Lawmakers convene to settle leadership fights
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HARRISBURG (AP) – Pennsylvania state lawmakers are planning to settle contests for key leadership posts during closed-door secret-ballot elections, with Senate Republicans facing a particularly divisive fight.
The House and Senate each were scheduled to convene at 1 p.m. Wednesday, the last scheduled meeting day until a new Legislature is seated in January for the 2015-16 session.
In the Senate, the top Republican officers, President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati and Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, are facing their first challenges for their jobs in eight years amid personal rivalries and growing conservative unrest.
In the House, the retirement of Speaker Sam Smith has created an opening at the top for Republicans, and contests for majority leader and whip are on tap. House Democrats are also going to decide contests for minority leader and whip.