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Mike Turzai

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Mike Turzai
MikeTurzai.jpg
Pennsylvania State House District 28
Incumbent
In office
2001 - Present
Term ends
December 1, 2014
Years in position 12
PartyRepublican
Compensation
Base salary$82,026/year
Per diem$159/day
Elections and appointments
Last electionNovember 6, 2012
First elected2000
Next electionNovember 4, 2014
Term limitsN/A
Education
Bachelor'sUniversity of Notre Dame, 1981
J.D.Duke University, 1987
Personal
ProfessionAttorney
Websites
Office website
www.CandidateVerification.org

Contents

Mike Turzai is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing District 28.

Turzai earned his BA from the University of Notre Dame in 1981. He went on to receive his JD from Duke University in 1987.

After earning his law degree, Turzai began working as an attorney. He has worked for Houston Harbaugh since 1992. He is also currently Assistant District Attorney for Allegheny County.

Turzai is former Vice President of the Bradford Woods Borough Council. In 2000, he served as a Representative at the Republican State Committee. He was then elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in a special election on June 26, 2001. He has served in the Pennsylvania House since. He currently serves as Minority Whip.

Turzai currently serves as the State House Majority Leader, beginning in 2011.[1]

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Turzai served on the following committees:

Pennsylvania Committee Assignments, 2013
• Committees
• Rules, Chair
• Joint State Government Commission

2011-2012

In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Turzai served on these committees:

2009-2010

In the 2009-2010 legislative session, Turzai served on these committees:

Issues

Liquor privatization

In November of 2010, Tom Corbett voiced his support for the privatization of the 621 state liquor stores before he assumed his position as Governor of Pennsylvania. He joined State House Republicans, including Turzai.[2]

On March 5, 2013, Turzai introduced House Bill 790, and the bill was referred to the Liquor Control Committee.[3][4] This bill was the legislative form of Corbett's January 30, 2013, proposal to privatize the state-owned liquor stores and use the revenue to increasing funding for education. The governor's plan would see the state's liquor and wine stores auctioned off, while big box stores, supermarkets, and convenience stores would be able to sell limited quantities of beer and, in the case of big box stores and and supermarkets, wine. Restaurants, already able to sell beer, would be able to sell customers up to six bottles of wine, while retail beer distributors could obtain licenses to sell beer, wine, and liquor, instead of only beer. The auctions and licensing fees would generate an estimated $1 billion over four years. Under Corbett's plan, these funds would be distributed to school districts using a formula based on their student enrollment and income level. The block grants would fund "school safety; early learning; science, technology, engineering and mathematics course programming; and 'individual learning.'"[5] The Commonwealth Foundation, a pro-market think tank, commended Corbett for his privatization proposal. The Foundation noted in a January 30, 2013, press release that Pennsylvania loses tax revenue when residents go to other states to buy alcohol and that the government had spent $10 million to establish its own wine brand to compete against privately owned wineries. Polls showed most Pennsylvanians favored privatization.[6] After HB 790 was reported to the House by the Liquor Control Committee on March 18 and then by the Appropriations Committee on March 21, the House passed the bill 105-90 on March 21.[4] This amended version of the bill would privatize the wholesaling of wine and spirits within one year, require the government liquor stores in any given county to shut down within six months after the number of private stores double those of the government, and provide education credits and civil service hiring preferences to employees of the government stores.[7]

Following its House passage, HB 790 was sent to the Senate. Pileggi reasserted his emphasis on "looking for ways to increase convenience, and selection at a competitive price" rather than privatization. He indicated that bill would be changed before passage in the Senate. Corbett refused to publicly comment on how he would approach negotiations with the Senate but reaffirmed his support for privatization.[8]

Elections

2012

See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2012

Turzai ran in the 2012 election for Pennsylvania House District 28. Turzai ran unchallenged in the April 24 primary and was unchallenged in the general election which took place on November 6, 2012. [9][10]

Turzai was expected to run for the U.S. congress in Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district. On January 25, however, he announced he had ultimately decided against running.[11]

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 28, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark.jpgMike Turzai Incumbent 100% 30,236
Total Votes 30,236

2010

See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2010

Turzai ran for re-election to the 28th District Seat in 2010. He had no primary opposition and defeated Democrat Sharon Brown in the general election on November 2, 2010.[12]

Pennsylvania State House, District 28
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark.jpg Mike Turzai (R) 21,943 77.2%
Sharon Brown (D) 6,465 22.8%

2008

On November 4, 2008, Turzai won re-election to the 2nd District seat of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He received 27,268 votes, defeating Brad Cline (9,521).[13]

Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 28
Candidates Votes Percent
Mike Turzai Green check mark.jpg 21,431 74.1%
Brad Cline 9,521 25.9%

Campaign donors

2012

Campaign donor information is not yet available for this year.

2010

Turzai raised $1,056,542 during the 2010 election cycle.

His top contributors are listed below.[14]

Donor Amount
Scaife, Richard M $55,350
Students First $50,000
University City Housing Co $25,000
Fieler, Sean M $25,000
Barensfeld, David E $25,000
Pennsylvania State Education Association $22,500

Personal

Turzai and his wife, Lidia, have three children.

Recent news

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Mike Turzai News Feed


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External links

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References

  1. ↑ "Republican Caucus Chooses Smith, Turzai, Saylor as New House Leaders," Pennsylvania Independent, November 9, 2010
  2. ↑ "Privatization of State Liquor Stores Could Yield $2 Billion," PA Independent, November 11, 2010
  3. ↑ Brad Bumsted, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Turzai: House could get liquor privatization bill soon," March 5, 2013
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bill information Pennsylvania House Bill 790, accessed on March 7, 2013
  5. ↑ Angela Couloumbis and Rita Giordano, Philadelphia Inquirer, "Corbett's new liquor privatization plan would benefit public schools," February 1, 2013
  6. ↑ Commonwealth Foundation, "Liquor Proposal Delivers Convenience," January 30, 2013
  7. ↑ Katrina Anderson, Commonwealth Foundation, "What's in New Liquor Liberty Bill?," March 18, 2013
  8. ↑ Tony Romeo, CBS Philly, "Pa. House Passes Liquor Store Privatization; Hurdles Loom In Senate," March 21, 2013
  9. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, Official Primary Results
  10. ↑ Pennsylvania Department of State, "2012 Primary Candidate List In Ballot Order," March 26, 2012
  11. ↑ Pittsburgh Post Gazette "Turzai decides against for Congress" Accessed January 26, 2012
  12. ↑ 2010 general election results from the Pennsylvania Secretary of State's office
  13. ↑ Official 2008 state house election results from the Pennsylvania Department of State
  14. ↑ Follow the Money, 2010 campaign contributors to Mike Turzai
Political offices
Preceded by
' 		Pennsylvania House Of Representatives District 28
2001–present 		Succeeded by
NA
v • d • e
Republican majority Current members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
House Speaker: Samuel Smith (R) • House Majority Leader: Mike Turzai (R) • House Minority Leader: Frank Dermody (D)
   
  1. Nicholas Micozzie (R)
  2. Margo Davidson (D)
  3. William Adolph, Jr. (R)
  4. Gregory Vitali (D)
  5. Duane Milne (R)
  6. Thomas Killion (R)
  7. Edward Neilson (D)
  8. Brendan Boyle (D)
  9. Kerry Benninghoff (R)
  10. Kevin Boyle (D)
  11. Michael McGeehan (D)
  12. John Sabatina, Jr. (D)
  13. Michael O'Brien (D)
  14. Mario Scavello (R)
  15. John Taylor (R)
  16. Scott Petri (R)
  17. James Clay (D)
  18. Angel Cruz (D)
  19. W. Curtis Thomas (D)
  20. Brian Sims (D)
  21. Julie Harhart (R)
  22. William Keller (D)
  23. Maria Donatucci (D)
  24. Jordan Harris (D)
  25. Gary Day (R)
  26. James Roebuck, Jr. (D)
  27. Rosemary Brown (R)
  28. Vanessa Brown (D)
  29. Ronald Waters (D)
  30. Louise Williams Bishop (D)
  31. Will Tallman (R)
  32. Pamela Delissio (D)
  33. Michelle Brownlee (D)
  34. Seth Grove (R)
  35. J.P. Miranda (R)
  36. Rosita Youngblood (D)
  37. Stephen Bloom (R)
  38. Cherelle Parker (D)
  39. Stephen Kinsey (D)
  40. Mark Cohen (D)
  41. Dwight Evans (D)


Democratic (90) • Republican (111) • Vacancy (2) • Pennsylvania House of Representatives • Pennsylvania State Senate
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