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What We’re Hearing
“The commonwealth that is home to independence will now be home to the commonwealth’s first independent speaker.” – Mark Rozzi

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Top Story

1. Rozzi Named Speaker Of PA House

“Berks County Rep. Mark Rozzi was elected Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon.

Rozzi defeated Carl Metzgar (R-Somerset), 115-85, in a floor vote, as he received all 99 Democratic votes and 16 from the other side of the aisle, including GOP leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster).

He then stunned the chamber during his acceptance comments, renouncing his membership in the Democratic party to become an independent.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Rozzi, A Democrat-Turned-Independent, Is Now Speaker Of PA House After A Surprise Vote. “Democrats and more than a dozen Republicans threw their support behind a consensus candidate for speaker of the Pennsylvania House on Tuesday, a surprise move some lawmakers said would help bring unity to the state capital.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• The New PA House Speaker Was A Surprise. Here’s What Happened. (Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Local State House Members Surprised By Democrat’s Ascension To Speaker. (Times-Tribune)

State House Shocker: Rozzi To Lead Chamber. “It was anyone’s guess who would emerge as speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives amid an unprecedented struggle for control of the chamber, but as the dust settled on Tuesday, it was state Rep. Mark Rozzi who unexpectedly became the last man standing, making history in the process.” (City & State) 

Democrats And A Handful Of Republicans Picked The PA House’s New Speaker. “Pennsylvania House Democrats and a handful of Republicans joined together Tuesday to pick the chamber’s new speaker — but not the person most expected.” (Spotlight PA)

PA House Has A Speaker Elected But A Majority That Is Still Undecided. “Four hours after his unexpected election as Pennsylvania’s next speaker of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Rep. Mark Rozzi said it was too early for him to make any grand pronouncements about his plans.” (PennLive)

• PA House Elects Berks County Rep Mark Rozzi As An Independent Speaker. (PennLive)
• Rozzi Becomes PA House Speaker, Vows To Become Independent And Fight ‘Back Room Dealmaking.’ (Morning Call)

Harrisburg

2. Kim Ward Elected President Pro Tempore Of PA Senate

“Interim no more.

Sen. Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland) was unanimously elected as President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate on Tuesday.

She becomes the first woman to be elected to the top position in the chamber, after breaking barriers as the first female to be named to the spot on an interim basis.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Kim Ward Takes Over As First Female President Of PA Senate. “Sen. Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland County, was elected President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate Tuesday, in a proceeding that – while history-making – also went entirely according to script.” (PennLive)

Ward Begins Brief Lt. Governor Term As Fetterman Goes. “Kim Ward, Pennsylvania’s ranking state senator, ascended to the job of state lieutenant governor on Tuesday after Democrat John Fetterman resigned minutes before he was sworn in to office as the state’s newest U.S. senator.” (Associated Press)

Special Elections Will Be Decisive In Battle For Long-Term Control Of PA State House. Where Do They Stand? “They’re trying to elect a speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Tuesday, but the real answer to the battle for majority control of the state House could be little more than a month away.” (PennLive)

12 State Lawmakers To Watch In 2023. “Following this mix of rising stars and veteran legislators in Austin, Texas, Lansing, Mich., Harrisburg, Pa., and other capitals is key to understanding the issues that will frame the lives of millions of Americans — and feed a burgeoning 2024 campaign cycle.” (POLITICO)

‘Much More Moderate’: A Look At What The PA House GOP Has On The Menu For Early 2023. “A Commonwealth Court judge may decide in the coming days whether — and, to some extent, how long — Republicans in the Pennsylvania House will retain their technical majority. In the meantime, House Republican leader and state Rep. Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) is preparing a slate of priorities that he claims could pass bipartisan muster early this year.” (Bucks County Courier Times)

Around The Commonwealth

3. Fetterman Sworn In As Junior Senator

“John Fetterman, the former mayor of Braddock and lieutenant governor of the Commonwealth, was sworn in today as the junior United States senator from Pennsylvania.

He becomes the 54th U.S. Senator in the history of the Commonwealth and gives Pennsylvania two Democratic-elected senators for the first time since Joe Guffey and Francis Myers held the seats in 1945-47.” (PoliticsPA)

Related

Fetterman Takes Oath As Pennsylvania’s 54th Senator. “John Fetterman took the oath of office Tuesday to become the 54th U.S. senator in Pennsylvania history, giving the state two senators elected as Democrats for the first time since the 1940s.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Looking Back At Toomey’s Time As U.S. Senator. “When Sen. Pat Toomey left office Tuesday, he left behind a complex and consequential legacy.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

Perry Emerges As Key Voice Against McCarthy’s Speaker Bid. “Rep. Scott Perry emerged as a leading roadblock Tuesday preventing Kevin McCarthy from his path to becoming House speaker, throwing deep uncertainty over the GOP’s first day back in charge of the House, and its prospects for governing going forward.” (Philadelphia Inquirer)

• Perry, U.S. House Conservatives Tank McCarthy’s Bid To Be Speaker On Multiple Ballots. (Pennsylvania Capital-Star)

States Binge On Booze. “Lobbyists for eased alcohol regulation, including those representing restaurants and delivery services like online liquor store Drizly, are targeting state lawmakers in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, among other places, to revive pandemic-era alcohol rules permitting alcohol-to-go that have expired.” (POLITICO)

Is Former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter Running Again? “Sources close to former Mayor Michael Nutter have confirmed to WHYY News that he’s been asked to consider running for a third term as mayor.” (WHYY)

Former Mayoral Aide Joanna Doven To Challenge Hallam In County Council Race. “In a year that doesn’t lack for big races up and down the ballot locally, Pittsburgh-area Democrats may have a spirited fight for their party’s “at-large” seat on Allegheny County Council.” (WESA)

Who’s Running In Allegheny County And Pittsburgh Elections In 2023? “The start of 2023 brings a new round of local elections to Pennsylvania, with primary elections set for May 16.” (Public Source)

Editorial

4. What They’re Saying

A glance around the Keystone State at editorials and opinions.

• Let Us Now Praise Tom Wolf, The Political Scientist Who Did Good. (Fletcher McClellan, Pennsylvania Capital-Star)
• Chester City Councilman: Compromise Is The Best Way Forward Through Bankruptcy. (Stefan Roots, Philadelphia Inquirer)
• Big Pharma’s Opioid Problem – And Their Friends On City Council. (Christine Flowers, Broad + Liberty)

1 Thing

5. PA’s Best Doughnut Maker

Oram’s Donut Shop has defended its crown as Pennsylvania’s best doughnut maker.

In a yearly ranking of “The Best Doughnuts in Every State,” published last week, Food & Wine magazine told its readers that Oram’s, at 1406 Seventh Ave., in Beaver Falls, and a doughnut shop in Philadelphia sell the tastiest doughnuts in the Keystone State.

“If you’ve ever had a cinnamon roll doughnut before ― which is exactly what it sounds like: two delicious things at once ― chances are you’ve never had one as epically gargantuan as the number one seller at Oram’s, in business since the 1930s. That and a selection of their classic cream-filled, with a schmear of frosting on top … they’re absolutely worth a drive, and from a lot farther than Pittsburgh.” (Beaver County Times)

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