DeWeese Hurt Caltagirone's Feelings

The Inky reports the real motivation behind Caltagirone's antics -- he's got teary eyes because DeWeese wouldn't support Caltagirone for a House leadership position in the Democratic caucus:

The story of why a Democrat from Reading decided to back Republican Rep. John Perzel's desperate bid to remain House speaker goes no deeper than revenge, according to some Democrats. "It's personal, pure and simple," said State Rep. Dwight Evans (D., Phila.), explaining why a 30-year incumbent says he will turn his back on fellow Democrats, throw his lot in with the opposition, and help reelect Perzel today as speaker. Democratic State Rep. Thomas Caltagirone, 64, thought he deserved a leadership job after the November election gave the Democrats a 102-101 majority . . . . DeWeese of Greene County, disagreed. The result . . . was Caltagirone's . . . voting for Perzel as speaker when the Legislature convenes today. "DeWeese did not back him for leadership. That's how this started," Vitali said.

There's more.

{UPDATE: From the AP -- "Newly seated members of the state House of Representatives, in a surprising turn of events, replaced Speaker John Perzel with another Philadelphia Republican, Dennis M. O'Brien, after Democrats were unable to maintain unity in their fragile majority."}