PAESSP Political Notes
November 4, 2004
With the election results now final, it is expected at the national level, the Republican incentives and policies started over the last four years will continue and may even grow. With discussion centered on results pointing to this presidential race being about cultural issues and social conservatism, it is assumed more of the same can be expected from Washington. NCLB will continue to dominate the education agenda of the White House. While there is some speculation on which cabinet positions will change personnel, it is unknown if any changes at the Department of Education are contemplated by the President.
Pennsylvania experienced some changes in its presidential elections for the first time, with the traditional Democratic areas of Greene, Westmoreland and Cambria counties voting Republican. The traditional Republican areas of Bucks, Montgomery and Delaware went Democratic. This carried into state races, for example, Democratic incumbent Alan Kukovich of Westmoreland, lost his bid for reelection.
With all 203 seats of the House up for election and 25 seats in Senate, there will only be 14 new legislators taking office in January. In fact, in the House, 87 of the 193 incumbents did not even have an opponent.
The end result is in the House of Representatives the Republicans picked up one seat and hold the majority of 110R to 93D. In the Senate the Republicans picked up one seat and hold the majority of 30R to 20D. At the national level, Pennsylvania will be represented in the 109th Congress by 12 republicans and seven democrats with three new members -- two Republicans, Fitzpatrick of the 8th Congressional District, and Dent of the 15th District, and Democrat Schwartz of the 13th Congressional District, taking office in January.
The state legislature is due to return November 9, 2004. The Senate Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing to consider the nomination of Dr. Francis Barnes for Secretary of Education.
On Wednesday November 10, the House Education Committee will consider HB2573, which would require the Pennsylvania Department of Education to post on its web site the names of any professional educators who have been dismissed for cause. Also, educators who have their certificate revoked or suspended would also be listed. It is expected that the full House will take this legislation up this month. It is unknown with the number of days scheduled by the legislature if it will make it through the Senate before the end of the legislative session on November 30.