Unexpected Bipartisanship in Pennsylvania

There were two significant unexpected examples of bipartisanship as Pennsylvania transitions to a new Governor and Legislature. The Democrats had won a one-seat majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the November General Election, but Republicans had temporarily retained the majority control because of three vacancies of Democratic seats. The GOP is attempting to delay the special elections to fill the seats that are in heavily Democratic districts. But six Republicans voted for a Democrat for Speaker of the House in an unusual, although not unprecedented, act of bipartisanship in a leadership election, which was enough to elect him. Although generally a liberal Democrat, the new Speaker, in whose district I reside, pledged not to caucus with either party while serving in that capacity and he is pro-right to keep and bear arms and pro-business. The other act of bipartisanship was exhibited by the Democratic Governor-elect, who nominated Republican Al Schmidt to be the Secretary of State, among whose responsibilities is to oversee elections. Schmidt as Philadelphia City Commissioner, was responsible for overseeing elections in the City of Brotherly Love. The GOP election watchdog had issued a report that found voter fraud. As I have posted before, Schmidt insisted that Philadelphia’s election process in 2020 was conducted honestly, despite the false claims by Donald Trump and his supporters before, during and after the election, thus earning the Philadelphia Republican the tycoon’s ire and the death threats it always inspires. Those false election claims were rejected by every court and by Republicans in Congress. The Pennsylvania Senate, where Republicans retain the majority, votes to confirm cabinet nominations. They will have to choose whether to confirm an honest and well-qualified Republican who disproved their party leader, or force the Democratic Governor to nominate a liberal Democrat, whom they would surely find less preferable.