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Pennsylvania House of Representatives

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Pennsylvania House of Representatives


General Information
Type:   Lower house
Term limits:   None
2012 session start:   January 3, 2012
Website:   Official House Page
Leadership
House Speaker:  Samuel Smith, (R)
Majority Leader:   Mike Turzai, (R)
Minority leader:   Frank Dermody, (D)
Structure
Members:  203
   Democratic Party (86)
Republican Party (110)
Vacant (1)
Length of term:   2 years
Authority:   Art II, Pennsylvania Constitution
Salary:   $78,314.66/year + per diem
Elections
Last Election:  November 2, 2010 (203 seats)
Next election:  November 6, 2012 (203 seats)
Redistricting:  Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission

Contents

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the Pennsylvania Legislature. There are 203 members elected to a two-year term, in November of the even numbered years. Each member represents an average of 62,573 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented approximately 60,498 residents.[2] The House convenes at the State Capitol in Harrisburg and each session begins on the first Tuesday on each January and each session ends on the discretion of the leadership of the House as each session end varies. The Governor at any time can call a special session. [3]

Sessions

Article II of the Pennsylvania Constitution establishes when the Pennsylvania General Assembly, of which the House of Representatives is a part, is to meet. Section 4 of Article II states that the General Assembly is to convene its regular session on the first Tuesday of January each year.

Section 4 gives the Governor of Pennsylvania the authority to convene special sessions of the General Assembly either when he judges a special session to be in the public interest, or when a majority of each legislative House requests a special session.

2012

See also: Dates of 2012 state legislative sessions

In 2012, the House will be in session from January 3 through a date to be determined by the General Assembly.

Major issues

Fiscal issues will headline the agenda, including a $750 million budget shortfall. Other issues include fees for natural gas drilling and regulations for small games of chance.[4]

2011

See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions

In 2011, the House will be in session from January 4 through a date to be determined by the General Assembly. [5]

2010

See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions

In 2010, the House convened its legislative session on January 5, and it remained in session throughout the year.[6]

Elections

2012

See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Pennsylvania House of Representatives will be held in Pennsylvania on November 6, 2012. All 203 seats will be up for election.

2010

See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Pennsylvania's House of Representatives were held in Pennsylvania on November 2, 2010. House elections were held in all 203 districts.

The signature-filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was March 9, 2010. The primary election day was May 18, 2010.

In 2010, the candidates for state house raised a total of $35,488,143 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [7]

Donor Amount
House Democratic Campaign Cmte of Pennsylvania $1,573,572
Pennsylvania Democratic Party $1,495,172
House Republican Campaign Cmte of Pennsylvania $1,413,690
Pennsylvania Republican Party $1,162,537
Republican Party of Pennsylvania $1,050,084
Pennsylvania Education Association $650,835
Pennsylvania Association for Justice $581,025
Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association $427,000
Citizens to Elect Dwight Evans for State Representative $352,500
Laborers District Council $348,300

Qualifications

Under Article II of the Pennsylvania Constitution, Senators shall be at least twenty-five years of age and Representatives twenty-one years of age. They shall have been citizens and inhabitants of their respective districts one year next before their election (unless absent on the public business of the United States or of this State) and shall reside in their respective districts during their terms of service.

Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures
How Vacancies are filled in State Legislatures
NevadaMassachusettsColoradoNew MexicoWyomingArizonaMontanaCaliforniaOregonWashingtonIdahoTexasOklahomaKansasNebraskaSouth DakotaNorth DakotaMinnesotaIowaMissouriArkansasLouisianaMississippiAlabamaGeorgiaFloridaSouth CarolinaIllinoisWisconsinTennesseeNorth CarolinaIndianaOhioKentuckyPennsylvaniaNew JerseyNew YorkVermontVermontNew HampshireMaineWest VirginiaVirginiaMarylandMarylandConnecticutConnecticutDelawareDelawareRhode IslandRhode IslandMassachusettsNew HampshireMichiganMichiganAlaska

If there is a vacancy in the House, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The Speaker of the House is responsible for calling an election. There are no deadlines set in the state constitution on when a special election can be held[8].

Representatives

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state houses
Party As of May 2012
     Democratic Party 91
     Republican Party 111
     Vacancy 1
Total 203


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries

As of 2011, members of the Pennsylvania Legislature are paid $79,613/year during legislative sessions. Per diem is tied to the federal rate.[9]

The $79,613/year that Pennsylvania legislators are paid as of 2011 is an increase over the $78,314.66/year they were paid during legislative sessions in 2010 and $73,613/year in 2007. Per diem has increased from $129/day in 2007 to $154 GSA method and $163 High/Low Method in 2010, but is tied to the federal rate in 2011.[10][11]

When sworn in

See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

Pennsylvania legislators assume office in January.

Leadership

The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the body. [12]

Current leadership

Position Representative Party
State Speaker of the House Samuel Smith Republican
State House Majority Floor Leader Mike Turzai Republican
State House Majority Whip Stanley Saylor Republican
State House Majority Caucus Leader Sandra Major Republican
State House Majority Caucus Secretary Mike Vereb Republican
State House Minority Floor Leader Frank Dermody Democratic
State House Minority Whip Michael Hanna, Sr. Democratic
State House Minority Caucus Leader Dan Frankel Democratic
State House Minority Caucus Secretary Jennifer Mann Democratic

Current members

District Representative Party Residence
1 Patrick Harkins Democratic Erie
2 Florindo Fabrizio Democratic Erie
3 John Hornaman Democratic Millcreek Township
4 Curtis Sonney Republican Harborcreek Township
5 John Evans Republican Washington Township
6 Bradley Roae Republican East Mead Township
7 Mark Longietti Democratic Sharpsville
8 Richard Stevenson Republican Grove City
9 Chris Sainato Democratic New Castle
10 Jaret Gibbons Democratic Ellwood City
11 Brian Ellis Republican Meridian
12 Daryl Metcalfe Republican Cranberry Township
13 John Lawrence Republican London Grove Township
14 Jim Marshall Republican Beaver Falls
15 Jim Christiana Republican Beaver
16 Robert Matzie Democratic Ambridge
17 Michele Brooks Republican Jamestown
18 Gene DiGirolamo Republican Bensalem
19 Jake Wheatley, Jr. Democratic Pittsburgh
20 Adam Ravenstahl Democratic Perry North
21 Dominic Costa Democratic Pittsburgh
22 Martin Schmotzer Democratic Pittsburgh
23 Dan Frankel Democratic Pittsburgh
24 Joseph Preston, Jr. Democratic Pittsburgh
25 Joseph Markosek Democratic Monroeville
26 Timothy Hennessey Republican Pottstown
27 Daniel Deasy, Jr. Democratic Pittsburgh
28 Mike Turzai Republican Bradfordwoods
29 Bernard O'Neill Republican Warminster
30 Randy Vulakovich Republican Shaler Township
31 Steve Santarsiero Democratic Lower Makefield Township
32 Anthony DeLuca Democratic Verona
33 Frank Dermody Democratic Oakmont
34 Paul Costa Democratic Pittsburgh
35 Marc Gergely Democratic White Oak
36 Harry Readshaw, III Democratic Pittsburgh
37 Thomas Creighton Republican Rapho Township
38 William Kortz, II Democratic Dravosburg
39 Rick Saccone Republican Elizabeth
40 John Maher Republican Upper St. Clair
41 Ryan Aument Republican Lancaster
42 Matthew Smith Democratic Mt. Lebanon
43 Scott Boyd Republican West Lampeter Township
44 T. Mark Mustio Republican Moon Township
45 Nick Kotik Democratic Robinson Township
46 Jesse White Democratic Cecil Township
47 Keith Gillespie Republican York
48 Brandon Neuman Democratic Canonsburg
49 Peter Daley, II Democratic Donora
50 Vacant Waynesburg
51 Tim Mahoney Democratic Uniontown
52 Deberah Kula Democratic North Union Township
53 Robert Godshall Republican Franconia Township
54 Eli Evankovich Republican New Kensington
55 Joseph Petrarca Democratic Vandergrift
56 George Dunbar Republican North Huntingdon Township
57 Tim Krieger Republican Delmont
58 R. Ted Harhai Democratic Monessen
59 Mike Reese Republican Mount Pleasant Township
60 Jeffrey Pyle Republican Ford City
61 Catherine Harper Republican Lower Gwynedd Township
62 Dave Reed Republican Indiana
63 Donna Oberlander Republican Clarion
64 Scott Hutchinson Republican Oil City
65 Kathy Rapp Republican Warren
66 Samuel Smith Republican Punxsutawney
67 Martin Causer Republican Port Allegany
68 Matthew Baker Republican Wellsboro
69 Carl Metzgar Republican Berlin
70 Matthew Bradford Democratic Worcester Township
71 Bryan Barbin Democratic Johnstown
72 Frank Burns Democratic East Taylor Township
73 Gary Haluska Democratic Patton
74 Camille George Democratic Houtzdale
75 Matt Gabler Republican DuBois
76 Michael Hanna, Sr. Democratic Lock Haven
77 H. Scott Conklin Democratic Rush Township
78 Dick Hess Republican Bedford
79 Richard Geist Republican Altoona
80 Jerry Stern Republican Martinsburg
81 Michael Fleck Republican Three Springs
82 C. Adam Harris Republican Mifflintown
83 Richard Mirabito Democratic Williamsport
84 Garth Everett Republican Muncy
85 Fred Keller Republican Lewisburg
86 Mark Keller Republican New Bloomfield
87 Glen Grell Republican Hampden Township
88 Sheryl Delozier Republican Lower Allen Township
89 Rob Kauffman Republican Chambersburg
90 Todd Rock Republican Mont Alto
91 Dan Moul Republican Conewago Township
92 Scott Perry Republican Carroll Township
93 Ronald Miller Republican Jacobus
94 Stanley Saylor Republican Red Lion
95 Eugene DePasquale Democratic West Manchester Township
96 P. Michael Sturla Democratic Lancaster
97 John Bear Republican Lancaster
98 David Hickernell Republican West Donegal Township
99 Gordon Denlinger Republican Ephrata
100 Bryan Cutler Republican Quarryville
101 Mauree Gingrich Republican Palmyra
102 RoseMarie Swanger Republican North Lebanon Township
103 Ronald Buxton Democratic Harrisburg
104 Susan Helm Republican Susquehanna Township
105 Ronald Marsico Republican Harrisburg
106 John Payne Republican Hummelstown
107 Kurt Masser Republican Mount Carmel
108 Lynda Schlegel-Culver Republican Upper Augusta Township
109 David Millard Republican Berwick
110 Tina Pickett Republican Towanda
111 Sandra Major Republican Montrose
112 Ken Smith Democratic Dunmore
113 Kevin Murphy Democratic Scranton
114 Sid Kavulich Democratic Old Forge
115 Edward Staback Democratic Olyphant
116 Tarah Toohil Republican Butler Township
117 Karen Boback Republican Harveys Lake
118 Mike Carroll Democratic Avoca
119 Gerald Mullery Democratic Nanticoke
120 Phyllis Mundy Democratic Kingston
121 Eddie Day Pashinski Democratic Wilkes Barre
122 Doyle Heffley Republican Summit Hill
123 Neal Goodman Democratic Mahanoy City
124 Jerry Knowles Republican Tamaqua
125 Mike Tobash Republican Wayne Township
126 Dante Santoni, Jr. Democratic Reading
127 Thomas Caltagirone Democratic Reading
128 Mark Gillen Republican Reading
129 Jim Cox Republican Sinking Spring
130 David Maloney Republican Boyertown
131 Justin Simmons Republican Lower Saucon Township
132 Jennifer Mann Democratic Allentown
133 Joseph Brennan Democratic Fountain Hill
134 Ryan Mackenzie Republican Allentown
135 Steve Samuelson Democratic Bethlehem
136 Robert Freeman Democratic Easton
137 Joe Emrick Republican Nazareth
138 Marcia Hahn Republican Nazareth
139 Michael Peifer Republican Honesdale
140 John Galloway Democratic Bristol
141 Tina Davis Democratic Levittown
142 Frank Farry Republican Langhorne
143 Marguerite Quinn Republican Doylestown
144 Katherine Watson Republican Warminster
145 Paul Clymer Republican Sellersville
146 Thomas Quigley Republican Pottstown
147 Marcy Toepel Republican Douglass Township (Mont.)
148 Michael Gerber Democratic Conshohocken
149 Tim Briggs Democratic Upper Merion Township
150 Mike Vereb Republican West Norriton Township
151 Todd Stephens Republican Ambler
152 Thomas Murt Republican Hatboro
153 Madeleine Dean Democratic Abington Township
154 Lawrence Curry Democratic Jenkintown
155 Curt Schroder Republican East Brandywine Township
156 Dan Truitt Republican West Chester
157 Warren Kampf Republican Tredyffrin Township
158 Chris Ross Republican Kennett Square
159 Thaddeus Kirkland Democratic Chester
160 Stephen Barrar Republican Aston
161 Joe Hackett Republican Swarthmore
162 Nick Miccarelli Republican Ridley Park
163 Nicholas Micozzie Republican Upper Darby Township
164 Margo Davidson Democratic Upper Darby Township
165 William Adolph, Jr. Republican Springfield
166 Gregory Vitali Democratic Havertown
167 Duane Milne Republican West Chester
168 Thomas Killion Republican Newtown Square
169 Edward Neilson Democratic Philadelphia
170 Brendan Boyle Democratic Philadelphia
171 Kerry Benninghoff Republican Bellefonte
172 Kevin Boyle Democratic Philadelphia
173 Michael McGeehan Democratic Philadelphia
174 John Sabatina, Jr. Democratic Philadelphia
175 Michael O'Brien Democratic Philadelphia
176 Mario Scavello Republican Mount Pocono
177 John Taylor Republican Philadelphia
178 Scott Petri Republican New Hope
179 Tony Payton, Jr. Democratic Philadelphia
180 Angel Cruz Democratic Philadelphia
181 W. Curtis Thomas Democratic Philadelphia
182 Babette Josephs Democratic Philadelphia
183 Julie Harhart Republican North Catasauqua
184 William Keller Democratic Philadelphia
185 Maria Donatucci Democratic Philadelphia
186 Harold James Democratic Philadelphia
187 Gary Day Republican Heidelberg Township
188 James Roebuck, Jr. Democratic Philadelphia
189 Rosemary Brown Republican Smithfield Township
190 Vanessa Lowery Brown Democratic Philadelphia
191 Ronald Waters Democratic Philadelphia
192 Louise Williams Bishop Democratic Philadelphia
193 Will Tallman Republican Reading Township
194 Pamela Delissio Democratic Philadelphia
195 Michelle Brownlee Democratic Philadelphia
196 Seth Grove Republican Dover Township
197 Gary Williams Democratic Philadelphia
198 Rosita Youngblood Democratic Philadelphia
199 Stephen Bloom Republican Carlisle
200 Cherelle Parker Democratic Philadelphia
201 John Myers Democratic Philadelphia
202 Mark Cohen Democratic Philadelphia
203 Dwight Evans Democratic Philadelphia

Standing committees

Pennsylvania
House of Representatives
House Committees

Aging & Older Adult Services
Agriculture & Rural Affairs • Appropriations
Children & Youth • Commerce • Committee On Committees
Committee On Ethics • Consumer Affairs
Education • Environmental Resources & Energy
Finance • Game & Fisheries • Gaming Oversight
Health & Human Services • Insurance
Judiciary • Labor Relations
Liquor Control • Local Government
Professional Licensure • Rules • State Government
Tourism & Recreational • Transportation • Urban Affairs
Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness

Joint Committees
Senate Committees

The Pennsylvania House has 27 standing committees:

Decommissioned Committees

External links

References

  1. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  2. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  3. ↑ "Pennsylvania House of Representatives" About the Senate, March 13, 2009
  4. ↑ Herald-Mail, "New legislative session brings old challenges in Pa.," January 4, 2012
  5. ↑ 2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar, NCSL
  6. ↑ 2010 session dates for Pennsylvania legislature
  7. ↑ Follow the Money: "Pennsylvania House 2010 Campaign Contributions"
  8. ↑ State of Pennsylvania "Pennsylvania Constitution"(Referenced Section, Article II, Section 2)
  9. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislator Compensation Data"
  10. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
  11. ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
  12. ↑ Pennsylvania House Leadership
v • d • e
Republican majority Current members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
House Speaker: Samuel Smith (R) • House Majority Leader: Mike Turzai (R) • House Minority Leader: Frank Dermody (D)
   
  1. Patrick Harkins (D)
  2. Florindo Fabrizio (D)
  3. John Hornaman (D)
  4. Curtis Sonney (R)
  5. John Evans (R)
  6. Bradley Roae (R)
  7. Mark Longietti (D)
  8. Richard Stevenson (R)
  9. Chris Sainato (D)
  10. Jaret Gibbons (D)
  11. Brian Ellis (R)
  12. Daryl Metcalfe (R)
  13. John Lawrence (R)
  14. Jim Marshall (R)
  15. Jim Christiana (R)
  16. Robert Matzie (D)
  17. Michele Brooks (R)
  18. Gene DiGirolamo (R)
  19. Jake Wheatley, Jr. (D)
  20. Adam Ravenstahl (R)
  21. Dominic Costa (D)
  22. Martin Schmotzer (D)
  23. Dan Frankel (D)
  24. Joseph Preston, Jr. (D)
  25. Joseph Markosek (D)
  26. Timothy Hennessey (R)
  27. Daniel Deasy, Jr. (D)
  28. Mike Turzai (R)
  29. Bernard O'Neill (R)
  30. Randy Vulakovich (R)
  31. Steve Santarsiero (D)
  32. Anthony DeLuca (D)
  33. Frank Dermody (D)
  34. Paul Costa (D)
  35. Marc Gergely (D)
  36. Harry Readshaw, III (D)
  37. Thomas Creighton (R)
  38. William Kortz, II (D)
  39. Rick Saccone (R)
  40. John Maher (R)
  1. Nicholas Micozzie (R)
  2. Maria Donatucci (D)
  3. William Adolph, Jr. (R)
  4. Gregory Vitali (D)
  5. Duane Milne (R)
  6. Thomas Killion (R)
  7. Edward Neilson (D)
  8. Brendan Boyle (D)
  9. Kerry Benninghoff (R)
  10. Kevin Boyle (D)
  11. Michael McGeehan (D)
  12. John Sabatina, Jr. (D)
  13. Michael O'Brien (D)
  14. Mario Scavello (R)
  15. John Taylor (R)
  16. Scott Petri (R)
  17. Tony Payton, Jr. (D)
  18. Angel Cruz (D)
  19. W. Curtis Thomas (D)
  20. Babette Josephs (D)
  21. Julie Harhart (R)
  22. William Keller (D)
  23. Maria Donatucci (D)
  24. Harold James (D)
  25. Gary Day (R)
  26. James Roebuck, Jr. (D)
  27. Rosemary Brown (R)
  28. Vanessa Brown (D)
  29. Ronald Waters (D)
  30. Louise Williams Bishop (D)
  31. Will Tallman (R)
  32. Pamela Delissio (D)
  33. Michelle Brownlee (D)
  34. Seth Grove (R)
  35. Gary Williams (D)
  36. Rosita Youngblood (D)
  37. Stephen Bloom (R)
  38. Cherelle Parker (D)
  39. John Myers (D)
  40. Mark Cohen (D)
  41. Dwight Evans (D)


Democratic (91) • Republican (111) • Vacancy (1) • Pennsylvania House of Representatives • Pennsylvania State Senate
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