Pa. lawmakers finally return, ending month of gridlock
State lawmakers are set for a high-profile return to Harrisburg this week, with a special House session ending a month of gridlock in the lower chamber and a Senate committee holding a hearing on a catastrophic Ohio train derailment — even though railway company Norfolk Southern says it won’t attend.
House Speaker Mark Rozzi, D-Berks, set a special session of the House to begin at noon Tuesday, focused on a long-proposed constitutional amendment that would open a new window for lawsuits by child sex abuse survivors. The last time the House attempted to tackle the issue, on Jan. 9, progress ground to a halt after the parties couldn’t agree on operating rules for the chamber, and there has been finger-pointing ever since over who’s to blame for the legislative dormancy.
But three Allegheny County Democrats won House seats in special elections earlier this month, and their anticipated arrival in Harrisburg — it was unclear Monday exactly when they will be sworn in — will give Democrats a 102-101 majority.
That could strengthen Rozzi’s ability to run the chamber — or it could embolden Democrats to try to oust him in favor of their majority leader, State Rep. Joanna McClinton, D-Philadelphia. McClinton joined Democrats and some Republicans in making Rozzi a surprise compromise speaker last month, when Democrats didn’t have the outright majority needed to elect McClinton to the post.
The full Senate will not be in session until next week.
But the Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing Thursday in Beaver County to look into the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and the subsequent controlled burn of toxic chemicals. In response to written questions from The Post-Gazette, Norfolk Southern indicated Monday that President and CEO Alan Shaw won’t attend the hearing.
“The subject matter of the hearing is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board,” the company wrote. “In light of Norfolk Southern’s party status to that investigation, Mr. Shaw will not be attending the hearing. However, while we are unable to participate at the hearing, we would welcome you in East Palestine so you can observe our ongoing cleanup, recovery, and community assistance efforts.”
The committee, led by state Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin, also plans to take testimony from the administration of Gov. Josh Shapiro, state and local officials, and residents.
Shapiro spokesman Manuel Bonder said Monday the administration plans to participate in the hearing and remains committed to holding Norfolk Southern accountable for the Feb. 3 derailment.
State Rep. Josh Kail, R-Beaver, said Monday that the biggest problem since the derailment has been “the lack of transparency from Norfolk Southern.” But he was relieved that there haven’t yet been any test results indicating severe environmental problems on the Pennsylvania side of the border.
The derailment sent about 50 cars flying off the tracks — including 10 carrying hazardous materials — about a quarter-mile west of the Pennsylvania border, leading to a fire, evacuations, and a controlled release of chemicals that sent a massive plume of smoke wafting over parts of both states.
Pa. lawmakers are slamming Norfolk Southern as ‘ignorant’ and greedy after the East Palestine derailment Security camera footage from businesses in Ohio revealed the Norfolk Southern train traveled at least 20 miles with a malfunctioning axle before derailing.
State Sen. Elder Vogel, R-Beaver, said the company’s decision not to attend a community meeting in East Palestine last week was “just being ignorant.” State Sen. Katie Muth, D-Montgomery, said her review of material written by experts convinced her “there is severe concern that people could have long-term health effects” from exposures to toxins triggered by the incident.