Pa. Democrats charged with stealing public funds

[bronxiteforever]

July 10, 2008

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A state lawmaker, a former legislative leader and 10 other people connected to the state House Democratic caucus were charged Thursday over allegations that millions of taxpayer dollars were illegally siphoned to underwrite political campaigns.

Pennsylvania prosecutors filed the theft, conflict of interest and conspiracy charges after grand jurors found that legislative employees got taxpayer-funded bonuses for doing campaign work; state computers and equipment were commandeered for political campaigning; and public contracts were issued for partisan purposes. Some of the bonuses issued in 2005 and 2006 were well over $20,000.

It's a very sad day in Pennsylvania," Attorney General Tom Corbett said in announcing the charges.

Corbett, a Republican and potential 2010 gubernatorial candidate, said more charges are expected. He declined to say whether the investigation has uncovered evidence of similar illegal acts within the House Republican, Senate Republican or Senate Democratic caucuses.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5je0uYxB-f7L4BN4G1Czh_N4O8j3QD91R9T9O0

[femmocrat]

1. A sad day for Pennsylvania and a happy day for Corbett.

I didn't know he was a repuke. Obviously with political ambitions.

[bronxiteforever]

2. A.G. stands for Aspiring Governor in Pa. There hasn't been a Dem EVER elected as AG in PA

Hope that changes

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. John Morganelli is running this year

He actually sued Governor Casey to sign a death warrant of a convicted murderer who said that he wanted to die.

[bronxiteforever]

5. More on Corbett from Morganelli

In many rural parts of Pennsylvania, citizens acting through their elected local officials are uniting to protect their communities from the serious dangers associated with the spreading of “sludge”and “biosolids” on Pennsylvania’s farmland. Unfortunately, we have an attorney general, Tom Corbett, who is on the side of corporate sludge haulers and against rural Pennsylvanians. Mr. Corbett threatened Pennsylvania’s rural communities back in 2006, and now he is making good on his threat by doing everything he can to interfere with the wishes of rural Pennsylvanians. I am here today to condemn Attorney General Tom Corbett’s blatant use of the power of the government to intimidate ordinary people who want a safe environment in which to live, and his use of public resources to fight on behalf of corporate interests against our citizens.

http://www.johnmorganelli.com/

[JPZenger]

3. Time to clean out the trash

There are a tremendous number of great rank and file Dem. legislators in PA. However, they have allowed too many legislative leaders to fester in office for too many years. This scandal (even though it is politically motivated by the GOP to win the Governor's office in 2010), will make it easier to clean out the remaining leaders who have become engorged with their own power.