Metcalfe Replaced As House State Government Committee Chairman

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA - In the shuffling of committee chairmanships typical at the start of a new legislative session in Harrisburg, mercurial Republican state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe of Cranberry is out as head of the State Government Committee.

Metcalfe instead will chair the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, a move Democrats likely will applaud. While chairing the government committee, Metcalfe admitted that he prevented the advancement of any substantive Democratic legislation.

House speaker Mike Turzai appointed the chairs of the committees, which study each bill and determine which proposals will go to the full House. They conduct public hearings on key issues, allowing citizens and interested groups to have a say in the legislative process, and they serve as a resource for members and others.

Metcalfe’s tenure as committee chair was full of controversies. While head of the panel, he:

Grew irked that the committee’s ranking Democrat, Matt Bradford of Montgomery County, briefly touched his arm while talking to him during a meeting.

"I'm a heterosexual," Metcalfe said "I have a wife. I love my wife. I don't like men as you might so stop touching me all the time. Keep your hands to yourself. If you want to touch somebody, you have people on your side of the aisle that might like it. I don't."

Had a fellow committee member, Democratic state Rep. Chris Rabb of Philadelphia, contact the House's assistant chief clerk accusing Metcalfe of threatening him after a committee meeting.

Called Democrats on the committee “liberal loser Democrat legislators" on his Facebook page.

Admitting to blocking Democratic legislation introduced in the committee.
According to state Democrats, he stalled the following bills:

• HB 1410: The Pennsylvania Fairness Act, which would prohibit discrimination based on someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
• HB 722: A bipartisan resolution that would create an independent commission to draw Pennsylvania’s congressional, state house, and state senate districts.
• HB 101, HB 193, HB 945: Acts that would make it easier for Pennsylvanians to vote.
• HB 1332: Legislation that would enact campaign finance reform.
• HB 568: Legislation to reduce corruption by enacting a gift ban for lawmakers.

State Rep. Garth Everett of Lycoming and Union counties is replacing Metcalfe on the State Government Committee. On the Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, Metcalfe is replacing former state Rep. John Maher of Upper St. Clair, who retired.

Photo: Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

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