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Will he be whip or whipped?
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And the question most seem to be asking is whether Bill DeWeese, the present House majority leader, will be among them.
The embattled legislator from the 50th District has had to fend off the specter of the Bonusgate scandal, an issue at the core of his re-election bid earlier this month. DeWeese was successful in winning another term, defeating Greg Hopkins in what DeWeese described as "the dirtiest campaign of my career."
Whether DeWeese can "win" a leadership post remains to be seen.
"I will, in all probability, run for majority whip," he said Friday. And he indicated he will throw his support to Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, for the position of majority leader.
"He (Eachus) has been at the head of our campaign committee, and over the last many months he helped deliver the majority by an overwhelming work ethic," DeWeese said.
As far as the House speaker is concerned, DeWeese thinks Keith McCall, D-Carbon, who DeWeese said brings "exceptional vigor and talent to the assignment," is a logical choice.
But nothing, DeWeese said, is "foreordained," including his bid to become whip.
DeWeese has to hope the pre-election calls for him to either bow out of his re-election bid or step down immediately from his majority leader position were nothing more than statements from colleagues hoping to further their own political agendas.
One particularly strong attack came from Rep. David Levdansky, D-Elizabeth, who indicated interest in the majority leader post but has since withdrawn his name from contention. Levdansky said DeWeese had the authority and responsibility to oversee his staff and needs to relinquish his nomination to "restore faith and confidence" in the House.
DeWeese has steadfastly held he knew nothing about the improprieties associated with Bonusgate and continues to say he cooperated fully with the state attorney general's investigation.
Adding some intrigue to the election of whip is the candidacy of Rep. Pete Daley, D-California, who, along with DeWeese and others, constitute the House representation from Southwestern Pennsylvania. DeWeese expects some serious competition "when you have a large number of representatives from Allegheny County and Philadelphia and one from Greene County."
Daley thinks the scandal forced DeWeese to reconsider another run for majority leader.
"I think Bill DeWeese is the face of Bonusgate, and I don't think members are happy," Daley said. "I know Bill hasn't been indicted, but, almost ceremonially by the media, he has been identified as the key guy in this despite denying any involvement."
Daley running against DeWeese for whip could split the votes of representatives from this corner of the state. Regardless, Daley is confident because, he said, he has built "substantial support" from legislators across the state.
"I try to make my deals, and (DeWeese) makes his," Daley said. "If we're both in it when it hits the voting floor, I think it's a good thing for the people of Southwestern Pennsylvania."
And what if DeWeese is not elected to any leadership positions on Tuesday?
"I think it will be cataclysmic for him personally," Daley said.
