Jane Orie

Infobox State Senator


imagesize = 150px
name = Jane Clare Orie
width = 82px
height = 115px
caption =
state_house = Pennsylvania
district = 29th
term_start = January 7, 1997
term_end = April 1, 2001
predecessor = Elaine F. Farmer
successor = Mike Turzai
state_senate2 = Pennsylvania
district2 = 40th
salary =
term_start2 = April 3, 2001
term_end2 =
predecessor2 = Melissa Hart
successor2 = Incumbent
party = Republican
birth_date = Birth date and age|1961|9|18|mf=y
birth_place = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
residence = McCandless Township, Pennsylvania
religion = Catholic
occupation = Attorney
spouse =
website = [http://www.senatororie.com/ www.senatorories.com]

Jane Clare Orie is an American politician who currently serves as the Majority Whip in the Pennsylvania State Senate. She represents the 40th senate district, including portions of Allegheny County and Butler County.

Personal

Orie was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to a prominent western Pennsylvania political family. Her sister Joan Orie Melvin is a judge on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

She earned her B.A. from Franklin and Marshall College in 1984 and her J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 1987. Prior to elective office, Orie served as an assistant district attorney in Allegheny County and later as a deputy state attorney general.

Political career

In 1996, Orie ran for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 28th House District after incumbent representative Elaine Farmer dropped off the ballot to fight bone marrow cancer. [ cite news| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/localnews/20030817sisters0817p2.asp| author=Mackenzie Carpenter| title=The Orie sisters steal the show| work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette| date=2003-08-17] Orie won that November and won re-election in 1998 and 2000.

In 2000, State Sen. Melissa Hart was elected to the United States House of Representatives and resigned her Senate seat. In a special election Orie was the GOP nominee against Democrat James Rooney, a grandson of late Pittsburgh Steelers owner, Art Rooney. A key issue in that race was public funding for the new Steelers stadium, Heinz Field which was unpopular in parts of the county. Orie tried to tie Rooney to this unpopular issue, even running a television advertisement depicting the implosion of Three Rivers Stadium. [ cite news| url=http://www.postgazette.com/columnists/20010401brian.asp| author=Brian O'Neill| title=Don't fault Tom Murphy for stadium deals| work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette| date=2001-04-01] Orie defeated Rooney with 59% in the election on March 11, 2001 and was seated on April 3, 2001. Orie won re-election in 2002 and 2006, both times taking more than 70% against minimal opposition. [ [http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=13&ElectionID=7&OfficeID=12 2002 General Election Results, Pennsylvania Department of State, 11/5/02] ] [ [http://www.electionreturns.state.pa.us/ElectionsInformation.aspx?FunctionID=12&ElectionID=24 2006 General Election Results, Pennsylvania Department of State, 11/8/06] ]

In May 2006, Robert Jubelirer and David Brightbill, the Republicans' two top leaders were defeated in the primary election, victims of the legislative pay raise fallout. Senator Jeffrey Piccola left his post as whip to run for President Pro Tempore. This opened the door for Orie who defeated Sen. John Gordner for the position. [cite news| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06325/739979-85.stm| author=Tom Barnes| title=Sen. Orie wins leadership post| work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette| date=2006-11-21]

s-ttl | title=Republican whip of the Pennsylvania Senate
years=2007–present

s-ttl | title=Pennsylvania Senate, District 40
years=2001–present

s-ttl | title=Pennsylvania House of Representatives, District 28
years=1997–2001

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References

External links

* [http://www.senatororie.com/ Official Home Page]