Reform is dead? (part 2)
Nov 15th, 2007 by JamieB
Not so fast, folks.
Majority Leader Bill DeWeese said the changes were made “in furthering my commitment to reform.”
• Democrats purge top staffers
Several top House Democratic staffers were forced from their jobs Tuesday in the latest hint at how the majority caucus has been shaken by an ongoing grand jury investigation of its campaign practices and the $1.8 million in taxpayer-funded bonuses that followed the November 2006 election.
Topping the list of those purged was Mike Manzo, chief of staff since 2001 to Majority Leader H. William DeWeese (D-Greene). Manzo had a major hand in most caucus decisions, including the bonus program.
Manzo confirmed his ouster, telling The Patriot-News that DeWeese asked him to resign from his $141,000-a-year post during a midmorning meeting and that he complied.
State Attorney General Tom Corbett is investigating whether bonuses paid by Democrats or Republicans were rewards for political work, whether staffers did campaign work on state time or used state resources to aid campaigns, and if evidence was destroyed.
No one has been charged with any wrongdoing.
DeWeese stayed in his office suite well into the night. In a prepared statement, he said the changes were made “in furthering my commitment to reform and change in the House Democratic Caucus,” and they would “enhance our ability to implement our agenda.”
• Former legislator faces public corruption charges
(AP) The state attorney general’s office said today it will charge a former state legislator as part of a public corruption investigation.
Frank LaGrotta hired his sister and niece onto his taxpayer-paid payroll as “ghost employees,” said Kevin Harley, a spokesman for Attorney General Tom Corbett. Corbett scheduled a press conference at 11 a.m. to announce the charges.
LaGrotta, a Beaver County Democrat, served 10 terms before he lost the Democratic nomination in the May 2006 primary amid voter outrage over a 2005 legislative pay raise that was later rescinded.
LaGrotta later was hired as a consultant to the House Democratic caucus, but was let go July 31 after an internal review “uncovered information” about LaGrotta, House Democratic leader Bill DeWeese said last month.
DeWeese said he provided the information to Corbett’s office, but would not elaborate on what it was.