'Argall Report' to focus on lieutenant governor selection

Apr. 5—The April edition of the local TV program hosted by state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, Rush Township, focuses on the senator's bipartisan legislation that changes the process of how Pennsylvania selects its lieutenant governor.

"A leadership team can't be separated into two warring factions that ignore each other," Argall was quoted in a news release. "The purpose of this bill is to mirror the process of how the president and vice president of the United States are selected. Both candidates need a unified vision for Pennsylvania, and we have seen in the past how the current system is not adequate for this goal."

Argall's legislation was drafted following reports that Gov. Tom Wolf and former Lieutenant Gov. Mike Stack had seen a deep rift in their working relationship with both individuals openly admitting that they rarely worked or spoke to each other for weeks at a time. When the legislation was introduced, officials like former Republican Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley, former Democratic Lt. Gov. and state party chair Mark Singel, former Republican Lt. Gov. Robert Jubelirer, former Republican State Committee Chairman Alan Novak and former Democratic State Committee Chair T.J. Rooney, all expressed strong support for the bill.

"I take deep pride in this bill because both Democrats and Republicans can get behind it," Argall said. "The Democratic Chairman of the State Government Committee, Sen. Sharif Street of Philadelphia and I continue to work on a bipartisan basis and this bill is just another example of how both sides can come together to pass good legislation."

Argall's legislation was approved by the Senate State Government Committee on Jan. 27 with a bipartisan vote of 10-1. The legislation was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Feb. 23 with a bipartisan vote of 23-1. The legislation was re-reported to the full Senate and is awaiting a full floor vote before moving to the House of Representatives.

This edition of the "Argall Report" will air on:

—Blue Ridge Communications (channel 13) every Monday at 10 a.m. and every Wednesday at 10:30 p.m.

—Berks Community Television (Comcast channel 15 and Service Electric channel 19) on Thursday at 8 p.m. and Friday at 6 p.m.

—Service Electric Cablevision: Hazleton, Mahanoy City; Shenandoah on Hazleton's WYLN-TV 35 channel 507 and MetroCast Communications channel 10. See local listings for air times.

The show is also available at www.senatorargall.com/argallreport.