(The Center Square) – Four new members swore oaths of office in the Pennsylvania Senate on Tuesday.
The occasion marks the opening day of the Legislature’s two-year session and is filled with ceremonial conventions, from certifying election results to approving operating rules.
Republicans, who maintained control of the chamber after the general election in November, welcomed Sens. Dawn Keefer and Joe Picozzi. The former ascended to the chamber from the state House and represents a district in Cumberland and York counties, just west of Harrisburg.
Picozzi, at 29 years old, is the state’s youngest senator and the first Republican elected in a Philadelphia district since 1996.
“I am profoundly honored to have been chosen by my neighbors to represent them in the state Senate,” he said on Monday. “I will work every day to deliver more resources for our first responders, improve quality of life and restore and secure our home. I am excited to fight with you for a brighter future for northeast Philadelphia.”
Across the aisle, Democratic Sens. Patty Kim and Nick Pisciottano officially made the leap from the state House. Kim’s new and old district comprises the city of Harrisburg and its suburbs, while Pisciottano takes over in a district that runs along the southeastern edge of Pittsburgh.
“It is an honor and privilege to serve the citizens in the 37 communities of the 45th Senatorial District,” Pisciottano said. “I will continue to pursue a broad agenda that is focused on families, job creation, economic development, education support and safety, and help for those in need.”
Leaders offered hope for bipartisanship in the years ahead, a familiar refrain that generally kicks off legislative sessions. Up for debate will be regulatory reform, expanding educational scholarships, cutting emissions from the power sector and addressing the worsening demographic crisis as the “silver tsunami” barrels toward the commonwealth.
“As we kick-off the new two-year legislative session, the Senate Republican Caucus will continue to remain accountable to the people of Pennsylvania by ensuring good, effective, and fiscally responsible legislation is passed,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Greensburg.
The challenges of the last session remain: a narrowly divided House that gives leverage to Democratic priorities and a simmering discontent between Ward and Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Despite the party leading the lower chamber and occupying the governor’s mansion, Senate Democrats will still find their six-seat deficit a struggle at times.
Case in point: a joint effort from Lindsey Williams and Katie Muth, Democrats from the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia regions, respectively, introduced rules to give the minority party more power to influence the voting calendar.
As it stands, the majority leader determines what bills make it through the voting process on the floor.
Among the proposals, the senators wanted to require action on bills with bipartisan support, sunshine the voting schedule at least 24 hours in advance and archive recordings of Rules Committee votes, among others. It’s the third time such rules have been offered.
Republicans referred the resolutions to the Rules Committee, where it will be up to the majority chairman to schedule consideration – meaning it’s unlikely it will ever happen.