HARRISBURG, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — While many of their constituents had family dinners or watched football, Pennsylvania lawmakers gathered in the state Capitol to begin a new two-year session of the legislature.
But why so early into 2019?
The Pennsylvania Constitution mandates that lawmakers convene the first Tuesday of January at noon — no exceptions for things like parades and bowl games.
The early start was not lost on Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, a Republican whose district includes college football powerhouse Penn State.
During remarks on the Senate floor, Corman promised to be brief, and not just because the day was one of celebration for new members taking the oath of office.
For state Sen. Andy Dinniman, it has been a remarkable turn of events since 2006, when he became the first Democrat from Chester County elected to the state Senate in decades.
Republicans will still control the legislature, albeit with smaller majorities. Dinniman agrees with the conventional wisdom that the chambers will likely be more polarized.
"I do buy that," he said, "but I think it's time for the suburban counties to wake up and to flex their muscle. As you know, the suburban counties essentially do not have much of a say in the Republican caucus, especially in the Senate. They're going to have less of a say now. So it's time for the suburban Democrats and those Republicans remaining to unite together."
Dinniman warned that gains in the legislature by Chester County Democrats are not just about President Donald Trump. He said controversial pipeline construction is and will continue to be the central political issue in the county.
Lawmakers will next return on Jan. 15 when Gov. Tom Wolf will be inaugurated for a second term.
