Pennsylvania political power play

Top dogs in the House outfox each other

By FRITZ MAYER

HARRISBURG, PA — When Democrats won a majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives last November, most of them assumed that a Democrat would become the next speaker. But thanks to political maneuvering, a Republican took the post. It was not, however, the Republican who had been expected to win. Instead, a compromise candidate was chosen, and the two powerful men who actively campaigned for the job were left behind.

Bill DeWeese, the house Democratic leader was in line to become the speaker, and he thought he had lined up the support of all 102 Democrats. But one Democrat, Thomas Caltagirone, informed his colleagues before the January 3 vote that he would back John Perzel, the Republican lawmaker who had been the previous speaker and a Republican leader for 18 years.

With a 101-to-102-vote advantage, DeWeese could not find enough votes to get himself or any other Democrat elected to the speaker post. Therefore, with encouragement from Democratic Governor Ed Rendell, DeWeese quietly contacted moderate Republican Dennis O’Brien about the position.

O’Brien has been described as a long-time political foe of both Perzel and DeWeese, with moderate political views that are often in line with those of Pennsylvania Democrats. According to various press reports, the ability of both Perzel or DeWeese to convince members to back their candidacies was hampered by numerous grudges that both powerful men had created over the years.

O’Brien, on the other hand, was well liked, and he was mainly interested in the post because he would suddenly be in a position to achieve such goals as improving social service safety nets for the disabled. O’Brien did not agree to switch party registration, but neither did he rule it out.

On the day of the vote, DeWeese, much to the surprise of most Republicans and quite a few Democrats, nominated O’Brien to become the new speaker. In a vote of 105 to 97, O’Brien defeated Perzel, with two Democrats voting for Perzel and six Republicans voting for O’Brien. An editorial in The Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown, PA called the vote a “slap at two longtime Pennsylvania political rivals.”

With a new Republican speaker, and a Democratic majority, political pundits are uncertain how the political process will play out in the next two years. However, just about everyone expects a clear change from when the body was headed by Perzel, who was considered a politician who thrived on political maneuvering and fundraising. O’Brien is seen as a different type of public servant; according to The Philadelphia Enquirer, “For O’Brien, causes, not contributions, matter most.”

After winning the post, O’Brien gave a 90-second acceptance speech in which he said, “I am truly overwhelmed. This was not something that I had thought about as far back as 24 hours ago. You have my pledge,” he added. “I will move reform issues forward and I will try to be as fair as I possibly can.”