UPDATE: The narrowly divided Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved a logjam over control of the chamber by making Democrat Mark Rozzi its new speaker.
Rozzi said he would be independent, pledging not to caucus with either Republicans or Democrats and to staff his office with members of both parties. He decried dysfunction and obstruction in the chamber's politics, and said"never has this House been so divided.''
Democrats had hoped to elevate their floor leader, Philadelphia Rep. Joanna McClinton, to become the state's first woman speaker, but with the chamber so close their attempt to delay the proceedings for seven weeks failed. If that had worked, the Democrats would have had time to fill three vacant seats.
Democrats flipped a net of 12 seats in November, the minimum amount needed to take over the chamber, 102-101, after more than a decade in the minority. But that margin is now 101-99 for Republicans because state Rep. Tony DeLuca died of cancer a month before winning reelection, Rep. Summer Lee quit to become a member of Congress and Rep. Austin Davis resigned ahead of becoming lieutenant governor.
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