Bryan Cutler

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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 (age 48–49)
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJennifer[1]
Children3[1]
EducationLebanon Valley College (B.S.)
Widener University (J.D.)
WebsiteOfficial website

Bryan Dean Cutler[2] (born 1975) is an American politician and former Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.[3] A Republican, Cutler represents the 100th legislative district of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.[4] He was first elected in 2006, defeating incumbent Gibson C. Armstrong.[5] He was elected House Majority Leader after the 2018 elections,[6] and he became Speaker on June 22, 2020, after the resignation of Mike Turzai.[7]

Early life and career[edit]

Cutler was born in 1975 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania,[8] the son of Joyce and Gary Cutler.[1] He graduated from Solanco High School in 1993.[8] Cutler earned certification from Lancaster School of Radiology in 1995 and received a bachelor of science degree from Lebanon Valley College in 2001. In 2006, he earned a juris doctor degree from Widener University School of Law. Cutler also has a certificate in health care from Widener. He worked as an X-ray technologist at Lancaster Regional Medical Center and as a Manager of Support Services at Lancaster General Hospital.[9]

Cutler served on the Drumore Township Planning Commission.[8]

Pennsylvania House of Representatives[edit]

Cutler was first elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 2006 after challenging incumbent Representative Gibson C. Armstrong in the Republican primary election. His victory came after Armstrong filed to accept perks from the controversial 2005 legislative pay raise, despite voting against it.[10][11] Cutler has been re-elected continuously since then.[8]

In 2014, Cutler drafted a bill that would have removed the state's role in deducting dues from the paychecks of municipal and teacher union members. He cited the 10 percent of union dues used for political ads and lobbying as the primary reason for removing state involvement.[12] The bill was never voted on by the House.[13] Cutler later voted in favor of a similar, but unsuccessful bill in 2017.[14]

In 2015, Cutler voiced concerns about the potential economic impact of Governor Tom Wolf's proposed severance tax on gas drilling, stating, “If we’re gonna stunt the economic growth and future impact I think we have to consider that.”[15]

Later in 2015, following terror attacks in Paris, Cutler voiced concerned about terrorists potentially entering Pennsylvania alongside Syrian refugees and signed onto a letter encouraging Governor Wolf to reverse his decision to allow refugees into the state.[16][17]

In 2016, Cutler co-sponsored a memorandum in support of House Bill 1948, which was put forth by Representative Kathy Rapp. The bill's purpose was to make it so that abortions in Pennsylvania would only be permitted during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy because of a fetus's ability to feel pain after the time parameter, violating the measure would be considered a third-degree felony. 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.[18]

Cutler has opposed legalizing recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania.[19] He has cited potential complications in criminal and financial statutes,[20] marijuana's illegal federal status,[21] and the opioid epidemic.[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, but he would later sign on to a letter urging members of the U.S. Congress to vote against certifying the election.[23] His resistance to overturning the election results resulted in Cutler facing a rightwing primary challenger in 2022 and 2024, both of whom he soundly defeated. The challengers specifically attacked Cutler's support for Act 77 of 2019, the law that established no-excuse mail-in voting, something Trump falsely claimed enabled mass voter fraud;[24][25] Cutler has defended his vote for Act 77, but contends it was "hijacked" away from its original purpose by the courts.[26]

Leadership positions[edit]

Cutler was first elected by the Republican Caucus as majority whip in 2014. In 2018, Cutler was chosen as majority leader following the retirement of Leader Dave Reed.[27] Sixteen months after assuming the role of majority leader, Cutler was voted in as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives after Mike Turzai resigned as Speaker on June 15, 2020.[14][28] After Republicans lost their majority in the 2022 election, Cutler declined to be the party's nominee for speaker and returned to the leader position.[29][26]

Electoral history[edit]

2006 Pennsylvania house of Representatives Republican primary election, District 100[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bryan Cutler 3,776 58.41
Republican Gibson C. Armstrong (incumbent) 2,685 41.53
Write-in 4 0.07
Total votes 6,465 100.00
2006 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 100
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bryan Cutler 12,606 98.42
Write-in 203 1.58
Total votes 12,809 100.00

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Janesch, Sam (November 18, 2018). "Rep. Bryan Cutler is bringing his Solanco roots to the highest level of state politics". LNP | LancasterOnline. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  2. ^ "CUTLER, Bryan Dean" (PDF). House.state.pa.us. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "SESSION OF 2007 191ST OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY No. 1" (PDF). LEGISLATIVE JOURNAL. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 2007-01-02. Retrieved 2009-01-09.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Officers of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives". Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  7. ^ Scolforo, Mark (June 22, 2020). "House votes to make Republican Rep. Cutler its next speaker". Erie News Now. Associated Press. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c d "Bryan D. Cutler". Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Representative Bryan Cutler (PA)". Project Vote Smart. Archived from the original on September 30, 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ Commero, Lynn (May 18, 2006). "Cutler upsets Armstrong in 100th". Daily Local News. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  11. ^ Lardner, Charles (September 27, 2005). "Pay raise protests slam Pa. legislators". LNP | LancasterOnline. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  12. ^ Frantz, Jeff (January 27, 2014). "Bill would stop Pennsylvania from collecting union dues from paychecks". PennLIVE Patriot-News. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  13. ^ "House Bill 1507; Regular Session 2013-2014 | Bill Information - Votes". Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  14. ^ a b Caruso, Stephen (June 22, 2020). "Mr. Speaker: Lancaster County Rep. Bryan Cutler takes the gavel". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ Alexandersen, Christian (November 17, 2015). "'The security of Pennsylvanians must take priority': Republican lawmakers want to ban Syrian refugees". PennLIVE Patriot-News. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Lancaster County Legislators Respond to Syrian Refugee Crisis and Potential Terrorist Threats". Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus. November 17, 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  18. ^ Snyder, Miles (1 April 2016). "Pa. bill would expand abortion act". ABC27. Media General Communications Holdings, LLC. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  19. ^ Hughes, Sarah Anne (December 19, 2018). "Gov. Wolf: PA should take a 'serious and honest look' at legalizing recreational marijuana". Billy Penn. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  20. ^ McGoldrick, Gillian (September 30, 2019). "From Lt. Gov. Fetterman's Listening Tour, 67% of Lancaster County Residents Say They're Ready for Recreational Marijuana". LNP | Lancaster Online. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Now is the Wrong Time to Promote Marijuana". House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler. September 25, 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  22. ^ O'Boyle, Bill (September 29, 2019). "House GOP leaders: 'No interest in legalizing recreational marijuana'". Times Leader. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  23. ^ White, Jaxon (March 12, 2024). "Cutler backs Trump for president, says he's worried about 2024 election integrity". LNP | LancasterOnline. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  24. ^ White, Jaxon (April 8, 2024). "Incumbent state Rep. Cutler faces challenger from the right in 100th District". LNP | LancasterOnline. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  25. ^ White, Jaxon (April 24, 2024). "Rep. Bryan Cutler beats conservative primary opponent in contentious state House race". LNP | LancasterOnline. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  26. ^ a b Caruso, Stephen (April 24, 2024). "Pa. election 2024: Bryan Cutler survives primary challenge, Kevin Boyle loses Pa. House seat". Spotlight PA. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  27. ^ Janesch, Sam (November 13, 2018). "Peach Bottom Rep. Bryan Cutler tapped for majority leader, putting him in powerful statewide role". LNP | LancasterOnline. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  28. ^ Caruso, Stephen (June 22, 2020). "With Cutler at the helm, Pa. House GOP promises new ideas, hands-off style". Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  29. ^ Caruso, Stephen (January 6, 2023). "The behind-the-scenes story of Mark Rozzi's surprising rise to Pa. House speaker". Spotlight PA. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  30. ^ "May 16, 2006 - General Primary | REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 100th District". Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 13 June 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
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