Chairs named for House, Senate

The new -- well, somewhat new -- House and Senate committee chairs are out today. Many posts have the same occupants, but not all.

The Senate Education Committee chairmanship formerly held by retiring Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, R-Dauphin, is going to Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon. Sen. Randy Vulakovich, R-Shaler, has been a senator only since Aug. 29, but he will be heading the Communications & Technology Committee. And Scott Hutchinson, R-Venango, has yet to be sworn in for his first term, but he's already been tapped to head the Inter-Governmental Operations Committee. 

After a session that saw the passage of major drilling legislation, both the Senate and House environmental committees will have new chairmen. Huntchinson had chaired the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, where he is being replaced by Rep. Ron Miller, R-York. The Senate committee chairmanship, last held by retiring Sen. Mary Jo White, R-Venango, will go to Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Lycoming.

With Gov. Tom Corbett preparing to announce a plan to fund improvements to transportation infrastructure, eyes were on the chairmanship of the House Transportation Committee after former chairman Rick Geist, R-Blair, lost in the primary. (He had served in the House since 1979.) That post will go to Rep. Dick Hess, R-Bedford.

Full lists after the jump.

Senate committee chairmanships:

 

Aging & Youth -- Sen. Bob Mensch, R-Montgomery

Agriculture & Rural Affairs -- Sen. Elder Vogel, R-New Sewickley

Appropriations -- Sen. Jake Corman, R-Centre

Banking & Insurance -- Sen. Don White, R-Indiana

Communications & Technology -- Sen. Randy Vulakovich, R-Shaler

Community, Economic & Recreational Development -- Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield

Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure -- Sen. Robert Tomlinson, R-Bucks

Education -- Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon

Environmental Resources & Energy -- Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Lycoming

Finance -- Sen. Mike Brubaker, R-Lancaster

Game & Fisheries -- Sen. Richard Alloway, R-Adams

Inter-governmental Operations -- Senator-elect Scott Hutchinson, R-Venango

Judiciary -- Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Montgomery

Labor & Industry -- Sen. John Gordner, R-Columbia

Law & Justice -- Sen. Charles McIlhinney, R-Bucks

Local Government -- Sen. John Eichelberger, R-Blair

Public Health & Welfare -- Sen. Patricia Vance, R-Cumberland

Rules & Executive Nominations -- Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware

State Government -- Sen. Lloyd Smucker, R-Lancaster

Transportation -- Sen. John Rafferty, R-Montgomery

Urban Affairs & Housing - Sen. David Argall, R-Schuylkill

Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness -- Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne

(The Senate Democratic caucus has not selected its ranking members.)

 

House committee chairmanships and ranking Democrats:

 

Aging and Older Adult Services -- Rep. Tim Hennessey, R-Chester

Rep. Steve Samuelson, D-Northampton

Agriculture and Rural Affairs -- Rep. John Maher, R-Upper St. Clair

Rep. Joseph Petrarca, D-Washington Township

Appropriations -- Rep. Bill Adolph, R-Delaware

Rep. Joe Markosek, D-Monroeville

Children and Youth -- Rep. Kathy Watson, R-Bucks

Rep. Louise Bishop, D-Philadelphia

Commerce -- Rep. Chris Ross, R-Chester

Rep. Curtis Thomas, D-Philadelphia

Consumer Affairs -- Rep. Robert Godshall, R-Montgomery

Rep. Peter Daley, D-California

Education -- Rep. Paul Clymer, R-Bucks

Rep. James Roebuck, D-Philadelphia

Environmental Resources and Energy -- Rep. Ron Miller, R-York

Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware

Finance -- Rep. Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre

Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-Luzerne

Game and Fisheries -- Rep. Martin Causer, R-McKean

Rep. Gary Haluska, D-Cambria

Gaming Oversight -- Rep. Tina Pickett, R-Bradford

Rep. Rosita Youngblood, D-Philadelphia

Health -- Rep. Matt Baker, R-Tioga

Rep. Flo Fabrizio, D-Erie

Human Services -- Rep. Gene DiGirolamo, R-Bucks

Rep. Angel Cruz, D-Philadelphia

Insurance -- Rep. Nick Micozzie, R-Delaware

Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Penn Hills

Judiciary -- Rep. Ron Marsico, R-Dauphin

Rep. Thomas Caltagirone, D-Berks

Labor and Industry -- Rep. Mario Scavello, R-Monroe

Rep. Bill Keller, D-Philadelphia

Liquor Control -- Rep. John Taylor, R-Philadelphia

Rep. Paul Costa, D-Wilkins

Local Government -- Rep. Kate Harper, R-Montgomery

Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton

Professional Licensure -- Rep. Julie Harhart, R-Northampton

Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Carrick

State Government -- Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler

Rep. Mark Cohen, D-Philadelphia

Tourism and Recreational Development -- Rep. Jerry Stern, R-Blair

Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Delaware

Transportation -- Rep. Dick Hess, R-Bedford

Rep. Michael McGeehan, D-Philadelphia

Urban Affairs -- Rep. Keith Gillespie, R-York

Rep. Ted Harhai, D-Monessen

Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness -- Rep. Stephen Barrar, R-Delaware

Rep. Chris Sainato, D-Lawrence