Promise of bipartisanship lost in House

We were thrilled when state Rep. Mark Rozzi of Berks County was named House speaker in a stunning development in early January.

Rozzi, a Muhlenberg Township Democrat, won the post when neither party in the closely divided chamber could muster up enough votes for their preferred candidates. Republicans suggested Rozzi for the post, and enough of them voted in his favor to get him past the finish line.

It seemed like a great victory for bipartisanship. Rep. James Gregory, a Republican ally of Rozzi’s in the effort to provide justice for sexual abuse survivors, nominated him and spoke of their mutual trust. House Republican leaders were among those who cast votes for Rozzi.

The story seemed a refreshing contrast to the furious battle that was taking place in Washington as Republicans there struggled to elect a speaker of the U.S. House. Pennsylvania Democrats and Republicans were promising to work together rather than allow gridlock to prevail.

We were also happy to see an area politician in such a prominent government role. It’s hard to remember the last time anyone from Berks County held a major statewide office. There hasn’t even been a congressman hailing from Berks since Rep. Gus Yatron retired three decades ago. It was about time for the county to have one of its own in a top position.

The good feeling vanished within days. Republicans agreed to support Rozzi in exchange for his promise to be an independent. Republicans believed he was going to give up his Democratic Party membership, which would have meant an evenly divided chamber once vacant seats were filled. Rozzi said he would govern as an independent but did not change his party status.

Gregory called for Rozzi’s resignation just days after extolling their friendship. The parties were unable to reach an agreement on rules for the chamber, meaning nothing could get done for weeks and weeks. The House was beset by the very gridlock and petty feuds that the lawmakers’ deal was supposed to have avoided.

We’re not going to sort through the two parties’ competing claims and try to ascribe blame. It’s just incredibly sad that what appeared to be a moment of remarkable bipartisanship so quickly devolved into a feud just as bitter as any other in our polarized political environment.

With Rozzi still in the fold and Democrats having won special elections to fill the vacant House seats, the party enjoys a slim majority in the chamber. Rozzi stepped down as speaker and made way for Rep. Joanna McClinton of Philadelphia, who was the preferred candidate among the Democrats at the start. We congratulate her on the achievement of becoming the first Black woman to become Pennsylvania’s House speaker and wish her well.

As for Rozzi, he is still hoping to leave a legacy from his brief tenure with the House gavel. While the chamber was in recess he formed a bipartisan work group and embarked on a statewide listening tour to solicit input from the public. Based on that he is seeking to enact rules that give all lawmakers a significant say in policymaking rather than concentrating power among party leaders and commitee chairs.

Rozzi also oversaw House passage of two measures that would allow childhood victims of sexual abuse to sue their perpetrator and the institutions that shielded them for damages. The issue has been a defining one for Rozzi, who was abused by a Catholic priest as a teen. The fate of those bills remains uncertain in the Senate.

We hope Rozzi’s efforts on those fronts bear fruit, as the ideas behind the rules changes and legal reforms are indeed worthwhile.

But we can’t help but wonder what might have been had the two parties managed to work together as promised. There is a lot to be said for seeking a bipartisan approach to leadership in such a closely divided body. Instead we have a situation that only reaffirms the cynicism so many people feel when it comes to our politics.