Aug 22, 2008 By Paul Sunyak 4 min read

Could state Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, be girding for the possibility that if re-elected, he might not survive as House majority (or minority) leader? We recently asked a person close to the situation what role DeWeese might end up playing if he wins the November election against Republican Greg Hopkins. Should Democrats retain control of the House, where they currently hold a one-vote majority, our source said the three choices for DeWeese theoretically would be: Speaker of the House, majority leader, or the committee chairmanship of his choice.

The committee chairmanship of his choice? The mere mention of that possibility could be a sign that DeWeese might survive the election, but might not survive an attempted coup by House Democrats. Several of them, but by no means a majority, have called for DeWeese to step down as leader of the caucus.

Being a committee chairman is a couple steps down from being majority or minority leader, and one step down from being party whip. It’s kind of like getting busted in rank from general to lieutenant colonel.

You might be able to dismiss the committee chairmanship possibility as speculative – until you consider the source of that information, which is non other than … Bill DeWeese.

During a meeting last week with our editorial board, DeWeese said of his future, and I quote, “The three options would have been, at least theoretically, the speakership, the majority leader opportunity, or … the committee chairmanship of my choice.”

DeWeese then drew a parallel to U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, noting that Byrd, like DeWeese, once served as majority leader, only to give up that higher position to become chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Byrd did so in order to steer more money to his home state, a task at which he’s become quite adept.

“(Byrd) was majority leader for a short time, and he said, ‘Nah, I think I’m going to take appropriations.’ When you live where I live, we you live where we live, the name Robert Byrd resonates,” said DeWeese.

He then noted that while recently campaigning in Perry Township, knocking on doors in that municipality, he told an elderly lady, “If Robert Byrd had been taken out of West Virginia public affairs when he was my age … that would have been 33 years ago. And that’s a dramatic statement, also. He’s had many, many contributions (since then).”

The current ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, of course, is DeWeese ally Dwight Evans of Philadelphia. For DeWeese to assume that position, Evans would have to first vacate it – and no doubt he’d have to do so voluntarily.

It’s doubtful that Evans would want to move down the ladder, so the only place for him to go is up. And the positions above him that make the most sense are majority (or minority) leader, or Speaker of the House.

Should Democrats retain control of the House, which is certainly not a given, it’s quite possible that a switcheroo could see Evans leading the party, with DeWeese being bumped down to appropriations committee chairman.

“There’s no guarantee,” said DeWeese. “I’m certainly not campaigning at all for any job in Harrisburg. I’m campaigning to be the representative of the 50th legislative district.”

DeWeese is probably astute to realize that his primary concern at this point is winning re-election at the local level. Unless he does, his role in the Democratic caucus – any role – is a moot point.

But if you read carefully between the lines, DeWeese is saying even if Democrats keep the House, he probably won’t be speaker, stands a much better chance of remaining majority leader, and is preparing to head the appropriations committee if that isn’t possible.

Don’t you just love watching the moves on the political chess board?

Paul Sunyak is editorial page editor of the Herald-Standard. He can be reached at 724-439-7577 or at psunyak@heraldstandard.com