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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Bill DeWeese |
  
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DeWeese takes high road to end of session
HARRISBURG, Nov. 19 – House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese said he and his Democratic colleagues opposed Republican efforts to adjourn the House today because it would have sent the wrong message to Pennsylvania residents.
"We began this two-year session with a bipartisan commitment to reforming the way the House has conducted its business during the past decade or so. Among other changes unanimously supported by the Speaker’s Commission on Legislative Reform early last year, every House member agreed that we should not vote in the middle of the night and we should not spring surprise amendments on them," said DeWeese, D-Greene/Fayette/Washington.
"What the House Republicans and Minority Leader Sam Smith attempted to do today was subvert the will of the entire House from its goals at the beginning of this session. They attempted to create mischief on our final scheduled session day in Harrisburg.
"Several months ago, I took unnecessary grief from some people when I announced that we would have a limited session schedule, following November’s election. But I wanted to prove that we could conduct House business without the mischief that had been foisted upon the members during the tenure of Leader Smith and his confidantes in past sessions. Unfortunately, they tried their parliamentary gymnastics again today, but my Democratic colleagues stuck together and we showed our strong spirit. Change truly has come to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
"Despite today’s attempted shenanigans by the House Republicans, I believe history will show that we had a very successful two years under the gavel of Speaker Dennis O’Brien," he said.
Following DeWeese’s leadership during the 2007-2008 session, the House amassed a sound record of legislative accomplishments:
· Ban on Mandatory Overtime for Nurses
· Historic Investments in Education
· Regulation of Assisted Living
· Autism Insurance
· Clean Fuels
· Energy Conservation and Independence
· Economic Development
· Mine Safety
· Mortgage Reform
· Expansion of Health Care Scopes of Practice
· Dog Law
· Open Records
· Smoking Ban
· Tax credits for Volunteer Firefighters
"With Keith McCall at the Speaker’s rostrum during the 2009-2010 session, I think we will continue our successful agenda for Pennsylvania’s working families," DeWeese said.
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CONTACT: Tom Andrews Press Secretary |