Corbett bonus probe now focuses on GOP

August 14th, 2008, posted by RobHop

State Attorney General Tom Corbett’s office is continuing its widening investigation into government corruption, but sources said that no indictments are expected this week.

Corbett’s office has stepped up its probe into Republican caucuses in recent weeks. Last month, he announced the indictment of 12 people associated with the House Democratic caucus on theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest charges.

Corbett’s office is investigating whether any of $3.6 million in bonus payments to legislative staffers in the 2005-06 legislative session were rewards for campaign work. Investigators also are looking into evidence of campaigning on state time or using state resources.

Steve Miskin, a state House Republican spokesman, said 20 to 30 House staffers have been contacted by investigators in recent weeks and are cooperating. A source said the House GOP’s replacement of its computer equipment in 2007 has drawn interest from the investigators.
Full Article and Source

Filed under:

Corbett a partisan hack - no justice

On August 14th, 2008 Anonymous said:

As Patriot New reported “The House GOP replaced computer equipment in 2007, after Corbett would have launched his investigation.”

So there won’t be any emails that describe the Republican bonus procedures and you better believe that there was a lot of corruption there.

Otherwise they didn’t need to replace their computers. So the GOP should be charged with Obstruction of Justice and destroying evidence.

Or Dems should be let off the hook then.

No equal justice here.

Corbett a partisan hack - no justice

On August 14th, 2008 Anonymous said:

Not certain where Corbett is going here but he must know that he needs to go after Republicans and further, actually indict any offenders in that party or he will be looked upon as another partisan political hack and will never be elected governor.
Your own comment “Or Dems should be let off the hook then” makes no sense at all.
If there was actual wrong-doing, what the hell has this have to do with anyone getting a free pass?
Matt Thomas

no equal justice here

On August 15th, 2008 Anonymous said:

I have a huge problem with partisan prosecutions – especially regarding politics. It must always be prosecuted by an independent prosecutor – not an opposite-party republican hack AG, like in this case. So the Repugs here get a free pass?

This must not be allowed in political prosecutions. It serves no real purpose except to help one side win elections.

I do not like to see a free pass – but in this case only – it is about bonuses not life-or-death. Lets garnish the bonuses out of their wages or pensions and call it a day. The Repubs must return their bonus money too. Then wake up and vote them all out of office.

All bonuses should be outlawed. These are public service jobs that you chose to take for the greater good or for a nice fat pension and free medical benefits. You don’t deserve a bonus – at taxpayer expense.

Normal IT Procedures - Back up

On August 14th, 2008 Anonymous said:

Normal IT procedure in industry, acedemia, etc. is to Back up everthing regularally. One never know when you will need that file.

If the back = ups don’t exist it looks VERY suspicious.

"Former" Speaker in Charge

On August 17th, 2008 Anonymous said:

The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily Newsdid not have to look all the way across Pennsylvania to find a House of Representative’s leader worthy of resigning due to “Bonusgate” and related issues.

Philadelphia’s own former Speaker, now Speaker “Emeritus” John Perzel certainly should at least shed himself of his ceremonial “emeritus” in light of his tenure during the exact time frame that continues to be investigated by Attorney General Corbett. Just last Friday, it was announced that 20 Republican staffers were being “interviewed” by Corbett, for the very same things those charged in July were accused of doing. Public records indicate that Republicans, under the Speaker Perzel, may indeed have been more tidy about leaving hard evidence to be found. Apparently, their emails and notes were all deleted in 2007.

But, additional records show that Perzel’s Chief of Staff ( a $160,000 Commonwealth salary), also served as his $50,000 “campaign manager”, as well as his representative to the Delaware River Port Authority and served as a member of the PA Supreme Court Rules Committee. In addition, in 2004 & 2005, he found time to spend and be “reimbursed” almost $270,000 from the Friends of John Perzel and was rewarded for his “official” duties with a Bonus of $15,027 in 2005 and over $16,000 in 2006.

The 2:00 AM pay raise and pension grab were also pushed through under Perzel’s watch. In fact the hue and cry of editorial boards, reform movements, and voters who ousted 53 house members in 2006 in still being felt today, all courtesy of Mr. Perzel’s “leadership”. And while reforms that have started since his exit as speaker need to be expanded, his hope is to return as speaker. I’ll bet…........