William Rieger

William W. Rieger (November 2, 1922 – December 11, 2009) was an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1967 to 2006.

Background Reiger was a 1941 graduate of Simon Gratz High School.

Career He was first elected to represent the 179th legislative district in 1966. During 40 year legislative career representing one of the state's poorest districts, he had only two bills passed into law (both in the 1970s). The last bill he co-sponsored was in 1990. He also served as co-chairman of the Philadelphia Legislative Delegation in the House.

Rieger continued to hold his seat into his eighties, even as his health declined, leading to criticism that he was no longer able to serve effectively. In 2002, a PoliticsPA feature designating politicians with yearbook superlatives, he was named "Missing in Action." In 2003, he was criticized by The Philadelphia Inquirer for his legislative inactivity and his absence from his district; at the time of the report, he attended only two of the preceding 65 meetings of a committee on which he was the leading Democrat, and other members apparently registered his "presence" for him at the start of workdays when he was absent, preventing him from accumulating absences on the official record and allowing him to claim a per diem. Regarding his legislative inactivity, he said, "I could introduce 100 bills tomorrow. They wouldn't go anywhere. They would all be lies. And I don't want to lie to the people," he said.

He retired prior to the 2006 elections.

Death Rieger died at Temple University Hospital on December 11, 2009, from a brain hemorrhage.