Pennsylvania lawmakers on Tuesday returned Democratic Speaker Joanna McClinton to lead the chamber for the new session after the Republican floor leader bowed out to resolve a deadlock.

Democrats won 102 seats in November, a single-vote majority, but one of their members was absent from swearing-in day after suffering a health crisis.

“My question to each of you distinguished colleagues is, what will you be remembered for?” McClinton said after taking the oath of office.

In the initial vote for speaker, Republican Leader Jesse Topper and McClinton each garnered 101 votes. Topper removed himself from consideration and McClinton, of Philadelphia, prevailed on the second ballot on a voice vote.

Rep. Matthew Gergely had a “medical emergency over the holidays requiring hospitalization,” according to Beth Rementer, the House Democratic caucus spokesperson. She said he is not expected to return “for some time.”

Gergely’s absence, the close House margin and Republican control of the Senate could complicate first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s hopes of getting things done this year. Democrats had the same 102-101 majority in the last session, and other than the two annual budgets, little substantial legislation was enacted.

Democrats won chamber control two years ago and successfully defended it while several vacancies arose and were filled by special elections. In November, not one of the 203 House seats changed parties, meaning Democrats retained majority control by the slimmest of margins.

House Democratic Leader Matt Bradford of Montgomery County thanked Topper, who drew a standing ovation, as Bradford acknowledged the close margin, telling colleagues, “We need to be humble, and we need to be wise.”

In floor remarks, Topper wished Gergely a full and speedy recovery.

“There are very few days in this job that are not difficult,” Topper said, urging members to feel gratitude for the opportunity to serve and to avoid becoming frustrated or cynical. “We see many of those who we represent not on their best day, but on their worst.”

The Northeast’s premier transportation provider expands its service offerings in Camp Hill to help customers fulfill evolving needs

WEST CHESTER, Pa., Jan. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A. Duie Pyle (Pyle), a premier, 100-year-old family-owned and operated provider of asset and non-asset-based supply chain solutions, today announces the opening of a new facility in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, further expanding its Northeast network. The opening of this latest facility marks the company’s first expansion in 2025, and Pyle now has 31 facilities total, reaffirming its position as the leading supply chain solutions provider in the region.

Located at 475 Terminal St., Camp Hill, PA 17011, the facility will extend customer access to Pyle’s LTL services and includes 85 LTL service center doors situated on 11 acres. The service center is currently undergoing a complete refresh, including all offices, dock area and fleet maintenance facilities. The new facility is strategically positioned off I-83 and US-11 to efficiently service Pyle’s customer base in the Northeast. Upon its opening, the facility added 35 drivers, 18 dock workers, five fleet technicians and six leaders, creating a total of 64 new jobs and boosting the local economy. By the end of 2025, Camp Hill is projected to have over 150 employees as Pyle continues to optimize its terminal network to support new business growth.

“Opening a facility in Camp Hill strengthens our significant footprint in the Northeast, allowing us to maintain our commitment to delivering top-tier service and solutions,” said John Luciani, COO of LTL Solutions at Pyle. “With increased operational capacity in the region, we are well-positioned to meet evolving customer demands, drive local economic growth and create new opportunities for the community and the Pyle team.”

Pyle was founded in Pennsylvania more than a century ago, and this latest expansion shows how the company is committed to further growth across its home state. With current market conditions emphasizing the need for efficient service and adaptability to evolving trends as the demand for rapid delivery grows, expanding facilities in strategic areas of the Northeast is paramount for Pyle’s operations. Taking a proactive approach enables Pyle to stay ahead in the competitive landscape and continue offering award-winning service to its customers.

For more information on A. Duie Pyle, visit www.aduiepyle.com.

About A. Duie Pyle
A. Duie Pyle is a premier provider of asset and non-asset-based supply chain solutions offering a full range of integrated transportation and distribution services including LTL, Contract Dedicated, Warehousing, and Brokerage Solutions. Headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania, Pyle has been family-owned and operated since 1924 and remains committed to its core values of integrity, service first and empathy. With a focus on delivering exceptional customer service and supporting the growth and success of its employees, A. Duie Pyle continues to lead the way in the logistics industry.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Democratic state representative’s health problems could complicate the vote for Pennsylvania House speaker on Tuesday as the chamber’s Democrats begin a new two-year session with the same one-seat margin that they had before the November election.

Rep. Matthew Gergely had a “medical emergency over the holidays requiring hospitalization,” according to Beth Rementer, the House Democratic caucus spokesperson.

Neither Rementer nor House GOP spokesperson Jason Gottesman elaborated on what happened or whether the Allegheny County Democrat will be there when the chamber will decide whether to return Speaker Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia to the dais as its presiding officer. Members are also expected to vote on the House’s internal operating rules for the new two-year session.

A message seeking comment was left at Gergely’s district office in McKeesport.

The House had a rule during the 2023-24 session designed to limit uncertainty under the one-seat margin. Under that rule, vacancies were credited to the party that held the seat most recently until the special election results were in. It’s not clear what might happen if Gergely is absent and a House vote for speaker deadlocks along party lines — 101-101.

Democrats won chamber control two years ago by a single seat, 102-101, and successfully defended it while several vacancies arose and were filled by special elections. In November, not one of the 203 House seats changed parties, meaning Democrats retained majority control by the slimmest of margins.

Republicans changed leadership since November, picking Rep. Jesse Topper of Bedford County to be their floor leader. He succeeded Rep. Bryan Cutler, a former House speaker and caucus leader who remains in the House after being reelected in a Lancaster County district.

House Democrats meanwhile have five new members after Reps. Mike Sturla of Lancaster County and former House Speaker Mark Rozzi of Berks County retired; Reps. Patti Kim of Dauphin County and Nick Pisciottano of Allegheny County relinquished their seats to make successful runs for state Senate; and Rep. Kevin Boyle of Philadelphia lost in the spring primary.

House Republicans saw Rep. Dawn Keefer win a state Senate seat in York County and Rep. Ryan Mackenzie unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Susan Wild.

In other GOP caucus changes, Rep. Rob Mercuri didn’t seek reelection while running unsuccessfully for Congress in Allegheny County. Reps. Jim Gregory of Blair County and Mike Cabell of Luzerne County lost in the spring primary and six others didn’t run again: Donna Oberlander of Clarion County, Jim Marshall of Beaver County, Aaron Kaufer of Luzerne County, George Dunbar of Westmoreland County, Paul Schemel of Franklin County and Barry Jozwiak of Berks County.

In the state Senate, Republican Joe Picozzi unseated freshman Democratic Sen. Jimmy Dillon in a Philadelphia district. Because Kim flipped a redistricted Harrisburg area seat, that chamber also has the same partisan balance it had in the last session, 28-22. But there is currently one Senate vacancy: Sen. Ryan Aument, a Lancaster Republican, resigned at the end of December to take a top staff job with incoming U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick.