FOCUS ON MOVERS & SHAKERS: David J. "Chip" Brightbill, State senator is power broker...

As the majority leader in the Republicancontrolled Senate, State Sen. David J. "Chip" Brightbill of Lebanon County is one of the key players in the standoff between the General Assembly and Gov. Ed Rendell on the budget.

Among other issues, Brightbill has opposed an increase in the personal

Brightbill also locks horns with the Republican leadership in the House. Legislation that sailed through the House on gambling expansion and lowering medical-malpractice rates earlier this year came to a halt in the Senate.

Brightbill is chairman of the rules and appropriations committees, two of the most powerful in the Senate. The rules committee can send legislation into exile and limit discussion on bills it wants to push through. The appropriations committee assigns funding for a project.

His power is a source of pride in his rural hometown county.

"It certainly is nice to have a leader in that position to go to," said Bob McNary, director of the Lebanon Valley Economic Development Corp.

Economic development officials have no problem tapping the power broker when they need him.

"We always have his ear," said Harriet Faren, president of the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce. "We never have any difficulty in getting to speak to him."

Among other economic development projects, Brightbill worked with PENNDOT to negotiate road improvements for the General Mills warehouse being built in Palmyra. In addition to extending Hersheypark Drive, the improvements will include $8 million in road improvements, McNary said. Brightbill also successfully lobbied local officials to support tax increment financing (TIF), or tax breaks, for the warehouse.

Brightbill helped to get funding for the downtown revitalization of Annville. He is working with the Lebanon Valley Chamber to develop an arts center for Lebanon.

Brightbill, who also represents parts of Berks County, worked with PENNDOT to make road improvements to accommodate Cabela's. The outdoor retail chain opened its largest store near Hamburg, Berks County, in September.

Brightbill also has attracted national attention. In 1995, he wrote legislation to promote the reuse of abandoned industrial sites. This brownfields program was honored as a national model by the Council of State Governments.

In 2001, President George W. Bush came to Pennsylvania to sign a national brownfields law and recognize Brightbill for his work.

Brightbill was district attorney for Lebanon County from 1977 to 1981. After that, he went into private practice with Siegrist, Kohler, Brightbill, Long & Seaman. He was elected to the Senate in 1985.

Brightbill officially gave up his law practice at the end of last year, but he said he had performed little work for the firm since becoming majority leader in 2000.