Keith R. McCall

Born: December 16, 1959, Coaldale, Carbon County, PA.   Member of the House: 122nd Legislative District, representing all of Carbon County and parts of Luzerne and Monroe Counties, 1983-2010.  Affiliation: Democrat.

Keith McCall graduated in 1977 from Marian Catholic High School and attended the Pennsylvania State University from 1977-1978 and Harrisburg Area Community College from 1979-1981.  He married the former Betty Wehr and together they have two children, Courtney and Keith II.  McCall began his career in public service as a field auditor with the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General.  He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in November of 1982, succeeding his father, Representative Thomas J. McCall, who passed away on December 24, 1981.  McCall was re-elected to the House for 13 more successive terms.  

In 1991 McCall authored legislation that would allow local taxing authorities to relieve people who were serving in the Persian Gulf area of the local tax filing deadlines, which would become Act 2.  During the same term, McCall authored a bill which provided for the implementation and administration of an enhanced vehicle emission inspection and created an Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Fund, or Act 166 of 1992.  McCall later authored legislation, which would become Act 3 of 1994, which provided for the creation of a transportation authority in each metropolitan area to help expand the mass transportation infrastructure in the state.

McCall served as chairman of the Consumer Affairs Committee from 1999-2001 and then served as the chairman of the House Transportation Committee from June 2001-2006.  He was elected Majority Whip for the 2007-2008 session. 

McCall was elected the 138th Speaker of the Pennsylvania House on January 6, 2009, making him the first Speaker from Carbon County.  As Speaker, McCall cosponsored legislation which established a joint legislative, executive, and judicial commission on juvenile justice, or Act 32 of 2009.  During his speakership, McCall oversaw the passage of the Housing Finance Agency Law, or Act 105 of 2010.  This law provided for the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Program and the Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund.  He also presided over Special Session No. 1 regarding transportation system funding.

Following his retirement from the House, McCall was appointed to a 2-year term as a Commissioner on the Gaming Control Board, in February of 2011, and is currently serving his 3rd term as Commissioner.