Bill would dedicate lieutenant governor’s mansion for veterans program, Guard families
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman described a proposal to transfer control of the lieutenant governor’s Fort Indiantown Gap residence to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs as a “win across the board.”
State senators voted unanimously Wednesday to pass the bill, which would require that the property be used to support veterans’ programs and National Guard families.
The bill was sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, a Republican from Jefferson County. It now goes to the House.
Fetterman, a Democrat who served as Braddock’s mayor for 12 years, said he made his views known as the bill was being crafted.
Pennsylvania does not owe me or my family a staffed mansion to live in. The supreme honor and privilege of serving as your LG is many, many multiples more than enough. ?
— John Fetterman (@JohnFetterman) October 23, 2019
“We led the conversation,” said Fetterman. “I said it has to be for the highest best use of the commonwealth. That would never be as a home for myself and my family.”
Fetterman never moved into the 2,400-square-foot residence on National Guard property, opting instead to rent an apartment in the state capital of Harrisburg. The lieutenant governor’s residence is located about 25 miles northeast of Harrisburg.
Fetterman opened the residence’s pool for use by area children in June. His wife, Gisele Fetterman, ran a program to teach water safety.
Those programs are expected to continue if the bill passes, Fetterman said.
The Associated Press contributed.
Jamie Martines is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Jamie by email at jmartines@triblive.com or via Twitter .
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.