Senate GOP, Wolf in showdown over police commissioner vote
HARRISBURG (AP) – The Republican-controlled Senate is poised to reject Gov. Tom Wolf’s nomination of Col. Marcus Brown as commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police.
The Senate GOP’s vote is expected Monday, after Brown meets Republican senators in a closed-door question-and-answer session.
It comes amid disputed circumstances, and Brown’s rejection would mark a low point in the increasingly ugly relationship between Republican senators and the new Democratic governor. Republicans say they must take the vote Monday, or risk seeing Brown confirmed automatically.
But Democrats say Republicans can wait until Tuesday, the 25th session day after Brown’s nomination was submitted. That’s when a new Democratic senator is being sworn in, but Republicans say it won’t change the outcome.
If he’s rejected, Brown can continue serving as acting commissioner, as he has since January.