Bryan Dean Cutler[1] (born April 2, 1975) is an American politician and former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.[2] A Republican, Cutler represents the 100th legislative district of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.[3] He was first elected in 2006, defeating incumbent Gibson C. Armstrong.[4] He was elected House Majority Leader after the 2018 elections,[5] and he became Speaker on June 22, 2020, after the resignation of Mike Turzai.[6]

Bryan Cutler
Minority Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Assumed office
February 8, 2023
Preceded byJoanna McClinton
141st Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
June 22, 2020 – November 30, 2022
Preceded byMike Turzai
Succeeded byMark Rozzi
Majority Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
December 1, 2022 – February 8, 2023
Preceded byKerry A. Benninghoff
Succeeded byJoanna McClinton
In office
December 1, 2018 – June 22, 2020
Preceded byDave L. Reed
Succeeded byKerry A. Benninghoff
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 100th district
Assumed office
January 2, 2007
Preceded byGibson C. Armstrong
Personal details
Born
Bryan Dean Cutler

(1975-04-02) April 2, 1975 (age 48)
Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJennifer Cutler
Children1
EducationLebanon Valley College (BA)
Widener University (JD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life and career edit

Cutler was born in Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania and attended Solanco High School.[7] He graduated from Lancaster School of Radiology in 1995 and earned a bachelor's degree from Lebanon Valley College in 2001.[7] He worked as an X-ray technologist at Lancaster Regional Medical Center and as a Manager of Support Services at Lancaster General Hospital.[8] In 2006, he earned a J.D. degree with a certificate in health care from Widener University School of Law.[7]

He served on the Drumore Township Planning Commission and represented Drumore Township in the Regional Planning Commission.[9]

Pennsylvania House of Representatives edit

He was first elected in 2006, defeating incumbent Gibson C. Armstrong, who voted against the controversial 2005 legislative pay raise.[10] Despite his initial vote against the pay raise Armstrong later filed paperwork to receive it angering many of his constituents.[11]

In 2014, in response to paychecks being subject to the state taking union dues from them, Cutler put forth a proposal to have this discontinued.[12] Cutler argued that the state ought to stay out of the handling of union dues because the state is aware that a certain percentage of union dues is used for political purposes including lobbying and paying for ads.[12]

In 2015, Cutler voiced some of the worries he had about Governor Tom Wolf's proposed severance tax.[13] Cutler said, “If we’re gonna stunt the economic growth and future impact I think we have to consider that.”[13]

Later in 2015, following the terror attacks in Paris, Cutler supported keeping Syrian refugees out of Pennsylvania.[14] Governor Tom Wolf's permitting of Syrian refugees into the state was criticized by Cutler and other Pennsylvania Republicans.[14] Cutler has said, “there is a real difference between those that seek peace and security and those that would use this opportunity to advance terrorism.”[14]

In 2016, Cutler co-sponsored a memorandum in support of House Bill 1948, which was put forth by State Representative Kathy Rapp.[15] The bill's purpose was to make it so that abortions in Pennsylvania would only be permitted during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.[15] Cutler, along with Rapp and Representative Bryan Barbin, wrote in the memorandum that the bill would also put a stop to dismemberment being used as an abortion method.[15]

Cutler supports the Atlantic Sunrise natural gas pipeline passing through Lancaster County.[16] Due to concerns involving private property and nature reserves, a request was made to have the pipeline re-routed.[17] However, believing that it would be less of a problem for roads, streams and properties, residents of Conestoga Township and Martic Township petitioned in favor of the first proposed route.[17] Cutler was given these petitions.[17]

Cutler was against legalizing medical cannabis in Pennsylvania and opposed a bill that would do so.[18][19] He cited the illegal federal status under the Controlled Substances Act, the opioid epidemic, and other concerns.[20][21][22]

Following the 2020 presidential election, Cutler was subject to a pressure campaign by President Donald Trump and his allies to help overturn Trump's defeat in Pennsylvania. Cutler resisted these efforts, stating that the state legislature did not have the power to decertify election results. Cutler would later sign on to a letter urging members of the U.S. Congress to vote against certifying the election.[23]

References edit

  1. ^ "CUTLER, Bryan Dean" (PDF). House.state.pa.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  2. ^ Hall, Peter (December 12, 2022). "Cutler Takes Oath as House Republican Leader Days after Dems Declare Control of Special Elections". Pennsylvania-Capital Star. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  3. ^ "SESSION OF 2007 191ST OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY No. 1" (PDF). LEGISLATIVE JOURNAL. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 2007-01-02. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  4. ^ "2006 General Election - Representative in the General Assembly". Commonwealth of PA - Elections Information. Pennsylvania Department of State. 2004. Archived from the original on 2008-11-27. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  5. ^ "Officers of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives". Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  6. ^ Scolforo, Mark (June 22, 2020). "House votes to make Republican Rep. Cutler its next speaker". Erie News Now. Associated Press. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c "Representative Bryan Cutler (PA)". Project Vote Smart. Project Vote Smart. 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  8. ^ "Rep. Bryan Cutler Biography". Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus. 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  9. ^ "GET TO KNOW BRYAN!". RE-ELECT BRYAN CUTLER. Friends of Bryan Cutler. Archived from the original on 2008-12-30. Retrieved 2009-01-20.
  10. ^ "County GOP voters reject 3 incumbents". Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, PA). LancasterOnline.com. 2006-05-17.
  11. ^ "Pay raise protests slam PA legislators". Intelligencer Journal (Lancaster, PA). LancasterOnline.com. 2005-09-27.
  12. ^ a b Frantz, Jeff (28 January 2014). "Bill would stop Pennsylvania from collecting union dues from paychecks". PennLive.com. PA Media Group. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  13. ^ a b Owens, Dennis (11 February 2015). "Wolf, as promised, lays out his plan to tax gas drillers". ABC27. Media General Communications Holdings, LLC. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  14. ^ a b c Alexandersen, Christian (17 November 2015). "'The security of Pennsylvanians must take priority': Republican lawmakers want to ban Syrian refugees". PennLive.com. PA Media Group. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  15. ^ a b c WHTM Staff (1 April 2016). "Pa. bill would expand abortion act". ABC27. Media General Communications Holdings, LLC. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  16. ^ LNP, Philip R. Wenger. "We must protect Lancaster County's own Yellowstone". LancasterOnline. LancasterOnline. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  17. ^ a b c Crable, Ad. "FERC to consider gas pipeline re-routing away from Solanco properties". LancasterOnline. LancasterOnline. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  18. ^ "Kudos to Pennsylvania Lawmakers for Passing Medical Marijuana Bill". Lancaster Online. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Gov. Wolf: PA should take a 'serious and honest look' at legalizing recreational marijuana". Billy Penn.
  20. ^ McGoldrick, Gillian. "From Lt. Gov. Fetterman's Listening Tour, 67% of Lancaster County Residents Say They're Ready for Recreational Marijuana". Lancaster Online. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Now is the Wrong Time to Promote Marijuana | PA House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler". www.repcutler.com.
  22. ^ "House GOP leaders: 'No interest in legalizing recreational marijuana'". Times Leader. 29 September 2019.
  23. ^ White, Jaxon (March 12, 2024). "Cutler backs Trump for president, says he's worried about 2024 election integrity". LancasterOnline. Retrieved 13 March 2024.

External links edit

Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Preceded by Majority Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
2018–2020
Succeeded by
Preceded by Majority Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
2022–2023
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minority Leader of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
2023–present
Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
2020–2022
Succeeded by