Rock The Capitol's List Of Those Who Have Yet To Return Illegal Pay Raise

From the Post Gazette:

Rock the Capital, led by Eric Epstein, is one of the citizens watchdog groups that have criticized 60 state legislators for not returning to the state treasury the four months of higher pay they received from a controversial pay raise enacted in July 2005 and repealed in November 2005. The group released this list of seven senators, who are still in office, and 53 House members, some of whom have retired or been defeated and some who are still in office. Mr. Epstein noted that some lawmakers did donate their raise money to charities (resulting in tax benefits) but still will benefit from the "pension bump" caused by the higher salary.

The following legislators from our area on the list- Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, House majority leader, Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Phyllis Mundy, D-Luzerne, Ed Staback, D-Lackawanna. It's amazing how a leader can't be a leader by setting an example for the rest of his pack and do what is right for the taxpayer.

More from the Post Gazette about stalled legislative pay reform.


Democracy Rising PA and Rock the Capital Tuesday challenged the gubernatorial candidates, Democrat Dan Onorato and Republican Tom Corbett, to take the lead on several upcoming reform measures, including pushing for a "limited constitutional convention."

"Citizens need a megaphone to reach our tone-deaf lawmakers, and the only one loud enough to do the job is the governor," said Democracy Rising's Tim Potts.

"Things are not going to change until we have a constitutional convention," Mr. Epstein said.

Mr. Potts and Mr. Epstein, along with Matthew Brouillette of the Commonwealth Foundation, said they didn't think legislators have learned much from the middle-of-the-night pay raise debacle in July 2005.

Last week, they noted, legislators waived a post-pay-raise reform measure that would have required a 24-hour delay (in the House) and a six-hour wait (in the Senate) before the state budget could face a final vote. Legislative leaders insisted their members had adequate time to review the lengthy budget bill before approving it.

The citizens groups also asked Mr. Corbett and Mr. Onorato about changes recently recommended by a grand jury that spent two years investigating the so-called Bonusgate scandal, including convening a constitutional convention, cutting the size of the 253-member Legislature and imposing term limits on lawmakers.

Mr. Onorato has said he supports a convention that is limited to certain key issues, such as a smaller Legislature, but Mr. Potts said he'd like to know exactly what issues Mr. Onorato wants to look at.

Mr. Corbett also favors a limited constitutional convention and would end unvouchered per diem payments to legislators for food and lodging. He also favors a part-time Legislature, said campaign aide Kevin Harley.

The citizens groups also want to get the two candidates' views on whether legislators should spend $42 million this year on "walking around money," for pet projects in their districts; the funds are listed under vague categories called "cultural activities," "community assistance" and "urban development."

The reform groups also want the two candidates' opinions on whether the Legislature should continue to squirrel away $200 million in a reserve account, sometimes called a "slush fund," or put most of the money back into the general budget to ease some of the reductions in departmental budgets.

The Difference Between Onorato and Tom Corbett

Politcspa.com is featuring a story about Onorato's attacks on AG Tom Corbett for issuing subpoenas of Twitter accounts rumored to be authored by convicted Bonusgate defendant Brett Cott.

Asked if he’d do it again, the candidate then indicated he might.

“20/20 hindsight, would we go after it?” Corbett asked. “I think it depends on the situation at the time.”

The Onorato campaign, which has criticized the subpoenas before, highlighted the exchange in a press release Wednesday titled “Corbett All Atwitter Again.” The release also criticized the attorney general for suggesting the state should lay off teachers and firefighters if that’s necessary to balance the budget, a scenario Governor Ed Rendell has alluded might happen if the state doesn’t receive nearly $550 million in federal medical assistance.

Corbett argued that the state needs to cut costs just like the private sector and families have done to “bring its fiscal house in order.”

Back to the chart from the Pennsylvania Independent. Looks like Onorato needs to go back to the drawing board on this one.

Dissin Obama PA Style?

Over at PAWatercooler Chris Renner points us to a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review article that highlights all of the elected Democratic politicians who will not be present for President Obama's visit in Pittsburgh.

Congressmen Jason Altmire and Tim Murphy have previous engagements. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. and Rep. Mike Doyle are out of town on anniversary trips with their wives. Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato will be campaigning in Philadelphia.

When President Obama and Sen. Arlen Specter land at Pittsburgh International Airport today, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl will receive them by himself.

It's a lonely feeling to look over one's shoulder and not see anyone there. Since Paul Kanjorski has been extolling the President's supposed virtues is he receiving the wrong advice or not taking the advice?

AG Tom Corbett Goes On The Twitter Attack

Most bloggers are familiar with the site Casablancapa.blogspot.com. In a peculiar twist Philly.com is reporting that AG Tom Corbett has subpoened the identity of two twitter accounts that seem to be related or linked to that website, @bfbarbie and @casablancaPA.

[Corbett] subpoenaed Twitter, asking that it hand over the “name, address, contact information, creation date, creation Internet Protocol address and any and all log in Internet Protocol address” associated with two Twitter accounts, @bfbarbie and @casablancaPA, which have only 68 and 123 followers, respectively [as of Wednesday night, 124 and 206].

UPDATE: The story has taken a new twist, with the Post-Gazette reporting that Corbett's office believes CasablancaPA is being run by Brett Cott, a former legislative aide just convicted in the unfolding Bonusgate scandal. In court filings, two assistant attorneys general argue the blog demonstrates that Cott is deflecting blame and denying responsibility for the crimes of which he's been convicted. They are seeking a longer-than-normal sentence and basing their argument on that.

Corbett spokesman Kevin Harley told Politico that the attorney general didn't issue the subpoena because the Twitter users have been critical of Corbett and said it was issued as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. But he declined to go into further detail.

Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union has thrown itself into the fray, saying it will move to quash the subpoena if it can't reach a negotiated settlement with Corbett. And Allegheny County executive Dan Onorato, who will face Corbett in the fall gubernatorial election, has accused him of misusing his office.

From this blogger just an observation. Isn't there something more pressing than this particular issue facing Pennsylvania? This matter is not a win-win for Corbett.

Luzerne County Should Take A Lesson From Allegheney County

Mark Moran Citizen's Voice Photo
Caption- "I wonder if I am going to be next??"

In today's Citizen's Voice Michael Buffer reports on the sad state of financial affairs facing Luzerne County. The county is considering a 33% tax hike to make ends meet. According to Buffer the county will be able to pare that down to 22% if they lay off 150 people.

The reality is that we are in the midst of a restructuring of Luzerne County whether "they" want to believe it or not. I call it the "Southerton" effect. Except for that PizzellaFella I believe the next set of office holders WILL GET IT.

They will understand that the people are damn angry with government. Speaking of Pizzella, dude, did you not see what happened to Ciavarella when his arrogance ran about ten feet in front of him? Seriously, think about this. You couldn't walk in Conahan's shadow and you believe you are going to do what? Gort has a great post about the PizzellaFella. Frank...ly speaking if you were a pilot you would know it is a dangerous game to get caught in the propwash.

Anyone who has encountered the federal system will give you the following rundown. The Feds are not Keystone cops. The problem with the Feds is you are already caught when they come for you. When they want to talk to you they already know what they need to know. They just want to talk to tidy up a few details before they lock your ass up. Ohh off subject, sorry. Back to Luzerne County.

Commissioner Petrilla and Urban. Take a page from the Allegheny County playbook. Start with this paper written by Christopher Briem of the University of Pittsburgh that details how Allegheny County came to its breaking point of change. Efficiency in consolidation is no different for government than it is for private industry.

In line with consolidation look how Allegheny County was able to extract savings and install efficiency into its government structure by eliminating Row Offices. Allegheny County's efforts to terminate duplication saved residents millions. Although Dan Onorato doesn't stand a chance against Tom Corbett shoud the race for governor shape up that way I want to give him credit for his plan outlined in this article. Yes, not all Democrats are bad.

But the effort should not stop there. Many local governments should be looking at consolidation. The state should be mandating enrollment in the Pennsylvania Council of Governments to effect a statewide savings for each and every taxpayer.

Jim Dino of the Standard Speaker writes:

Councils of governments are meant to act as a conduit among an area's municipal governments, so that they can try to address common problems together - and perhaps save money doing it.

The Mountain Council of Governments represents 13 municipalities in the Hazleton area, including municipalities in Luzerne, Schuylkill and Carbon counties. There is no membership fee to belong to the Mountain COG.

For more information on the M-COG contact Dan Guydish, executive director, at 455-1509 or at www.hazletonchamber.org.

I know,,time to take my Prozac. Nobody will ever go for it.