PA General Assemby: Senate Republicans announce committee chairs

On behalf of the Senate Republican Caucus, President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson) announced the Republican standing committee chairs for the 2015-2016 session.

Notable changes from last session include a switch in State Government and Education Committee chairs with Sen. Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster) taking over the Education Committee for Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon), who will helm the State Government Committee where Sen. Smucker was chairman last session.

Former Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware) will find his home as chairman of the Senate Local Government Committee taking over for Sen. John Eichelberger (R-Blair) who replaces the retiring Sen. Mike Brubaker (R-Lancaster) as chair of Senate Finance.

Freshman senators and former House members Michele Brooks (R-Mercer), Mario Scavello (R-Monroe), and Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster) all received chairmanships.

Sen. Brooks will chair the Aging and Youth Committee, Sen. Scavello will chair the Game and Fisheries Committee, and Sen. Aument will chair the Intergovernmental Operations Committee.

The other three freshman senators—Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington), Thomas McGarrigle (R-Delaware), and Pat Stefano (R-Fayette) did not receive chairmanships.

The full list follows:

Aging & Youth – Senator Michele Brooks (R-Mercer)

·         Agriculture & Rural Affairs – Senator Elder Vogel (R-Beaver)

·         Appropriations – Senator Pat Browne (R-Lehigh)

·         Banking & Insurance – Senator Don White (R-Indiana)

·         Communications & Technology – Senator Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango)

·         CERD – Senator Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland)

·         Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure – Senator Robert Tomlinson (R-Bucks)

·         Education – Senator Lloyd Smucker (R-Lancaster)

·         Environmental Resources & Energy – Senator Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming)

·         Finance – Senator John Eichelberger (R-Blair)

·         Game & Fisheries – Senator Mario Scavello (R-Monroe)

·         Intergovernmental Operations – Senator Ryan Aument (R-Lancaster)

·         Judiciary – Senator Stewart Greenleaf (R-Montgomery)

·         Labor & Industry – Senator Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne)

·         Law & Justice – Senator Charles McIlhinney (R-Bucks)

·         Local Government – Senator Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware)

·         Public Health & Welfare – Senator Patricia Vance (R-Cumberland)

·         Rules & Executive Nominations – Senator Jake Corman (R-Centre)

·         State Government – Senator Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon)

·         Transportation – Senator John Rafferty (R-Montgomery)

·         Urban Affairs & Housing – Senator Scott Wagner (R-York)

·         Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness – Senator Randy Vulakovich (R-Allegheny)

Source: The PLS Reporter