Catherine Baker Knoll

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U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) speaks as she attends the state funeral of the late Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker Knoll at the Capitol rotunda.

HARRISBURG -- The late Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker Knoll was remembered at her state funeral Friday as a "transformational" figure who not only cared for all of Pennsylvania's citizens but had the strength to ceaselessly advocate for their needs.

An array of state and national officials gathered in the Capitol rotunda to honor Knoll, who died last week after a four-month battle with cancer. Her casket, carried in to the Capitol and draped in an American flag, will lie in the rotunda until 2 p.m. Saturday.

Knoll was the first female lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania's history, an achievement honored at the ceremony by a longtime friend, Hillary Clinton.

"She shattered that glass ceiling, and she wanted others to do as well," Clinton said.

The state funeral for the late Lieutenant Governor Catherine Baker Knoll will be held in the Capitol rotunda Friday afternoon.

The front entrance to the Capitol has been closed to visitors in preparation for the arrival of several high-profile public officials, including Gov. Ed Rendell and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).

The roughly 45-minute service is expected to begin a little after noon and will include several choir performances and speeches by Clinton, Rendell and newly appointed Lieutenant Governor Joe Scarnati.

The honor guard will deliver the casket into the rotunda, where it will lie until Saturday.

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The death of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll to cancer Wednesday prompted a flurry of statements from politicians and other insiders praising her.

Here is a brief sampling of their words of condolence, sadness and admiration.

State House Speaker Dennis O'Brien (R-Philadelphia):

"Catherine was a determined leader who spent more than a decade serving in two of the Commonwealth's highest elected offices. Her strength and character were plain for all to see and she touched generations of Pennsylvanians. ... I greatly enjoyed working with Catherine, especially during the last two years when we shared duties as presiding officers in the General Assembly. She was a plain-spoken, genuine person and our state has suffered a great loss with her departure."

Even before his No. 2 died of cancer Wednesday night, Gov. Ed Rendell had said he wouldn't be leaving Harrisbug to take a job in the new Obama administration before the end of his term in office.

The passing of Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll would seem to make that a certainty.

If Rendell were to leave, his post would be taken up by President Pro Temp of the Senate, state Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson County). It seems hard to believe Rendell would hand over the reins of state government to the very Senate Republicans who have stifled many of his legislative initiatives, most recently an expansion of health care.

"I don't see a strong Democrat like Ed Rendell making that choice," Christopher Borick, a pollster and political science professor at Muhlenberg College, told The Patriot-News. "I think it's pretty clear to say that the sad loss of Lt. Gov. Baker Knoll has really put a damper on any conversation about the governer moving on before his term ends."

I challenge any one who has met her to recall a story where either a Democratic foe or a Republican had something negative to say about Catherine Baker Knoll. I didn't think so. CBK was a true member of the working class and a true believer in retail politics. Everyone thought of CBK as their surrogate grand-mother. Coming from the blue-collar suburbs of Pittsburgh, CBK never forgot who she was and who she represented. 

CBK started working on campaigns at a young age and it wasn't long before the party asked her to run for state treasurer in 1976. And while CBK lost in the primary that year, she was quickly recognized as a future star of the party for her work ethic and classic grassroots retail politics. Few could connect to voters as well as CBK could. She would lose again in '84 before finally winning the post in 1988. 

In 2002 Ed Rendell knew his weakness was going to be attracting the more conservative Democrats in Western Pennsylvania and reached out to Knoll to help deliver votes in and around Pittsburgh. She did just that. No matter the current battle she was engaged in, CBK always attacked the challenge with a smile and a handshake and while some may have disagreed with her on any particular political issue, few had anything negative to say about her personally.

Catherine Baker Knoll, the first female lieutenant governor in Pennsylvania's history, died Wednesday after battling neuroendocrine cancer. She was 78.

"On behalf of all Pennsylvania, Midge and I extend heart-felt sympathy to Catherine's family," Gov. Ed Rendell said in a statement. "Today we mourn the passing of one of the strongest, most dedicated servants in Pennsylvania's history. Our thoughts and prayers are with Catherine's family. She will be deeply missed."

Knoll passed away Wednesday evening at that National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C.

She will be succeeded by President Pro Temp of the Senate, state Sen. Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson County).

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Ed Rendell

HARRISBURG -- It's the question Gov. Ed Rendell has been asked ad nauseum since Barack Obama's election: Are you leaving for Washington?

His answer Wednesday was the same one he's given every time.

"I'm not going," the governor said a press conference in the Capitol.

He hasn't been asked, he's unlikely to be asked, and he would have to reluctantly decline even if he were, Rendell said.

Politicians make a pact with the people who elected them that they will stay through their term, the governor said, and Pennsylvania's difficult financial situation as tax revenues continue to fall demands his presence.

Projections indicate Pennsylvania could have a revenue shortfall easily topping $1 billion.

"It's important that I stay and accept that challenge and lead us through that challenge," Rendell said.

He did say declining a cabinet position would be a "disappointment" because the opportunity to serve in an Obama administration would be "fun" and "exciting." And after his term expires in 2011, the governor said he'd be happy to consider a position, saying he would "add a great deal" to the commerce, transportation or energy departments.

MINNETONKA, Minn. -- Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll vowed in late August to continue presiding over the state Senate despite her sudden announcement about her battle with a form of cancer.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R-Delaware County) told PolitickerPA.com he's OK with her decision.

"She has shown good stamina in attending sessions from start to finish," he said. "I'm sure if she is fully able to and cleared by doctors, she will continue to do so."

He added, "I'm sure she will keep us advised about the status of her health."

First we at PolitickerPA.com wish the best for Catherine Baker Knoll and will keep her and her family in our prayers.

However, this illness could greatly affect Governor Ed Rendell and his future. If Barack Obama were to win the presidency, an Ed Rendell in the cabinet would be an attractive proposition for the Obama administration. Rendell has been around the block and is a sound political mind that would be a valuable addition to any democratic administration. Rendell has also hinted he would be open to accepting such a position. But CBK’s recent admission of cancer, which she appears to have hidden from the Governor for more than a month, could put a plug in any plans for Rendell to head to DC.

If Rendell were to leave for the administration, Knoll would become Governor and Republican Senate President Joe Scarnati would become the Lt. Governor. Then any health problems which may cause Knoll to leave office would leave a Republican as Governor. While no one wants to think or talk about such a dire situation, it has to go through Rendell’s thought processing. The possibilities of such will likely figure deep into any decision.