Keith R. McCall is the 136th Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, having been elected by his peers on January 6, 2009. He is the first Speaker from Carbon County in the 327-year history of the General Assembly.

Since 1982, Speaker McCall has served the people of Carbon County, having been elected to fill the vacancy left in the General Assembly by the death of his father – Thomas J. McCall. In his role as Speaker, he pledges to restore the public’s pride and confidence in government and to stand for the ideals of Pennsylvania’s founders, while continuing to move forward a legislative agenda that addresses the needs of all Pennsylvanians.

He has never lost sight of his small town values even as he works to bring high-tech jobs and major economic development to Pennsylvania and the rapidly growing region of Carbon County. He recognizes that the strength of individual communities determines the overall vitality of the Commonwealth.

Speaker McCall has focused on preserving and promoting Pennsylvania’s rich history and heritage through heritage tourism. Pennsylvania’s history in large part is the story of the growth of the nation. Visitors to Pennsylvania have many opportunities to visit historically-significant sites throughout the Commonwealth.

Additionally, he has been a staunch advocate for protecting another of Pennsylvania’s valuable resources – its state park system. Each year, outdoor enthusiasts travel from all over the northeast and the nation to enjoy the rafting, climbing and cycling on Pennsylvania’s many trails, and hunters and anglers know that the Keystone State is one of the best destinations year-round.

Throughout his years in office, Speaker McCall has supported a legislative agenda that promotes small business growth. He believes that small businesses create a majority of the state’s jobs and has advocated for the investment of state grants for small business development throughout the Commonwealth.

Speaker McCall served on a number of prominent committees, including Consumer Affairs and Transportation. Prior to becoming Speaker, he served as Majority Whip (the second ranked position in the House), earning the reputation of a hard-working lawmaker who always stands up for the little guy. Among his many accomplishments, he authored legislation that delivered more than $55 million to improve railroad infrastructure in Pennsylvania, creating tens of thousands of jobs at industrial sites around the Commonwealth. Additionally, he authored and advocated for stronger laws to protect Pennsylvanian consumers from fraudulent home improvement contractors. Because of his efforts, Pennsylvanians can now access a database to learn about contractors who are registered to do business in Pennsylvania.

Some of his other key initiatives are working to improve access to affordable prescription medicine for senior citizens; expanding property tax relief for all homeowners and leading the charge for the total elimination of the tax; and ensuring that Pennsylvania is a leader in implementing green energy generation to reduce its dependence on foreign oil.

Born December 16, 1959 in Coaldale, he is the youngest son of Mary Ann Guardiani McCall and the late state Representative Thomas J. McCall. He graduate from Marian Catholic High School and attended Penn State University and Harrisburg Area Community College. He began his career in public service as a field auditor with the Pennsylvania Department of Auditor General, working to make sure that tax dollars were wisely spent. He is married to the former Betty Wehr. They are the proud parents of two children: a daughter, Courtney and a son, Keith II.

In his district, Speaker McCall is a member of the Summit Hill Lions, the Summit Hill Diligence Fire Company, the Knights of Columbus and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He is a founding/charter member of the Panther Valley Renaissance, the Carbon County Partners for Progress and the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce. He is the past president of the Panther Valley Irish-American Association.