Yesterday, Harrisburg insider Mike Turzai announced that he is running for governor of Pennsylvania, but his announcement was overshadowed by his disastrous launch.
“Insider Mike Turzai has spent nearly two decades in Harrisburg catering to his donors and special interests instead of hardworking Pennsylvanians,” said Beth Melena, communications director for the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. “Yesterday, his launch for governor was disastrous as media across the state wrote about the handouts he has given to his donors in the oil and gas industry, his responsibility for Pennsylvania’s credit downgrades, his support for drastic cuts to education, his history of blocking access to health care for women and children, and his erratic temper.”
Check out the coverage:
“Campaign records show Turzai has received nearly a quarter-million dollars since 2010 from drilling companies, their political action committees or their trade groups.” [Philadelphia Inquirer, 11/14/17]
“Meanwhile, budgets [Turzai] has helped broker have drawn six credit downgrades going back to 2012, leaving Pennsylvania’s credit rating in the basement.” [Associated Press, 11/14/17]
“As majority leader for all four years under then-Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, Turzai backed deep, budget-balancing cuts in education aid, requirements that abortion clinics meet stricter outpatient surgery center standards and a tougher voter identification law.” [Associated Press, 11/14/17]
“[Turzai] worked to block medical marijuana legislation, but supporters — including some conservatives — overcame his opposition to send it to Wolf’s desk last year.” [Associated Press, 11/14/17]
“Others have described him as mercurial and sometimes erratic behind the scenes. They point to one time when he was spotted banging on the door of the governor’s office amid the budget negotiations, or to a summer weekend summer when he floated an alternative revenue plan that quickly floundered, a move that some felt delayed progress on the budget.” [Philadelphia Inquirer, 11/14/17]