Bonus probe costing millions
The Pa. legislature has spent $5.8 million in taxpayer money so far on the investigation.
HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania legislature has burned through $5.8 million in taxpayer money so far on legal fees and other expenses stemming from an investigation into staff bonuses and potential misuse of public resources.
The total was calculated yesterday after House Democrats disclosed that their costs had reached $2.6 million. They would not release the information without a formal Right-to-Know Law request, which the Associated Press submitted Jan. 9.
Senate Republicans have spent $1.4 million, House Republicans $1.8 million, and Senate Democrats just $5,000. Senate Democrats also distributed the smallest amount in bonuses.
"On a personal level, I'm just kind of disgusted that the actions of a few have cost taxpayers so much," said House Majority Leader Todd Eachus (D., Luzerne). "Clearly the number is large."
The legislature's expenses now far exceed the $3.7 million in bonuses that lawmakers said in early 2007 they had doled out to employees over the previous two years. News of the bonuses triggered a criminal investigation.
Last summer 12 people connected to the House Democratic Caucus were charged with theft, conflict of interest and conspiracy. No legal expenses for the defendants have been paid since they were charged.
Prosecutors say that legislative employees received bonuses for campaign work - some of it done on state time - and that public equipment and contracts were employed to help win elections.
Attorney General Tom Corbett said the probe had pushed other cases to the back burner, so he recently obtained court approval to add an investigative grand jury so the one in Harrisburg can focus on public corruption.
Tim Potts, cofounder of Democracy Rising PA and a reform advocate and frequent critic of the legislature, said the $5.8 million showed how "corruption is always more expensive than integrity."
"You wonder what better uses there could be for that money," Potts said.
House Democrats, who gave out the most in bonuses, have spent $1.2 million since August. Their total costs include legal representation, consultant fees, and new ethics training.
House Republicans paid out about $400,000 since the start of the year. Caucus spokesman Steve Miskin likened the investigation to a thorough audit.
"Yes, there are a few former employees that we are paying for their legal costs, but only to the extent that the investigation touches their former employment here," Miskin said.
Outside legal counsel for Senate Republicans cost $313,000 in December alone. The great majority of their bonus investigation expenses have been paid to two Philadelphia law firms: Conrad, O'Brien, Gellman & Rohn; and Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll. Conrad, O'Brien also has provided legal representation for the House Democrats.
Senate GOP lawyer Steve MacNett said outside lawyers had helped conduct an internal investigation and ensured that paper and electronic records are not destroyed.
Corbett declined to say when his investigation might result in additional charges. He told reporters that when he has something to announce, "you'll probably be stunned again."
