DeWeese, Veon hold on to leadership posts
HARRISBURG – Despite some grumbling from inside the party, Democrats Bill DeWeese and Mike Veon retained their leadership positions in the state House of Representatives. Democrats who won House seats in the Nov. 5 election overwhelmingly voted Tuesday to let the two long-time legislators lead them during the next two-year legislative session, which begins in January.
DeWeese, D-50, Waynesburg (Greene/Fayette/Washington), will serve as House Democratic Leader. Veon, D-14, West Mayfield (Beaver) will be the House Democratic Whip. The two posts are the two highest-ranking positions in the House Democratic Caucus.
The two leaders were thought to possibly be on their way out after the party failed once again to win the majority of House seats in a state where Democrats outnumber the GOP in voter-registration by about 500,000. But that never materialized.
Also re-elected to leadership positions were Rep. Mark Cohen, D-202, Philadelphia, Caucus Chairman; Rep. Fred Belardi, D-112, Lackawanna, Caucus Administrator; Rep. Jeff Coy, D-89, Franklin/Cumberland, Caucus Secretary; and Rep. Dwight Evans, D-203, Philadelphia, Appropriations Committee Chairman.
The caucus did make one change in the leadership ranks. Rep. Victor Lescovitz, D-46, Burgettstown (Beaver), was dropped as policy chairman for Rep. Steve Stetler, D-95, York. The defeat was bittersweet for Lescovitz.
“As policy chairman, while I was honored to serve, I was unfortunately locked into partisan battles that prevented me at times from working with Republicans to get things done,” he said. “As a standing committee chairman, I will be free to make the people’s needs my sole priority without the inherent distractions and party-line obligations that come with any leadership post.”
DeWeese, a state legislator since 1976, has held a leadership position in the House since 1988. During the 1993-94 legislative session, DeWeese served as speaker of the House. He has served as House minority leader since 1994. He is the highest-ranking leader in both the House and Senate who hails from western Pennsylvania.
Veon is serving his ninth term as a member of the House. He is the youngest member of the House Democratic leadership team and served as chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee in 1993-98. This will be his third consecutive term as House Democratic whip.
Some members had talked about changing leaders, but no one ever came forward to run against DeWeese and Veon.
“I had said if a good candidate had come forward I would try to help them,” said Rep. Anthony Melio, D-141, Fairless Hills. “That hasn’t happened.”
Democrats have been in the minority in the House since 1994. They will face an especially difficult time getting their legislation through in the upcoming session. Republicans will hold a 109-94 edge in the House, their largest margin in decades. Meanwhile, in the Senate, the GOP will maintain its 29-to-21 advantage.
But there is a ray of hope. For the first time since 1994, a Democrat will be the state’s top leader. Although it didn’t happen this election, Democrats hope to receive a boost in future elections from Gov.-elect Ed Rendell. The former Philadelphia mayor brings with his both immense popularity and fundraising prowess.