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Home / Pennsylvania Democrat Bonusgate – State’s Biggest Scandal?Pennsylvania Democrat Bonusgate – State’s Biggest Scandal?
Last Updated on Friday, 11 July 2008 12:07 Written by rslcpol Friday, 11 July 2008 12:07
From PennLive.com:
The first wave of “bonusgate” broke over the state Capitol Thursday.
It crashed down on 12 people — including a former House Democratic leader — with multiple counts of theft, conflict of interest and other criminal charges.
The scandal littered with allegations of sexual trysts, politics and cover-ups is believed to be the biggest set of charges emanating from a public corruption investigation of the General Assembly in memory. The state probe was launched following a Patriot-News investigation into the bonuses published in January 2007.
Attorney General Tom Corbett cited many allegations of the illegal use of millions of dollars of taxpayer funds and the illegal use of legislative staffers for political campaigns.
With the promise of more charges to come — Corbett said he expects more arrests — it has the potential to re-ignite the reform fires sparked by the ill-fated pay raise of 2005.
“Let me be perfectly clear. This is not the conclusion,” said Corbett, coupling his recitation of charges with what sounded like a threat to others around the Capitol. “This is an ongoing investigation.”
Still, he declared, “It is a sad day in Pennsylvania.”
Corbett cited scores of examples of illegal activities:
Former Rep. Mike Veon, D-Beaver, is accused of directing illegal political campaigns and directing fundraising out of legislative offices in the Capitol.
Rep. Sean Ramaley, D-Allegheny, got a “no-work job” in Veon’s office in 2004, allowing him to use Veon’s office and staff for a fall campaign, Corbett said.
[…] Bonusgate – the gift that keeps on giving. Democrats have the opportunity to soften the blow on the investigation and its results by moving forward with the reform bills that are bottled up in the Democrat controlled House. Why on Earth wouldn’t they want to get some positive reform press in wake of the damaging investigation by the AGs office? These type of antics could swing the House back into Republican control – which is far better than the Democrat control it’s been under since ‘06. From the Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Top Senate Republican leaders are urging House Democrats to vote on seven bills to reform state government before the current two-year legislative session winds down in late October. […]
[…] among DEMOCRAT circles in the days and weeks ahead as these state and local Dems try to keep this scandal from defining them this election. From the Pittsburgh Tribune: Democratic Rep. Harry Readshaw of […]
I am SO PO’ed but also HAPPY!
i worked with these idiots innthe early 90’s..De Weezel’s a joke on the floor. he speaks with such verbosity and pretension it makes me laugh and sick to the stomach–and yes, he knows it was going on…he knows..he knows. put the fire to the feet of a the staffers and they’ll sing.
and VEON!! hahahaha—what a slime ball! and after he lost his re election they had a “fundraiser” to help him defray his losers costs…then he has the temerity to run for a Senate seat!!!
here’s some insider stuff too, from me: all the reps–house and senate–have “special” PENN DOT service for ALL their constituents. they have penndot house and senate payroll employees who run registrations, driver;s license etc—full time! bennies, pension etc…all for simple penndot stuff!
this is just the tip of the iceberg!