Pennsylvania: Hd Leadership Battle

Embattled state representative Bill DeWeese has once again survived and retained a high-profile leadership position in the House Democratic caucus -- majority whip.

It's a demotion for the majority leader, who was also once House Speaker, but he'll surely take it after being implicated in connection with "Bonusgate" and facing the calls from more than a dozen colleagues to step down earlier this year. 

State Rep. Bill DeWeese (D-Greene County) said in an interview with The Observer-Reporter last week that he will not run for re-election as majority leader.

He'll vie for majority whip instead, he told the paper, while supporting state Rep. Todd Eachus (D-Luzerne County) for his old position.

HARRISBURG -- It's the question Gov. Ed Rendell has been asked ad nauseum since Barack Obama's election: Are you leaving for Washington?

His answer Wednesday was the same one he's given every time.

"I'm not going," the governor said a press conference in the Capitol.

He hasn't been asked, he's unlikely to be asked, and he would have to reluctantly decline even if he were, Rendell said.

Minus their Senate counterparts, members of the state House return to session Wednesday afternoon for the first day of their lame-duck session.

Session is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., with several committee meetings planned through the day. And don't be surprised to see Democratic leaders criticizing Senate Republicans at some point for not returning to work on health care legislation, as the governor asked them Monday.