Biography

02/09/1937 -

Robert Carl Jubelirer, (R30) Blair, Bedford, Huntingdon, Mifflin (Part) and Somerset (Part) Counties, 1975-1982 (R30) Bedford, Blair, Fulton and Huntingdon Counties, 1983-2004 (R30) Bedford, Blair, Fulton, Huntingdon and Mifflin Counties, 2003-2006

Early Life:

Robert Carl Jubelirer, born February 9, 1937, Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania; son of Judge Samuel H and Dorothy Brett Jubelirer; Pennsylvania State University (B.A.), history, 1959; Dickinson School of Law (J.D.), 1962; attorney, law firm practice; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1975-2006, elected, majority leader 1981-1984, president pro tempore 1985-1992, minority leader, 1992-1994, president pro tempore 1994-2006; law firm practice, 2007; married, Commonwealth Court Judge, Renee Cohn Jubelirer, three children; three stepchildren, three grandchildren.

Early Career:

Partner, Jubelirer, Carothers, Krier, and Halpern law firm; chairman, Blair County Multiple Sclerosis Society; member, Advisory Council for the Hollidaysburg Veterans Home; law partner, Obermayer, Rebmann, Maxwell and Hippel, 2007

Awards:

Pennsylvania Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalist; Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association; Nation Federation of Independent Business; Blair County Chapter of the NAACP; President's Award from the Pennsylvania Bar Association; Gold Medal Award from the Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters; Common Cause Champion of Good Government Award; Dickinson School of Law Career Achievement Award; The Pennsylvania State University Distinguished Alumni and Alumni Fellow Award.

Authored:

Lessons from a Legislative Life, August 25, 2017; the modern "Sunshine Law," opening up state and local government meetings to the public; the Tuition Account Program (TAP), giving families a tax-friendly way to save for the higher education of their children and grandchildren; "Ashley's Law," providing essential child protection measures.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 30th district, Blair, Bedford, Huntingdon, Mifflin (Part) and Somerset (Part) Counties, 1975-1982, elected, Republican, 30th district, Bedford, Blair, Fulton and Huntingdon Counties 1983-2002, elected, Republican, 30th district, Bedford, Blair, Fulton, Huntingdon Counties and Menno Township, Mifflin County, 2003-2006; elected majority leader, 1981-1984, president pro tempore 1985-1992, minority leader 1992-1994, president pro tempore 1994-2006; President Pro Tempore and Member ex officio of all standing committees; lost primary election, 2006, attributable legislative pay raise vote, 2005; longest serving President Pro Tempore on record; left office, November 30, 2006.

Ascended state constitution, 29th Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania 2001-2003; Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge resigned, President George Bush Homeland Security Advisor, Lieutenant Governor Mark Schweiker ascended to the governorship. By provision, 1968 Pennsylvania Constitution, as President Pro Tempore, automatically elevated to Lieutenant Governor and sworn in, served simultaneously as state senator.

Authored Senate Bill 798, Tuesday November 30, 2004, P.L. 1596, No. 203, Capitol Centennial Commission Act – Enactment; The new Pennsylvania State Capitol building was dedicated on October 4, 1906. 2004 Act 203 (state.pa.us)

Authored Senate Bill 1000, Tuesday June 22, 1999, P.L. 113, No. 16, Speaker Matthew J. Ryan Legislative Office Building – Designation. The Capitol Annex, renamed after long-term Speaker, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, The Matthew J. Ryan Legislative Office Building, oldest building in the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex, built, 1894 as the Executive, Library and Museum Building. 1999 Act 16 (state.pa.us)

Enacted from Senate Bill 1100, Wednesday December 15, 1999, P.L. 925, No. 62, J. Doyle Corman Highway - Designation. Designating a portion of U.S. Route 322 in Mifflin County and Centre County as the J. Doyle Corman Highway. 1999 Act 62 (state.pa.us)

Enacted from Senate Bill 2 on Friday April 3, 1992, P.L. 28, No. 11, Tuition Account Programs and College Savings Bond Act. Providing for the establishment of two programs for postsecondary educational savings, a guaranteed savings program and an investment program. 

1992 Act 11 (state.pa.us)

Legacy: 

Trust fund was established in his name to provide scholarships to students in the College of Information Science and Technology at The Pennsylvania State University for having served the longest Pennsylvania Senate president pro tempore. 

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "J"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (2005-2006). Schehr, E., (Editor). (Volume 117). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, page 3-34, 3-39. Biographies of Members of the Senate, page 3-12.