Turzai, affable yet intense, had bounded from his office with legal pad in hand, apologizing for his informal look - jeans and V-neck sweater - on the day before the session is to begin.
The five-term legislator from the Pittsburgh suburbs ascends to the post when the state's budget crisis is dominating the agenda. He takes over from Sam Smith (R., Jefferson), who is expected to be elected speaker by his GOP colleagues on Tuesday.
Since Turzai was first elected to the House in 2001, he has worked his way through the Republican leadership ranks as policy chairman and minority whip by focusing on a pro-business agenda and taking Democratic Gov. Rendell to task for what he calls profligate spending.
"You can't grow government and grow the private sector," says Turzai, who has pushed for lower business taxes and an end to frivolous lawsuits, an agenda he says "never really got traction" under Rendell.
Administration officials, of course, beg to differ. "Gov. Rendell has reduced the capital stock and franchise tax and ended lawsuit 'venue shopping,' and that has greatly reduced the number of lawsuits, which has turned around the exodus of physicians from Pennsylvania," spokesman Gary Tuma says.
Turzai says he expects Republican Gov.-elect Tom Corbett to be open to private-sector-driven initiatives he has been championing without success.
Last year Turzai authored a bill to privatize the state liquor stores, a goal that eluded two previous Republican governors. His version died in the Democratic-ruled state House.
But that was then and this is now. Turzai's party won firm control of the House in November. With Senate Republicans maintaining their grip and a Republican in the executive suite, the political stars are aligning in support of Turzai's agenda.
