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Election Results (Historical)

Federal
State

Federal

Impact of the 2006 election on Pennsylvania Nonprofits

On November 7, the Democratic party gained control over both Houses of Congress for the first time since 1994. Washington insiders anticipate a shift to a more moderate if not limited agenda in the US House and Senate. Issued will include increased transparency and accountability through lobbyist and ethics reforms. It is also anticipated that the Democratic leaders will increase domestic discretionary spending for social programs, while allowing some tax cuts to expire. Democrats expect to push for increasing the minimum wage, and work to restore the pay-as-you-go budgeting rules. Estate tax repeal will be off the table. The end result could be more money for nonprofit programs in areas of healthcare, education, housing, arts, and the environment.

In the US Senate, Pennsylvania elected Bob Casey over incumbent Rick Santorum. Senator Santorum held a seat on the Senate Finance Committee. Senator Casey is not likely to take that committee seat.

Of Pennsylvania’s 19 members of Congress, 4 members of congress did not win reelection. The new members include Jason Altmire (D-4) defeating Melissa Hart, Joe Sestak (D-7) defeating Curt Weldon, Patrick Murphy (D-8) defeating Mike Fitzpatrick, and Christopher Carney (D-10) defeating Don Sherwood.

Incoming Speaker of the House will be Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), will become the first woman Speaker of the House in the history of Congress. High on her agenda will be federal lobby reform legislation. She was expected to adopt a package of lobby reforms as House rules, leaving the Senate to install its own lobbying and ethics rules. Earlier this year, the House and Senate failed to enact a comprehensive lobbying and ethics reform bill, largely due to the insistence of House leaders’ on including reform of section 527 political organizations in any conference report. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is the current House Minority Leader, and Harry Reid (D-NV) is the current Senate Minority Leader. Both pledged to work toward bipartisanship on Capitol Hill.

Pelosi is backing Pennsylvania’s Congressman Murtha for House Majority Leader.

Key committees are changing to reflect the new balance of power. Senator Max Baucus (D- MT) will replace Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) as chair of the Senate Finance Committee. This is the body that provided Senator Grassley (R-IA) with a platform to pursue charitable reform legislation. This Committee is currently comprised of 11 Republicans and 9 Democrats. Senate Democrats will now pick-up an additional one to three seats on the Senate Finance Committee.

Representative Charles Rangle (D-NY) will replace Rep. Bill Thomas (R-CA) as chair of the House Ways & Means Committee and may become chair of the tax-writing committee referred to as the Joint Committee on Taxation. This is the body that negotiated the final changes to the charitable reform legislation with the Senate Finance Committee. The number of Democrats on the committee will increase, though the exact number has not yet been released.

12/13/06 Rep. Allyson Schwartz appointed to US House Ways and Means Committee. Representative Allyson Schwartz (D-PA13) of Pennsylvania’s 13th Congressional District was appointed to the House Ways and Means Committee for the 110th Congress. Committee appointments still awaiting confirmation when Congress returns on January 4. We look forward to working with the Congresswoman and her office in 2007.

State

1/6/07 Democrats Retain Control of State House but Elect Republican Dennis O’Brien as Speaker. State House convened the 2007-2008 Legislative Session Tuesday January 2. After swearing-in the 50 recently elected State House members, the House of Representatives elect as Speaker of the House, Republican lawmaker Dennis O’Brien. In an historic move, Democrats retained control of the House by electing a Republican Speaker. It was anticipated that House Democrats would nominated Rep. H. William DeWeese to challenge the Republican former Speaker John Perzel (R-Phila), that did not happen. Instead, DeWeese realized that he did not have sufficient votes to win the Speakers seat, and cut a deal. DeWeese then nominated a Republican House member Dennis O’Brien from Philadelphia as House Speaker. O’Brien defeated Former Speaker Perzel by a vote of 105-97, which included a number of Republican votes. It was hoped that Speaker O’Brien’s leadership would offer more open and fair access to all legislators regardless of party affiliation or seniority. In reality, the House Democrats’ slight 102-101 majority will demand compromise at every level.

The House has not yet release committee assignments, or approved its own operating rules. They currently stand in recess to the call of the Chair. PANO will continue to update our members as this develops. Information on the newly elected Speaker of the House Representative Dennis O’Brien.

11/29/2006 Election Challenge shifts Control of State House to Democrats. On Tuesday, Nov 28, Democrats won control of State House or Representatives yesterday for first time in 12 Years. Three weeks after the November 7 general election, Chester County election officials conducted the final ballot recount for the contested 156th State House District seat. Democrat Barbara McIlvaine Smith of West Chester was declared the winner by only 23 votes in what has traditionally been seen as a Republican seat. Now the Democrats will control the House by a slim 102-101 margin when the new Legislature takes office Jan. 2.

Representative Bill DeWeese (D- Greene) will likely become the new Speaker of the House in January. He previously held that post in 1993-94, until the GOP took control of the House by convincing a House Democrat to switch sides.

DeWeese has stated that he will work with the Governor’s office toward property tax relief for middle income homeowners, by increasing sales tax to 6.5 percent or 7 percent.

The 2005-2006 Legislative Session ends on Thursday November 30. The 2007-2008 Legislative Session begins January 2. Republicans continue to control the State Senate by a 29-21 margin. House races will not be held again until 2008.

PANO will continue to update our members as this develops.

State Senate Picks New Leaders. Senator Joe Scarnati (R-25) was nominated to serve as President Pro Tempore for the 2007-2008 Legislative Session. The full Senate will vote on Scarnati's nomination when it reconvenes in January. As President Pro Tempore, he will be responsible for appointing the chairpersons and members of the standing committees of the Senate. The President Pro Tempore presides over the Senate when the Lieutenant Governor is unavailable, and play a significant role in negotiations with the Executive branch and the House of Representatives. Republicans continue to control the State Senate by a 29-21 margin.

Impact of the 2006 election on Pennsylvania Nonprofits

Ed Rendell won re-election as Pennsylvania’s Governor.

See this House Update. Pennsylvania House Democrats gained 8 of the seats that they needed to gain control. In total, 8 House incumbents lost re-election, 30 House members either retired or resigned, and 17 House members were defeated in the primary elections. The result will be approximately 55 new State Representatives as of January 1, 2007. The 8 House incumbents who lost re-election are: Mike Veon (D-14) former House Minority Leader, Matthew Good (R-3), Michael Diven (R-22), Shawn Flaherty (D-30), Pat Fleagle (R/D-90), Gene McGill (R-151), Tom Gannon (R-161), and Matthew Wright (R-142).

House caucus elections are scheduled for Tuesday November 14. Representative McCall, is expected to replace Veon, as the second-ranking House Democrat.

In the State Senate, Republicans maintained control by a 29 to 21 margin. All incumbents who sought reelection won, and all open seats were filled by the candidate from the same party that originally held that seat. The Senate will see 5 new members as of January 1. Senator Jeff Piccola, current Majority Whip, is running for the Senate’s top leadership post. See new leadership.

Pennsylvania’s election returns.

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US Senate Committee Assignments as of November 2006:

Agriculture (11D, 10R)

Tom Harkin, Iowa (Chairman)

Patrick J. Leahy, Vt.

Kent Conrad, N.D.

Max Baucus, Mont.

Blanche Lincoln, Ark.

Debbie Stabenow, Mich.

Ben Nelson, Neb.

Ken Salazar, Colo.

Sherrod Brown, Ohio

Bob Casey, Pa.

Amy Klobuchar, Minn.

Appropriations (15D, 14R)

Robert C. Byrd, W.Va. (Chairman)

Daniel K. Inouye, Hawaii

Patrick J. Leahy, Vt.

Tom Harkin, Iowa

Barbara A. Mikulski, Md.

Herb Kohl, Wis.

Patty Murray, Wash.

Byron L. Dorgan, N.D.

Dianne Feinstein, Calif.

Richard J. Durbin, Ill.

Tim Johnson, S.D.

Mary L. Landrieu, La.

Jack Reed, R.I.

Frank R. Lautenberg, N.J.

Ben Nelson, Neb.

Armed Services (13D, 12R)

Carl Levin, Mich. (Chairman)

Edward M. Kennedy, Mass.

Robert C. Byrd, W.Va.

Joseph I. Lieberman, Conn.

Jack Reed, R.I.

Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii

Bill Nelson, Fla.

Ben Nelson, Neb.

Evan Bayh, Ind.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, N.Y.

Mark Pryor, Ark.

Jim Webb, Va.

Claire McCaskill, Mo.

Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs (11D, 10R)

Christopher J. Dodd, Conn. (Chairman)

Tim Johnson, S.D.

Jack Reed, R.I.

Charles E. Schumer, N.Y.

Evan Bayh, Ind.

Thomas R. Carper, Del.

Robert Menendez, N.J.

Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii

Sherrod Brown, Ohio

Bob Casey, Pa.

Jon Tester, Mont.

Budget (12D, 11R)

Kent Conrad, N.D. (Chairman)

Patty Murray, Wash.

Ron Wyden, Ore.

Russ Feingold, Wis.

Tim Johnson, S.D.

Robert C. Byrd, W.Va.

Bill Nelson, Fla.

Debbie Stabenow, Mich.

Robert Menendez, N.J.

Benjamin L. Cardin, Md.

Bernard Sanders, Vt.

Sheldon Whitehouse, R.I.

Commerce, Science and Transportation (12D, 11R)

Daniel K. Inouye, Hawaii (Chairman)

John D. Rockefeller IV, W.Va.

John Kerry, Mass.

Byron L. Dorgan, N.D.

Barbara Boxer, Calif.

Bill Nelson, Fla.

Maria Cantwell, Wash.

Frank R. Lautenberg, N.J.

Mark Pryor, Ark.

Thomas R. Carper, Del.

Claire McCaskill, Mo.

Amy Klobuchar, Minn.

Energy and Natural Resources (12D, 11R)

Jeff Bingaman, N.M. (Chairman)

Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii

Byron L. Dorgan, N.D.

Ron Wyden, Ore.

Tim Johnson, S.D.

Mary L. Landrieu, La.

Maria Cantwell, Wash.

Ken Salazar, Colo.

Robert Menendez, N.J.

Blanche Lincoln, Ark.

Bernard Sanders, Vt.

Jon Tester, Mont.

Environment and Public Works (10D, 9R)

Barbara Boxer, Calif. (Chairwoman)

Max Baucus, Mont.

Joseph I. Lieberman, Conn.

Thomas R. Carper, Del.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, N.Y.

Frank R. Lautenberg, N.J.

Benjamin L. Cardin, Md.

Bernard Sanders, Vt.

Amy Klobuchar, Minn.

Sheldon Whitehouse, R.I.

Ethics (3D-3R)

Tim Johnson, S.D.

Mark Pryor, Ark.

Ken Salazar, Colo.

Finance (11D, 10R)

Max Baucus, Mont. (Chairman)

John D. Rockefeller IV, W.Va.

Kent Conrad, N.D.

Jeff Bingaman, N.M.

John Kerry, Mass.

Blanche Lincoln, Ark.

Ron Wyden, Ore.

Charles E. Schumer, N.Y.

Debbie Stabenow, Mich.

Maria Cantwell, Wash.

Ken Salazar, Colo.

Foreign Relations (11D, 10R)

Joseph R. Biden Jr., Del. (Chairman)

Christopher J. Dodd, Conn.

John Kerry, Mass.

Russ Feingold, Wis.

Barbara Boxer, Calif.

Bill Nelson, Fla.

Barack Obama, Ill.

Robert Menendez, N.J.

Benjamin L. Cardin, Md.

Bob Casey, Pa.

Jim Webb, Va.

Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (11D, 10R)

Edward M. Kennedy, Mass. (Chairman)

Christopher J. Dodd, Conn.

Tom Harkin, Iowa

Barbara A. Mikulski, Md.

Jeff Bingaman, N.M.

Patty Murray, Wash.

Jack Reed, R.I.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, N.Y.

Barack Obama, Ill.

Bernard Sanders, Vt.

Sherrod Brown, Ohio

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (9D, 8R)

Joseph I. Lieberman, Conn. (Chairman)

Carl Levin, Mich.

Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii

Thomas R. Carper, Del.

Mark Pryor, Ark.

Mary L. Landrieu, La.

Barack Obama, Ill.

Claire McCaskill, Mo.

Jon Tester, Mont.

Select Intelligence (8D, 7R)

John D. Rockefeller IV, W.Va. (Chairman)

Carl Levin, Mich.

Dianne Feinstein, Calif.

Ron Wyden, Ore.

Evan Bayh, Ind.

Barbara A. Mikulski, Md.

Russ Feingold, Wis.

Sheldon Whitehouse, R.I.

Indian Affairs (8D, 7R)

Byron L. Dorgan, N.D. (Chairman)

Daniel K. Inouye, Hawaii

Kent Conrad, N.D.

Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii

Tim Johnson, S.D.

Maria Cantwell, Wash.

Claire McCaskill, Mo.

Jon Tester, Mont.

Judiciary (10D, 9R)

Patrick J. Leahy, Vt. (Chairman)

Edward M. Kennedy, Mass.

Joseph R. Biden Jr., Del.

Herb Kohl, Wis.

Dianne Feinstein, Calif.

Russ Feingold, Wis.

Charles E. Schumer, N.Y.

Richard J. Durbin, Ill.

Benjamin L. Cardin, Md.

Sheldon Whitehouse, R.I.

Rules and Administration (10D, 9R)

Dianne Feinstein, Calif. (Chairwoman)

Christopher J. Dodd, Conn.

Robert C. Byrd, W.Va.

Daniel K. Inouye, Hawaii

Charles E. Schumer, N.Y.

Richard J. Durbin, Ill.

Ben Nelson, Neb.

Byron L. Dorgan, N.D.

Patty Murray, Wash.

Mark Pryor, Ark.

Small Business (10D, 9R)

John Kerry, Mass. (Chairman)

Carl Levin, Mich.

Tom Harkin, Iowa

Joseph I. Lieberman, Conn.

Mary L. Landrieu, La.

Maria Cantwell, Wash.

Evan Bayh, Ind.

Mark Pryor, Ark.

Benjamin L. Cardin, Md.

Jon Tester, Mont.

Special Aging (11D, 10R)

Herb Kohl, Wis. (Chairman)

Ron Wyden, Ore.

Blanche Lincoln, Ark.

Evan Bayh, Ind.

Thomas R. Carper, Del.

Bill Nelson, Fla.

Hillary Rodham Clinton, N.Y.

Ken Salazar, Colo.

Bob Casey, Pa.

Claire McCaskill, Mo.

Sheldon Whitehouse, R.I.

Veterans' Affairs (8D, 7R)

Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii (Chairman)

John D. Rockefeller IV, W.Va.

Patty Murray, Wash.

Barack Obama, Ill.

Bernard Sanders, Vt.

Sherrod Brown, Ohio

Jim Webb, Va.

Jon Tester, Mont.

Joint Economic (6D, 4R)

Charles E. Schumer, N.Y. (Chairman)

Edward M. Kennedy, Mass.

Jeff Bingaman, N.M.

Amy Klobuchar, Minn.

Bob Casey, Pa.

Jim Webb, Va.

None of the information on the PANO Website should be deemed legal advice or should be acted upon without prior consultation with appropriate professional advisors.