Astonishing Development in Harrisburg – I Was Shocked!!
There are few developments in politics that can shock me. But what happened yesterday in Harrisburg was something I have never seen before. And it may never happen again.
John Perzel, the crafty Republican Pa. House Speaker, had arranged to be elected again as Speaker with the help of a Democratic lawmaker from Berks County. This would have allowed Perzel to remain Speaker, even though his party no longer had the majority.
And then came the stinger. Pa. House Democratic Leader Bill DeWeese proposed another Republican, State Representative Dennis O’Brien of Philadelphia as a nominee for Speaker, O’Brien was then elected Speaker of the House, derailing Perzel and taking over the powerful position.
What an amazing development, engineered by the Democratic leader DeWeese, and upsetting all the rules of party politics in Pennsylvania.
DeWeese, destined to be speaker until Perzel made the deal with a lone Democrat, remains the leader of his party with a Republican speaker. It was Perzel, trying to outmanuever DeWeese, who got blindsided.
Who is Dennis O’Brien? I’ve known O’Brien for the 30 years he has been in Harrisburg, representing Northeast Philadelphia. Affable, and and a really hard worker, O’Brien fights hard for worker issues, works well with both parties, and is extremely sensitive to issues of the disabled. He will be a powerful Speaker who can work both sides of the aisle.
But one thing has been accomplished with this dramatic move. Republican unity in the Pa. legislature has been shattered.
Dennis O’Brien will almost surely switch parties, which will give Democrats a larger majority. Bill DeWeese will remain a powerful lawmaker, who has proven that he too can play the game.
It will be a fractious, divisive, and unpredictable two years as the Republicans try to heal their wounds, and the Democrats have their way for the first time in 12 years.
