Pennsylvania needs to go in a different direction and state Rep.
Mike Turzai believes he’s the man to point the way.

The Republican, who represents a part of Allegheny County and is
running for lieutenant governor, stopped in Bradford Wednesday to
explain why he could be a compass for Pennsylvania.

“We need to make significant changes and take Pennsylvania in a
different direction,” he said.

Turzai’s platform is threefold: more fiscal responsibility; a
cleaner, more open government; and more economic help for
employers.

The lawmaker said the state has not been fiscally responsible –
with the spending rate increasing by 6.1 percent. That, in addition
to borrowing money, has set up a bill for future generations to pay
back.

Turzai also said he was against the massive pay raise lawmakers
gave themselves in July. The raise, which was subsequently
repealed, was backed by the House leadership. Turzai, however, said
he told the leadership as early as November 2004 that it would be a
mistake to vote for the pay raise and take the money.

“We need a more open process than what it has been,” he said.
Government “is not that accountable. It needs to be more open …
There needs to be a more open process than what it has been.”

But helping employers currently doing business in Pennsylvania
is Turzai’s primary focus.

“There needs to be a more competitive economic environment,” he
said.

Turzai pointed to the Keystone Manufacturing Initiative, which
he introduced. It calls for lowering business taxes, which in turn,
would help businesses turn a profit and stay in the state.

The initiative also aims at making Pennsylvania more
business-friendly.

“They are the real heroes,” he said of businesses. “They work
day in and day out, make a good product … keep their customers
happy,” as well as be active in the community.

“We have not gone out and said ‘thank you for being here,'” he
said. “It lies in our hands. Make a competitive environment …
without employers, you don’t have jobs. Without good paying jobs,
you don’t have solid schools and community.

“The employers are not the enemy. We need them to have a
thriving community and schools.”

This includes a bill Gov. Ed Rendell vetoed before Christmas
that would increase the cap on carry-forward net operating losses
from $2 million to $10 million over the next four years.

Currently, Pennsylvania caps the amount of loss a company can
carry forward from one year to the next to be used against a profit
in any one future tax year.

Turzai said this cap puts Pennsylvania at a disadvantage as
compared to other states, and is part of a burdensome tax climate
that keeps corporate employers from flourishing.

“A seed will not take if in infertile ground without sunshine,”
he said.

Turzai also said he’s been a proponent of lawsuit reform,
calling the legal system “out of control” enticing people to name
as many defendants as possible since a plaintiff could collect the
entire amount allowed through pain and suffering.

Part of what Turzai believes makes him a viable candidate is
that he’s a team player as well as a leader.

“Real leaders are team players. We need a good team player.
Build a coalition in and out.”

He also has the backing of about 50 of his colleagues in the
state House, support which he said was “very humbling for their
willingness to help let me move into a position of leadership.”

Part of that is not making it personal and keeping politics
about policy and being a good listener.

“We have got an archaic government bureaucracy. For what?”

While he thinks some government agencies like the Liquor Control
Board are not necessary, he does believe those that build on the
infrastructure – like transportation – are necessary.

Of those running for governor, Turzai said he would like to lead
with Bill Scranton, who has experience in both the public and
private sectors. He would support whoever wins the gubernatorial
primary, though.

Turzai said he was propelled to run because he was disenchanted
over what has happened in Harrisburg over the last two years.

“A lot has changed,” he said.

For himself, running for lieutenant governor is a way to help
him in the direction of leadership.

“This is a good opportunity to be able to help the party state
their case … improve Pennsylvania.”