Joe Scarnati
Joseph "Joe" B. Scarnati III (b. 1962) was a Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing District 25 from 2000 to 2020. Scarnati did not file to run for re-election in 2020.
Scarnati served as senate president pro tempore from 2007 to 2020.[1]
Scarnati served as the Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania from 2008 to 2011. Since Scarnati was president pro tempore of the Senate when his predecessor, Catherine Baker Knoll passed away, he was required to succeed her while holding his state senate office.
Biography
Scarnati earned his B.A. in business administration from Pennsylvania State University at DuBois in 1982.[2]
Committee assignments
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Scarnati served on the following committees:
Note: Scarnati serves as ex-officio member on all standing committees.
| Pennsylvania committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Joint State Government Commission |
2013-2014
In the 2013-2014 legislative session, Scarnati served on all Senate standing committees ex officio, as well as the Joint State Government Commission.
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Scarnati served on all Senate standing committees ex officio, as well as the Joint State Government Commission.
2009-2010
In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Scarnati served on all Senate standing committees ex officio.
Issues
Pension costs
In January 2014, after his re-election to head the State Senate, Scarnati talked about his focus on the state's pension costs. "The largest cost and growth in next year’s budget will be pension costs," Scarnati said. "To pay the bill will mean that we are forced to flat-fund or reduce fund many areas of the budget that have already been cut close to the bone." Scarnati also said that reducing pension debt will allow the state to spend more for primary education, higher education and social services.[3]
For the 2014-2015 fiscal year, Pennsylvania is expected to devote $2 billion to state public pensions, including the State Employees Retirement System (SERS) and the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS), an increase of nearly $600 million from the 2013-2014 budget and roughly $1 out of every $15 Pennsylvania plans to spend. The increase in pension costs generated several responses from Pennsylvania leaders. "The largest cost and growth in next year’s budget will be pension costs," Scarnati stated in December 2013. "To pay the bill will mean that we are forced to flat-fund or reduce-fund many areas of the budget that have already been cut close to the bone." State Representative John McGinnis said, "We in state government have had a shameful history since 2001 producing legislation that short-changes the funding of our public employee pensions...The mistake has always been to not pay the bill." The Corbett administration expressed interest in creating a hybrid pension system to potentially cut nearly $7 billion off the state's total pension bill.[4]
Liquor privatization
On March 5, 2013, Turzai introduced House Bill 790, and the bill was referred to the Liquor Control Committee.[5][6] This bill was the legislative form of Corbett's January 30, 2013, proposal to privatize the state-owned liquor stores and use the revenue to increasing funding for education. The governor's plan would see the state's liquor and wine stores auctioned off, while big box stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores would be able to sell limited quantities of beer and, in the case of big box stores and supermarkets, wine. Restaurants, already able to sell beer, would be able to sell customers up to six bottles of wine, while retail beer distributors could obtain licenses to sell beer, wine, and liquor, instead of only beer. The auctions and licensing fees would generate an estimated $1 billion over four years. Under Corbett's plan, these funds would be distributed to school districts using a formula based on their student enrollment and income level. The block grants would fund "school safety; early learning; science, technology, engineering and mathematics course programming; and 'individual learning.'"[7] The Commonwealth Foundation, a pro-market think tank, commended Corbett for his privatization proposal. The Foundation noted in a January 30, 2013, press release that Pennsylvania loses tax revenue when residents go to other states to buy alcohol and that the government had spent $10 million to establish its own wine brand to compete against privately owned wineries. Polls showed most Pennsylvanians favored privatization.[8] After HB 790 was reported to the House by the Liquor Control Committee on March 18 and then by the Appropriations Committee on March 21, the House passed the bill 105-90 on March 21.[6] This amended version of the bill would privatize the wholesaling of wine and spirits within one year, require the government liquor stores in any given county to shut down within six months after the number of private stores double those of the government, and provide education credits and civil service hiring preferences to employees of the government stores.[9]
Scarnati and Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi supported increasing consumer choice but remained unconvinced that the government stores needed to be auctioned off.[10] Following its House passage, HB 790 was sent to the Senate. Pileggi reasserted his emphasis on "looking for ways to increase convenience, and selection at a competitive price" rather than privatization. He indicated that bill would be changed before passage in the Senate. Corbett refused to publicly comment on how he would approach negotiations with the Senate but reaffirmed his support for privatization.[11] As of August 20, 2013, HB 790 has been referred to the Appropriations Committee in the Senate.[12]
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2020
Joe Scarnati did not file to run for re-election.[13]
2016
Elections for the Pennsylvania State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on April 26, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was February 16, 2016.
Incumbent Joe Scarnati defeated Jerri Buchanan in the Pennsylvania State Senate District 25 general election.[14][15]
| Pennsylvania State Senate District 25, General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Joe Scarnati Incumbent |
74.84% | 76,416 | |
| Democratic | Jerri Buchanan | 25.16% | 25,686 | |
| Total Votes | 102,102 | |||
| Source: Pennsylvania Department of State | ||||
Incumbent Joe Scarnati ran unopposed in the Pennsylvania State Senate District 25 Republican primary.[16][17]
| Pennsylvania State Senate District 25, Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Joe Scarnati Incumbent (unopposed) | |
Jerri Buchanan (D) received enough votes as a write-in candidate to appear on the general election ballot.[18]
2012
Scarnati ran in the 2012 election for Pennsylvania Senate District 25. Scarnati ran unchallenged in the April 24 primary and was unchallenged in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012. [19][20]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Joe Scarnati Incumbent |
100% | 75,096 | |
| Total Votes | 75,096 | |||
2008
On November 4, 2008, Scarnati was re-elected to Pennsylvania State Senate District 25. Scarnati defeated Donald Hilliard (D) in the general election.[21]
Scarnati raised $1,643,598 for this campaign.[22]
| Pennsylvania State Senate District 25 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| SCARNATI, JOSEPH B. III (R)
|
64,103 | |||
| HILLIARD, DONALD L. (D) | 31,979 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
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Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Pennsylvania scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2020
In 2020, the Pennsylvania State Legislature was in session from January 7 to November 30.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to civil rights and civil liberties issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on environmental issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on conservative issues.
2018
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In 2018, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 2 through November 30.
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2017
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In 2017, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 3 through December 31.
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2016
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In 2016, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 5 through November 30.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 6 through December 31.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 7 through November 12.
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2013
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In 2013, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 2 to December 31.
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2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 3 to November 30.
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2011
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2011, click [show]. |
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In 2011, the Pennsylvania General Assembly was in session from January 4 through November 30.
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2016 Republican National Convention
- See also: Republican National Convention, 2016
| Joe Scarnati | |
| Republican National Convention, 2016 | |
| Status: | At-large delegate |
| State: | Pennsylvania |
| Bound to: | Donald Trump |
| Delegates to the RNC 2016 | |
| Calendar and delegate rules overview • Types of delegates • Delegate rules by state • State election law and delegates • Delegates by state | |
Scarnati was an at-large delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania.[23] All 17 at-large delegates from Pennsylvania were bound by the results of the state primary election to support Donald Trump at the national convention. As of July 13, 2016, Trump had approximately 1,542 delegates. The winner of the Republican nomination needed the support of 1,237 delegates. Trump formally won the nomination on July 19, 2016. Pennsylvania’s 54 district-level delegates were elected directly by voters in the state primary election as unpledged delegates, meaning they were not bound to vote for any specific candidate at the national convention.
Delegate rules
At-large delegates from Pennsylvania were selected at the summer meeting of the State Committee on May 21, 2016. They were allocated to the statewide winner of the state primary election. Pennsylvania's 54 congressional district delegates were directly elected on the primary ballot as unbound delegates. They were not required to disclose which candidate they supported at the time of their election.
Pennsylvania primary results
| Pennsylvania Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Delegates | |
|
Donald Trump |
56.6% | 902,593 | 17 | |
| Ted Cruz | 21.7% | 345,506 | 0 | |
| John Kasich | 19.4% | 310,003 | 0 | |
| Jeb Bush | 0.6% | 9,577 | 0 | |
| Marco Rubio | 0.7% | 11,954 | 0 | |
| Ben Carson | 0.9% | 14,842 | 0 | |
| Totals | 1,594,475 | 17 | ||
| Source: The New York Times and Pennsylvania Secretary of State | ||||
Delegate allocation
Pennsylvania had 71 delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Of this total, 54 were district-level delegates (three for each of the state's 18 congressional districts). According to the Republican National Committee, Pennsylvania's district delegates were "elected on the primary ballot as officially unbound," meaning that these delegates were not required to pledge their support to the winner of the state's primary.[24][25]
Of the remaining 17 delegates, 14 served at large. Pennsylvania's at-large delegates were allocated on a winner-take-all basis; the plurality winner of the state's primary received all of the state's at-large delegates. In addition, three national party leaders (identified on the chart below as RNC delegates) served as bound delegates to the Republican National Convention. The RNC delegates were required to pledge their support to the winner of the state's primary.[24][25]
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Scarnati is married to his wife, Sheryl. They have three children and reside in Warren, Pennsylvania.
See also
- Pennsylvania State Senate
- Senate Committees
- Pennsylvania General Assembly
- Joint Committees
- Pennsylvania state legislative districts
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Official campaign website
- Profile from the Pennsylvania State Senate
- Profile from Open States
- Profile from Project Vote Smart
- Campaign Contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004, 2002, 2000
Footnotes
- ↑ Pennsylvania State Senate, "Joseph B Scarnati, III," accessed January 25, 2021
- ↑ Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ WatchDog.org, "PA Senate prez: Do away with ‘obsolete, unsustainable’ pensions or face difficult budget cuts," January 9, 2014
- ↑ WatchDog.org, "Cash or credit? PA facing $600 million in new pension costs," accessed February 10, 2014
- ↑ Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Turzai: House could get liquor privatization bill soon," accessed March 5, 2013
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Pennsylvania General Assembly, "Bill information Pennsylvania House Bill 790," accessed March 7, 2013
- ↑ Philadelphia Inquirer, "Corbett's new liquor privatization plan would benefit public schools," accessed February 1, 2013
- ↑ Commonwealth Foundation, "Liquor Proposal Delivers Convenience," accessed January 30, 2013
- ↑ Commonwealth Foundation, "What's in New Liquor Liberty Bill?" accessed March 18, 2013
- ↑ Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Turzai: House could get liquor privatization bill soon," accessed March 5, 2013
- ↑ CBS Philly, "Pa. House Passes Liquor Store Privatization; Hurdles Loom In Senate," accessed March 21, 2013
- ↑ Open States, "HB790," accessed August 20, 2013
- ↑ Penn Live, "Top Pa. Senate leader announces he is not seeking re-election to another term," February 12, 2020
- ↑ Pennsylvania Voter Services, "Candidate listing," accessed August 31, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "November 8, 2016, official election results," accessed May 17, 2017
- ↑ Pennsylvania Secretary of State, "Election Information," accessed February 18, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2016 Presidential Primary," accessed August 2, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "Write in winners from April 26, 2016, primary election," accessed June 9, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2012 General Primary," accessed March 11, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2012 General Election," accessed March 11, 2014
- ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2008 General Election," accessed March 11, 2014
- ↑ Follow the Money, "2008 campaign contributors," accessed May 15, 2014
- ↑ PAGOP, "Asher, Toretti Re-Elected To Republican National Committee At 2016 PA GOP Summer Meeting," May 21, 2016
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Republican National Committee, "2016 Presidential Nominating Process," accessed October 6, 2015
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 CNN.com, "Republican National Convention roll call vote," accessed July 20, 2016
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
Pennsylvania State Senate District 25 2001–2020 |
Succeeded by Cris Dush (R) |
