After two months of counting ballots and political intrigue, the Pennsylvania House has a new speaker.

• Position: People & Politics - Brief article

After two months of counting ballots and political intrigue, the Pennsylvania House has a new speaker. It also has a new majority. The Democrats claimed control of the House after a recount Dec. 21 gave Barbara McIlvaine Smith a 27-vote victory over her GOP opponent. That gave the Democrats a one-seat margin after 12 years of Republican rule. But the new speaker is Republican. Representative Dennis M. O'Brien won the post 105-97, when six Republicans joined nearly all the Democrats to oust Republican Speaker John Perzel. Democratic Leader Bill DeWeese dropped out of the race when he...