{"id":2387750,"date":"2025-01-08T09:54:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-08T14:54:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pennsylvania-senate-welcomes-four-new-members-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-08T09:55:18","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T14:55:18","slug":"pennsylvania-senate-welcomes-four-new-members-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pennsylvania-senate-welcomes-four-new-members-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Pennsylvania Senate welcomes four new members &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpennsylvania-senate-welcomes-four-new-members-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2387750&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Pennsylvania Senate \u200brecently\u200b welcomed\u200c four new members\u200b during the opening\u200c day of\u200d its two-year legislative session. This ceremonial occasion \u2062involved swearing in the\u200d new members, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-democrats-look-to-fund-effort-to-elect-local-election-supervisors\/\" title=\"Report: Democrats Look to Fund Effort to Elect Local Election Supervisors\">certifying election results<\/a>, and approving\u200c operating \u200crules.\u2062 Among the new senators are Republicans Dawn Keefer,\u2062 who transitioned from the state\u2062 House and represents\u200d a \u200cdistrict\u2063 in Cumberland and York counties, and\u2064 joe Picozzi, who, at 29 years old, becomes the youngest senator in the state and the first Republican elected from a Philadelphia district \u2064since \u200c1996. The Republicans retained control \u2062of the chamber following the general election \u2062in November.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Pennsylvania Senate welcomes four new members<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1930384\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; Four new members swore oaths of office in the Pennsylvania Senate on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The occasion marks the opening day of the Legislature&rsquo;s two<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/governor-requests-more-money-for-juvenile-justice-system-via-veto\/\" title=\"Governor seeks additional funds for juvenile justice through veto\">-year session<\/a> and is filled with ceremonial conventions, from certifying election results to approving operating rules.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans, who maintained control of the chamber after the general election in November, welcomed Sens. Dawn Keefer and Joe Picozzi. The former ascended to the chamber from the state House and represents a district in Cumberland and York counties, just west of Harrisburg.<\/p>\n<p>Picozzi, at 29 years old, is the state&rsquo;s youngest senator and the first Republican elected in a Philadelphia district since 1996.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I am profoundly honored to have been chosen by my neighbors to represent them in the state Senate,&rdquo; he said on Monday. &ldquo;I will work every day to deliver more resources for our first responders, improve quality of life and restore and secure our home. I am excited to fight with you for a brighter future for northeast Philadelphia.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Across the aisle, Democratic Sens. Patty Kim and Nick Pisciottano officially made the leap from the state House. Kim&rsquo;s new and old district comprises the city of Harrisburg and its suburbs, while Pisciottano takes over in a district that runs along the southeastern edge of Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It is an honor and privilege to serve the citizens in the 37 communities of the 45th Senatorial District,&rdquo; Pisciottano said. &ldquo;I will continue to pursue a broad agenda that is focused on families, job creation, economic development, education support and safety, and help for those in need.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Leaders offered hope for bipartisanship in the years ahead, a familiar refrain that generally kicks off legislative sessions. Up for debate will be regulatory reform, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">expanding educational scholarships<\/a>, cutting emissions from the power sector and addressing the worsening demographic crisis as the &ldquo;silver tsunami&rdquo; barrels toward the commonwealth.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As we kick-off the new two-year legislative session, the Senate Republican Caucus will continue to remain accountable to the people of Pennsylvania by ensuring good, effective, and fiscally responsible legislation is passed,&rdquo;&nbsp;said Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Greensburg<strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The challenges of the last session remain:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/pennsylvania\/article_d3b1c29c-cd3e-11ef-a143-4fda6126de35.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>a narrowly divided House<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;that&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/pennsylvania\/article_efd6e1e4-4055-11ef-b842-93bcf8ec0562.html\">gives leverage to Democratic priorities<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/pennsylvania\/article_4aae703a-a7af-11ef-871e-8f9dc549581a.html\">a simmering discontent<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;between Ward and Gov. Josh Shapiro.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Despite the party leading the lower chamber and occupying the governor&rsquo;s mansion, Senate Democrats will still find their six-seat deficit a struggle at times.<\/p>\n<p>Case in point: a joint effort from Lindsey Williams and Katie Muth, Democrats from the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia regions, respectively, introduced rules to give the minority party more power to influence the voting calendar.<\/p>\n<p>As it stands, the majority leader determines what bills make it through the voting process on the floor.<\/p>\n<p>Among the proposals, the senators wanted to require action on bills with bipartisan support, sunshine the voting schedule at least 24 hours in advance and archive recordings of Rules Committee votes, among others. It&rsquo;s the third time such rules have been offered.<\/p>\n<p>Republicans referred the resolutions to the Rules Committee, where it will be up to the majority chairman to schedule consideration &ndash; meaning it&rsquo;s unlikely it will ever happen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1930384\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1930384\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pennsylvania Senate swears in four new members on Tuesday<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2387751,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Pennsylvania_Legislature_Campaign_1.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[44890,44571,5894,32076],"class_list":["post-2387750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-new-members","tag-pennsylvania-senate","tag-politics","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Pennsylvania_Legislature_Campaign_1.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2387750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2387750"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2387750\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2387754,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2387750\/revisions\/2387754"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2387751"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2387750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2387750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2387750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}