Senate president pro tempore joe scarnati biography

Scarnati also took heat in when he did not allow the Senate to vote on legislation giving child victims more time to sue and press charges against sexual abusers. He relented last year and held votes on parts of the proposal, which was a response to the clergy sex abuse crisis uncovered in a grand jury report. Victims and their advocates say the two-year referendum process defers justice.

I believe the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has trampled over the Constitution, and I believe that the federal Supreme Court has failed to uphold the Constitution. What led you to seek public office? I ask that question all the time of myself.

Senate president pro tempore joe scarnati biography: Joseph B. Scarnati III, born

I was a county chairman and, at the time, the sitting state senator was convicted of a federal offense. He resigned from office, was put in prison, released with an ankle bracelet, then got on the ballot to run for re-election. I said to myself: I cannot support this guy. This guy has no business running.

Senate president pro tempore joe scarnati biography: As President Pro Tempore

And, quite frankly, I want to do something about it. So I reregistered as an independent and ended up running in a three-way race. I won by votes. How do you stay at the top of your game? At 56 years old, I've never felt better. My wife and I do a lot of bicycling and we try to live a healthy lifestyle. I'm not afraid to make decisions either.

Senate president pro tempore joe scarnati biography: Joseph B. Scarnati III

My constituents and the people I work with, they just want a decision. They want somebody to call the balls and strikes here, and I do that. Supreme Courtthat the state's constitution delegates the role of congressional districting to the General Assembly. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito rejected the Pennsylvania Republicans' request for a stay and review of the state court's ruling.

Senate president pro tempore joe scarnati biography: Joseph B. Scarnati III is an

The top federal court's order was expected by many, as the state supreme court is the highest authority on matters based exclusively on the state constitution. He began his political career on the Brockway Borough Council in He helped run the family's restaurant and became the chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. Under Corbett's plan, these funds would be distributed to school districts using a formula based on their student enrollment and income level.

The block grants would fund "school safety; early learning; science, technology, engineering and mathematics course programming; and 'individual learning. Polls showed most Pennsylvanians favored privatization.