UNITED STATES - AUGUST 19: The Pennsylvania State Capitol building is seen on Friday, August 19, 2022. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania's top House Republican on Wednesday warned of chaos when legislators reconvene next week, six weeks after representatives elected a Democrat as House speaker and left Harrisburg without conducting any other business.Republican Minority Leader Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County said the chamber's 102-101 Democratic majority may not be able to solve the gridlock that has so far prevented lawmakers from so much as adopting operating rules for the 2023-24 session.
Cutler himself served as House speaker before deciding in November not to seek the leadership post again.Cutler spoke to reporters in the Rotunda Wednesday, down the corridor from a lengthy, closed-door meeting about the rules being held among Democratic House members.
By sweeping three special elections last week, Democrats cemented a tiny majority, their first in 12 years. Republicans had kept a tight grip on the chamber for more than a decade, with rules that largely prevented Democrats from changing GOP bills or advancing their own priorities."Without copies of rules in advance, what will we really be doing?" Cutler said. "If the Democrats are ready to lead, let's see what they want to do.
Let's see the rules. Let's get the House operating an agenda that works on behalf of all Pennsylvania. So far, we've seen very little, and that should concern every single taxpayer in this commonwealth."The House convened Jan.