Rep. Metcalfe vs. AG Kane, part II

If at first you don't succeed, try and try again.

Just ask Republican state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe. The conservative legislator from Butler County late last year introduced a resolution to impeach Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane over her decision not to defend the state's ban on gay marriage from a federal lawsuit seeking to overturn it.

That resolution has sat in limbo, so Metcalfe has found a new path. As the chairman of the House State Government Committee, he is holding a hearing on Tuesday of next week on a new measure that would impeach Kane for alleged "misbehavior in office," according to a copy of the amendment he is pushing.

Among the examples he gives for the alleged misbehavior: her decision not to defend the state's gay marriage ban and her controversial decision to shut down a sting investigation that had caught five Philadelphia Democrats, including four state lawmakers, on tape accepting money or gifts.

Other beefs that Metcalfe said he will discuss at the hearing: the Kane administration's decision to promote Kane's twin sister shortly after Kane took office in January of last year.

Metcalfe would not say who the witnesses will be at the hearing. He did say that Kane would likely not be one of them, as he's not even inviting her to the hearing.

Kane spokesman J.J. Abbott said the attorney general would have no comment.

For his part, Metcalfe said he believes that Kane has demonstrated "rogue behavior" in office.

"There has been a pattern with this attorney general in not fulfilling the duties of her office and not abiding by the laws of this Commonwealth in the process," said Metcalfe.

The hearing will be at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6 in Room 50 of the Irvis Office Building.

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Angela Couloumbis

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