Pa. House Speaker Keith McCall won't run again

HARRISBURG - After one tumultuous year as state House speaker, Keith McCall surprised colleagues yesterday by announcing that he will not run for reelection in November.

McCall (D., Carbon), who became speaker last January after 27 years in the House, cited family obligations.

"This decision was neither quick nor easy," McCall said in a statement. "The House of Representatives has been my life's work but - after one more year of very hard work yet to come - it will be time to take another step forward in that life for myself, my family and my loved ones."

McCall, 50, has two school-age children and lamented having to miss their sports events and being unable to help with homework because of the long hours in Harrisburg.

Elected at age 22 to fill the seat held by his late father, Thomas J. McCall, McCall presided over the House in a year marked by scandal - though none of it touched him - and by the rancorous 101-day budget impasse.

The House has been shaken by several waves of criminal charges in the so-called Bonusgate investigation, which began nearly three years ago with revelations of state bonuses being paid to legislative staff for political work.

Of 25 individuals criminally charged to date, 15 were connected to the House Democrats - including one of McCall's predecessors, Bill DeWeese (D., Greene), who served as House speaker and later as majority leader.

McCall previously served as Democratic whip, replacing Rep. Mike Veon (D., Beaver), who was among the first individuals charged in Bonusgate with illegally using state employees for political work. Veon's trial is scheduled to start next week.

McCall says he intends to stay on as speaker until his House term ends next January.

Speakers are chosen by the chamber's majority party, but that party could change by next year. Democrats hold a slim 103-97 edge in the House, with three seats vacant.

All 203 seats are up for grabs in November.

McCall vowed yesterday to spend his final year in the House fighting for reform and trying to "restore the public's trust" in the General Assembly, whose approval ratings have dipped to new lows in statewide polling.

Gov. Rendell, in a statement, praised McCall for "moving the progressive agenda forward" and said he would be "sorely missed" in the Capitol.

"In his brief tenure as speaker, he did a terrific job," Rendell said. "His departure from the House will be a very significant loss."