Eachus Embroiled In Bonusgate Corruption

This article originally went to press December 22,2009 written by Marc Scolforo of the Associated Press. After Todd Eachus's vicious attack on Tarah Toohil, a professional practicing law SOP wanted to reprint it. Eachus is trying to stretch her profession of representing clients to being part of the system that led to the juvenile problems in Luzerne County. As Judge Musto stated "That is the most ridiculous stretch that I have heard in my entire life."

APNewsBreak: Transcripts say Pa. House majority leader directed campaign activitiesBy: MARK SCOLFORO
Associated Press
12/22/09 7:03 PM EST

HARRISBURG, PA. — The majority leader of the Pennsylvania House directed campaign activities by legislative employees and raised campaign funds from inside the Capitol, according to witness testimony in transcripts obtained by The Associated Press.

The witnesses in the widening probe, which has reached top levels of the state General Assembly, allege conduct by Todd Eachus similar to that for which 25 others have been charged.

Eachus has not been charged, and the allegations date to before he was elected majority leader a year ago.

John Paul Jones, a $62,000-a-year legislative research specialist until December 2007, told the grand jury that Eachus, D-Luzerne, brought him onto the state payroll after the November 2006 election, which returned Democrats to the majority in the House, with a cover story about his legislative work.

"That was sort of like the code of, here's what I do, but really I was solely there as a political guy," Jones said.

Jones testified that Eachus told him he considered the General Assembly's capability to produce public service announcements a free tool to help incumbents get re-elected.

For nearly three years, state Attorney General Tom Corbett has been investigating whether state lawmakers and their aides used legislative employees and state-owned equipment for campaign purposes.


The scandal began with news that millions in bonuses had been quietly handed out to employees of the General Assembly, and a series of five grand jury reports has alleged that many of those bonuses were part of a conspiracy that also involved state contracts and computer equipment, as well as some of the highest-ranking members of the state House and aides.


The transcripts were provided on the condition of anonymity by a person connected to the defendants who are expected to go on trial in January.

Eachus declined to comment, as did a spokesman for Corbett, a Republican running for governor.

But Eachus told WNEP-TV in Scranton this week that he was shocked and saddened "to see colleagues of ours having problems. But I say this, that anyone who has created a problem should face justice."

In a May 2008 grand jury appearance, Jones said that while he was working for the House Democratic Campaign Committee in the run-up to that pivotal 2006 election, he and another campaign committee employee worked closely with Eachus out of an office in the Capitol's East Wing.

He said they helped Eachus phone Democratic state representatives to pressure them either to donate to the campaign committee or promise to spend a certain amount on their own races.

"As Todd would often say, he wanted to spend what he called soft dollars, which were government dollars, on public service announcements so that we had to ultimately spend less hard campaign dollars," Jones testified.

Jones said that for a time he and two other legislative aides spent nearly all day on political matters, raising money and performing other campaign-related duties. A phone number could not be located for Jones.

An unidentified state prosecutor, in the grand jury transcript, asked Jones whether Eachus was "directing and encouraging" their campaign efforts.

"Oh, yeah, sure," Jones responded. "There were plenty of times where (an aide) and I would be in to make phone calls or to staff Todd so he could make fundraising phone calls out of his office."

Eachus was closely allied with former House Whip Mike Veon, D-Beaver, whom prosecutors have portrayed as a leading figure in a conspiracy to divert public employees and resources for campaign work before he lost re-election in 2006.

Veon and as many as four others with ties to House Democrats are expected to go on trial next month on charges of theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest.

Veon co-defendant Rachel Manzo had been House Democratic policy committee executive director under Eachus at the time of her arrest in July 2008. On the same August day that she appeared before the grand jury, she signed an agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty to a single misdemeanor count of theft of services.

A prosecutor asked Manzo about talking to Eachus about moving state workers spending time on campaigns to another office, according to a transcript.

"So those discussions manifested direct knowledge by Eachus that these people were involved in politics as part of their daily work?" the prosecutor asked.

"Yes," she testified. "He used them daily for politics."

Phone messages left for her and her lawyer, Bill Ward, were not returned.

The only defendant among the 25 arrested as part of the investigation who has gone to trial, former state Rep. Sean Ramaley, D-Beaver, was acquitted of all charges this month..

Eachus has been called a protege of Michael Veon, closely allied with former Whip Mike Veon, now convicted Michael Veon. Eachus unilaterally authorized the retirement of Veon's campaign debt. In the past Eachus stated he was proud to introduce Robert Powell. Eachus's campaign donated four times to Jill Moran's campaign committee. Eachus accepted money from Robert Mericle. Testimony before the grand jury was presented that Eachus flew in Robert Powell's jet but the flights don't appear on any Ethics Commission filings. Eachus accepted money from Greg Skrepenak's campaign committee.

Eachus made the claim in the Standard Speaker that Toohil "tried to destroy the Eachus family name." From this article it seems he was responsible for the questions he is facing in this election.

Disclaimer:  Todd Eachus has yet to be charged with any crime

Statewide Newsworthy Stories

Lou Barletta discusses the tax implications regarding the sale of the water assets of the Hazleton City Authority in the Standard Speaker written by Kent Jackson.

Hazleton will begin layoffs in May Although property taxes were raised by about $10.00 per month on $100,000 assessment layoffs were necessary in this year's fiscal budget according to Mary Ellen Leib,acting director of adminstration.

Michael Manzo has plenty to say about the Bonusgate investigation during testimony in the Michael Veon et al trial proceeding in Harrisburg. His wife, Rachel, was an employee of Rep. Todd Eachus who denies knowing about the bonuses.

Pennsylvania American Water acquires the assets of the Nittany Water Company expanding its footprint to 36 counties statewide.

Senator Mellow becomes a renewed target of the watchdogs over rent payments and "cash" payments made over nine years

Seven Plead Guilty To Charges Leveled By AG Corbett In Bonusgate

Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau reporter Tracie Mauriello is reporting that seven defendants in the Bonusgate/corruption investigation by AG Tom Corbett plead guilty yesterday.

Rachel Manzo- former employee of Todd Eachus

Michael Manzo- former chief of staff to state Rep. Bill DeWeese

Scott Brubaker- the former director of staffing and administration for the House Democratic caucus

Jennifer Brubaker- former director of the Democratic Office of Research

Earl Mosley- a former personnel director

Patrick "P.J." Lavelle- a former research analyst aka political campaign fund raiser

Jeff Foreman- former chief counsel to Majority Whip Keith McCall

To grasp the greed that goes on in Harrisburg take a look at the salaries paid to 33 House staffers alone in 2007 that exceeded $100,000 per year. Many are on the list of quilty pleas.

Micahel Manzo- $141, 402.00
Scott Brubaker- $122,564.00
Jeff Foreman- $126,204.00

You can read the bonuses paid to these people at the link.

Eachus- "Anyone Who Has Created A Problem Should Face Justice."

In response to a WNEP reporter's inquiry that was Todd Eachus's statement. Well,Todd, you may just get your wish. CasablancaPA has made a case revolving around Todd Eachus's invovlement in Bonusgate for some time. Their latest post spells out a plea deal highlighted in the WNEP report between AG Tom Corbett and Rachel Manzo, a former Eachus employee.

They reference an Associated Press article written by Mark Scolforo filed from Harrisburg.

John Paul Jones, a $62,000-a-year legislative research specialist until December 2007, told the grand jury that Eachus, D-Luzerne, brought him onto the state payroll after the November 2006 election, which returned Democrats to the majority in the House, with a cover story about his legislative work.

"That was sort of like the code of, here's what I do, but really I was solely there as a political guy," Jones said.

Jones testified that Eachus told him he considered the General Assembly's capability to produce public service announcements a free tool to help incumbents get re-elected.

In a May 2008 grand jury appearance, Jones said that while he was working for the House Democratic Campaign Committee in the run-up to that pivotal 2006 election, he and another campaign committee employee worked closely with Eachus out of an office in the Capitol's East Wing.

He said they helped Eachus phone Democratic state representatives to pressure them either to donate to the campaign committee or promise to spend a certain amount on their own races.

"As Todd would often say, he wanted to spend what he called soft dollars, which were government dollars, on public service announcements so that we had to ultimately spend less hard campaign dollars," Jones testified.

Jones said that for a time he and two other legislative aides spent nearly all day on political matters, raising money and performing other campaign-related duties. A phone number could not be located for Jones.

An unidentified state prosecutor, in the grand jury transcript, asked Jones whether Eachus was "directing and encouraging" their campaign efforts.

"Oh, yeah, sure," Jones responded. "There were plenty of times where (an aide) and I would be in to make phone calls or to staff Todd so he could make fundraising phone calls out of his office."


SightsonPennsylvania did a "Legislator X" series outlining testimony from the Grand Jury. Eachus has refused to answer questions relative to testimony given by others in this investigation. Mr. Eachus is within the his legal rights to refuse to answer any and all allegations. All persons mention in Corbett's investigation are innocent until proven guilty. That is a premise that SOP will always support regardless of the subject matter. It is an inalienable right.

Is somebody's goose cooked? Guess we will have to wait for the pop-up timer.

DejaVu- Stish, Eachus, DeWeese

The arrest of Bill DeWeese, recent alleged Harrisburg corruption defendant, reminded me of the way Todd Eachus was elected in the 116th District that includes the City of Hazleton. Role the tape back to 1994 when Democrat Representative Tom Stish, 116th, decided to switch parties and become a Republican at the behest of then House Majority Chairman John Perzel, another recent alleged Harrisburg corruption defendant.

Bill DeWeese seized on the party switch to convince Exeter businessman Todd Eachus to move into the 116th and run as a Democrat against Tom Stish.

From Todd Eachus's bio:

Todd was born September 26, 1962 in Harrisburg, Pa., moved to Wilkes-Barre, Pa. in 1964 and graduated from Wilkes-Barre Coughlin High School in 1980. He received his bachelor’s from Pitzer College of the Claremont Colleges, Claremont, Calif. in 1984, where he also was a three-year College Football Letterman, Pomona/Pitzer Fighting Sagehens. He married Ellen Kusiak-Eachus of Plains, Pa. in 1985. They have three sons: Anthony, Benjamin and Nathan.

Todd began his public service career in 1985 on the staff of Congressman Frank J. Guarini, until opening his own small business in 1990 as President and Owner of Portable Space in Exeter, which he ran until being elected to the state House in 1996.

I believe they call that carpetbagging. Bill DeWeese was so enthused to enlist Eachus that he even broke House Rules.

Mr.DeWEESE. Todd Eachus; Todd Eachus. Have you ever
heard of that name before? Todd Eachus. This is the Todd Eachus
proposal, and I am pleased, like my colleague, the gentleman
from Allegheny County, Mr. Trello, to be here and support the
Todd Eachus bill.
People out in our great rambling State often wonder if they can
have an impact on government by running for public life. They
can. This young hard-charger from the Hazleton area is having
an-
The SPEAKER. Mr. DeWeese-
Mr. DeWEESE. -impact today in the General Assembly of
Pennsylvania.
Yes, Mr. Speaker ?
The SPEAKER. Mr. DeWeese, I believe-
Mr. DeWEESE. What ?
The SPEAKER. -I believe, without looking at the rules, that
bringing in the names of opponents of members is improper, and
I would ask you to not do that.
Mr. DeWEESE. Out of respect for the Speaker, which knows
no limit, I shall not use Mr. Eachus' name again, until he is
elected.
The SPEAKER. Well, I think you were right; you will not be
using that name again.

Well Perzel actually turned out wrong with that last statement but then again with DeWeese's arrest probably now receives some vindication.

DeWeese used intimidation to keep his Democratic members in line, something Eachus picked up on and tried to emulate.

DeWeese accused Stish of seeking his 15 minutes of fame at the expense of fellow Democrats with this infamous and memorable quote: “He is like a dead mackerel in the moonlight. He shines and stinks at the same time.”

Mario Cattabiani of the Philadelphia Inquirer recently tracked the now-unemployed, just-barely-scraping-by Stish down in Florida.

Stish told Cattabiani that the Big Switch cost him childhood friends, his marriage and earned him hatred and enemies. He was the target of vandalism and graffiti. He lost re-election in 1996 because the Democrats wanted his scalp so badly. Ridge gave him a job in his administration for a while but Stish said he was eventually forced out. He claimed abandonment by his Republican suitors.

Stish told Cattabiani, that he'd tell any lawmaker pondering a similar move: “Just don't do it. You will be basically giving up everything of worth. If you do it, be prepared." Stish said he is “barely making it,” surviving on his two state pensions from eight years in the Legislature and previous time as a teacher.

Now DeWeese – who to this day speaks contemptuously of Stish -- is making sure every House Democrat hears Stish’s words about what happened to him. He is copying and distributing to all remaining and incoming Democratic House members a copy of the Inquirer’s account quoting Stish.

Now Eachus, as House Majority Leader, has words coming back to haunt him.

Now DeWeese and Reps. Keith McCall and Todd Eachus, neither of whom yet get the kind of awed respect for tactics, politics and acumen that Veon earned, have to get on-the-job-training.

They have to step in during a tough budget year, with tax votes, a major transportation funding increase, a property tax fight and do the legislative magic that Veon used to do.

Those are big cowboy boots to fill. And if they fail, if they lose votes, if the increasingly conservative House Republican caucus unifies and denies them on a few key votes, the House Democrats will look weak.

Also, if a House Democrat runs for local office (mayor, county commissioner) and has to leave office at some point, their majority could be called into question.

Also, while many Democrats in the east are delighted that younger members like Eachus, D-Luzerne, and Reps. Josh Shapiro and Mike Gerber, both D-Montgomery, are taking major roles in party affairs, many are not.
Some long-time and mid-tenured House Democrats who have seen seniority rewarded their whole careers say privately they would like to see the young whippersnappers get tripped up.

The budget fiasco and the hold up of table game legislation bore out the inept and unqualified credentials that led the Democrats to elect Eachus as House Leader. It will remain to be seen whether he holds onto that position. Insiders are saying he already lost it.

Eachus's associations with Robert Powell, Jill Moran, Greg Skrepenak, Bill DeWeese, Steve Stetler, Michael Veon, Michael Manzo, and Rachel Manzo are part of a new book coming out called "It's The Company I Keep."

It is challenging to hold onto one's office when a Representative will fight like hell to secure $500 million for a "fantasy airport", but won't help with a dime for the biggest city in his district. Eachus is putting up opposition to cleaning up mine reclamation but has no problem with dirty laundry all around his feet.

Since Eachus wasn't from this area before representing it he lacks the passion for its constiuents. Moving here was about furthering a career not because he wanted to be a part of the area. That is the precise reason he hasn't supported major projects in Hazleton with any funding. The repugnancy he demonstrates against Republicans is such an instinctive antagonism that he can't see how he morally failed Hazleton as its representative. Of course with a teacher like DeWeese it is no wonder.

It Is Time To Call Todd Eachus Out

In an editorial that appeared in today's Standard Speaker Dan Guydish opines on the merits and good works that Todd Eachus did for his district and Pennsylvania in general.

Let's examine Eachus's record. He voted himself a 16% pay raise in 2005 then refused to give it back. Keep in mind that this pay raise was on top of the cost of living adjustment legislators receive on a yearly basis.

A senior House Committee aide and Eachus staff Member, Rachel Manzo, was indicted in Bonusgate but as House Democratic Majority Policy Chairman Eachus claims no involvement.

Here is a letter he authored on the Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee website:

Welcome to the online home of the Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee. Democrats captured the Majority for the first time in 12 years in 2006.

Since January of 2007, Democrats have been hard at work changing business as usual and making progress on healthcare reform, energy reform, and economic development on behalf of Pennsylvania families.

In November 2008, House Democrats have historic opportunities to expand our Majority and continue our work on behalf of all Pennsylvanians.

Yours Truly,

Rep. Todd Eachus

Chairman, House Democratic Campaign Committee

Does Eachus really beleive that John Q. Public would believe the person who was chairman of the campaign committee did not know about all the state workers employed to capture the majority in the House, an act that didn't happen for the past twelve years?

According to Brad Bumsted at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review many of Eachus's aides were interviewed by the Attorney General's office.

Aides to House Democratic Policy Chairman Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne County, were recently interviewed by the attorney general's investigators, according to the Insider, a statewide political newsletter. The topic was the 2006 election, the Insider said. Eachus could not be reached for comment on Friday.

He responds to questions about Bonusgate and politicians who lost their seats over it by stating "(Bonusgate) did more damage than I thought." Todd, shouldn't you be denouncing the use of state employees for campaign purposes??? Here was your answer to that position. "It was the partisan way the Republican Campaign Committee used the issue to exemplify the partisan investigation by the attorney general," Eachus said.

He UNILATERALLY voted to pay off indicted Mike Veon's campaign debt totally $45,000.00. He defended his unilateral decision to bail out Veon, telling the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette he would have done the same thing for any Democrat who lost.

Yet, two of Veon's former Democratic colleagues, both of whom hail from Beaver County the same as Veon did, have campaign debts the committee hasn't offered to pay off. Rep. Sean Ramaley owes $7,000 from his first campaign for the state House in 2004 and Rep. Vincent Biancucci owes $12,000 from his 2002 and 2004 races, state records show.

Guess who's campaign Rachel Manza worked on while receiving state taxpayer's money? None other than Mike Veon.

Crooks are crooks period, Mr. Eachus. Each person in this world is repsonsible for his or her conduct. The fact that others may be doing the same thing does not exonerate that person from his or her conduct. Ask your buddy Robert Powell.

Eachus received $19,000.00 in donations from admitted felon Robert Powell, the disgraced attorney who used kids in a scheme to profit on the juvenile detention center in Luzerne County.

Here is a list of Powell's donations to Eachus, dates and amounts from www.campaignfinance.state.pa.us.

8/4/2004 $250.00
6/27/2008 $250.00
10/17/2000 $100.00
6/20/2001 $250.00
9/15/2000 $400.00
5/5/2004 $500.00
6/12/2006 $340.00
10/21/2004 $250.00
5/16/2002 $150.00
3/5/2004 $500.00
7/12/2005 $260.00
8/4/2004 $750.00
3/29/2005 $10,000.00
2/6/2007 $5,000.00

Eachus was front and center on the promotion of the cargo airport proposed by Powell et al. Eachus is a central figure in their media releases. Eachus was so supportive of the fantasy airport that he was willing to borrow $250 million and put the taxpayers of Pennsylvania on the hook for it. If the cargo airport succeeded it was going to take 16 years for Pennsylvania taxpayers to recoup their money.

To quote Guydish As far as helping local municipalities, non-profit agencies and government affiliates, Rep. Eachus has constantly delivered timely advice and financial assistance. He doesn't draw party lines in the process either. On really Danny. Ask the City of Hazleton how it is making out with the pension issue that could bankrupt Hazleton and the money for the Intermodel project? Like Yukon Cornelius, Nothin.

Eachus attended a hearing held by Rep. David Levdansky (D-Allegheny County) who is chairman of the House Finance Committee concerning the pension request in September of last year. It was televised live by PCN. Eachus didn't offer one word of support for Hazleton's request. He sat in the audience like Don Corleone making sure Levdansky did his bidding. About Levdansky- Levdansky has been arrested for DUI with blood-alcohol content registered
at 0.16 percent and had a Protection From Abuse Order against him from his former wife.

Here's what Todd Eachus had to say about supporting Powell's fantasy cargo airport.

“Why wouldn’t we deserve state funding?” he asked, when questioned about the $250 million in state money required to make the airport viable.

“We deserve in Northeastern Pennsylvania the same amount of money Philadelphia and Pittsburgh get” for capital budget projects like the new arena for the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team, he said.

The money will create jobs that are family-sustaining and high-paying, he said.

“This project means a lot to my community, and I’m not going away on it.”

Why does Pottsville deserve $15 million in funding for its intermodel project but the Majority Leader of the House cannot get funding for Hazleton's project? Do the workers in Hazleton not deserve employment? Why is Scranton and Nanticoke receiving funding for their projects? If Robert Powell was behind the Intermodel project would you borrow $11 million to help him?

As Majority Leader Hazleton should be the shining star in the state but Eachus has consistently refused, along party lines, to help Hazleton fostering and promoting Paul Kanjorski's pathetic stance and vow that Hazleton will never get a dime even though he posted funding for it on his website.

Hazleton is the biggest city in Eachus's district. Todd what have you done to earn its vote?

Let's recap. Todd Eachus- Rachel Manza, Mike Veon, Robert Powell, David Levdansky some nice company. Where's Archie when you want to watch "All In The Family'?