08/06/2008
For too long, state legislators in Harrisburg found themselves under the iron firsts of senior lawmakers who ran the two parties' chambers brooking little dissent from within. Call it the "sit-down-and-shut-up" school of legislative management.
Those who tried to form independent courses when it came to important ethical reforms in the General Assembly were stifled, even punished. For evidence of how venal the system could be, look no further than the case of Delaware County state Rep. Greg Vitali, D-166th, who found himself stripped of a subcommittee assignment because he had the temerity to vote against the infamous legislative pay raise some years ago.
But we are pleased to report that cracks have begun forming in the walls surrounding the Harrisburg castle. In two cases involving Chester County legislators, party leaders have been publicly rebuked.
The first involved state Rep. Curt Schroder, R-158th, of East Brandywine. He was among those fed up with the reign of disgraced Speaker of the House John Perzel, R-172nd, of Philadelphia, and who dared to speak out against Perzel's continued service in that post. Schroder's opposition to Perzel played a role in the move that ultimately brought about the elevation of a new speaker, state Rep. Denis O'Brien, R-169th, of Philadelphia, who came to office promising a number of reforms.
The latest to break the old "keep-your-mouth-shut" mold is state Rep. Barbara McIlvaine Smith, D-156th, of West Chester.
On Monday, McIlvaine Smith held a media event at which she decried the use of taxpayer funds to pay the legal expenses of those charged by the state attorney general in the growing "bonusgate" scandal. Last month, 12 people connected to the House Democratic caucus were indicted by a grand jury that accused them of illegally diverting millions in taxpayer dollars to underwrite political campaigns and personal perks.
McIlvaine Smith, who is completing her first term in office since winning a close election in 2006, said the caucus leaders were wrong to have awarded bonuses to state employees for helping political campaigns, and that it is similarly wrong to use taxpayer dollars to defend those charged with the practice.
"It appears that the amount of money spent to defend the illegal activities in the Democratic caucus — currently reported to be more than $1.4 million — will rival the original expenditure," she said. "And as we know, two wrongs don't make a right, especially when they come at the expense of the taxpayer."
McIlvaine Smith, however, went further when she said she believed that the man many hold responsible for the overall climate that produced the scandal — House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese — should step down as her party's leader. She said she didn't support him when he ran to be the Democratic leader and she would not support him if he sought this position again in 2009.
McIlvaine Smith's call came the same day that another suburban Philadelphia Democrat, state Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-153rd, of Montgomery County, also called on DeWeese to relinquish his leadership position. That announcement drew more attention because of Shapiro's formerly close relationship with DeWeese and his position as deputy speaker. But it is no less important.
Both Schroder and McIlvaine Smith are running for re-election this year, asking voters to send them back to Harrisburg. We believe that the voters in their districts should take notice of their willingness to break the tradition of intra-party silence when deciding whether they deserve another two years in the state capital.
Barb delivered the school supplies, generously donated by her supporters on her behalf, to the Chester County Cares Food Network. The supplies, collected at her campaign office, will be distributed this fall by Cares to local WCASD students in need.
call for a constitutional convention, to making government transparent and accountable to the people it serves by posting all legislative and caucus expenses online, (McIlvaine Smith currently posts hers on her legislative website,