Previously, the chamber had only been able to pass legislation in special session, which limits action to one bill and requires only temporary rules. Having rules in place allows the state House to finally form committees and begin passing bills to the floor for consideration. It passed on party lines, with 102 Democratic votes. Speaker Joanna McClinton (D., Philadelphia) abruptly ended rules debate and called a vote on the measure. The floor debate culminated in Cutler saying he was in “receipt of a news article” that publicly named Zabel, and asking if McClinton was aware of it. Minority Leader Bryan Cutler (R., Lancaster) later said he thinks Democrats’ new rules may not be expansive enough to cover, for instance, the harassment Zabel is accused of. They pushed for language offered last session by state Rep. Kristin Marcell (R., Bucks) called the language “unfortunate muddying of the waters.” Zabel has yet to respond to the allegations.ĭuring a floor debate on the rules Wednesday, several Republicans argued that the new harassment procedures weren’t strong enough. She said she was unable to make an ethics complaint under previous rules. The rules adopted Wednesday, written by former Speaker Mark Rozzi (D., Berks), prohibit state House members from sexually harassing “any individual” while the member is performing their official duties, on state House property, or at a state House-sponsored meeting or event.Įxpanding that provision was key for Andi Perez, an SEIU lobbyist who recently accused a sitting state House member - later identified as Mike Zabel (D., Delaware) - of harassment.
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