Harrisburg. The electronic tally board in the State Capitol Building flickered with red and green.
The final numbers settled into place.
The Senate, by a vote of 32 to 18, officially passed the Pennsylvania Comprehensive Infrastructure and Industrial Modernization Act and the Medicine Benefits Transparency and Fairness Bill.
Kaufman sat in the Speaker's chair.
He stared at the result, the gavel in his hand slow to fall.
He had lost.
The Republican Party caucus behind him had lost.
The pharmaceutical giant lobbyists in their Washington K Street offices had lost.
They had used all their resources, exploited every rule, and tried every intimidation tactic.
But they still lost to the young man from Pittsburgh.
Kaufman took a deep breath.
He knew he had to bring down the gavel.
It was the final step of the procedure, and the death knell of the old era.
BANG!
The dull crack of the gavel echoed through the domed hall.
"The bills pass."
