HARRISBURG - The new Appropriations Committee chairman for the state Senate Republicans is Jake Corman, who represents a portion of Union County.

The position was decided in a closed-door, secret ballot vote held Thursday to set the party's leaders for the new two-year legislative session that begins in January.

The job was up for grabs because Sen. Gibson Armstrong of Lancaster County retired. Corman is in his third term. His district includes Hartleton and New Berlin and the townships of Hartley, Lewis and Limestone townships in Union County, as well as all of Juniata County and portions of Centre, Mifflin, and Perry counties.

The Republicans nominated Joe Scarnati of Jefferson County to serve a second term as president pro tempore. The full Senate will vote on his nomination in January.

The GOP also elected Dominic Pileggi of Delaware County to a second term as floor leader.

The GOP holds a nine-seat majority in the Senate.