PA Bill Number: HB2235
Title: Providing for regulation of the meat packing and food processing industry by creating facility health and safety committees in the workplace; ...
Description: Providing for regulation of the meat packing and food processing industry by creating facility health and safety committees in the workplace; ... ...
Last Action: Referred to LABOR AND INDUSTRY
Last Action Date: Apr 25, 2024
PA Senate GOP rejects Wolf's nominee for state police commissioner :: 06/08/2015
HARRISBURG — The Republican-controlled Senate on Monday rejected Gov. Tom Wolf's nomination of Marcus Brown for Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner. Republicans refused to honor Wolf's request to recall Brown's nomination. The deadline for considering his confirmation is Tuesday.
The vote against Brown was 26-22.
It was a rare move for the Senate to vote down a governor's nominee, senators said.
The Senate declined to honor Wolf's recall request because “the governor indicated that he would just renominate him,” said Senate Republican spokeswoman Jennifer Kocher.
If Wolf renominates him, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-Centre County, said the outcome would not change.
Said Wolf: “I continue to have full faith in Col. Brown's ability to lead the state police, and he will remain acting commissioner.” Wolf nominated Brown in January.
Senate Majority Whip John Gordner, R-Bloomsburg, said there were too many lingering questions about Brown. A state police commissioner has to be more “black and white on what is right and wrong,” Gordner said. And that wasn't the case when Brown removed yard signs critical of him posted in a public right of way. The signs were put up by an ex-trooper criticizing Brown's decision to wear the state police uniform because he didn't attend the academy.
Gordner said a half dozen signs critical of him had been posted near his home in his first Senate election. “What I did not do was remove them. I didn't stick them in my car and drive away,” Gordner said.
Sen. Bob Mensch, R-Lansdale, said wearing the uniform was “a red herring.
“He (Brown) has done nothing in way of his answers to be to instill or inspire confidence” in 4,500 troopers who would serve under him, Mensch said.
But Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton County, said Brown “was a victim of locker room politics.
Corman said no politics was involved. It was a question of Brown's “judgment” and “forthrightness.”
Brown's “story kept changing,” Corman said. It was not any single issue, the GOP leader said.
Brown addressed issues “honestly, openly and with integrity,” said Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Forest Hills.
Boscola said, “I'm ashamed of this body – of the other side (Republicans) – for putting this gentleman through this.”
Democratic senators said he was rejected because of his commitment to diversity, which he championed as head of the Maryland State Police,
“Are we going to carry water for that agency's (Pennsylvania State Police) good old boy network?,” Boscola said.
It was not about diversity in state police, Corman said, adding Republicans support that. It's about Brown who would be making “life and death decisions” as head of the state police, Corman said.
“It is common practice for governors to recall nominations to allow time for additional discussion, and historically the Senate honors a governor's decision,” Wolf said. “In recent history, three governors — Governors Casey, Rendell, and Corbett — have recalled four cabinet nominations and the Senate has honored those decisions,” Wolf said.
In March, Brown was videotaped removing political signs criticizing his uniform decision, Brown said in a series of statements that he removed the signs with his children in mind and that he “made a mistake and an error in judgment.”
Local police and later the Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed investigated whether Brown broke any laws by removing the signs. Freed last month ruled that no crime had been committed.
Brown has said he wears the uniform to honor those who do wear it.
Wolf said, “Col. Brown has been in law enforcement for 25 years and has improved each agency he has led.”
Brown headed the organized crime unit, SWAT team and internal affairs in Baltimore.
One of the issues raised during debate legitimately deserved a pension from the Baltimore police. Brown was short of the 20 years needed for a pension but still got one, Gordner. The senator said he believed the pension board in Baltimore “cut corners.” Brown appeared before the Senate Repiublican Caucus Monday morning. “I was not satisfied with his explanation,” Gordner said. Brown has stated he was legally entitled to it.
http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/8524097-74/brown-senate-police#axzz3cTxkvn35
