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November 16, 2009

Politicians must regain our trust | Vile behavior rampant among officials

Anonymous The Tribune-Democrat Mon Nov 16, 2009, 01:36 PM EST

As charges levied Thursday in Harrisburg show, political corruption knows no party limits.

Powerful Philadelphia Republican John Perzel was accused – along with another former lawmaker and eight aides – of diverting public resources and staffers to support legislative campaigns.

Up to that point, a three-year investigation into misdeeds around the state Capitol had focused primarily on top Democrats, including former state House Democratic Whip Michael Veon. Veon was accused of shifting public money and funds from a nonprofit agency to Dems’ campaign efforts.

Now, state Attorney General Tom Corbett says the 10 people with positions in the House GOP used millions in taxpayer dollars to purchase computer equipment in a bid to gain a political advantage. Corbett’s office also says it will show that top officials and their minions took steps to cover up the scandal.

Charges against Perzel, former state Rep. Brett Feese and their aides include theft, conspiracy, conflict of interest and obstruction of justice, according to media reports. A grand jury report was issued on Thursday, and Perzel team members were in court on Friday.

Perzel is the senior Republican on the Urban Affairs Committee, having stepped down as Speaker after the GOP lost control of the House in 2007.

He faces 82 counts, and Perzel pledged to fight the charges and suggested that Corbett was grandstanding in an attempt to elevate his bid to be elected governor in 2010.

“It smacks of political opportunism at the expense of my reputation, and I am going to fight very aggressively to prove my innocence,” Perzel said.

Corbett said his office faced numerous hurdles during the investigation, as individuals with the GOP caucus diverted investigators or hid evidence.

State GOP Chairman Rob Gleason of Johnstown commended the attorney general, also a Republican, for pursuing the charges against Perzel and the others.

“This will obviously go down as another troubling day in the history of our commonwealth,” Gleason said. “As this investigation continues to unfold, it is my hope that the state

Legislature will continue to work hard to restore the taxpayers’ trust. It is important to remember that in our country, everyone is innocent until proven guilty.”

With such vile behavior rampant among our elected officials, regaining trust might be challenging for Republicans and Democrats alike.

We look forward to the day when the taxpayers receive justice, and those found guilty are behind bars.

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