Editorial: Voters control the Pa. House, not the parties
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Want to know who is in charge of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives?
The general election in November gave the Keystone State a razor-thin division in the House. After 12 years of undisputed Republican control, it flipped on the strength of a few districts in the greater Philadelphia area. The GOP had 101 of the 203 seats; the Democrats had 102.
So that means the Democrats are in power right?
Yes. But also no.
When the Legislature convenes Jan. 4, there will be 101 Republicans and 99 Democrats. Although Democrats won three seats in Allegheny County, those seats still will be up for grabs. Rep. Tony DeLuca died before his win. Summer Lee will move on to the U.S. Congress. Austin Davis is the new lieutenant governor.
Those seats will be decided with a special election Feb. 17. It’s nothing new. Special elections of this kind happen all the time because of political promotions, deaths and resignations. No one can protest that, right?
Sorry, but there is no such thing as an incontestable idea in today’s political landscape. On Friday, a Republican challenge to the special elections was filed in Commonwealth Court, asking for an injunction to halt the process.
The reason? State Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, wants it to happen Feb. 7. Do 10 days really matter?
When it has nothing to do with the days and everything about control, yes.
Cutler claims he is speaker of the House and has the authority and responsibility to decide when the election will be scheduled. The Democrats, on the other hand, have named Rep. Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia instead.
It all boils down to people in power playing with politics like a chess board and ignoring the thing all politicians seem to conveniently forget: It’s not about them.
These three seats in Allegheny County are up to the people of these three districts. The people get to decide who represents them. Squabbling like children over the date just to say that one party won over the other is petty and unproductive.
The best campaign commercial either party could make for their future is to demonstrate that the will of the people is more important to them than scoring points.
Because who is really in charge of the Pennsylvania House? The voters.