Seven months into his first term as Pennsylvania’s governor, two of Democrat Josh Shapiro’s picks for top cabinet posts haven’t been confirmed by the state Senate. 

In practice, the distinction between an acting and confirmed secretary is minimal — they have essentially the same powers as cabinet officials approved by state senators.

But Debra Bogen's continued service leading the Department of Health has roiled at least two Republican lawmakers who now want to curtail the powers of acting secretaries. 

Read Spotlight PA's full report: Why some of Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s cabinet picks still have ‘acting’ next to their title

THE CONTEXT: Shapiro recalled Bogen’s nomination in late June after it became clear she did not have the votes to be confirmed by the GOP-controlled state Senate. 

Bogen, a pediatrician, had served as the head of the Allegheny County Health Department during the first years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Republican leadership attributed the lack of support to Bogen’s “past management work.”

Two GOP state senators say that allowing acting secretaries to perform their duties without lawmakers’ approval permits the governor and his cabinet to evade oversight set up in the state constitution.

Now, they're backing a constitutional amendment that would limit the powers of such secretaries.

—Bill Hagan, the former president of the Media Little League, on the team’s appearance in the Little League World Series.