Showing posts with label Harrisburg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Harrisburg. Show all posts
Monday, February 18, 2013
Ten Republican Solons in Harrisburg Pass On Their Pensions
10 GOP lawmakers forgo their Pa. pension Are there any Democrats out there willing to do the same?
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Eachus's Harrisburg Home For Rent
Before the November election the Times-Tribune penned a story about homes owned in Harrisburg by state legislators including former House Majority Leader Todd Eachus. His spokesman, Brett Marcy, made these statesments over the controversy.
- Mr. Eachus, D-116, Butler Twp., and his wife, Ellen, own a two-story brick townhouse listed as commercial property with apartments at 225 South St., near the Capitol building.
They bought it for $125,000 on Aug. 30, 2005, and have a $100,000, 30-year mortgage on it. The previous owner paid $82,000 for it at a 1996 sheriff's sale. The property is also listed as a source of income on his 2008 financial interest statement.
Efforts to reach Mr. Eachus were unsuccessful, but his spokesman, Brett Marcy, said House rules do not distinguish among types of lodging.
"He incurs food and lodging expenses, so he deserves to be reimbursed for those expenses," he said.
"What you are getting at is whether this is permissible," he added. "The next question is whether it's right. We meet the threshold of whether it is permissible. He's following the rules."
Marcy never did comment on whether it was right.
The Pennsylvania Independent reported on Representative-Elect Tarah Toohil's comments over the controversy.
Ms. Toohil attacked her opponent for his per diem usage, particularly for using $27,000 in per diems to purchase a house in Harrisburg during a time when Pennsylvanians are struggling with an 8.9 percent unemployment rate.
She resoundingly defeated Eachus on November 2nd in what amounted to a stunning victory still talked about in Harrisburg. It will be recorded as one of the most amazing feats, rocking Harrisburg's political scene by coming out of nowhere and kicking the House Majority Leader out of office.
The picture above shows that Eachus put his house up for rent. It must be hard for him to afford a 2nd home when the taxpayers aren't footing the mortgage payments. Any bets on him returning any profit he makes on the sale right back to the state budget? Hmmm...look at it this way. I guess it is better than a sign outside a legislative office that says "For Sale."
Monday, July 5, 2010
The Arrogance Of Our Legislators
Comment left with cartoon.
What a bunch of buffoons.
Or maybe we’re the buffoons for allowing them to continue in their ways, year after year after year.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Tax Loophole Puts Money In Legislator's Pocket
Todd Eachus was recently quoted in an article authored by Robert Swift of the Times-Shamrock as stating "I think the culture of Harrisburg is changing." Swift penned a series about the need to address the excesses of the Pennsylvania Legislature. In the investigative video above Dave Bohman of WNEP highlights another tax break for Pennsylvania legislators that is absolutely not illegal but certainly demonstrates that the culture to take advantage of taxpayer's money is more than alive.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Per Diems- Legislators Abuse The System And Flaunt It
If any Pennsylvania legislator wanted to peer into the future read the comments posted at this Times Tribune atricle concerning their use of per diem payments to fund second home purchases in Harrisburg. This issue portends to be a hot topic this election season.
Here is an article that appeared in the Tribune Democrat highlighting the fact that Senator John Wozniak received almost $38,000.00 in per diem payments from January, 2008 through October, 2009. He received that amount on top of his $78,314.00 salary. It is amazing that any legislator can receive that amount of money without a requirement to produce ONE receipt. As the article points out there are no checks and balances.
In this Opinion from The Mercury of Pottstown the editor makes a point that our legislators can collect the per diem for any "day" they are in Harrisburg on state business — even if that "day" is one minute within the city limits. And they can claim "reimbursement" even though they don't need to produce receipts. If they say they paid for breakfast, they get reimbursed for breakfast — even if some lobbyist actually paid for breakfast. They can attend lobbyist receptions at night and never spend a dime on dinner but get reimbursed.
It appears Harrisburg is a free for all money grab as far as our legislators are concerned. Legislators claim their practices are legal. However, what is the impact to the state?
If the legislators were required to rent a hotel room and purchase meals which is what a true per diem is meant to reimburse how many jobs would be saved? The front desk clerk, the cleaning lady, the linen service, the coffee service, the grounds maintenance, the building maintenance, the chef, the waiter or waitress, the bus boy, the food vendor personnel, the kitchen equipment personnel- all depend on the room bookings and restaurant operations.
Instead legislators are trying to tell us it is okay for them to receive an unaccountable per diem, purchase a second home with the money, rent it out to fellow legislators, sell the home and make a profit that only benefits one person. Talk about abuse of the system.
As far as what the $158 per diem rate can purchase read this editorial by Chris Kelly of the Times-Tribune from last year. At least some homeless and families who are struggling benefited unlike our carnivorous legislators who wine and dine on only the finest.
Ohh,,,lest we forget..the legislators received the per diem the whole time they didn't pass a budget..I mean didn't do their job. During the budget impasse lawmakers racked up $532,000.00 in per diem payments according to the Tribune Review....in just the months of July and August. The payments to legislators during the budget impasse "make me sick," said Judy Kandel, 67, a Canonsburg retiree.
"I think since they are getting their pay, they don't give a hoot. They're looking out for themselves, not the people," she said.
Brett Marcy is great on putting spin on this issue for Todd Eachus.
"I never take them," said Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, who said she claims actual reimbursement for a $62 hotel room and mileage but no meals.
"I ran on a platform of accountability and being careful with tax dollars," Ward said. "I wanted to live up to those words. Don't let anyone kid you; you don't have to buy a meal in Harrisburg."
Brett Marcy, a spokesman for Eachus, defended the payments as a cost of getting the budget done.
"These have been difficult times for all Pennsylvanians, but Rep. Eachus and House Democrats refuse to give up until the commonwealth has a fiscally responsible budget that remembers those who need help the most," Marcy said. "We're happy to report that we're very close to finalizing that budget. The per diems were reimbursements for expenses incurred during the course of that work."
It never dawned on Mr. Marcy that if they didn't receive the reimbursements maybe that would have reached their epiphany on the budget sooner. BTW, Brett, the ones who needed it most were the homeless and struggling families, just in case you forgot them.
A similar practice is occuring out west in California so it isn't just our legislators who lost touch.
As Natahan Benefield suggests over at Commomwealth Foundation why doesn't the state build a dormitory for lawmakers?
Here is an article that appeared in the Tribune Democrat highlighting the fact that Senator John Wozniak received almost $38,000.00 in per diem payments from January, 2008 through October, 2009. He received that amount on top of his $78,314.00 salary. It is amazing that any legislator can receive that amount of money without a requirement to produce ONE receipt. As the article points out there are no checks and balances.
In this Opinion from The Mercury of Pottstown the editor makes a point that our legislators can collect the per diem for any "day" they are in Harrisburg on state business — even if that "day" is one minute within the city limits. And they can claim "reimbursement" even though they don't need to produce receipts. If they say they paid for breakfast, they get reimbursed for breakfast — even if some lobbyist actually paid for breakfast. They can attend lobbyist receptions at night and never spend a dime on dinner but get reimbursed.
It appears Harrisburg is a free for all money grab as far as our legislators are concerned. Legislators claim their practices are legal. However, what is the impact to the state?
If the legislators were required to rent a hotel room and purchase meals which is what a true per diem is meant to reimburse how many jobs would be saved? The front desk clerk, the cleaning lady, the linen service, the coffee service, the grounds maintenance, the building maintenance, the chef, the waiter or waitress, the bus boy, the food vendor personnel, the kitchen equipment personnel- all depend on the room bookings and restaurant operations.
Instead legislators are trying to tell us it is okay for them to receive an unaccountable per diem, purchase a second home with the money, rent it out to fellow legislators, sell the home and make a profit that only benefits one person. Talk about abuse of the system.
As far as what the $158 per diem rate can purchase read this editorial by Chris Kelly of the Times-Tribune from last year. At least some homeless and families who are struggling benefited unlike our carnivorous legislators who wine and dine on only the finest.
Ohh,,,lest we forget..the legislators received the per diem the whole time they didn't pass a budget..I mean didn't do their job. During the budget impasse lawmakers racked up $532,000.00 in per diem payments according to the Tribune Review....in just the months of July and August. The payments to legislators during the budget impasse "make me sick," said Judy Kandel, 67, a Canonsburg retiree.
"I think since they are getting their pay, they don't give a hoot. They're looking out for themselves, not the people," she said.
Brett Marcy is great on putting spin on this issue for Todd Eachus.
"I never take them," said Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, who said she claims actual reimbursement for a $62 hotel room and mileage but no meals.
"I ran on a platform of accountability and being careful with tax dollars," Ward said. "I wanted to live up to those words. Don't let anyone kid you; you don't have to buy a meal in Harrisburg."
Brett Marcy, a spokesman for Eachus, defended the payments as a cost of getting the budget done.
"These have been difficult times for all Pennsylvanians, but Rep. Eachus and House Democrats refuse to give up until the commonwealth has a fiscally responsible budget that remembers those who need help the most," Marcy said. "We're happy to report that we're very close to finalizing that budget. The per diems were reimbursements for expenses incurred during the course of that work."
It never dawned on Mr. Marcy that if they didn't receive the reimbursements maybe that would have reached their epiphany on the budget sooner. BTW, Brett, the ones who needed it most were the homeless and struggling families, just in case you forgot them.
A similar practice is occuring out west in California so it isn't just our legislators who lost touch.
As Natahan Benefield suggests over at Commomwealth Foundation why doesn't the state build a dormitory for lawmakers?
Monday, February 1, 2010
Mike Veon et al Trial Starts Today
His day in court has finally arrived in Harrisburg. In a story found on PennLive from the Associated Press former Representative Mike Veon and three aides will be in court today for the opening of their trial related to charges the media has labeled as "Bonusgate".
The criminal trial of former General Assembly dealmaker Michael R. Veon and three of his ex-aides, which begins in earnest Monday with opening statements in a Harrisburg courtroom, represents a milestone in the attorney general’s three-year public corruption investigation of the Legislature.
The case is also a significant factor in this year’s Pennsylvania gubernatorial campaign and should give voters more details about how some of their state lawmakers have balanced their legal obligations with their political ambitions.
A focus of the trial is expected to be testimony by at least some of the seven people, all former House Democratic staffers, who were arrested with Veon and the three others in July 2008 but who recently pleaded guilty and are cooperating with prosecutors. The proceedings follow a full acquittal won in December by the only defendant so far to go to trial in the investigation: former state Rep. Sean Ramaley, D-Beaver.
The defendants — Veon, 53, once the No. 2 ranking House Democratic leader; campaign guru Brett W. Cott, 37; computer services supervisor Stephen A.H. Keefer, 39; and Veon district office manager Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink, 47 — are accused of conflict of interest, theft and conspiracy in what the attorney general’s office alleges was a multimillion-dollar effort to siphon off public resources for private benefit. The trial is expected to last about a month.
For sure this will be a make or break deal for Tom Corbett's polling in his race for Governor of Pennsylvania. He staked his career on making this investigation his statement on government reform.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Todd Eachus- It's One Year Later, Same Question
One year ago today Eric Epstein penned the following article. It's worth posting because the last question still stands.
Todd Eachus: New boss, same magic tricks
By Eric Epstein
1/14/2009 - 11:24:24 AM
On Monday, the Pennsylvania Legislature's "new" majority leader, Todd Eachus, announced that the House of Representatives was under "new management." The same day, the "new" majority whip, Bill DeWeese, introduced HB 21 to promote table games at Pennsylvania casinos. The next day, Dan Surra, former majority caucus administrator, landed a "new" job during a hiring freeze.
Alakazamm! Whoosh! Everything is fine.
Wait a minute. I think we've seen this magic act before.
Who is the new magician?
Eachus voted to increase his salary 22 percent from $69,648 to $85,102, defended the pay grab and kept the money. Mr. New Management never paid back the unconstitutional pay raise.
Eachus is a protégée of indicted former Whip Mike Veon. In fact, it was Mr. New Management who retired Veon's campaign debt. "Mike's contribution as a leader to our collective effort meant a lot to us," said House Majority Policy Chairman Eachus of Luzerne County, who chairs the campaign committee. But the committee's other three leaders -- Reps. Joe Preston, Dan Frankel and Jennifer Mann -- apparently had no knowledge of the two payments.
Last year at this time, Eachus told the public there was no need for new management. "The pay-raise thing, I think, is finally behind us. I think we're on to other issues now."
Eachus' first move was to hire Chris Casey to conduct a management review. Casey will be paid from the same unaudited non-lapsing accounts that just paid Bill Chadwick to eliminate waste and inefficiencies.
Chadwick Associates was hired in March 2007 by DeWeese to advise the House Democratic caucus on legal and ethical issues. What did the taxpayers get for the $833,000 Chadwick's firm received?
OK, so now we move from paying for advice to paying for an audit from a partisan politician.
Who's going to audit Casey's expenses? Will the latest ethics guy have the authority to audit $200 million in slush funds?
However, the first order of business for Casey is to ask one question: "Mr. Eachus, when are you going to pay back the money my brother said you took illegally?"
Eric Epstein is a watchdog and advocate for consumers, good government and safe energy. For more about Epstein, click here.
Todd Eachus: New boss, same magic tricks
By Eric Epstein
1/14/2009 - 11:24:24 AM
On Monday, the Pennsylvania Legislature's "new" majority leader, Todd Eachus, announced that the House of Representatives was under "new management." The same day, the "new" majority whip, Bill DeWeese, introduced HB 21 to promote table games at Pennsylvania casinos. The next day, Dan Surra, former majority caucus administrator, landed a "new" job during a hiring freeze.
Alakazamm! Whoosh! Everything is fine.
Wait a minute. I think we've seen this magic act before.
Who is the new magician?
Eachus voted to increase his salary 22 percent from $69,648 to $85,102, defended the pay grab and kept the money. Mr. New Management never paid back the unconstitutional pay raise.
Eachus is a protégée of indicted former Whip Mike Veon. In fact, it was Mr. New Management who retired Veon's campaign debt. "Mike's contribution as a leader to our collective effort meant a lot to us," said House Majority Policy Chairman Eachus of Luzerne County, who chairs the campaign committee. But the committee's other three leaders -- Reps. Joe Preston, Dan Frankel and Jennifer Mann -- apparently had no knowledge of the two payments.
Last year at this time, Eachus told the public there was no need for new management. "The pay-raise thing, I think, is finally behind us. I think we're on to other issues now."
Eachus' first move was to hire Chris Casey to conduct a management review. Casey will be paid from the same unaudited non-lapsing accounts that just paid Bill Chadwick to eliminate waste and inefficiencies.
Chadwick Associates was hired in March 2007 by DeWeese to advise the House Democratic caucus on legal and ethical issues. What did the taxpayers get for the $833,000 Chadwick's firm received?
OK, so now we move from paying for advice to paying for an audit from a partisan politician.
Who's going to audit Casey's expenses? Will the latest ethics guy have the authority to audit $200 million in slush funds?
However, the first order of business for Casey is to ask one question: "Mr. Eachus, when are you going to pay back the money my brother said you took illegally?"
Eric Epstein is a watchdog and advocate for consumers, good government and safe energy. For more about Epstein, click here.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Todd Eachus-Why Do You Need A Per Diem When You Own A Home In Harrisburg?
According to Dauphin County Courthouse records located in the Recorder of Deeds office Todd Eachus and his wife, Ellen, purchased a home at 225 South Street in Harrisburg on August 30, 2005 from Anthony DiSanto. The records also indicate that they took out a mortgage from Wachovia Mortgage Company on the property for $100,000.00.
The interesting part is that according to records located in Luzerne County Eachus and his wife took out a mortgage with Pinnacle Residential Mortgage, Inc. a little over one year previous on April 8, 2004 for $136,600.00. It appears that this instrument may have been a refinance of their home located in Wyeth Place, Drums.
The Eachuses took out a mortgage on their home located at Wyeth Place on April 5, 2001 for $138,500.00 with Principal Residential Mortgage, Inc.
Previous records indicate that they satisfied a mortgage with Atlantic Financial Federal that was eventually assigned to Principal Residential Mortgage on July 31, 2001. Eachuses originally borrowed $156,900.00 on June 16, 1989 when they purchased their home at Wyeth Place for $189, 900.00.
A research of Pennsylvania legislator salaries indicate that Todd Eachus's base salary was $66,203 for 2004 and $69,647.00 for 2005.
Latest property reassessment figures for Luzerne County show that the Eachus property in Wyeth Place has a total tax liability of $3,660.00 per year.
Usually a per diem is a sum of money given to an employee to cover daily expenses associated with one's job by the employer. It is given for lodging, meals, and other expenses incurred while traveling.
Since Mr. Eachus has chosen to purchase a "Second Home" as defined in his mortgage on file in Dauphin County one has to wonder whether the travel expense is justified. Most companies pay per diem based on actual expenses incurred. But not our legislators in Pennsylvania.
Brad Bumsted of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review wrote a great article last December titled "Probing the per diem scam". The NewsItem.com published an Opinion back in September called 'Per-diem' payments should require proof'. As highlighted in the opinion legislators are paid the per diem whether they incur actually any expenses or not.
It would seem to SightsOnPennsylvania that if Mr. Eachus has the wherewithall to purchase a second home he should get off the backs of Pennsylvania taxpayers and forgo the per diem payments. The Newsitem opinion points out that Harrisburg legislators are not entitled to per diem. Since Mr. Eachus made a declaration on his Dauphin County mortgage of a "Second Home" rider it seems he should not be entitled to per diem. A home is a home is it not?
Per diems include expenses for lodging and meals. Since Mr. Eachus already has lodging then the per diem must be for meals. At a rate of $163.00 per day that would seem to be alot for food for one person. If that is not the case then is the per diem being misappropriated to pay for a second home? Are Pennsylvania legislators using per diems to purchase property and thus raise their net worth?
Mr. Eachus has made the assertion that lawmakers ought to be compensated for their time in Harrisburg. Great point. Todd, that is why you get paid your $113,000.00 salary. Mr. Eachus claims that the per diems are not income. Well, Todd, if you take more that you actually incurred what would you call that?
Evidently taxpayers are paying enough for legislators to financially fund the purchase of two homes and their associated expenses including heat, light, electricity, cable, insurance, property taxes, mortgage payments, etc. I wonder how those taxpayers feel who lost their homes this past year. Todd, those may be real expenses but there are those who suffered a real tragedy. Keep reminding us why we need to rid Harrisburg of the "stinkin thinkin".
I've got to pick out whats in the pocket So I can leave these pockets clean ....An' I know how your mind works Open your eyes and watch the roadworks Come on out It cant get much worse.
The interesting part is that according to records located in Luzerne County Eachus and his wife took out a mortgage with Pinnacle Residential Mortgage, Inc. a little over one year previous on April 8, 2004 for $136,600.00. It appears that this instrument may have been a refinance of their home located in Wyeth Place, Drums.
The Eachuses took out a mortgage on their home located at Wyeth Place on April 5, 2001 for $138,500.00 with Principal Residential Mortgage, Inc.
Previous records indicate that they satisfied a mortgage with Atlantic Financial Federal that was eventually assigned to Principal Residential Mortgage on July 31, 2001. Eachuses originally borrowed $156,900.00 on June 16, 1989 when they purchased their home at Wyeth Place for $189, 900.00.
A research of Pennsylvania legislator salaries indicate that Todd Eachus's base salary was $66,203 for 2004 and $69,647.00 for 2005.
Latest property reassessment figures for Luzerne County show that the Eachus property in Wyeth Place has a total tax liability of $3,660.00 per year.
Usually a per diem is a sum of money given to an employee to cover daily expenses associated with one's job by the employer. It is given for lodging, meals, and other expenses incurred while traveling.
Since Mr. Eachus has chosen to purchase a "Second Home" as defined in his mortgage on file in Dauphin County one has to wonder whether the travel expense is justified. Most companies pay per diem based on actual expenses incurred. But not our legislators in Pennsylvania.
Brad Bumsted of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review wrote a great article last December titled "Probing the per diem scam". The NewsItem.com published an Opinion back in September called 'Per-diem' payments should require proof'. As highlighted in the opinion legislators are paid the per diem whether they incur actually any expenses or not.
It would seem to SightsOnPennsylvania that if Mr. Eachus has the wherewithall to purchase a second home he should get off the backs of Pennsylvania taxpayers and forgo the per diem payments. The Newsitem opinion points out that Harrisburg legislators are not entitled to per diem. Since Mr. Eachus made a declaration on his Dauphin County mortgage of a "Second Home" rider it seems he should not be entitled to per diem. A home is a home is it not?
Per diems include expenses for lodging and meals. Since Mr. Eachus already has lodging then the per diem must be for meals. At a rate of $163.00 per day that would seem to be alot for food for one person. If that is not the case then is the per diem being misappropriated to pay for a second home? Are Pennsylvania legislators using per diems to purchase property and thus raise their net worth?
Mr. Eachus has made the assertion that lawmakers ought to be compensated for their time in Harrisburg. Great point. Todd, that is why you get paid your $113,000.00 salary. Mr. Eachus claims that the per diems are not income. Well, Todd, if you take more that you actually incurred what would you call that?
Evidently taxpayers are paying enough for legislators to financially fund the purchase of two homes and their associated expenses including heat, light, electricity, cable, insurance, property taxes, mortgage payments, etc. I wonder how those taxpayers feel who lost their homes this past year. Todd, those may be real expenses but there are those who suffered a real tragedy. Keep reminding us why we need to rid Harrisburg of the "stinkin thinkin".
I've got to pick out whats in the pocket So I can leave these pockets clean ....An' I know how your mind works Open your eyes and watch the roadworks Come on out It cant get much worse.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Pennsylvania Lawmakers Mortally Wounded In Budget Process
If you were a Pennsylvania Legislator things weren't looking too good for you this weekend. Here is a wrap up of the "accolades" legislators received on their recent budget performance.
The budget's done, but state's dysfunction persists
Sunday, October 11, 2009
BY LAURA VECSEY lvecsey@patriot-news.com
The budget nightmare is over. So how about a little entertainment, Pennsylvania?
A little word-eating?
How about a nice round of shoe-dropping?
These things are possible, according to Attorney General Tom Corbett, who has been promising more indictments of state lawmakers and General Assembly staffers.
What a fitting follow-up for a state gone wild should that shoe-dropping come now.
Lawmakers and staffers could be safely removed from their posts, and public attention is still aimed toward our "leaders," so there's no time like the present.
It's kind of like late-night TV. You want to be the show that follows Leno.
Not that House Democratic leaders Dwight Evans, Todd Eachus or Keith McCall are exactly in that same comedic category, but the stage is suddenly empty.
Analysis: State budget delay cloaks politicians in shame
Buzz up!By Brad Bumsted, STATE CAPITOL REPORTER
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Asked about the 101-day delay, Rendell said, "The process is screwed up, and the system is broken."
All the while, most lawmakers racked up per diems at $158 per day for food and lodging. The tab exceeded $532,000 for July and August, records show.
There's no penalty for legislators or the governor if they don't meet the June 30th deadline when a budget is required by law.
The budget has been late seven years straight since Rendell took office in 2003.
In early September, Rendell identified "Ideology, partisanship and laziness," as reasons for the late budget this year.
Some legislators said the 2010 budget is in line with what the public wanted -- no broad-based tax increase. But Matthew Brouillette, president of the Commonwealth Foundation, said the budget "taxes too much, spends too much, and puts Pennsylvania on an unsustainable path to the future."
Broken budget trust
Buzz up!By Brad Bumsted, STATE CAPITOL REPORTER
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Long-term relations between the House and Senate were severely damaged by the budget battle, casting a cloud over future action on efforts to cap electric rates, next year's budget and trying to stem the impact of spiking pension costs in two years.
In the interest of getting a budget done, new House Democrat negotiators, Speaker Keith McCall of Carbon County and Majority Leader Todd Eachus of Luzerne County, inexplicably signed off on the deal.
Both taxes, for the most part, hit Democrat constituencies.
McCall and Eachus faced a full-scale revolt in their caucus over those measures as well as a plan to lease state forest land for natural gas drilling.
So the House Democrats broke the deal and sent the Senate a tax bill that eliminated the arts tax and small-games tax. The House Ds put in poison pills for the Senate, taxing smokeless tobacco and cigars and taxing natural gas extraction. Those two were ignored in the final agreement.
Senate Republican leaders and Senate Democrat leaders, and Rendell, were furious.
They had hung themselves out there on controversial taxes. In the end, Senate GOP leaders Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, and Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware County, felt far more comfortable dealing with Senate Dems and Rendell than the House Dems.
In fact, they didn't want to deal with them at all. Senate Democrat leaders felt the same.
Eachus said they had no choice based on their caucus's reaction. That's true. But what galled the other leaders is that Eachus and McCall didn't come back to them and say, "This won't work. Help us out."
House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, knows how to do a deal, one leader told me. These guys don't.
The Pennsylvania legislature owes a duty to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to be more responsible and responsive to the wished of its constituents. Instead it seems it is hell bent on perpertuating a political machine for the purposes of duking it out at election time. Until those in the top offices of the House and the Senate turn the tide and forge a new direction they neither earned the title of "leadership" nor deserve it.
Your size is too big; your staff is too big. It is time to do what businesses and families do when the money they used to earn is not there, consolidate, do without.
Remember the old saying, the pigs get butchered but the hogs get slaughtered. Your pay package is at that point.
The budget's done, but state's dysfunction persists
Sunday, October 11, 2009
BY LAURA VECSEY lvecsey@patriot-news.com
The budget nightmare is over. So how about a little entertainment, Pennsylvania?
A little word-eating?
How about a nice round of shoe-dropping?
These things are possible, according to Attorney General Tom Corbett, who has been promising more indictments of state lawmakers and General Assembly staffers.
What a fitting follow-up for a state gone wild should that shoe-dropping come now.
Lawmakers and staffers could be safely removed from their posts, and public attention is still aimed toward our "leaders," so there's no time like the present.
It's kind of like late-night TV. You want to be the show that follows Leno.
Not that House Democratic leaders Dwight Evans, Todd Eachus or Keith McCall are exactly in that same comedic category, but the stage is suddenly empty.
Analysis: State budget delay cloaks politicians in shame
Buzz up!By Brad Bumsted, STATE CAPITOL REPORTER
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Asked about the 101-day delay, Rendell said, "The process is screwed up, and the system is broken."
All the while, most lawmakers racked up per diems at $158 per day for food and lodging. The tab exceeded $532,000 for July and August, records show.
There's no penalty for legislators or the governor if they don't meet the June 30th deadline when a budget is required by law.
The budget has been late seven years straight since Rendell took office in 2003.
In early September, Rendell identified "Ideology, partisanship and laziness," as reasons for the late budget this year.
Some legislators said the 2010 budget is in line with what the public wanted -- no broad-based tax increase. But Matthew Brouillette, president of the Commonwealth Foundation, said the budget "taxes too much, spends too much, and puts Pennsylvania on an unsustainable path to the future."
Broken budget trust
Buzz up!By Brad Bumsted, STATE CAPITOL REPORTER
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Long-term relations between the House and Senate were severely damaged by the budget battle, casting a cloud over future action on efforts to cap electric rates, next year's budget and trying to stem the impact of spiking pension costs in two years.
In the interest of getting a budget done, new House Democrat negotiators, Speaker Keith McCall of Carbon County and Majority Leader Todd Eachus of Luzerne County, inexplicably signed off on the deal.
Both taxes, for the most part, hit Democrat constituencies.
McCall and Eachus faced a full-scale revolt in their caucus over those measures as well as a plan to lease state forest land for natural gas drilling.
So the House Democrats broke the deal and sent the Senate a tax bill that eliminated the arts tax and small-games tax. The House Ds put in poison pills for the Senate, taxing smokeless tobacco and cigars and taxing natural gas extraction. Those two were ignored in the final agreement.
Senate Republican leaders and Senate Democrat leaders, and Rendell, were furious.
They had hung themselves out there on controversial taxes. In the end, Senate GOP leaders Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson County, and Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware County, felt far more comfortable dealing with Senate Dems and Rendell than the House Dems.
In fact, they didn't want to deal with them at all. Senate Democrat leaders felt the same.
Eachus said they had no choice based on their caucus's reaction. That's true. But what galled the other leaders is that Eachus and McCall didn't come back to them and say, "This won't work. Help us out."
House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, knows how to do a deal, one leader told me. These guys don't.
The Pennsylvania legislature owes a duty to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to be more responsible and responsive to the wished of its constituents. Instead it seems it is hell bent on perpertuating a political machine for the purposes of duking it out at election time. Until those in the top offices of the House and the Senate turn the tide and forge a new direction they neither earned the title of "leadership" nor deserve it.
Your size is too big; your staff is too big. It is time to do what businesses and families do when the money they used to earn is not there, consolidate, do without.
Remember the old saying, the pigs get butchered but the hogs get slaughtered. Your pay package is at that point.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Senate Chief Joe Scarnati Aims To Restore Public Trust
Lancasteronline.com is reporting that Senate Leader and Lt. Governor Joe Scarnati wants to restore public confidence in Harrisburg after reeling from a series of scandals.
"Without out doubt, there is no issue more important today. The No. 1 issue we have is restoring respect and trust back into the Legislature that we once had," said Scarnati, who is the Senate's president pro tempore and the state's lieutenant governor.
Speaking at a fundraiser here on Wednesday night, the Jefferson County Republican also touched on the GOP's role in budget negotiations. He said the lawmakers in his party should view the looming $2.3 billion budget deficit as an opportunity to take a stand.
"The party of Lincoln and Reagan — some of these people have forgotten their roots," Scarnati said. "This budget deficit we're in, this can be our shining moment. Taxing and spending are the Republican rally. We have to keep them under control.
"As we move forward through this process, let me tell you one thing: There will not be a broad-based tax increase coming out of anybody's pocket," said Scarnati, drawing applause at a GOP fundraiser.
"Without out doubt, there is no issue more important today. The No. 1 issue we have is restoring respect and trust back into the Legislature that we once had," said Scarnati, who is the Senate's president pro tempore and the state's lieutenant governor.
Speaking at a fundraiser here on Wednesday night, the Jefferson County Republican also touched on the GOP's role in budget negotiations. He said the lawmakers in his party should view the looming $2.3 billion budget deficit as an opportunity to take a stand.
"The party of Lincoln and Reagan — some of these people have forgotten their roots," Scarnati said. "This budget deficit we're in, this can be our shining moment. Taxing and spending are the Republican rally. We have to keep them under control.
"As we move forward through this process, let me tell you one thing: There will not be a broad-based tax increase coming out of anybody's pocket," said Scarnati, drawing applause at a GOP fundraiser.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Why Did We Eventually Play Ball on the PA Pay Raise Issue?
In these troubling economic times here is some great news from Harrisburg.
"Pennsylvania lawmakers have a scary budgetary hole to deal with in 2009.
On Wednesday, they learned exactly how much more they'll be paid trying to plug it.
House and Senate members will receive a 2.8 percent raise, setting lawmakers' base pay at $78,315.
The 30 legislative leaders will receive more. Their pay will range from $89,300 for caucus administrators, secretaries and policy-committee chairmen, to $122,254 for the speaker of the House and Senate president pro tempore.
The legislative raises will kick in Dec. 1. They will be based on the annual change in the federal Consumer Price Index for the Mid-Atlantic region for the 12-month period ending in October.
The same 2.8 percent increase is due judges statewide, though their raises won't take effect until Jan. 1.
The judiciary's pay will run from $191,876 for Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille to $161,850 for county judges and $80,927 for local magisterial district justices.
The cost-of-living adjustment also applies to Gov. Ed Rendell and his Cabinet secretaries, effective Jan. 1. Their new salaries were not available yesterday, but based on 2008 pay levels, the governor's salary would jump to $174,956.
Rendell said Wednesday he might consider suspending the executive-branch raises in keeping with his frugality plan. The plan was brought on by slumping state revenues that might finish the current fiscal year between $1 billion and $2 billion below projections.
Rendell did forego his automatic pay raise in 2004, shortly after he negotiated a pay freeze for all state workers under his jurisdiction. At that time, he also "recommended" that his Cabinet secretaries and senior staff members pass on their raises, and they did."
It's pretty amazing that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court makes more than the Governor of Pennsylvania. A Democratically controlled House is going to be the downfall of this state. The important question to ask of the Majority Leader and the Speaker is why they kept the pay raise even after it was repealed.
As I stated before, according to the 2004 census California had 35 million residents and Pennsylvania had 12 million. California has 120 total legislators. Pennsylvania has 256 legislators. Losing 171 legislators (1/3 of 256) would save the state a minimum of $13 million per year. That figure would greatly increase when you consider the staff, support personell, and benefits that would not be needed in such a streamlining effort. It's okay to laugh at the suggestion. But there are many people losing their jobs right now due to an economic downturn. Why should our government be spared from shrinking when its tax base is evaporating before its very eyes?
The only hope I see in this entire mess is that Tom Corbett continues in his quest to remove public officials who take advantage of public trust. Did we really become that complacent in our state to accept the pay raise issue as business as usual?
"Pennsylvania lawmakers have a scary budgetary hole to deal with in 2009.
On Wednesday, they learned exactly how much more they'll be paid trying to plug it.
House and Senate members will receive a 2.8 percent raise, setting lawmakers' base pay at $78,315.
The 30 legislative leaders will receive more. Their pay will range from $89,300 for caucus administrators, secretaries and policy-committee chairmen, to $122,254 for the speaker of the House and Senate president pro tempore.
The legislative raises will kick in Dec. 1. They will be based on the annual change in the federal Consumer Price Index for the Mid-Atlantic region for the 12-month period ending in October.
The same 2.8 percent increase is due judges statewide, though their raises won't take effect until Jan. 1.
The judiciary's pay will run from $191,876 for Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille to $161,850 for county judges and $80,927 for local magisterial district justices.
The cost-of-living adjustment also applies to Gov. Ed Rendell and his Cabinet secretaries, effective Jan. 1. Their new salaries were not available yesterday, but based on 2008 pay levels, the governor's salary would jump to $174,956.
Rendell said Wednesday he might consider suspending the executive-branch raises in keeping with his frugality plan. The plan was brought on by slumping state revenues that might finish the current fiscal year between $1 billion and $2 billion below projections.
Rendell did forego his automatic pay raise in 2004, shortly after he negotiated a pay freeze for all state workers under his jurisdiction. At that time, he also "recommended" that his Cabinet secretaries and senior staff members pass on their raises, and they did."
It's pretty amazing that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court makes more than the Governor of Pennsylvania. A Democratically controlled House is going to be the downfall of this state. The important question to ask of the Majority Leader and the Speaker is why they kept the pay raise even after it was repealed.
As I stated before, according to the 2004 census California had 35 million residents and Pennsylvania had 12 million. California has 120 total legislators. Pennsylvania has 256 legislators. Losing 171 legislators (1/3 of 256) would save the state a minimum of $13 million per year. That figure would greatly increase when you consider the staff, support personell, and benefits that would not be needed in such a streamlining effort. It's okay to laugh at the suggestion. But there are many people losing their jobs right now due to an economic downturn. Why should our government be spared from shrinking when its tax base is evaporating before its very eyes?
The only hope I see in this entire mess is that Tom Corbett continues in his quest to remove public officials who take advantage of public trust. Did we really become that complacent in our state to accept the pay raise issue as business as usual?
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