Corman Defeats Pileggi for Majority Leader Post

CormanThe Senate Republicans won the election but are going with new leadership.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) was defeated in caucus elections today by Centre County Senator Jake Corman.

Corman announced his challenge last week and some GOP Senators have been publicly calling for Pileggi to be replaced since September.

The insurgent won across the board today with Senator Joe Scarnati remaining Senate Pro Tempore.

Among the other new officeholders include: Pat Browne (R-Lehigh) as the new Senate Appropriations Chairman; Sen. John Gordner of Columbia will be the new Majority Whip; Montgomery County Sen. Bob Mensch is set to be become Caucus Chair; and Sen. Rich Alloway (R-Franklin) will be Caucus Secretary.

Ironically, the victory Republicans won last Tuesday contributed to Pileggi’s defeat.

New conservative members from western PA were unhappy with the SEPA native, feeling he has been too moderate and close to labor unions.

The ascension of Corman represents a major shift in the caucus towards the more conservative faction of the Republican Party ahead of the Wolf Administration.

Update: Sen. Scarnati has appointed Sen. Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks) as Senate Caucus Administrator and Sen. David Argall (R-Schuykill) as Senate Majority Policy Committee Chairman.

13 Responses

  1. Shocked that Sen. Chuck McIlhinney (R-Bucks)is still a Republican.

    He’s much better suited for the Wolf Adminisration.

  2. @ Juice:

    Don’t pay attention to DD; I documented elsewhere that he has “0” credibility.

    [When a debater has neither the facts nor the law, he/she argues ad-hominem.}

    http://www.politicspa.com/pa-sen-supporter-launches-ready-for-shapiro/61843/#comments

    Note the multiple defects in the posting he ultimately abandoned, instead invoking the classic Dem-canard [labeling me a racist], acting the “cornered-rat” that he repeatedly demonstrates himself to be.

    He purposely is evasive and adopts outrageous postures; he resembles the broken sweep-hand clock that’s correct twice daily.

  3. David Diano

    1) you’re missing the point

    2) yes, if any of those dollars are spent on political campaigns

    3) see #1

    4) this is a stupid answer. I’m sure union members would like their dues subsidized by taxpayers as well. Should we also do that if they ask nicely?

    5) if the end of taxpayer assisted dues collection “busts” the union, then call it whatever you like.

  4. You neglected to mention the $13,000,000,000. Pennsylvania’s property owners spent on public schools in 2013 – in light of the fact that as early as 2002, The alternative, as spearheaded by not enough legislators, called for eliminating the school property tax, widening the state sales tax base and dedicating a 4% state sales tax to fund schools. ………. Today, a sales tax lower than NJ and NY, at .06 still leaves room to raise it .01 and add about $13./wk PIT (state income tax) to a $1,000./wk wage earner’s current PIT, and still fund all schools without a school property tax. …. Today’s Solution IS simple, despite what the Democratic and Republican party committees are telling candidates to repeat. … The solution is the Property Tax Independence Act (SB/HB76). Learn all about it via http://www.ptcc.us

  5. Since most homeowners opt to allow their mortgage company(s) to charge them up to $960./yr in processing fees while including their average $300./month property taxes in the monthly mortgage payment, most homeowners are NOT aware that they could be saving $300./month + the processing fee IF ONLY they joined the crusade to get The Property Tax Independence Act passed!!

  6. Juice-
    1) A new sheet of paper is not being generated, nor is a separate check. This is all handled by electronic transfer.

    2) Insurance payments are handled this way too. Are you complaining that a tax-payer resource is being used for private insurance businesses?

    3) The state treasure reported that the total annual cost was about $100. The union will gladly pay that amount.

    4) The union members are taxpayers too, and want this service.

    5) Stop pretending that his is anything other than union-busting.

  7. Congratulations to all of the leaders that were elected yesterday. This is a positive move in the right direction. I only wish it would have happened 4 years ago.

  8. Pileggi spent a ton of money on electing Tom McGarrigle in one of the most negative and disgusting campaigns in recent memory. It seems that was for naught, unless Pileggi and McGarrigle can deliver three of their buddies to vote with 20 Dems and Lt. Governor Stack to advance a meaningful and sensible legislative agenda in the Senate.

  9. David,
    What does a sheet of paper cost? Also negligible? If so, should a member of the legislature be allowed to print a flyer for their upcoming campaign event on general assembly printing equipment?

    My point is that it isn’t the cost that is being debated, it is the principal of taxpayer resources being used to support political campaigns that not all taxpayers support. It needs to stop.

  10. The conservative agenda to privatize everything is the problem. They tried selling off the state lottery. They want to privatize education, which sucks education dollars into corporate (or private) profits, and hurts needed public education.
    The “Union Payrolls subsidized by taxpayers” is another canard designed to undermine unions. The cost of doing payroll and handling dues is negligible. Deductions for insurance, a taxes, etc. are all handled automatically by the programs. Union dues are no different.

    What is the alleged “taxpayer cost” of the union deductions? I doubt it could be more than a penny per paycheck. More likely a 1/10th of a cent. If so, charge the penny every month and make it taxpayer neutral, if that’s the “real” reason for objecting to the deductions.

    Wolf will never go along with something like that. I think the biggest expense in his administration is going to be ink for his veto pen.

  11. Congratulations to all the newly elected conservative Senators and to those conservatives holding their seats as Senators. How great it is to hear we have finally seen the last of Pileggi as Senate Majority leader. In my opinion, Corbetts’ loss had a lot to do with Pileggi not advancing Corbetts’ proposals. What a shame! I pray we will see aggressive action to deal with issues not passed as, defeat of Union Payrolls subsidized by taxpayers, privatization of liquor stores, and Retirement reform. Looking for a bright light in this democratic voter state by addition of new members.

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