House Republicans chose two Western Pennsylvanians to lead them Tuesday, ushering in an era of GOP control in the state Capitol amid darkening skies on the commonwealth’s fiscal horizon.Rep. Sam Smith of Jefferson County was voted speaker and Rep. Mike Turzai of Allegheny County majority leader. They are to take their posts in January, when Republicans will have a 21-seat majority in the lower chamber thanks to last week’s election results.

Smith, the current minority leader, and Turzai, the GOP policy chairman, pledged to institute tight fiscal controls to help Gov.-elect Tom Corbett close an estimated $4 billion budget gap, advance job-creating legislation, and restore integrity to state government.

“We are ready to do things that are bold,” said Turzai, speaking to reporters from the floor of the House, which his party will control for the first time in five years. “We will hit the ground running.”