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The one-two punch began when House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, sacked seven top caucus aides in a move widely seen as an effort to limit damage from the state investigation into the payment last year of secret legislative bonuses to selected staffers. His action was followed a day later by state Attorney General Tom Corbett’s announcement of charges against ex-Rep. Frank LaGrotta, D-Lawrence, for arranging to have his relatives paid with tax dollars for work they didn’t do.
Corbett wouldn’t comment on whether the LaGrotta charges are linked to “Bonusgate,” but he left Capitol observers with a sense of waiting for the other shoe to drop.
DeWeese surfaced in the LaGrotta grand jury report as having signed a memo approving a retroactive hiring date for LaGrotta’s sister. DeWeese issued a statement saying an unnamed employee signed his name to the memo and that employee was one of the seven cashiered the day before.
Gov. Ed Rendell was scheduled to talk to the Democratic caucus on his energy and health care legislation on Tuesday, but that was pre-empted by the purge. Rendell had his turn the next day shortly after the LaGrotta charges were announced. As he left the caucus room, Rendell told reporters he advised the lawmakers that while the bonus probe will proceed on its own course, they can build a re-election record by working hard to pass his legislative agenda.
Rumors swirled that anxious Democrats would move to oust DeWeese as caucus leader. Political pollster Terry Madonna thinks DeWeese hangs on barring some bombshell from the AG’s office.
DeWeese’s downfall could be the Northeast’s gain. Waiting in the wings: House Majority Whip Keith McCall, D-Carbon, and Policy Committee Chair Todd Eachus, D-Butler Township, both new to the leadership team this session. For lawmakers, the window for action one way or the other is closing. Jan. 22 is the starting date for them or potential challengers to circulate nominating petitions.
State park fee hike
Timing is everything. Fees to use cabins, campsites, boating marinas and picnic pavilions at Pennsylvania state parks go up Jan. 1, a date when few people use these amenities. But that doesn’t mean people aren’t daydreaming now about pitching a tent or going out on a boat. State officials point out that reservations made prior to Jan. 1 to use these facilities during the summer months won’t be affected by the fee hike. Most prices will increase 10 percent above current rates set back in 2001. For example, the 2008 weekly rate for a modern cabin will be $408 compared to $371 currently.
“This new pricing schedule makes Pennsylvania state parks comparable with neighboring states, and is well below the inflation rate for the period since 2001,” said Michael DiBerardinis, secretary for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
rswift@timesshamrock.com
