Bill DeWeese is the only rural Democrat since World War II to serve as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the oldest elected body in America. He was the first non-lawyer to be chairman of the House Judiciary Committee in the modern era. In his current position as House Majority Leader, Rep. H. William “Bill” DeWeese has helped to reshape the agenda in the General Assembly to reflect the needs of working families. His past work directing the House Floor debate on expanded gaming earned him accolades throughout the state, and as Majority Leader, he has standing appointments to dozens of the most powerful boards and commissions in the Commonwealth. From basic and special education funding equity to property tax reform, from access to quality health care to the expansion of prescription drug benefits for senior citizens, Bill DeWeese is shaping the debate from his post at the helm of the most dynamic caucus in the Pennsylvania legislature – the House Democratic Caucus.

DeWeese was born April 18, 1950, in Pittsburgh and raised in rural Greene County by his parents Vic and Dotty. After receiving a History degree from Wake Forest University, he joined the United States Marine Corps on graduation day, attended Officer Candidate School and served as an active duty Marine officer, 1972-1975. Upon returning to Greene County, DeWeese was elected to the state House in a special election in 1976 and has served the 50th district (all of Greene and parts of Fayette and Washington Counties) ever since. He is a lifelong resident of Waynesburg, the largest municipality in his district (pop. approx 4,500).

DeWeese’s ascent through the upper echelons of House Democratic Leadership began when he was elected by his colleagues as Majority Whip in 1988. Upon the death of Speaker of the House James J. Manderino, DeWeese was elected House Majority Leader in January 1990, serving in that position until he was elected Speaker of the House for the 1993-94 term. He became House Minority Leader in 1995 and when the House Democratic Caucus regained the Majority in 2006, he returned to the post of Majority Leader.

Many of DeWeese’s legislative priorities are directly tied to his strong rural roots.

• He has helped to bring over $40 million in grants and loans to the 50th District to address sewer and water infrastructure needs.
• His work with both Governor Robert Casey and Governor Tom Ridge resulted in two state correctional facilities being built in his district, eventually providing over 1,500 family-sustaining jobs, not to mention millions of dollars in economic development spin-off revenue.
• His strong leadership on behalf of sportsmen and his lifetime membership in the National Rifle Association have earned him an “A+” voting record on Second Amendment issues.
• Prior to the election of Governor Ed Rendell, DeWeese was the highest ranking Democrat in the state committed to protecting a woman’s right to choose.

As an elected leader, DeWeese has worked with the business community to promote a legislative agenda that supports the creation and retention of family-sustaining jobs in Pennsylvania. He has opened dialogues with the leaders of the banking industry, certified public accountants, real estate brokers, the biotechnology industry and the emerging technology industry, all of which led to tax cut proposals designed to spur economic growth and create family-sustaining jobs.

He has traveled to 64 countries, scaled the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as mountains in Morocco, Ecuador, Peru, Switzerland and the Himalayas of Northern India. He has bicycled across Italy, France, Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. On four occasions he has presented lectures to the Berlin Historical Association in the Federal Republic of Germany. He spent three months in Israel, once for a month working on a kibbutz, tending to avocado fields within sight of the West Bank. He is a life member of the NAACP and the NRA, and a member of the board of the George C. Marshall Foundation.

Bill brings a unique historical perspective to the House Floor, a result of his intense study of one topic per year. He is currently examining Islamic studies, having already finished 19th century American writers, the history of World War II, French Impressionism, World War I, the American Revolution, Jewish history, Shakespeare, the American labor movement, the American Civil War, African-American history and the history of Christianity. A lifelong fitness buff, his hobbies include weight training, bicycling and swimming.