Scarnati sworn in, pledges to work with Rendell

HARRISBURG -- State Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson County) was officially sworn in Wednesday afternoon as Pennsylvania's 31st lieutenant governor during a brief ceremony in the Senate chamber.

The new lieutenant governor gave a short speech after being sworn in, saying he hoped he and Gov. Ed Rendell, who was in attendance, could work together during the next two years.

He and the governor need to put aside partisan disagreements when possible, Scarnati said, to craft a vision for what they want the state to look like in 2020.

"We need to have a vision," Scarnati said. "We have to have a vision for the future."

Rendell spoke after Scarnati and agreed with the new lieutenant governor that the two officials will be able to work together. Pennsylvania faces severe economic difficulties in the coming year, Rendell said, and he will work with the Republican to help the state weather the storm.

"I believe crisis is just a good excuse to make positive change happen," Rendell said.