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Prior to his first campaign for state representative, Rozzi ran his family’s window and door installation business,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Couloumbis |first1=Angela |last2=Caruso |first2=Stephen |title=What Mark Rozzi’s record can tell us about what kind of Pa. House speaker he’ll be |url=https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/01/pa-legislature-house-speaker-mark-rozzi-clergy-abuse-profile/ |access-date=15 January 2023 |work=Spotlight PA |date=January 6, 2023}}</ref> which he sold in 2018. Rozzi is divorced and has one daughter.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Scolforo |first1=Mark |title=Unexpected Pennsylvania House speaker hopes to retain job |url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-republican-party-philadelphia-pennsylvania-reading-4eac839ebae67353e93929305ebbb7c9 |access-date=3 February 2023 |work=[[Associated Press|AP News]] |date=January 31, 2023}}</ref> |
Prior to his first campaign for state representative, Rozzi ran his family’s window and door installation business,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Couloumbis |first1=Angela |last2=Caruso |first2=Stephen |title=What Mark Rozzi’s record can tell us about what kind of Pa. House speaker he’ll be |url=https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/01/pa-legislature-house-speaker-mark-rozzi-clergy-abuse-profile/ |access-date=15 January 2023 |work=Spotlight PA |date=January 6, 2023}}</ref> which he sold in 2018. Rozzi is divorced and has one daughter.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Scolforo |first1=Mark |title=Unexpected Pennsylvania House speaker hopes to retain job |url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-republican-party-philadelphia-pennsylvania-reading-4eac839ebae67353e93929305ebbb7c9 |access-date=3 February 2023 |work=[[Associated Press|AP News]] |date=January 31, 2023}}</ref> |
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Rozzi was sexually abused and raped by a [[priest]] in the [[Roman Catholic Church]] as a child. Making it easier for victims to bring charges and file lawsuits against the accused has been one of his political objectives.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/20/insider/sex-abuse-and-the-catholic-church-why-is-it-still-a-story.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=timesinsider®ion=c-column-bottom-span-region&_r=1|title=Sex Abuse and the Catholic Church: Why Is It Still a Story? - The New York Times|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2018-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818194330/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/20/insider/sex-abuse-and-the-catholic-church-why-is-it-still-a-story.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=timesinsider®ion=c-column-bottom-span-region&_r=1|access-date=2018-08-18|archive-date=2018-08-18|last1=Goodstein|first1=Laurie}}</ref> On November 26, 2019, Pennsylvania Governor [[Tom Wolf]] chose [[Muhlenberg High School]], which is located in Rozzi's home district<ref name="rozzirevenge">{{Cite news|url=https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/in-reading-wolf-signs-child-sex-abuse-statute-reforms-into-law/|title = In Reading, Wolf signs child sex abuse statute reforms into law|date=November 26, 2019 |last=Miller |first=Cassie |work=Pennsylvania Capital-Star}}</ref> as the location to sign new legislation which |
Rozzi was sexually abused and raped by a [[priest]] in the [[Roman Catholic Church]] as a child. Making it easier for victims to bring charges and file lawsuits against the accused has been one of his political objectives.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/20/insider/sex-abuse-and-the-catholic-church-why-is-it-still-a-story.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=timesinsider®ion=c-column-bottom-span-region&_r=1|title=Sex Abuse and the Catholic Church: Why Is It Still a Story? - The New York Times|newspaper=The New York Times|date=2018-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818194330/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/20/insider/sex-abuse-and-the-catholic-church-why-is-it-still-a-story.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=timesinsider®ion=c-column-bottom-span-region&_r=1|access-date=2018-08-18|archive-date=2018-08-18|last1=Goodstein|first1=Laurie}}</ref> On November 26, 2019, Pennsylvania Governor [[Tom Wolf]] chose [[Muhlenberg High School]], which is located in Rozzi's home district<ref name="rozzirevenge">{{Cite news|url=https://www.penncapital-star.com/government-politics/in-reading-wolf-signs-child-sex-abuse-statute-reforms-into-law/|title = In Reading, Wolf signs child sex abuse statute reforms into law|date=November 26, 2019 |last=Miller |first=Cassie |work=Pennsylvania Capital-Star}}</ref> as the location to sign new legislation which significantly overhauls the child sex abuse statute in Pennsylvania.<ref name="rozzirevenge" /> The new law: abolishes Pennsylvania's criminal statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse and extends the timeline victims have to file civil action against their abusers; clarifies penalties for failure to report child abuse; makes conversations with law enforcement agents exempt from non-disclosure agreements; and creates a fund for victims of sexual abuse to pay for abuse-related therapy. Rozzi was among those who attended the signing ceremony. However, the amendment would also need to be passed by the next successive legislature in order for the amendment to go to a referendum where voters will decide whether to adopt it.<ref name="rozzirevenge" /> A 2021 clerical error by Wolf's administration caused the final passage of the amendment to be pushed back even further.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Caruso |first1=Stephen |title=Hopes of bipartisan cooperation give way to complete deadlock in the Pa. House |url=https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/01/pennsylvania-house-rozzi-deadlock-amendment/ |access-date=26 January 2023 |work=Spotlight PA |date=January 25, 2023}}</ref> |
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In 2023, Rozzi was elected as [[Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives]], following speculation and disputes over which party controlled the legislature. He was nominated by [[Republican Party (US)|Republican]] Representative [[Jim Gregory (politician)|Jim Gregory]] as a compromise candidate, earning bipartisan support. Following his election, Rozzi said he would govern as an independent and not caucus with either party. However, according to private conversations with fellow Democrats, Rozzi would not change his party registration.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Caruso |first1=Stephen |last2=Huangpu |first2=Kate |last3=Meyer |first3=Kate |title=Democrats and a handful of Republicans picked the Pennsylvania House’s new speaker |url=https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/01/pa-midterm-election-2022-house-majority-democrats-speaker-election/ |website=Spotlight PA}}</ref><ref name=iq /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lehman |first1=Tom |title=Pennsylvania lawmaker calls for House speaker to resign |url=https://www.wgal.com/article/pennsylvania-lawmaker-calls-for-house-speaker-mark-rozzi-to-resign/42437059 |access-date=13 January 2023 |work=[[WGAL-TV|WGAL News 8 Local]] |publisher=Hearst Television Inc. |date=January 9, 2023}}</ref> His private comments saying he would remain in the Democratic Party caused controversy with the Republicans who voted him for speaker, including Gregory, who said Rozzi should resign. According to Gregory and others, Rozzi repeatedly told them he would leave the Democratic Party and officially register as an Independent should he be elected speaker.<ref name=gmg>{{cite news |url-access=subscription |last1=McGoldrick |first1=Gillian |title=Pennsylvania still hasn’t heard from House Speaker Mark Rozzi after his surprise election, and it’s been over a week |url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/mark-rozzi-pa-house-speak-spoken-publicly-20230112.html |access-date=17 January 2023 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=January 12, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Siwy |first1=Bruce |title=The new Pennsylvania speaker of the House is already on thin ice. What may come next. |url=https://www.poconorecord.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/01/17/will-mark-rozzi-be-pa-house-speaker-long-term/69790161007/ |access-date=17 January 2023 |work=Pocono Record |date=January 16, 2023}}</ref> |
In 2023, Rozzi was elected as [[Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives]], following speculation and disputes over which party controlled the legislature. He was nominated by [[Republican Party (US)|Republican]] Representative [[Jim Gregory (politician)|Jim Gregory]] as a compromise candidate, earning bipartisan support. Following his election, Rozzi said he would govern as an independent and not caucus with either party. However, according to private conversations with fellow Democrats, Rozzi would not change his party registration.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Caruso |first1=Stephen |last2=Huangpu |first2=Kate |last3=Meyer |first3=Kate |title=Democrats and a handful of Republicans picked the Pennsylvania House’s new speaker |url=https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/01/pa-midterm-election-2022-house-majority-democrats-speaker-election/ |website=Spotlight PA}}</ref><ref name=iq /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lehman |first1=Tom |title=Pennsylvania lawmaker calls for House speaker to resign |url=https://www.wgal.com/article/pennsylvania-lawmaker-calls-for-house-speaker-mark-rozzi-to-resign/42437059 |access-date=13 January 2023 |work=[[WGAL-TV|WGAL News 8 Local]] |publisher=Hearst Television Inc. |date=January 9, 2023}}</ref> His private comments saying he would remain in the Democratic Party caused controversy with the Republicans who voted him for speaker, including Gregory, who said Rozzi should resign. According to Gregory and others, Rozzi repeatedly told them he would leave the Democratic Party and officially register as an Independent should he be elected speaker.<ref name=gmg>{{cite news |url-access=subscription |last1=McGoldrick |first1=Gillian |title=Pennsylvania still hasn’t heard from House Speaker Mark Rozzi after his surprise election, and it’s been over a week |url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/mark-rozzi-pa-house-speak-spoken-publicly-20230112.html |access-date=17 January 2023 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |date=January 12, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Siwy |first1=Bruce |title=The new Pennsylvania speaker of the House is already on thin ice. What may come next. |url=https://www.poconorecord.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/01/17/will-mark-rozzi-be-pa-house-speaker-long-term/69790161007/ |access-date=17 January 2023 |work=Pocono Record |date=January 16, 2023}}</ref> |
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Mark Rozzi
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|---|---|
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| 142nd Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Bryan Cutler |
| Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 126th district | |
| Assumed office January 1, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Dante Santoni |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1971-04-30) April 30, 1971 (age 53) Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.[1] |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations | Independent Democrat (2023-present)[a] |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Kutztown University (BA) |
| Website | Campaign website |
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Mark Lucio Rozzi (born April 30, 1971)[1] is an American businessman and politician serving as the 142nd Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Elected as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, he pledged to show independent leadership upon his election as Speaker and caucus with neither the Democrats nor the Republicans.[2] He represents the 126th district.[3]
Prior to his first campaign for state representative, Rozzi ran his family’s window and door installation business,[4] which he sold in 2018. Rozzi is divorced and has one daughter.[5]
Rozzi was sexually abused and raped by a priest in the Roman Catholic Church as a child. Making it easier for victims to bring charges and file lawsuits against the accused has been one of his political objectives.[6] On November 26, 2019, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf chose Muhlenberg High School, which is located in Rozzi's home district[7] as the location to sign new legislation which significantly overhauls the child sex abuse statute in Pennsylvania.[7] The new law: abolishes Pennsylvania's criminal statute of limitations on childhood sexual abuse and extends the timeline victims have to file civil action against their abusers; clarifies penalties for failure to report child abuse; makes conversations with law enforcement agents exempt from non-disclosure agreements; and creates a fund for victims of sexual abuse to pay for abuse-related therapy. Rozzi was among those who attended the signing ceremony. However, the amendment would also need to be passed by the next successive legislature in order for the amendment to go to a referendum where voters will decide whether to adopt it.[7] A 2021 clerical error by Wolf's administration caused the final passage of the amendment to be pushed back even further.[8]
In 2023, Rozzi was elected as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, following speculation and disputes over which party controlled the legislature. He was nominated by Republican Representative Jim Gregory as a compromise candidate, earning bipartisan support. Following his election, Rozzi said he would govern as an independent and not caucus with either party. However, according to private conversations with fellow Democrats, Rozzi would not change his party registration.[9][2][10] His private comments saying he would remain in the Democratic Party caused controversy with the Republicans who voted him for speaker, including Gregory, who said Rozzi should resign. According to Gregory and others, Rozzi repeatedly told them he would leave the Democratic Party and officially register as an Independent should he be elected speaker.[11][12]
As Speaker, Rozzi said his first priority would be to finally pass the amendment to Pennsylvania's constitution to allow victims of sexual abuse a two year gap in the statute of limitations for them to sue their abusers. Governor Tom Wolf called a special session of the legislature so such the amendment could be passed the required second time. However, Republicans in the State Senate combined the amendment on sexual abuse survivors with two others to require voter ID and regulatory reform. Rozzi opposed the addition of the two other amendments and called the State House into recess until February 27, 2023 or until a deal to separate the statute of limitations amendment could be reached.[11][13][14] He later announced the House would be in session on February 21, where he hoped to finally pass operating rules and legislation making the sex abuse survivors amendment separate from the other two.[15]
| Pennsylvania House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 126th district 2013–present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 2023–present | |
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Statewide political officials of Pennsylvania
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▌Tilton (R/C) ▌Longhurst (D) ▌Saiki (D) ▌Moyle (R) ▌Welch (D), ▌Gordon-Booth (D) ▌Huston (R), ▌Karickhoff (R) ▌Talbot Ross (D) ▌Hortman (DFL), ▌Wolgamott (DFL) ▌Yeager (D), ▌Monroe-Moreno (D) ▌Martínez (D) ▌Johnson (R) ▌McClinton (D) ▌Krowinski (D) ▌Scott (D) Federal districts: ▌Mendelson (D)* Territories: ▌Ale (R) ▌Terlaje (D)* ▌Villagomez (I) ▌Hernández (PPD/D), ▌Varela (PPD/D) ▌Francis (D)* | |
Italics indicate speakers pro tempore |
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