democrat rank-and-file members.
Many of them wrote a letter to their leaders asking them to reconsider, return for the session, and take the key votes. Among them were Delco Dem state Reps. Greg Vitali and Thaddeus Kirkland.
Amid a statewide revolt, Democrat leaders gauged public opinion and took a U-turn.
Hence they are back in Harrisburg today and a vote on the public pension bill could come this week.
Among the biggest victims in this political squabble could be Rep.
Dwight Evans, the Philadelphia rep who has chaired the powerful House Appropriations Committee for years.
That means Evans ran the state budget, and was in a position to deliver lots of money for Philly projects.
With the House shifting over to GOP control, Evans already had lost the majority post. Now he’s facing a challenge from within his own party to be minority chair.
Evans has held the leadership position for two decades.
Part of this is an anti-Philadelphia backlash by lawmakers who operate under the belief that the city gets too much aid as it is.
But the rank and file also were less than thrilled by the move by Evans and others to call off any votes in this lame-duck session.
All of which will make for a very interesting week in Harrisburg.
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