Evans out

    The Democratic caucus of the Pennsylvania House has narrowly voted Dwight Evans out of the seat of clout he’s held for decades.

    Rep. Joseph Markosek of Allegheny County edged out the Philadelphia lawmaker this afternoon in a vote for ranking Democratic member of the powerful Appropriations Committee, which helps direct the flow of dough from Harrisburg.

    The vote was 46-43.  The Democratic caucus shrank to 91 members after the party’s rough outing in the mid-term elections.

    “There wasn’t much I could say” to change dissidents’ minds, Evans told WHYY’s Scott Detrow after the vote. 

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    Evans had been majority chairman in the now-concluding session of the General Assembly, positioning him to channel a generous flow of dollars to Philadelphia and his home base in West Oak Lane and the 203d district.

    The challenge to Evans stemmed from a general dissatisfaction among the rank and file with the caucus leadership that couldn’t avert a bloodbath at the polls on Nov. 2.

    The Dems also picked a new minority leader, Frank Dermody.

    Listen for Scott’s full reports at the 7 p.m. newscast and tomorrow morning on 90.9 FM.

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