By Kevin Zwick
Staff Reporter
Capitolwire
HARRISBURG (Nov. 10) – All three top leadership positions in the Senate will be contested Wednesday.
Sen. Lloyd Smucker, R-Lancaster, said Monday he will challenge Senate President Pro Tem Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, in Wednesday’s leadership election.
“Joe Scarnati has served as President Pro Tempore for eight years, and he has provided honest and energetic service during that time. But now he says we need to change direction, and he has hand-picked a leadership team to carry it out,” Smucker wrote in a letter to Senate GOP members. “What the caucus must decide, then, is whether we agree with this maneuver of presenting a leadership slate to us, or whether it is time for a fresh person to lead us.”
Smucker said in order to be more “member-driven, some of the power concentrated in the position of President Pro Tempore should be distributed.”
“Two individuals held the position for nearly thirty years,” he said. “That inevitably led to an accumulation of power. A range of decisions could be made with greater involvement on the part of members, and certain powers could be shared by an effectively operating leadership team.”
All three top positions are contested. Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, is fending off a challenge from Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Jake Corman, R-Centre. Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, who is running on a slate with Scarnati and Corman, will face Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne, to replace Corman for the Appropriations gavel.
Scarnati, in a letter to senators sent last week, said he has “tried to lead as President Pro Tempore over the past eight years in a manner that respected all members of the Senate as well as the Institution.
“The policy issues have been difficult, the political climate demanding, and the investigations trying. Nevertheless, every day I have attempted to listen to each of you and challenge all members in the Senate roles selected,” he said.
Smucker recently told fellow Senate Republicans Pileggi receives “substantial credit” for the current “strong and effective” leadership. Baker also has a close relationship with Pileggi.
The spot for Senate President Pro Tem is up for caucus nomination Wednesday. The full Senate votes on Pro Tem in January.
