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Pennsylvania State Senate

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Pennsylvania State Senate


General Information
Type:   Upper house
Term limits:   None
2012 session start:   January 3, 2012
Website:   Official Senate Page
Leadership
Senate President:   Jim Cawley, (R)
Majority Leader:   Dominic Pileggi, (R)
Minority leader:   Jay Costa, (D)
Structure
Members:  50
   Democratic Party (20)
Republican Party (29)
Vacant (1)
Length of term:   4 years
Authority:   Art II, Sec 3, Pennsylvania Constitution
Salary:   $21,612/year + per diem
Elections
Last Election:  November 2, 2010 (25 seats)
Next election:  November 6, 2012 (25 seats)
Redistricting:  Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission

Contents

The Pennsylvania State Senate is the upper house in the Pennsylvania Legislature. It consists of 50 members who serve four-year terms without term limits.[1][2]

Each state senator represents an average of 254,048 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[3] After the 2000 Census, each member represented 245,621 residents.[4]

The Pennsylvania senate is a continuing body during the term for which its senators are elected. It meets at noon on the first Tuesday of January and then regularly throughout the year. When the Pennsylvania Constitution stipulates that the General Assembly must meet in regular session annually, that means the session of one year must adjourn by noon of the first Tuesday of the following year. Two regular sessions cannot meet at the same time.

The General Assembly must also adjourn by midnight, November 30, in even-numbered years due to the expiration of the terms of office of all House members and half the Senate. The Lieutenant Governor, as President of the Senate, can cast a tie-breaking vote on any question except the final passage of a bill or joint resolution, the adoption of a conference report, or the concurrence in amendments made by the House of Representatives[5].

Sessions

Article II of the Pennsylvania Constitution establishes when the Pennsylvania General Assembly, of which the Senate 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 General Assembly 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.[6]

2011

See also: Dates of 2011 state legislative sessions

In 2011, the Senate will be in session from January 4 through a date to be determined by the General Assembly. [7]

2010

See also: Dates of 2010 state legislative sessions

In 2010, the Senate convened its legislative session on January 5, and it remained in session throughout the year.[8]

Elections

2012

See also: Pennsylvania State Senate elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Pennsylvania State Senate will be held in Pennsylvania on November 6, 2012. A total of 25 seats will be up for election.

2010

See also: Pennsylvania State Senate elections, 2010

Elections for the office of Pennsylvania's State Senate were held in Pennsylvania on November 2, 2010. State senate seats in all even numbered districts were on the ballot in 2010.

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 senate raised a total of $11,102,031 in campaign contributions. The top 10 donors were: [9]

Donor Amount
Volpe Jr., Charles J $690,659
Students First $365,000
Republican Party of Pennsylvania $353,324
Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters & Joiners $341,650
Pennsylvania Republican Party $324,378
Friends of Dominic Pileggi $282,650
Pennsylvania Association for Justice $273,200
Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association $270,000
Electrical Workers Local 98 $248,000
Templeton Jr., John M $154,500

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 Senate, a special election must be held to fill the vacant seat. The Senate President must call for a special election. There are no deadlines set in the state constitution on when a special election can be held[10].

Senators

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.[11]

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.[12][13]

When sworn in

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

Pennsylvania legislators assume office in January.

Partisan composition

See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Party As of May 2012
     Democratic Party 20
     Republican Party 29
     Vacancy 1
Total 50

Leadership

The Lieutenant Governor serves as president of the Senate, but has no vote except in the case of a tie. The President Pro Tempore is elected by the Senate from its members.[14][15]

Current leadership

Position Representative Party
President of the Senate Jim Cawley Republican
President Pro Tempore of the Senate Joe Scarnati Republican
State Senate Majority Floor Leader Dominic Pileggi Republican
State Senate Majority Whip Pat Browne Republican
State Senate Majority Caucus Leader Mike Waugh Republican
State Senate Minority Floor Leader Jay Costa Democratic
State Senate Minority Whip Anthony Williams Democratic
State Senate Minority Caucus Leader Rich Kasunic Democratic

List of current members

District Representative Party Residence Counties in District
1 Larry Farnese Democratic Philadelphia Philadelphia
2 Christine Tartaglione Democratic Philadelphia Philadelphia
3 Shirley Kitchen Democratic Philadelphia Philadelphia
4 LeAnna Washington Democratic Philadelphia Montgomery, Philadelphia
5 Mike Stack Democratic Philadelphia Philadelphia
6 Tommy Tomlinson Republican Bensalem Bucks
7 Vincent Hughes Democratic Philadelphia Montgomery, Philadelphia
8 Anthony Williams Democratic Philadelphia Delaware, Philadelphia
9 Dominic Pileggi Republican Chester Chester, Delaware
10 Charles McIlhinney Republican Doylestown Bucks, Montgomery
11 Judy Schwank Democratic - Berks
12 Stewart Greenleaf Republican Willow Grove Bucks, Montgomery
13 Lloyd Smucker Republican West Lampeter Township Lancaster, York
14 John Yudichak Democratic Pittston Carbon, Luzerne
15 Jeffrey Piccola Republican Susquehanna Township Dauphin, York
16 Pat Browne Republican Allentown Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton
17 Daylin Leach Democratic Upper Merion Delaware, Montgomery
18 Lisa Boscola Democratic Bethlehem Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton
19 Andy Dinniman Democratic West Chester Chester, Montgomery
20 Lisa Baker Republican Dallas Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming
21 Mary Jo White Republican Franklin Butler, Clarion, Erie, Forest, Venango, Warren
22 John Blake Democratic Blakely Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe
23 Gene Yaw Republican Montoursville Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Union
24 Bob Mensch Republican Harleysville Bucks, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton
25 Joe Scarnati Republican Brockway Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, Tioga, Warren
26 Ted Erickson Republican Newton Square Chester, Delaware
27 John Gordner Republican Berwick Columbia, Dauphin, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder
28 Mike Waugh Republican York York
29 David Argall Republican Rush Township Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, Schuylkill
30 John Eichelberger Republican Duncansville Bedford, Blair, Franklin, Huntingdon, Mifflin
31 Pat Vance Republican Silver Spring Township Cumberland, York
32 Rich Kasunic Democratic Dunbar Fayette, Somerset, Washington, Westmoreland
33 Richard Alloway Republican Chambersburg Adams, Franklin, York
34 Jake Corman Republican Benner Township Centre, Juniata, Mifflin, Perry, Union
35 John Wozniak Democratic Johnstown Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Somerset
36 Michael Brubaker Republican Ephrata Chester, Lancaster
37 John Pippy Republican Moon Township Allegheny, Washington
38 Jim Ferlo Democratic Pittsburgh Allegheny, Armstrong, Westmoreland
39 Kim Ward Republican Hempfield Township Westmoreland
40 Vacant Republican McCandless Allegheny, Butler
41 Don White Republican Indiana Armstrong, Clearfield, Indiana, Westmoreland
42 Wayne Fontana Democratic Pittsburgh Allegheny
43 Jay Costa Democratic Forest Hills Allegheny
44 John Rafferty Republican Collegeville Berks, Chester, Montgomery
45 James Brewster Democratic McKeesport Allegheny, Westmoreland
46 Timothy Solobay Democratic Bentleyville Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, Washington, Westmoreland
47 Elder Vogel Republican Rochester Allegheny, Beaver, Lawrence
48 Mike Folmer Republican Lebanon Berks, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon
49 Jane Earll Republican Erie Erie
50 Bob Robbins Republican Greenville Butler, Crawford, Lawrence, Mercer

Senate Committees

The Pennsylvania Senate has 22 standing committees:

External links

References

  1. ↑ Pennsylvania Constitution, Article 2, Section 3
  2. ↑ List of state legislative term limits
  3. ↑ Population in 2010 of the American states
  4. ↑ Population in 2000 of the American states
  5. ↑ "Pennsylvania General Assembly" About the Pennsylvania Senate, March 3, 2009
  6. ↑ Herald-Mail, "New legislative session brings old challenges in Pa.," January 4, 2012
  7. ↑ 2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar, NCSL
  8. ↑ 2010 session dates for Pennsylvania legislature
  9. ↑ Follow the Money: "Pennsylvania Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions"
  10. ↑ State of Pennsylvania "Pennsylvania Constitution"(Referenced Section, Article II, Section 2)
  11. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislator Compensation Data"
  12. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislator Compensation Data"
  13. ↑ Empire Center, "Legislative Salaries Per State as of 2007"
  14. ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly FAQ
  15. ↑ Officers of the Pennsylvania Senate
v • d • e
Republican majority Current members of the Pennsylvania State Senate
Senate President: Jim Cawley (R) • Senate Majority Leader: Dominic Pileggi (R) • Senate Minority Leader: Jay Costa (D)
   
Democratic (20) • Republican (29) • Vacant (1) • Pennsylvania State Senate • Pennsylvania House of Representatives
v • d • e
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