Has the residency dispute been resolved for Lindsey Williams?
Today, state Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) released a statement vouching for the Democrat state Senator-elect Lindsey Williams be seated in the 38th district.
Senate Pres Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati says he’ll recommend new Dem Senator Lindsey Williams SHOULD be seated Jan 1. He previously requested Williams prove she met residency requirements. The decision comes as hundreds rally in her favor across PA. pic.twitter.com/fczHrxZKPG
— Katie Meyer (@katieemeyer4) December 28, 2018
Williams won by a razor thin margin over Republican Jeremy Shaffer to flip the GOP held seat in Western PA, but the issue of her residency has been at the forefront of headlines leading into the January 1 swearing-in day.
Republicans in the state legislature have questioned whether or not Williams met the constitutional requirements that state Senators be Pennsylvania residents for four years prior to the date of their election.
Scarnati’s letter indicates that the 100 pages of material submitted from Williams were “truthful” about the time of her move back to the district in 2014, but the statement does note that the “issue could be revisited on the Senate floor if other documents are obtained that show conflicting information.”
Earlier today, a number of demonstrators and Democratic elected officials gathered inside the Allegheny County Courthouse calling on their Republican counterparts to seat Williams on January 1.
Republicans in Pennsylvania are mulling whether or not to seat Democratic senator-elect Lindsey Williams (over a residency dispute.) She spoke about it at a #SeatLindsey rally today in Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/GNYyDR7s4T
— Julian Routh (@julianrouth) December 28, 2018
In a release, Williams thanked Scarnati and the Senate GOP for their review of the issue and said she appreciates their “professionalism and efficiency.”
INBOX: Release from Lindsey Williams. #WTAE pic.twitter.com/UmWBzbQPlr
— David Kaplan (@DKaplanWTAE) December 28, 2018
This story was updated with comment from Williams.
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11 Responses
I am womans hear me roar
Damn it, she shouldnts have been seated because I waas to run for this seat then
Scarnati wimped our. It is so clear that Williams is not constitutionally elidgible. The law is the law. Ds are relentless and Rs like Scarnati simp our and back down. Good grief. Scarnati should just go run his candy company already.
Do you understand the English language because you certainly don’t type like you do.
We need to govern. The election is over. Senator Williams has provided tax records, emails and all kinds of documentation to verify her residency. Come on, let’s be real–if you are being straightforward you can see Senator Williams proved her residency. Case closed. I have to acknowledge that Sen Scarnati did the right thing and allowed government to go forward. Let’s have the necessary political battles but not over something that has clearly been resolved.
That’s good is to have Lindsey Williams is to be seated in the State Senate and their will be a another Female Democrat will be taking Guy Reschenthaler’s State Senate Seat in 2019.
That is good that I will be the Female Democrat to be taking Guy Reschenthaler’s State Senate Seat in 2019
SCARNATI IS A CLASS ACT AND A GENTLEMEN, PLAIN AND SIMPLE. HOPEFULLY SOMEONE WILL BRING EVIDENCE TO THE FLOOR SHOWING SHE WAS NOT A RESIDENT OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR 4 YEARS.
Calling Scarnati a “class act” is an oxymoron. He is a protector of pedophiles among other things.
there is no dispute about residency, just sour grapes about a close election.
I think Scarnati wants the rule to be that Lindsey can vote, as long as she’s not the deciding vote on anything. 🙂