Eachus- Frequent Flyer On Air Corruption?

In today's Times Leader there is a story by Steve Mocarsky that questions Todd Eachus's claims that he only received one ride on now admitted felon Robert Powell's jet, media coined "Air Corruption".

Contrary to a statement from state House Majority Leader Todd Eachus’ spokesman, Eachus made more than one flight on a jet owned by admitted felon Robert Powell, according to sources.

Eachus, D-Butler Township, was aboard the 1981 Sabreliner 65 for at least part of a flight from Hazleton to Allegheny County to Harrisburg, back to Allegheny County and back to Hazleton on Dec. 27, 2006, the sources said.

Last week, Eachus confirmed that he took a round-trip on the jet from Harrisburg to Hazleton and back for a press conference to announce a development plan for a cargo airport near Hazleton on Jan. 31, 2007.

Through his campaign spokesman, Dave Georges, Eachus said last week that was his only time on the jet.

For months SOP has been reporting that close sources relayed similar information about multiple flights. It isn't so much that Eachus flew on Powell's jet. It is the fact that he failed to report it on his Ethics Commission filings. Only he can answer why.

Eachus "Chickened" Out

Over the past few weeks Tarah Toohil has been calling on her opponent, House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, to face off in a debate. To date Eachus has refused her request. Toohil held a press conference last week condeming Eachus's attacks upon her family and again asked for a debate.

Toohil expressed deep concern about the behavior of our government, "While Tax'Em Todd is busy taking your money... he is also busy spending it on himself," she said. "He voted himself an illegal pay raise and then never returned the money. He voted himself a pension increase of 50%. He pays himself extra- $27,000 extra last year in per diem money and this money and then paid for a second home in Harrisburg with your taxpayer money. $27,000? That’s more than the average salary in our community… and this is what he gives himself."

She discussed how she is helping to raise two god children who do not have a mother. And how she has taken care of her own ill mother much of her life. In a Q&A period, she did confirm she actually donated her own kidney to her ill mother. She discussed how she grew up in a house her grandfather, a coal miner, built, "My family, like many in our area has been hit hard by economic tough times and I work hard to support them. He is asking who I am. I am one of you," she emphasized.

She discussed her plan for improving the area," We need to create an environment where businesses can grow," Toohil said.
"We need to cut taxes for the small businessman. Our Corporate Tax is one of the highest in the nation...We were promised property tax relief in exchange for table games… When elected, I intend to find out where that money is going… and make good on that promise. "

And then she directly commented upon Eachus' performance, " Our legislature is out of control… and my opponent is leading the pack."

She ended the press conference by demanding Eachus cease attacks upon her, her family and that he "stand up, like a man, and debate."

Evidently someone wanted to "peck" at Eachus over his failure to address her demand. Eachus has followed Kanjorski's footsteps. His hired gun, David Georges, speaks to the media for Eachus. Does Eachus fear answering the difficult questions Toohil, an attorney, puts to him? On the other hand it appears Toohil is ready to debate.

How Does The Media Let Eachus Spokesman Get Away With His Comments

Back in 2009 Eachus Spokesman Brett Marcy made this statement to the press about Todd Eachus and Bonusgate.

HDC spokesman Brett Marcy said Eachus was not among the legislators who testified before the grand jury, nor was he interviewed by any law enforcement officials regarding the Bonusgate case.

In the very same article Todd Eachus had this to say.

Eachus wanted to make it clear that the subpoenas were not served by the attorney general or any law enforcement agency, but by the defense. He said he and current HDC staff have “cooperated fully” with the attorney general’s investigation.

On Decembere 4, 2009 Dennis B. Roddy and Tom Barnes of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote this article, House leadership invited to testify to grand jury.

HARRISBURG -- A statewide grand jury has invited the state House majority leader, the man he displaced in that job and the state secretary of revenue to appear before the panel, a move that has presaged charges against others who received such letters in an ongoing corruption probe.

The letters went to State Rep. Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, the House majority leader; State Rep. H. William DeWeese, D-Greene, who served as majority leader until Mr. Eachus succeeded him in a caucus shakeup; and Revenue Secretary Stephen Stetler, a former eight-term Democratic House member from York.

Eachus never testified. So let's get this straight. Eachus makes the claim he fully cooperated but his spokesman says Eachus was not among the legislators who testified before the grand jury, nor was he interviewed by any law enforcement officials regarding the Bonusgate case.

The deception doesn't stop there. Statements are being made about Michael Manzo, admitted participant in the Bonusgate proceedings.

In February, 2010 Fox News 43 out of York ran this story.

HARRISBURG - The former chief of staff to the House Democratic floor leader testified Monday that none of the people who were given bonuses out of state funds for working on campaigns ever turned down or returned the money.

Mike Manzo spent a fifth day on the stand in the theft, conspiracy and conflict-of-interest trial of former Democratic Whip Mike Veon and three of his ex-aides.

Manzo also told the jury he never asked any of the caucus lawyers directly about the legality of handing out cash rewards from the state treasury for election efforts.

"I knew what the answer would be," said Manzo, who previously testified that he knew what he was doing was wrong.

There were months when 90 percent of his e-mails concerned campaigns, Manzo said.

He said he has run his own public relations and communications company, Hurzo LLC, for about a year.

"I still design strategies for folks who work in the House," Manzo said.

Brett Marcy, a spokesman for current House Democratic Leader Todd Eachus, said Manzo has not been doing work for the caucus and is not being paid by the caucus.

That isn't what Michael Manzo said Mr. Marcy. He said he worked for folks who work in the House. However, Michael Manzo was former chief of staff for the House Democratic Caucus.

So we have a spokesman who states Eachus was never approached by law enforcement but Eachus stating he fully cooperated. We have a former chief of staff testifying about his role in Bonusgate but a spokesman stating he doesn't work for the Caucus now.

Keep the count. Brett Marcy is the spokesman for Eachus as Majority Leader. David Georges is his campaign spokesman. In this article we have a new spokesman for the House Majority Leader, Bill Thomas.

Three people need to tell us what Todd Eachus has to say. But the one person, Attorney General Tom Corbett, who asked Eachus to speak for himself was met with silence.