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Mike Turzai

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Mike Turzai
140th Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
January 6, 2015 – June 15, 2020
Preceded bySam Smith
Succeeded byBryan Cutler
Majority Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
January 4, 2011 – January 6, 2015
Preceded byTodd A. Eachus
Succeeded byDave Reed
Minority Whip of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
January 6, 2009 – January 4, 2011
LeaderMike Turzai
Preceded byDave Argall
Succeeded byMike Hanna
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 28th district
In office
July 12, 2001 – June 15, 2020
Preceded byJane Orie
Succeeded byRob Mercuri
Personal details
Born (1959-08-02) August 2, 1959 (age 65)
Sewickley, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLidia Turzai
EducationUniversity of Notre Dame (BA)
Duke University (JD)

Michael Coyne Turzai (born August 2, 1959) is an American politician and former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives who served as Speaker of the House. He is from Allegheny County and represented the 28th legislative district between 2001 and 2020.[1][2] His district included the municipalities of Pine Township, Marshall Township, Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, and McCandless.[3] Turzai served as the House Majority Leader from 2011 until 2015, and was elected Speaker in January 2015. He was a candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania in 2018[4] until he suspended his campaign in February 2018.[5] He resigned from his House seat in 2020; after leaving office, he became general counsel for Peoples Gas, a subsidiary of Essential Utilities.

Education and personal life

[edit]

Turzai was born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Moon Township and attended Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School in Coraopolis. He earned a B.A. in English from the University of Notre Dame in 1981 and his J.D. degree from Duke University School of Law in 1987.[6][7]

Turzai is married to Lidia Turzai, a pediatrician. They have three children and live in Marshall Township in Allegheny County.[6][7]

Early career

[edit]

Turzai was an assistant district attorney for Allegheny County from 1988 to 1992, when he joined Houston Harbaugh, a law firm in Pittsburgh. He practiced law with Houston Harbaugh through 2004, and remains Of counsel with them.[8][9]

Prior to serving in the legislature, Turzai served as the vice president of the Bradford Woods Borough Council. He was also a former representative to the Republican State Committee in 2000.[10]

He is also a former member of the Pine-Marshall-Bradford Woods Police Board.[10]

Political career

[edit]

1998 U.S. House of Representatives election

[edit]

In 1998 Turzai ran to represent the 4th District in the U.S. House against Democratic incumbent Ron Klink. He won the Republican primary by a large margin, with 54.25% of the vote to David F. Miller's 24.45% and Paul Adametz's 21.26%,[11] but was defeated by Klink in the general election, 64-36%.He was strongly criticized by local media for hiring a helicopter to circle over his opponent's home, and for hiring a camera crew to ambush his opponent.[12]

2001 special election

[edit]

In 2001 he was elected to the Pennsylvania House, winning every precinct in the 28th district against attorney Thomas Dancison in a special election to fill the seat of Jane Orie, who had replaced Melissa Hart in the state Senate in 2000.[13]

In November 2010 Turzai was elected majority leader after the elections which gave the House a 21-seat majority by Republicans. He had also previously served as minority whip.

[14] He was majority leader from 2011 to 2014.

Turzai was House Majority Leader in June 2011 when it passed the amended "Fair Share Act", a tort reform bill that largely repealed Pennsylvania's common law doctrine of joint and several liability.[15]

On November 15, 2016, Turzai was chosen by House Republicans to be speaker-designee of the House of Representatives. On January 6, 2017, he was unanimously elected as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for a second term.[16]

Committees

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Because of his role as Speaker, Turzai sits on all committees in an ex-officio capacity.[17] He actively serves on the Committee on Committees and the Committee on Rules.[18]

Legislative ratings and endorsements

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In 2017 Turzai was given a 91% rating by the National Federation of Independent Business (which endorsed him in October 2016) and an 80% rating by the American Conservative Union.[19]

In 2016 he was given a 0% rating by the Sierra Club but a 25% rating by the Sierra Club PA. That same year he received a 92% rating by the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.[19]

The NRA Political Victory Fund endorsed Turzai in 2014 with an "A" rating.[20] As of 2017 he holds a 93% NRA rating.[19]

2018 gubernatorial campaign

[edit]
Main article: 2018 Pennsylvania gubernatorial election
Turzai at a campaign rally

On November 14, 2017 Turzai officially announced he would run for governor in 2018, challenging Democratic incumbent Tom Wolf.[21] Others in the Republican primary field included Scott Wagner, R-York; Paul Mango, a former health care director with McKinsey & Company; and Jones Day attorney Laura Ellsworth.[22]

During the primary race Turzai also ran to retain his 28th District House seat, defending against Democrat Emily Skopov; had he won the primary, Turzai would have been required to vacate his legislative seat. He remained speaker throughout the election season.[23]

During a campaign stop in December 2017, Turzai said as governor he would prioritize "Fiscal responsibility, a balanced budget, school accountability and increased investments in career and technical education." He said that if he was unable to bring about those changes during a first term, he would not seek a second term. State representative Kathy Rapp and state Senator Scott Hutchinson endorsed his candidacy with supporting remarks.[24]

As of February 2018, Turzai had $1.2 million in his campaign account.[25]

On February 10, 2018, Turzai announced to the state Republican Party Committee that he would no longer be running for governor, following the party endorsement of Scott Wagner.[5]

Retirement

[edit]

On January 23, 2020, Turzai announced from his district office that he would be retiring from office at the end of his current term, to seek opportunities in the private sector.[26] Turzai later announced that he would retire on June 15, 2020, prior to the end of his term.[27] One day after leaving office, Turzai was named general counsel for Peoples Natural Gas.[28] At the time the appointment was announced, commentators noted Turzai's support of the natural gas industry while he served as a state representative.[29][30]

Issues

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Cannabis

[edit]

Turzai is vehemently against the legalization of medical cannabis in Pennsylvania. He was reported to break down in tears when discussing the subject in a meeting with the GOP caucus.[31][32] Turzai is also fiercely opposed to legalizing adult-use cannabis in the state.[33][34]

Education

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In 2010, one of Turzai's top campaign contributors was the Pennsylvania State Education Association, which represents more than 187,000 Pennsylvania teachers and educators. The association gave him $22,500.[35]

In September 2016 Turzai advocated increasing tax credits to Pennsylvania businesses that contributed to scholarship funds that help low income people send their children to private schools.[36]

On October 26, 2017, Turzai publicly asked several public universities within Pennsylvania to freeze tuition for the 2018-2019 school year for in-state residents. The universities that he asked were the University of Pittsburgh, Penn State University, Temple University, and Lincoln University. After a state budget was passed at the end of October, those schools along with the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine stood to receive more than $600 million for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.[37]

Also in October 2017, Turzai voted yes on HB 178 to amend the Pennsylvania Public School Code in various ways. Through his yes vote on the bill, Turzai supported: allowing school boards to suspend teachers for various reasons, including economic reasons, and that suspensions must be based on performance ratings; making schools practice armed intruder or terrorism drills; delaying the use of the Keystone Exams as a graduation requirement until the 2019-2020 school year; and requiring schools to provide a school meal to any student who asks for one, regardless of ability to pay. The bill also requires instruction on opioid abuse to students in grades 6-12.[38]

In December 2016, Turzai announced that he would author a bill to increase tax credits for education. Specifically, his bill would "increase the amount of tax credits available under the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program by $50 million (to $175 million) and the amount of tax credits available under the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) program by $25 million (to $75 million)." He said his purpose in introducing the legislation was to increase school choice and "help more students escape from failing schools."[39]

Turzai introduced three education-related bills during the 2017 session:

  • HB 202: Creates certain exemptions from the Keystone high school graduation exam for career and technical education (CTE) students. Passed the legislature and was signed into law on June 21, 2017, becoming Act No. 6.[40][41][42]
  • HB 250: Increases tax credits for certain state educational tax credit programs. Passed the House on March 13, 2017, but not signed into law.[43][44][45][46]
  • HB 700: Increases the number of seats in charter schools. The bill didn't pass either legislative chamber.[47][48][49]

Guns

[edit]

On April 1, 2008, Turzai voted against an amendment to HB 1845 (Reporting Missing Firearms). The amendment would have made it a summary offense, first degree misdemeanor, and then a third-degree felony (for each subsequent violation) for a person to fail to report a lost or stolen firearm to law enforcement within three days of discovering it missing.[50]

On October 5, 2010, he voted in favor of HB 40 (Self Defense Law Amendments), which passed the House by a vote of 159-38. The bill would have expanded the sets of circumstances in which a person would be allowed to use force for self-defense.[51]

In October 2014, Turzai voted in favor of HB 1243 (Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws). The bill would have authorized "any 'individual adversely affected' by any firearm law enacted by a county, municipality, or township to seek declaratory or injunctive relief and actual damages in an appropriate court," according to Project Vote Smart.[52]

Hate crimes

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In 2017, Turzai cosponsored HR 161, "A Resolution condemning acts of hate and vandalism against the Jewish community."[53]

Health care

[edit]

During a campaign stop in 2017, Turzai said that growing jobs in the private sector is the key to providing people with good health insurance. "The private sector providing family sustaining jobs is the key to making sure our folks have good health benefits," he said.[54]

Keystone Energy Enhancement Act

[edit]

On December 20, 2016, Turzai introduced the Keystone Energy Enhancement Act, which he had sponsored in previous legislative sessions. The bill would set up 20 "Keystone Energy Enhancement Zones" across the state. Within these zones, natural gas, manufacturing, and petrochemical companies which operate within the zones would receive numerous tax deductions, exemptions, and credits for 10 years, as well as a $1,250 tax credit for each full-time job created within a zone.[55]

Natural gas severance tax

[edit]

Turzai has been opposed to a severance tax and impact fee on natural gas.[56] During his campaign for governor, Tom Wolf pledged to tax Marcellus Shale.[57] Turzai opposed Wolf's plan.

In July 2017, the Pennsylvania State Senate leadership proposed a tax that would vary based on market prices.[57] In September 2017, a Pennsylvania House committee voted 15-11 along party lines to amend a bill to "rechristen" the impact fee that has been assessed on shale gas wells since 2012 as a severance tax.[58] Turzai spoke at a news conference sponsored by opponents of the shale tax. He said that he is "steadfastly opposed" to the push for a vote on the bill as well as a vote on the severance tax itself.[58]

At the end of October 2017, the state legislature passed a budget and sent it to Governor Wolf for his signature. The revenue bills as part of the budget did not contain a new tax on natural gas drilling companies, which the governor had wanted but Turzai opposed. However, after receiving the budget from the legislature, the governor continued to push for a natural gas severance tax. Earlier in 2017, the governor had proposed a 6.5% severance tax on natural gas production.[59]

Privatization of liquor stores

[edit]

In Pennsylvania alcohol is sold through a state-run chain of stores called Fine Wine & Good Spirits.[60] The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board owns and operates 600 of these stores throughout the state.[61]

After being elected governor in 2010, Tom Corbett expressed his support of privatizing Pennsylvania's 621 state liquor stores and in January 2013 announced his proposal for privatization. In March 2013, Turzai introduced the legislation for Corbett's plan, HB 790, which would privatize the state-owned liquor stores with the state using the revenues for education.[17][62][63]

On February 14, 2017, Turzai likened the enactment of state liquor reforms with taking Pennsylvania "into the 21st century and out of the era of Prohibition," referring to Act 39 which allowed for privatization of wine in private retail licenses, among other provisions. He announced that he would introduce legislation that would divest the state's wholesale system for both wine and liquor. Turzai supports eliminating the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's role in acting as the middle-man in wine and spirit distribution.[64][65] He supports divesting state-controlled wholesale system of wine. He said, "Divestiture will "free the wine" by allowing retailers to negotiate pricing on products and by allowing them to have those products delivered directly to retail markets."[66] Later he introduced HB 1075, which was passed in the House by a vote of 105-84 and was referred to the Senate Law and Justice Committee.[65]

In April 2017, the Pennsylvania state House passed several bills, sponsored by Turzai,[67] to privatize wholesale wine and spirits sales and expand alcohol retail outlets in Pennsylvania.[61] The Patriot-News called Turzai "the leading voice for privatization in the Legislature."

Turzai introduced HB 975 which would divest the wholesale wine business from the Commonwealth and expand wine retail licenses. He also introduced HB 1075 which would divest the wine and spirits business from the Commonwealth. Both bills passed the state House on April 25, 2017.[68][69][70][71][72][73]

State budget and taxes

[edit]

As of October 2017, Pennsylvania has been in a "budget stalemate" since June between Pennsylvania state Senate and House Republicans and Democrats and Governor Tom Wolf.[74] As of the end of September 2017, legislators and Governor Wolf were putting together a new proposal to solve the budget stalemate.[75] House Republicans, led by Turzai, wanted to avoid raising taxes and instead expand legal gambling and use a one-time transfer of $630 million that would come from surpluses and special state accounts. As of October 1, 2017, legislators came to a tentative deal that would pass a revenue package (that would include a small expansion of gambling) that does not increase taxes.[76]

On June 30, 2017, the state House overwhelmingly passed House Bill 218, a bipartisan budget agreement, which, according to Turzai, "answers the challenge to deal with a potential $3 billion shortfall and begins the process of reinventing Pennsylvania government."[77] After the bill passed, Turzai said, ". . . this budget does not rely on onerous job-crushing tax hikes originally proposed by the governor. This bipartisan, no income or sales tax increase budget places priorities on core government functions . . ."[78] Since 2001, Pennsylvania's general fund budget has grown from $20 billion per year to $31.5 billion. In an op-ed that Turzai published in Penn Live, he questioned, "Has government has become 50 percent more efficient? Have we increased our services by half? Certainly, family incomes haven't risen at that rate. Census calculations show median family income in our state rising by a mere 13.5 percent over the same time period."[79] Turzai supports zero-based budgeting. The way he describes it is "a system in which we start from zero and build a budget according to what Pennsylvania - and its taxpayers - can afford."[79]

State gambling

[edit]

Turzai supported a 2013 bill, passed in the House, that would have approved an expansion of gambling in the state. According to Turzai, the fact that the bill would add money to the state budget was one of his reasons for supporting the issue.[35][80]

The budget passed by the legislature at the end of October 2017 included a major expansion of legalized gambling, which Turzai supported and would bring in $200 million for the current fiscal year. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Gambling expansion had been a sticking point as legislators struggled to close the deficit that was more than $2 billion." The gambling bill allows the state to license 10 casinos that could have between 300 and 750 slot machines and 30 table games. It also allows some truck stops to have up to five video gaming terminals. Turzai led the negotiations for the budget, which passed the House by a vote of 109-72, sending it to the governor.[59]

Transportation

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Turzai supports investing taxpayer dollars into upgrading the state's infrastructure. In 2013, he introduced a bill that would have spent $900 million for "deteriorating highways, mass transit systems, and bridges," according to Ballotpedia.[35]

Voter ID law comment and controversy

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Speaking to the Republican State Committee on June 23, 2012, Turzai stated that Pennsylvania's new[81] voter ID law would "allow Governor [Mitt] Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania" in the November 2012 U.S. Presidential election. He listed the goals that the majority-Republican legislature had achieved toward that end: "Pro-Second Amendment? The Castle Doctrine, it's done. First pro-life legislation—abortion facility regulations—in 22 years, done. Voter ID, which is going to allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done."[82][83] According to CBS Philadelphia, "Turzai's spokesman defends his boss's comment, saying Turzai meant that assuring voter integrity will make for a fairer election."[84]

Turzai's comment heightened national debate and concern over whether the goal of the voter ID laws then being passed in Republican-controlled states was actually to check voter fraud or to set obstacles against "elderly, disabled, low-income people and the homeless, plus married women who have changed their names, transgender individuals, and students who have photo IDs that don't list an expiration date",[84][85][86] in Pennsylvania an estimated 750,000 of whom were already registered voters, as acknowledged by the state.[87] A lawsuit had been filed in April challenging "Act 18," the new law, signed in March, which amended the Election Code's definition of "proof of identification" to include only certain forms of ID as acceptable.[88][89][90] Before the suit went to court in July, the state "signed a stipulation agreement with lawyers for the plaintiffs which acknowledges there 'have been no investigations or prosecutions of in-person voter fraud in Pennsylvania; and the parties do not have direct personal knowledge of any such investigations or prosecutions in other states.'"[91] In August, in a statement praising the Commonwealth court for upholding Act 18, Turzai said, "It is unfortunate, but there has been a history of voter fraud in Pennsylvania. The elections in the Commonwealth will be on a more level playing field thanks to voter ID and other recent election reforms."[92]

The plaintiffs appealed to the state supreme court, which vacated the lower court's decision and sent it back. Justice McCaffrey wrote, "While I have no argument with the requirement that all Pennsylvania voters, at some reasonable point in the future, will have to present photo identification before they may cast their ballots, it is clear to me that the reason for the urgency of implementing Act 18 prior to the November 2012 election is purely political. That has been made abundantly clear by the House Majority Leader.".[90] That month during a Fox News debate with state senator Daylin Leach, Turzai claimed that the legislation, for which no Democratic representative had voted,[87] had bipartisan support, and argued that it "is really just about presenting voter identification, which you do when you're buying Sudafed at a drugstore, or going to a place to buy beer, or to a gym, or going to an airport."[93]

Voting

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On September 26, 2017, Turzai voted in favor of HB 171, legislation that would allow any registered voter to be appointed a poll watcher in any district in the state. The legislation also requires that poll watchers must be registered electors and residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.[94]

Water

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In May 2017, Turzai announced he would introduce a bill to place the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) under the oversight of the state's Public Utility Commission (PUC). He said that over the last year, the media had recounted several issues facing the residents of Pittsburgh with regards to the PWSA and water including incorrect billing, system leaks, and what he described as "non-compliance with federal water quality mandates." He later introduced his bill, HB 1490, on June 2 with state Rep. Harry Readshaw. The state House passed the bill by a vote of 195-0.[95][96]

Wikipedia editing

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Between 2013 and 2017 an editor or editors traced to the Pennsylvania House Republican caucus in Harrisburg repeatedly edited Wikipedia articles on Turzai and other Pennsylvania Republicans.[97]

Electoral history

[edit]
Mike Turzai delivering a speech

U.S. Congress

[edit]

In 2012, Turzai was expected to announce a run for the U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania's then-new 12th congressional district. On January 25, however, he announced he had decided against running.[98]

Pennsylvania House of Representatives

[edit]
Pennsylvania’s 28th District House of Representatives election, 2016[99]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Turzai 24,327 65.25
Democratic John Craig Hammond 12,958 34.75
Total votes 37,285 100
Pennsylvania’s 28th District House of Representatives election, 2014[100]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Turzai 17,146 100.00
Pennsylvania’s 28th District House of Representatives election, 2012[101]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Turzai 30,236 100.00
Pennsylvania’s 28th District House of Representatives election, 2010[102]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Turzai 21,943 77.24
Democratic Sharon Brown 6,465 22.76
Total votes 28,408 100.00
Pennsylvania’s 28th District House of Representatives election, 2008[103]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Turzai 27,268 74.12
Democratic Brad Cline 9,521 25.88
Total votes 36,789 100.00
Pennsylvania’s 28th District House of Representatives election, 2006[104]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Turzai 19,850 71.31
Democratic John Henry 7,988 28.69
Total votes 27,838 100.00
Pennsylvania’s 28th District House of Representatives election, 2004[105]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Turzai 25,488 73.23
Democratic Bradley Cline 9,317 26.77
Total votes 34,805 100.00
Pennsylvania’s 28th District House of Representatives election, 2002[106]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Turzai 16,802 100.00

Campaign finance

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Based on campaign finance records, Turzai has raised a total of $7,440,095 for his elections.[35]

  • 2016: $2,599,751
  • 2014: $727,061
  • 2012: $1,240,179
  • 2010: $1,119,234
  • 2008: $897,998
  • 2006: $369,196
  • 2004: $238,078
  • 2002: $248,598

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Cox, Harold (November 3, 2004). "Pennsylvania House of Representatives - 2001-2002" (PDF). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
  2. ^ "Representative Mike Turzai (PA)". Project Vote Smart. 2008. Retrieved September 12, 2008.
  3. ^ Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Representative Mike Turzai". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
  4. ^ Associated Press. "Pennsylvania House Speaker Mike Turzai to run for Pa. governor". TribLive. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Mike Turzai Cancels Governor Bid, Scott Wagner Accepts Republican Endorsement". February 10, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "Representative Mike Turzai". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  7. ^ a b "PA State Rep. Mike Turzai - About Me". repturzai.com. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  8. ^ "Mike Turzai". Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
  9. ^ "Michael C. Turzai". Houston Harbaugh, P.C. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  10. ^ a b "Mike Turzai's Biography". Vote Smart. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  11. ^ "1998 U.S. House of Representatives Results". Federal Election Commission.
  12. ^ "Moral Victory: The Turzai campaign". old.post-gazette.com. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  13. ^ O'Toole, James; Robinson III, Edward G. (June 27, 2001). "Turzai easily wins Orie's House seat". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  14. ^ "The House's Top Republican, Mike Turzai". StateImpact Pennsylvania. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  15. ^ Jessica M. Karmasek (June 27, 2011). "Fair Share Act passes Pa. House, ready to become law". legalnewsline.com.
  16. ^ "Lawmakers take oaths as Pa. legislature opens". philly-archives.
  17. ^ a b "Mike Turzai - Ballotpedia". Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  18. ^ "Representative Mike Turzai". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  19. ^ a b c "Mike Turzai's Political Summary". Vote Smart. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  20. ^ "NRA-PVF | Grades | Pennsylvania". NRAPVF. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  21. ^ Scolforo, Mark; Levy, Marc (November 14, 2017). "Mike Turzai running for Pennsylvania governor". The Morning Call. Associated Press. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  22. ^ Venteicher, Wes (November 16, 2017). "State House Speaker Mike Turzai's campaign for governor begins to take shape". The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  23. ^ Navratil, Liz (November 15, 2017). "Pa. House Speaker Mike Turzai: 'We're lacking a leader in the governor's office'". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  24. ^ Cotton, Josh (December 16, 2017). "Candidate for governor, Turzai stops in Warren". Times Observer. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  25. ^ Baer, John (February 6, 2018). "Crowded field for race for GOP gubernatorial candidate". Lancaster Online. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
  26. ^ Routh, Julian (January 23, 2020). "Pa. Speaker Mike Turzai will retire from state House after current term". Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  27. ^ Delano, Jon (June 10, 2020). "Pa. House Speaker Mike Turzai Officially Announces He Will Step Down". CBS Pittsburgh. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  28. ^ Gough, Paul J. (June 16, 2020). "A day after leaving Pennsylvania General Assembly, Turzai has new job". Pittsburgh Business Times. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  29. ^ Micek, John (June 17, 2020). "Mike Turzai just went to work for the gas industry. The revolving door keeps spinning". Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
  30. ^ Krauss, Margaret (June 16, 2020). "Ex-House Speaker, A Gas Industry Ally, Joins Gas Utility". 90.5 WESA. Associated Press.
  31. ^ "Medical Marijuana Brings Speaker Turzai to Tears". Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  32. ^ Murphy, Jan (November 19, 2015). "Closed-door medical marijuana debate brings House speaker to tears: sources". pennlive.
  33. ^ Madonna, Terry; Young, Michael. "PoliticsPA". Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  34. ^ "Now is the Wrong Time to Promote Marijuana | Speaker of the PA House Mike Turzai". www.repturzai.com. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  35. ^ a b c d "Mike Turzai - Ballotpedia". Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  36. ^ Woodall, Martha (October 16, 2016). "Turzai wants more tax-credit scholarships for nonpublic schools". Philly.com.
  37. ^ Schackner, Bill (October 27, 2017). "Legislative leader urges Pa. universities to freeze tuition and fees". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  38. ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart.
  39. ^ Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
  40. ^ "House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda".
  41. ^ "Bill Information (History) - House Bill 202; Regular Session 2017-2018".
  42. ^ "Bill Information - House Bill 202; Regular Session 2017-2018".
  43. ^ "Bill Information - House Bill 250; Regular Session 2017-2018".
  44. ^ "Bill Information (History) - House Bill 250; Regular Session 2017-2018".
  45. ^ "House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda".
  46. ^ "Fiscal note. 2017" (PDF). legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  47. ^ "Bill Information - House Bill 700; Regular Session 2017-2018".
  48. ^ "Bill Information (History) - House Bill 700; Regular Session 2017-2018".
  49. ^ "House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda".
  50. ^ "A 6178 to HB 1845 - Reporting Missing Firearms - Key Vote". Vote Smart. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  51. ^ "HB 40 - Self Defense Law Amendments - Key Vote". Vote Smart. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  52. ^ "HB 1243 - Authorizes Civil Action against Local Firearm Laws - Key Vote". Vote Smart. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  53. ^ Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Bills by Sponsor". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
  54. ^ Sylvester, Joe (December 27, 2017). "Pa. House Speaker: Health care solution is in private sector". The Daily Item. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  55. ^ Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
  56. ^ "The House's Top Republican, Mike Turzai". StateImpact Pennsylvania. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  57. ^ a b "Natural gas takes a starring role in Pa. Senate's tax plan". PennLive.com. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  58. ^ a b "Pennsylvania could finally get a severance tax — by giving the impact fee a new name". PowerSource: Energy News. In Context. - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
  59. ^ a b Navratil, Liz; Couloumbis, Angela (October 27, 2017). "End of state budget impasse now up to the governor". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 3, 2017.
  60. ^ "PA House approve bills to privatize retail liquor sales". WPMT FOX43. April 26, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  61. ^ a b "End of state stores? House approves bill to sell off Pennsylvania's liquor system". WTAE. April 26, 2017. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  62. ^ Bumsted, Brad. "Turzai: House could get liquor privatization bill soon". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  63. ^ Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Bill Information - House Bill 790; Regular Session 2013-2014". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
  64. ^ Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
  65. ^ a b Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "Bill Information - House Bill 1075; Regular Session 2017-2018". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
  66. ^ Center, Legislativate Data Processing. "House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
  67. ^ "'Free the wine' bill among liquor privatization moves being consideration in Pa. House". PennLive.com. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  68. ^ "Bill Information - House Bill 975; Regular Session 2017-2018".
  69. ^ "Bill Information (History) - House Bill 975; Regular Session 2017-2018".
  70. ^ "House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda".
  71. ^ "Bill Information - House Bill 1075; Regular Session 2017-2018".
  72. ^ "Bill Information (History) - House Bill 1075; Regular Session 2017-2018".
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  74. ^ "House GOP sees progress in overdue Pennsylvania budget talks". LancasterOnline. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  75. ^ "Stop us if you've heard this one before, but Pa. budget logjam shows signs of easing". PennLive.com. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
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  77. ^ "PA State Rep. Mike Turzai - House Passes No Tax Increase Bill". www.repturzai.com. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  78. ^ "PA State Rep. Mike Turzai - Bipartisan State Budget Heads to Governor, Highlights House Republican Effort to Reinvent PA Government, Leaders Say". www.repturzai.com. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
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  80. ^ Boehm, Eric. "Gambling expansion bill heads to Pennsylvania Senate". Watchdog.org. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  81. ^ Hirschkorn, Phil (March 15, 2012). "Strict voter ID law passes in battleground Pennsylvania". CBS News. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  82. ^ Olson, Laura (June 26, 2012). "Turzai's voter ID remark draws criticism". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  83. ^ Turzai: Voter ID Will Allow Romney to Win Pa. YouTube. June 25, 2012.
  84. ^ a b Romeo, Tony (June 26, 2012). "Democrats Unhappy With GOP Comments About The New, Controversial Voter ID Law « CBS Philly". cbslocal.com.
  85. ^ Cooper, Michael (June 25, 2012). "Pennsylvania's Voter ID Law Spurs Debate". The New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  86. ^ Lee, Suevon (July 30, 2012). "Everything you need to know about voter ID laws". PBS. ProPublica. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
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  88. ^ "Act of Mar. 14, 2012, P.L. 195, No. 18, Pennsylvania Election Code - Omnibus Amendments". Pennsylvania General Assembly.
  89. ^ The bill was sponsored by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, who in the spring of 2008 had sponsored a predecessor bill with the same name, the Pennsylvania Voter Identification Protection Act (House Bill 2519). "Metcalfe Unveils U.S. Supreme Court Approved, Nationally Favored Pennsylvania Voter ID Protection Act". repmetcalfe.com. May 13, 2008. Retrieved December 4, 2017. The 2012 bill that passed, H. B. 934, was known as Act 18.
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  98. ^ McNulty, Timothy; Olson, Laura (January 24, 2012). "Turzai decides against run for Congress". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
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  102. ^ "Pennsylvania Elections - County Results". www.electionreturns.pa.gov.
  103. ^ "Pennsylvania Elections - County Results". www.electionreturns.pa.gov.
  104. ^ "Pennsylvania Elections - County Results". www.electionreturns.pa.gov.
  105. ^ "Pennsylvania Elections - County Results". www.electionreturns.pa.gov.
  106. ^ "Pennsylvania Elections - County Results". www.electionreturns.pa.gov.
[edit]
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Preceded by Majority Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
2011–2015 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
2015–2020 		Succeeded by
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