Legislative Forecast for Medicine in 2011

This month’s Republican sweep of Pennsylvania’s governorship and House of Representatives is significant for a couple reasons.

In next year’s legislative session, there will be little impediment to enactment of legislation favored by the Republicans. We are likely to see a significant reduction in state spending, which would be necessary in any case due to an anticipated $5 billion state budget deficit next June.

Another reason the Republican rout is important is that it will allow the Republicans to redraw the lines of the state’s congressional districts next year without meaningful input from the Democrats. The congressional districts are realigned every 10 years, when the results of the latest census become available.

House Democrats not only lost the majority, but they also lost their top two leaders. House Speaker Keith McCall retired voluntarily and the Republicans won his seat, one of their many pick-ups.

The bigger news was that House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, of Hazleton, was soundly defeated by Republican Tarah Toohil, a political newcomer.

On the Republican side, former House Minority Leader Sam Smith (R-Jefferson) has become the new speaker, and former Whip Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) is the new majority leader. On Nov. 17, House Democrats selected Rep. Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) as minority caucus leader; Rep. Mike Hanna (D-Clinton) as the new caucus whip.

Although the new members' terms technically start on Dec. 1, the changes will have little practical effect until Jan. 4 when the new members formally take the oath of office. Gov. Rendell will be around until Jan. 18, when Tom Corbett is sworn in as his replacement.

While little friction is anticipated in the incoming all-Republican government, it will be interesting to watch the dynamics between the largely conservative House Republicans and the more moderate Senate Republicans.

Based on his campaign platform, governor-elect Corbett is expected to be a fiscal conservative.

On Nov. 17, House Democrats selected Rep. Frank Dermody (D-Allegheny) as minority caucus leader; Rep. Mike Hanna (D-Clinton) as the new caucus whip.