Less than one week after nominating Rep. Mark Rozzi (D-Berks) as Pennsylvania’s next speaker of the House, Rep. Jim Gregory (R-Blair) has asked Speaker Rozzi to resign.
Rozzi won the speakership on January 3, the first day of the 2023-2024 legislative session, with a 115-85 vote.
Subsequent to the vote, Rozzi is reported to have said “the commonwealth that is home to independence will now be home to the commonwealth’s first independent speaker,” according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Further reporting from the Inquirer indicated that Rozzi would change his party affiliation from Democrat to Independent and that he would not caucus with either party, however as of today, Rozzi remains a registered Democrat.
The “bonds of trust between friends — as close as you and I have been — are now broken,” wrote Gregory in a letter to Rozzi according to reporting from Cumberland Times-News. “As a result of your broken promises, I must sadly and respectfully ask for you to immediately resign the office of Speaker,” wrote the Blair County Republican.
The election of Rozzi came after both Democrats and Republicans claimed control of the House following the November midterm election. The dispute was precipitated by the vacancy of three seats that had belonged to Democrats representing districts in Allegheny County, for which special elections must be held.
Rep. Anthony DeLuca, PA-32, died, former Rep. Summer Lee, PA-34, was elected to Congress and former Rep. Austin Davis, PA-35, was elected Pennsylvania’s Lieutenant Governor.
The special elections are scheduled for February 7, reports PennLive.
