Legislative Updates: A Weekly Roundup of Federal, State, and Local Actions – November 11

Your Chamber advocacy team is working to share legislative updates and continue to advocate for your business in Washington, D.C., Harrisburg, and Philadelphia. We’ve created a round-up of recent activity including Key Takeaways for Your Business and a Detailed Legislative Update. This represents our best knowledge of the situation as of 9:00 a.m. on Friday, November 11, 2022.

Chamber members are invited to join weekly legislative update calls hosted by our Advocacy team to hear the latest legislative matters concerning our community.

To learn more about how our region is preparing for recovery, visit our Recharge & Recover PHL Information Hub:

On Monday, November 7, 2022, Mayor Jim Kenney named Christy Brady, Deputy City Controller, as the new Acting City Controller, effective immediately.

Following the Tuesday, November 8, 2022, election, four new Councilmembers will be sworn in and will serve out the remainder of the current term, which ends in January 2024.

Also, on the Tuesday, November 8, 2022, ballot for Philadelphia voter approval were two proposed changes to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter.

On Monday, November 14, 2022, the City Council Committee on Public Safety will hold a hearing examining the cost of crime on Philadelphia residents.

On Wednesday, November 16, 2022, the City Council Committee on Appropriations will hold a hearing on several appropriations and mid-year transfer ordinances. The city recently announced that it ended FY 2022 with a $775 million fund balance.

Join the Chamber on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, for our virtual City Hall Connectors: Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson; on Thursday, December 8, 2022, for our in-person City Council Reception; and on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, for our in-person Mayoral Luncheon. 

Votes are still be counted to determine which party will control the state House of Representatives. On Wednesday, November 9, 2022, state House Democrats announced they believe they will retake the majority once all the votes are counted. Republicans have had the majority in both chambers of the General Assembly since 2010.

Majority control of the House depends upon a few close races, including the contest for the 142nd District in Bucks County, where Democrat Mark Moffa was leading Republican Joseph Hogan by just two votes — 15,095 to 15,093. In Montgomery County, in the 151st District, incumbent Republican Rep. Todd Stephens led challenger Democrat Melissa Cerrato by just 26 votes. These races will likely be determined next week as the counting of military and provisional ballots continues.

In Allegheny County, voters elected Democratic Rep. Tony DeLuca, who passed away last month, and two Democratic House members who ran and won other races – Rep. Austin Davis for Lt. Gov. and Rep. Summer Lee for Congress.

Republicans hold the majority in the state House of Representatives at 113-90. Democrats would need a net pickup of 12 to retake the majority.

The Pennsylvania Senate will continue to be controlled by the Republicans, with several new faces winning the election.

Join the Chamber Monday, November 28, 2022, for our in-person Southeastern Delegation Legislative Reception; on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, for our hybrid Advancing Pennsylvania’s Regional Economy; and on Monday, December 19, 2022, for our virtual State Advocacy Update with House Speaker Bryan Cutler.   

More than 30 House and four Senate races remain undecided following the Tuesday, November 8, 2022, mid-term elections for U.S. Congress.

Republicans are tenuously positioned to win control of the House, but no official projection has been announced. Meanwhile, control of the Senate may not be decided until after a Georgia runoff election on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.

Next week, Congress returns to Capitol Hill to begin a lame duck session as issues like a government spending package, defense bill, tax extensions, and energy permitting reforms await.

Join the Chamber on Friday, January 13, 2023, for our in-person Economic Outlook. 

There was no City Council Stated Meeting this week. The next City Council Stated Meeting will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2022.

Upcoming City Council Hearings
On Monday, November 14, 2022, the City Council Committee on Public Safety will hold a hearing examining the cost of crime on Philadelphia residents.

On Wednesday, November 16, 2022, the City Council Committee on Appropriations will hold a hearing on several appropriations and mid-year transfer ordinances. The city recently announced that it ended FY 2022 with a $775 million fund balance. With the higher fund balance, the city has taken two approaches to a mid-year ordinance that was transmitted to City Council: (1) make essential investments across a number of areas, including education, public safety, Parks and Rec, and the Free Library, cultural institutions, infrastructure investment, and homeless services; and (2) use a significant portion of the funding to build reserves to address the ongoing impacts of inflation and the next potential economic slowdown.

Election Day Roundup
There were no surprises in the Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Special Election for four City Council seats vacated by former Councilmembers who are running or considering a run for Mayor in 2023.

Back in September, after City Council President Darrell L. Clarke called a Special Election to fill the four vacant seats, Philadelphia Democratic Party leaders nominated Jimmy Harrity, a long-time aide for Sen. Sharif Street, and Sharon Vaughn, a long-time City Council staffer, to fill the two vacant At-Large Council seats. Ward leaders in the 7^th and 9^th Council Districts nominated Quetcy Lozada, a former City Council staffer and non-profit leader, and Anthony Phillips, a non-profit founder, and executive, respectively, to fill those vacant seats. As expected, all four Democratic nominees won handily on Tuesday.

The four new Councilmembers will be sworn in and serve out the remainder of the current term, which ends in January 2024. Of the four newcomers, only Vaughn has announced that she will not seek re-election to a full-term next year.

Of the four newcomers, it has been reported that Vaughn will not seek re-election to a full-term next year. But this could change.

Also, on the Tuesday, November 8, 2022, ballot for Philadelphia voter approval were two proposed changes to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter.

Philadelphians voted in favor of amending the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to create a Department of Aviation. At present, the CEO of Philadelphia’s two airports is the leader of the Division of Aviation within the Commerce Department. This charter change will create a separate, stand-alone Department of Aviation that will report directly to the Mayor and will give the Airport CEO more latitude over budgeting, hiring, and grant-making.

Atif Saeed will become the new Chief Executive Officer of the Division of Aviation, which includes Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE), effective December 1, 2022. Atif Saeed brings a broad background across three large hub airports including Phoenix, Atlanta, and Minneapolis.

Philadelphians also voted in favor of amending the Charter to provide a preference in civil service examinations for qualified graduates of the School District’s Career and Technical Education programs, a move that the amendment’s sponsor, Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, says will strengthen the pipeline for Philadelphia students to access careers in city government.

The conclusion of the Tuesday, November 8, 2022, election also marked the start of next year’s mayoral race. Stay tuned.

Odds and Ends
On Monday, November 7, 2022, Mayor Jim Kenney named Christy Brady, Deputy City Controller, as the new Acting City Controller, effective immediately. Brady—a leader with nearly 30 years of experience across various roles within the Controller’s Office—succeeds Rebecca Rhynhart. The latter resigned from the position last month to run in the 2023 mayoral race.

On Monday, November 7, 2022, Mayor Jim Kenney announced the resignation of Rich Lazer, Deputy Mayor for Labor for the City of Philadelphia, effective November 30, 2022.  Next month, Lazer will become the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA).

City Hall Connectors: Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson
Tuesday, November 15, 2022 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM  | Virtual   

City Council Reception
Thursday, December 8, 2022 | 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM  | In-Person

Mayoral Luncheon
Wednesday, February 8, 2023 | 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM | In-Person

Questions? Contact William Carter (wcarter@chamberphl.com) for more information about local legislative affairs.

Election Update
Votes are still be counted to determine which party will control the state House of Representatives. On Wednesday, November 9, 2022, state House Democrats announced they believe they will retake the majority once all the votes are counted. Republicans have had the majority in both chambers of the General Assembly since 2010.

Majority control of the House depends upon a few close races, including the contest for the 142nd District in Bucks County, where Democrat Mark Moffa was leading Republican Joseph Hogan by just two votes — 15,095 to 15,093. In Montgomery County, in the 151st District, incumbent Republican Rep. Todd Stephens led challenger Democrat Melissa Cerrato by just 14 votes. These races will likely be determined by Monday, November 14, 2022, as the counting of military and provisional ballots continues.

In Allegheny County, voters elected Democratic Rep. Tony DeLuca, who passed away last month, and two Democratic House members who ran and won other races – Rep. Austin Davis for Lt. Gov. and Rep. Summer Lee for Congress.

Republicans hold the majority in the state House of Representatives at 113-90. Democrats would need a net pickup of 12 to retake the majority.

The Pennsylvania Senate will continue to be controlled by the Republicans, with several new faces winning the election.

Below is a breakdown of some of the key races in our region.

Senate Districts
6th District: Republican Frank Farry, the current state representative from the 142nd district, defeated two challengers in Democrat Ann Mitchell and Libertarian Brandon Bentrim.

10th District: Incumbent Democrat Steve Santarsiero defeated challenger Republican Matthew McCullough, a small business owner in the healthcare sector.

14th District: Democrat Nick Miller, an Allentown School Board member, defeated Republican Dean Browning, a former Lehigh County commissioner.

16th District: Republican Jarrett Coleman, an airline pilotand Parkland School Board member, defeated Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley, a Democrat. This seat was held by Republican Pat Browne, who lost to Coleman in the primary.

18th District: Incumbent Democrat Lisa Boscola defeated challenger John Merhottein, a Republican and Bethlehem Township Commissioner.

24th District: Republican state Rep. Tracy Pennycuick will depart the House to the state Senate after defeating Democrat Jill Dennin, a former member of the Boyertown School Board.

44th District: Democratic incumbent Katie Muth narrowly held off Republican challenger Jessica Florio, President of Honey Brook Borough Council, with 50.9% of the vote.

House Districts
The 10th District was moved to Philadelphia – incumbent Democrat Amen Brown ran unopposed in the 10th. Brown had been representing the 190th District. Democrat Gwendolyn Green is now running in the 190th District with no Republican challenger.

18th District: Republican incumbent Kathleen Tomlinson defeated Democratic challenger Laurie Smith, a political newcomer who spent 14 years as a teacher in the Bensalem School District.

22nd District: Allentown City Councilmember and Democratic candidate Joshua Siegel defeated Republican Robert Smith, a former School Board and City Councilmember, to win this new Lehigh County seat.

26th District: Democrat Paul Friel, a local businessman and president of the Owen J. Roberts School Board, defeated incumbent Republican Tim Hennessey. Friel, who unsuccessfully challenged Hennessey in 2020, will unseat the 15-term incumbent.

29th District: Democrat Tim Brennan, a Doylestown Borough Councilmember, defeated Republican Diane Smith, a realtor, and Independent candidate Rob Ronky.

147th District: Republican Donna Scheuren, a Souderton Area School Board member, defeated Democratic homemaker Alexandra Wisser. Scheuren will take the seat of Republican state Rep. Tracy Pennycuick, who ran for the 24th district state Senate seat.

155th District: Democratic incumbent Danielle Otten narrowly defeated Republican challenger Kyle Scribner, chair of the East Brandywine Township Board of Supervisors, winning by less than 1% of the vote.

156th District: Democrat Chris Pielli, the Chester County Recorder of Deeds, defeated Republican Heidi Vanderwaal, a fashion and nutrition industry consultant. State Rep. Dianne Herrin did not seek re-election.

167th District: Democratic incumbent Kristine Howard earned her third term in the state Capitol, fending off Republican challenger Gail Newman, a Malvern Borough Republican Committeewoman, by three points.

168th District: Democrat Lisa Borowski, a former Radnor Township Commissioner and School Board member, defeated Republican incumbent Chris Quinn.

178th District: Republican Council Rock School Board member Kristin Marcell defeated entrepreneur Ilya Breyman, a Democrat. Marcell will replace Republican state Rep. Wendi Thomas, who did not seek re-election.

Upcoming State Advocacy Programs   

Southeastern Delegation Legislative Reception 
Monday, November 28, 2022 | 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM  | In-Person

Advancing Pennsylvania’s Regional Economy
Tuesday, December 6, 2022 | 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM | Hybrid

State Advocacy Update with House Speaker Bryan Cutler
Monday, December 19, 2022 | 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Virtual

Questions? Contact Liz Ferry (lferry@chamberphl.com) for more information about state legislative affairs.

Election Results
This week, voters went to the polls to decide the balance of power in Washington, D.C. As history would indicate, the party in control of the White House will usually suffer significant losses in congressional seats. As of Thursday, November 10, 2022, Republicans are poised to win a slim majority in the House, but much smaller than they had hoped or anticipated. More than 40 House races remain too close to call, with dim prospects of a quick resolution in sight.

Meanwhile, in the battle for the Senate, Pennsylvania was the only state to date to flip party control of its U.S. Senate seat as Democrat John Fetterman claimed victory over Republican Mehmet Oz to fill the seat vacated by retiring Republican Pat Toomey. Three states will decide if Republicans can seize the majority from Democrats: Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia. If Democrats and Republicans win a share of victories between the two states that they each currently hold the lead – Arizona and Nevada, respectively – then once again, a Senate runoff race in Georgia set for Tuesday, December 6, 2022, will decide the fate of the U.S. Senate since no candidates in that race on Election Day surpassed the 50% threshold needed to win outright. In the 2020 election cycle, almost $1 billion was spent up to the Georgia runoff, which directly gave control of the Senate to Democrats.

In the twelve House seats representing the Greater Philadelphia region in the U.S. Congress, every incumbent successfully defended against a challenge to comfortably win their re-election. Aside from Pennsylvania, there were no other U.S. Senate races in the tri-state region.

Lame Duck Session
As the dust of the mid-term elections begins to settle, it’s widely believed that at least control of the House will flip, creating a divided government. If so, Republicans are expected to launch investigations and oversight hearings next year into several issues related to the current Administration, including its handling of border security, the pandemic, and the opioid crisis. The House will likely consider measures to undo Democratic priorities like the $87 billion for Internal Revenue Service (IRS) enforcement or the Administration’s student debt forgiveness plan, which are sure to go nowhere without Democratic support in the Senate.

In the interim, Republicans and Democrats will have to work together in the current Congress and upcoming lame duck session as they return to Capitol Hill next week. Congress has until Wednesday, December 16, 2022, to pass a short-term continuing resolution or a FY 2023 Omnibus Appropriations package to keep government programs operating. Republican leadership will have to decide whether to work with Democrats to pass a spending bill now and remove the lightning rod issue from the legislative agenda or wait until next year when they will have political advantages and more liability. Leaders may also address other key issues in lame duck, including energy permitting reforms and expiring tax provisions.

Upcoming Chamber Event
Economic Outlook 
Friday, January 13, 2023 | 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM | In-Person

Questions? Contact Anselm Sauter (asauter@chamberphl.com) for more information about federal legislative affairs.

We invite you to reach out to our advocacy team directly with your questions: 

• Anselm Sauter, Federal Affairs – asauter@chamberphl.com 
• Liz Ferry, State Affairs – lferry@chamberphl.com 
• William Carter, Local Affairs – wcarter@chamberphl.com 

Chamber members are invited to join weekly legislative update calls hosted by our Advocacy team to hear the latest efforts at the federal, state, and local level as well as other legislative matters concerning our community.

To learn more about how our region is preparing for recovery, visit our Recharge & Recover PHL Information Hub: