Rep. Turzai Comments on Proposed Tax Increase Bill - 6/16/2010
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The Pennsylvania House this week debated and then shelved legislation that would have imposed a $317 million tax increase to help cover more than $1 billion in additional state spending proposed by the governor earlier this year. The tax plan introduced by House Democrats included a proposed severance tax on the extraction of natural gas that has been characterized as the highest in the nation.* House Republican Whip Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) said the tax proposal could put a halt to the growth of development in the natural gas industry in Pennsylvania. Mike Davies Reports - Story and Bite available.
Rep. Turzai Comments on Taxpayer Protest Rally in Harrisburg - 6/8/2010
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Taxpayers and lawmakers joined together for the annual Pennsylvania State Capitol Taxpayers Protest Tuesday in Harrisburg. Speaking at the event were representatives of more than 10 taxpayer groups who spoke in opposition to the budget plan put forth by the Rendell Administration to increase state spending by more than $1 billion and boost taxes to cover skyrocketing state deficits. Republican Whip Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) said the governor’s history of higher taxes and increased spending has damaged Pennsylvania’s economy and the time has come for change. Mike Davies Reports - Story and Bite available.
Rep. Turzai Says Reform and Privatization of PA Liquor Sales Will Help Consumers & Taxpayers - 4/21/2010
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Legislation to privatize the wholesale and retail sale of wines and liquor in Pennsylvania was unveiled Wednesday in Harrisburg. House Republican Whip Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny), sponsor of the bill said the sweeping reform of the state owned liquor control system and privatization of retail sales would help both consumers and taxpayers in Pennsylvania. Mike Davies reports from the state capitol... story and alternate bite available.
Republican Whip Mike Turzai Says Privatizing Liquor Sales Should Part of the Solution to PA's Looming Budget Deficit - 4/21/2010
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At a time when mushrooming annual budget deficits have become a fact of life in Harrisburg, lawmakers are looking for new sources of funding, including the privatization of some traditional functions of state government. House Republican Whip Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) announced Wednesday that he feels the time has come to bring in new state revenues by modernizing the way liquor is sold in Pennsylvania. Mike Davies reports from the state capitol... story and bite available.
Rep. Turzai Comments on Governor's Budget Address - 2/9/2010
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Governor Rendell proposed nearly a billion dollars in new state spending during his budget address Tuesday before a joint session of the General Assembly in Harrisburg. Details of the plan include a broadening of state sales and business taxes to help pay for a predicted increase of state expenses in the coming years. Rep. Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) said the Governor is being deceptive about tax increases in order to feed his appetite for increased spending. Mike Davies Reports – Story and Bite available.
Rep. Turzai Comments on Governor's Tactic of Leveraging Hostages to Gain Support for Gaming Expansion - 12/17/2009
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The state House this week failed to move forward with passage of legislation to expand gambling in Pennsylvania by legalizing table games. House Republican Whip Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) condemned the efforts by the governor and House Democrats to hold funding for state related universities and the jobs of state employees hostage until a gaming expansion bill is approved. Mike Davies Reports – Story and Bite available.
Rep. Turzai Says Students & Universities Should Not Have Been Held Hostage During the Gambling Debate - 12/14/2009
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After strong pressure from House Republicans, the state House tonight finally approved state funding for Penn State, Pitt, Lincoln and Temple Universities. House Republican Whip Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) spoke on the House floor in support of a call by Rep. Kathy Watson to put the vote on university funding first, rather than continue a long and unnecessary debate on expanded gambling. Mike Davies reports... story and bite available.
Rep. Turzai Says House Democrats Holding University Funding Hostage for Gambling Vote - 12/10/2009
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After being called in for an extra legislative session day and spending hours waiting for a debate that never really got off the ground, House lawmakers were left wondering this week why the crucial funding bills for Pennsylvania’s state related universities never came up for a vote. Rep. Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) the House Republican Whip, said Democrat leaders are continuing to hold students and universities hostage until they can muster support for their version of gambling expansion. Mike Davies reports...
Rep. Turzai Comments on Efforts to Eliminate Fraud In Department of Public Welfare - 11/10/2009
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Welfare reform legislation to help eliminate blatant fraud discovered in the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare's special allowance program has been introduced in Harrisburg. House Republican Whip Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) sponsored the bill that is designed to crack down on significant fraud and waste recently revealed in a report by the Auditor General. House Republican lawmakers say the Auditor General's report indicates a potential 100 million in taxpayer dollars could be saved by improving oversight of DPW's special allowance program alone. Chuck Nichols Reports - Story and Bite available.
Rep. Turzai Comments on Hearing Addressing Property Tax Re-Assessment - 10/29/2009
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Property reassessment and how recent litigation involving assessment procedures in Allegheny County may affect property owners was the topic of a hearing held by House lawmakers Thursday in Gibsonia. House Republican Whip Mike Turzai (R-Bradford Woods) said members of the Republican Policy Committee heard testimony from experts about reassessments and what improvements need to be made to the process to ensure fairness to taxpayers. Mike Davies Reports - Story and Bite available.