2006 Pennsylvania General Assembly bonus controversy
Encyclopedia
In 2007, Pennsylvania Attorney General
Tom Corbett
began investigating $3.8 million in bonuses paid to legislative staffers in the Pennsylvania General Assembly
. While the bonuses themselves are not illegal under state law, the Attorney General is investigating the possibility that the bonuses were handed out for campaign work. State law forbids state employees from performing campaign work while on the job and forbids payment for campaign work out of taxpayer funds.
Pennsylvania media refer to this scandal as "bonusgate."
with House Democrats handing out $2.3 million, House Republicans - $919,000, Senate Democrats - $41,000 and Senate Republicans $366,000.
The investigation's early focus on the House Democratic caucus and Attorney General Corbett's 2010 gubernatorial aspirations have led to charges from that the investigation may be politically motivated.
DeWeese initially attempted to block Pennsylvania Attorney General
Tom Corbett's
investigation into whether the House Democratic caucus made illegal payments to staffers with motions to quash suboepenas and exclude evidence seized. However, months later he abruptly fired several staffers after turning over to Corbett self-selected documents and e-mails, and dropped his legal challenges.
The documents DeWeese turned over to the Attorney General revealed that DeWeese acknowledged awarding bonuses for campaign work and used a state-paid consultant to perform political tasks. DeWeese has not been charged in connection with bonuses or the state-paid consultant.
Grand jury testimony in the case revealed that DeWeese made bizarre personal demands of his staff, such as a small coffee in a big cup, a small salad in a big bowl, or "12 M&Ms." His state-paid aides balanced his checkbook, bought condoms and arranged his dinner dates.
At least fourteen staffers from the House Democratic caucus have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in Harrisburg. Agents for the state Attorney General's office have also seized 20 boxes of records from the House Democratic caucus' Legislative Research Office in August. The director of that office, Jennifer Brubaker, is married to Scott Brubaker, former director of Staffing and Administration, who was among those fired in November 2007.
said some House Republican staffers worked for campaigns, but also said they were not paid with taxpayers' money.
Out of sixteen Senate Republican staffers receiving bonuses, only three had worked on campaigns. Mike Long, a former aide to Senate Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer
, received a $22,500 bonus in 2006 despite taking several weeks off to work on his boss's unsuccessful re-election bid. Senate legal counsel Drew Crompton
received a bonus of $19,647 despite working for Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann
from July through October.
Erik Arneson
, chief of staff to Senator Chip Brightbill was paid $15,000 in bonus payments.
On February 13, 2008, Attorney General's office officially extended its investigation to the Senate Republican caucus. The Senate Republicans have retained two Philadelphia law firms as legal advisers.
, who was working for the House Democratic caucus after losing his 2006 re-election bid, pleaded guilty to conflict of interest charges relating to hiring his relatives for no-work jobs. The scheme was uncovered during inspection of personnel documents during the bonus investigation.
jury found former Democratic State House Whip
Mike Veon
guilty on 14 counts related to using taxpayer-paid bonuses to reward state workers for campaign efforts, illegal campaign fundraising, other campaign efforts and a single count of conflict-of-interest for having aides drive two motorcycles to a North Dakota
rally. Also convicted were two former aides, Brett Cott, found guilty on three counts, and Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink, found guilty on five counts. A third aide, Stephen Keefer, was acquitted of all charges against him. On June 18, 2010, Veon was sentenced to six to fourteen years imprisonment by Common Pleas Judge Richard A. Lewis.
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
Tom Corbett
Tom Corbett
Thomas W. Corbett is the 46th and current Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. He is a former Attorney General of Pennsylvania and was elected to that office in 2004 and reelected in 2008...
began investigating $3.8 million in bonuses paid to legislative staffers in the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
. While the bonuses themselves are not illegal under state law, the Attorney General is investigating the possibility that the bonuses were handed out for campaign work. State law forbids state employees from performing campaign work while on the job and forbids payment for campaign work out of taxpayer funds.
Pennsylvania media refer to this scandal as "bonusgate."
Attorney General's investigation
Bonuses to staffers were awarded by the four legislative caucuses in the Pennsylvania General AssemblyPennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
with House Democrats handing out $2.3 million, House Republicans - $919,000, Senate Democrats - $41,000 and Senate Republicans $366,000.
The investigation's early focus on the House Democratic caucus and Attorney General Corbett's 2010 gubernatorial aspirations have led to charges from that the investigation may be politically motivated.
House Democratic Caucus
Eighty of the 100 Democratic House staffers who were awarded bonuses in 2006 either donated money to or worked on the campaigns of Leader Bill DeWeese or his Whip, former Rep. Mike Veon.DeWeese initially attempted to block Pennsylvania Attorney General
Pennsylvania Attorney General
The Pennsylvania Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It became an elected office in 1980. Currently, the office is held by Linda Kelly.- Authority and Responsibilities :...
Tom Corbett's
Tom Corbett
Thomas W. Corbett is the 46th and current Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. He is a former Attorney General of Pennsylvania and was elected to that office in 2004 and reelected in 2008...
investigation into whether the House Democratic caucus made illegal payments to staffers with motions to quash suboepenas and exclude evidence seized. However, months later he abruptly fired several staffers after turning over to Corbett self-selected documents and e-mails, and dropped his legal challenges.
The documents DeWeese turned over to the Attorney General revealed that DeWeese acknowledged awarding bonuses for campaign work and used a state-paid consultant to perform political tasks. DeWeese has not been charged in connection with bonuses or the state-paid consultant.
Grand jury testimony in the case revealed that DeWeese made bizarre personal demands of his staff, such as a small coffee in a big cup, a small salad in a big bowl, or "12 M&Ms." His state-paid aides balanced his checkbook, bought condoms and arranged his dinner dates.
At least fourteen staffers from the House Democratic caucus have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in Harrisburg. Agents for the state Attorney General's office have also seized 20 boxes of records from the House Democratic caucus' Legislative Research Office in August. The director of that office, Jennifer Brubaker, is married to Scott Brubaker, former director of Staffing and Administration, who was among those fired in November 2007.
House Republican Caucus
On October 22, 2007 House Republicans received subpoenas seeking personnel records. House Republican Leader Sam SmithSamuel H. Smith (politician)
Samuel H. "Sam" Smith is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 66th District and was elected in 1986. The district includes portions of Jefferson, Indiana and Armstrong counties...
said some House Republican staffers worked for campaigns, but also said they were not paid with taxpayers' money.
Senate Republican Caucus
On January 31, 2007, the Senate Republican became the first caucus to release a list of their staffers who received bonuses. The next day, Senate Republicans ended the practice of giving bonuses altogether.Out of sixteen Senate Republican staffers receiving bonuses, only three had worked on campaigns. Mike Long, a former aide to Senate Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer
Robert Jubelirer
Robert C. Jubelirer is a Republican Pennsylvania political leader. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1975 to 2006, and simultaneously served as the President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania State Senate and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania between 2001 and...
, received a $22,500 bonus in 2006 despite taking several weeks off to work on his boss's unsuccessful re-election bid. Senate legal counsel Drew Crompton
Drew Crompton
J. Andrew "Drew" Crompton is acting chief of staff and counsel for Pennsylvania Senate Pro-Tempore Joe Scarnati. He served as deputy campaign manager for policy for Lynn Swann's 2006 campaign for Governor of Pennsylvania...
received a bonus of $19,647 despite working for Republican gubernatorial candidate Lynn Swann
Lynn Swann
-Collegiate:Swann attended the University of Southern California, where he was an All-American on the Trojans football team. He played under legendary coach John McKay, including the 1972 undefeated and national championship season. McKay said of Swann, "He has speed, soft hands, and grace." He...
from July through October.
Erik Arneson
Erik Arneson
Erik Arneson is a prominent political staffer in Pennsylvania, serving as Chief of Staff for former Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Chip Brightbill and as Communications and Policy Director for current Majority Leader Dominic F. Pileggi....
, chief of staff to Senator Chip Brightbill was paid $15,000 in bonus payments.
On February 13, 2008, Attorney General's office officially extended its investigation to the Senate Republican caucus. The Senate Republicans have retained two Philadelphia law firms as legal advisers.
LaGrotta guilty plea
Former State Representative Frank LaGrottaFrank LaGrotta
Frank LaGrotta is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 10th District from 1987 to 2006.-Personal life:...
, who was working for the House Democratic caucus after losing his 2006 re-election bid, pleaded guilty to conflict of interest charges relating to hiring his relatives for no-work jobs. The scheme was uncovered during inspection of personnel documents during the bonus investigation.
Veon guilty verdict
On March 23, 2010, after a week of diliberation, a Dauphin CountyDauphin County, Pennsylvania
Dauphin County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of the three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 census, the population was 268,100. The county includes the city of Harrisburg, which has served as the state capital...
jury found former Democratic State House Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
Mike Veon
Mike Veon
Michael R. Veon is a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 14th District from 1985 through 2006.-Personal life:...
guilty on 14 counts related to using taxpayer-paid bonuses to reward state workers for campaign efforts, illegal campaign fundraising, other campaign efforts and a single count of conflict-of-interest for having aides drive two motorcycles to a North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
rally. Also convicted were two former aides, Brett Cott, found guilty on three counts, and Annamarie Perretta-Rosepink, found guilty on five counts. A third aide, Stephen Keefer, was acquitted of all charges against him. On June 18, 2010, Veon was sentenced to six to fourteen years imprisonment by Common Pleas Judge Richard A. Lewis.
See also
- Pennsylvania General AssemblyPennsylvania General AssemblyThe Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...
- 2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversyIn the early morning hours of July 7, 2005, the Pennsylvania General Assembly passed pay increases for state lawmakers, judges, and top executive-branch officials. The vote took place at 2 a.m. without public review or commentary and Governor Ed Rendell signed the bill into law...
- Frank LaGrottaFrank LaGrottaFrank LaGrotta is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 10th District from 1987 to 2006.-Personal life:...
- Mike VeonMike VeonMichael R. Veon is a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 14th District from 1985 through 2006.-Personal life:...
- List of scandals with "-gate" suffix
- Drew CromptonDrew CromptonJ. Andrew "Drew" Crompton is acting chief of staff and counsel for Pennsylvania Senate Pro-Tempore Joe Scarnati. He served as deputy campaign manager for policy for Lynn Swann's 2006 campaign for Governor of Pennsylvania...
- Mike Manzo
- Bloom Cigar CompanyBloom Cigar CompanyThe Bloom Cigar Company is an iconic and internationally-known Pittsburgh-based premium cigar store. Founded in 1955, Bloom Cigar Company is the Pittsburgh area's largest retail and wholesale distributor of cigars...