Rep. Dan Moul: A Year in the Capitol

Hanover (Pennsylvania) Evening Sun ^ | January 20, 2008 | RICHARD FELLINGER

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Rep. Dan Moul is in his small, drab Harrisburg office talking about changing an outdated Capitol culture, and he's being himself.

He mentions that there are "still a couple old dogs that have to go," and that's when he realizes he's being himself. He stops, breaks out laughing, and slaps his desk.

"That's one statement that's going to get me in trouble," he says.

But then, he seems to recognize truth behind the statement, and he settles back in his chair.

"Am I lying?"

After a year in office, the freshman Republican from Adams County's Conewago Township has proven to be approachable and blunt, even if it gets him in trouble. It's an unusual style for a politician in a Capitol that remains somewhat stodgy, but it seems to be the only style the 48-year-old former contracting businessman knows.

(snip)

Yet Moul's first year was marred in December when, after the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus walked off the House floor to protest inaction on gun control, Moul questioned in a television interview why the Legislature has a black caucus

(snip)

Melissa Plotkin, director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Central Pennsylvania, has met with Moul and said she was impressed by his inquisitiveness and willingness to discuss issues - even though Moul is pro-life and the two disagree on many issues.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Dan Moul is my local state legislator who was elected in 2006 on a wave of outrage after the Republican establishment in the Commonwealth voted itself an early-hours pay raise. Since then, he has racked up a fine record as a Conservative. He "gets" it, and I'm very proud of him. I think he'll make a fine governor one day should he choose to continue on the path he's on. We need more like him in Pennsylvania to combat the Pittsburgh-Scranton-Philly "iron triangle."

[fieldmarshaldj]

*BUMP*

Definitely need to groom a farm team in PA. I hope Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta is the 2010 nominee for Governor.

[darkangel82]

This guy will not get far in the RINO-dominated PA GOP.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Maybe or maybe not...right now Moul’s leading the charge to either significantly reduce or eliminate school property taxes altogether. If he manages to push this through, then he’ll be walking on water in the State GOP.