Shapiro calls for DeWeese to quit in bonus scandal

HARRISBURG - Rep. Josh Shapiro, a rising figure in the state Capitol, yesterday called on Majority Leader Bill DeWeese to resign his leadership post, insisting that the top House Democrat "will always be a symbol of a broken system."

Shapiro, of Montgomery County, became the fifth and most prominent Democratic House member to publicly urge DeWeese to step aside as a result of criminal charges filed last month in the Bonusgate scandal.

DeWeese (D., Greene) was not charged, but he controlled the caucus as his top lieutenants and aides allegedly carried out a conspiracy to use millions in government funds to run political campaigns.

"The fact is that the abuses . . . occurred on Bill's watch and, as such, he will always be a symbol of a broken system," said Shapiro, who also holds the mostly ceremonial title of deputy speaker. "As the Democratic leader, he should take responsibility and resign his leadership post."

Last month, Attorney General Tom Corbett filed 289 criminal counts against a dozen Harrisburg insiders, including DeWeese's former chief of staff, Michael Manzo, and former Rep. Mike Veon (D., Beaver).

A grand jury found that the two men helped create and carry out a system that used tax dollars and resources to underwrite political campaigns, including the awarding of large bonuses for legislative staffers who also worked to get Democrats elected.

DeWeese has repeatedly insisted that he had known nothing about the bonus system and that since learning of it had worked hard to install higher ethical standards in the caucus.

In a prepared statement released yesterday afternoon, DeWeese said he was "saddened" by Shapiro's remarks, which he described as "personal attacks."

"We must not allow anything or anyone to distract us from moving forward with this reform agenda," he said.

Reps. Matt Smith and Harry Readshaw of Allegheny, John Yudichak of Luzerne, and Bill Keller of Philadelphia also have asked DeWeese to step down following the indictments.

But Shapiro's move is noteworthy because of his close ties to DeWeese.

DeWeese owes his current post to a brainchild of the Abington Democrat.

It was Shapiro's idea to put forth the name of Rep. Dennis O'Brien (R., Phila.) as a speaker in January 2007, when it was clear that DeWeese didn't have the needed support for the top job. The compromise move allowed Democrats to grab the majority and therefore control the flow of legislation as DeWeese took over as majority leader. And it was DeWeese who recommended last year that Shapiro chair the Speakers Reform Commission. The group went on to recommend and implement dozens of mostly internal House operating changes.

Christopher Borick, a politics professor at Muhlenberg College, said that in some ways, DeWeese's enabling of Shapiro's rise as a reformer had backfired.

"There's a bit of irony there," Borick said. ". . . As you look at key moments in this particular event, I think this might be seen as one of those that starts to tip the scales against DeWeese within the party."

Shapiro is in his fourth year as a lawmaker; DeWeese is in his 32d.

Shapiro said he spoke with DeWeese yesterday to tell him he would be calling for his resignation. He declined to say how the majority leader reacted to the news.

"I like him as a human being, and I consider him a friend," said Shapiro. "I am not sure if he considers me a friend anymore."

Shapiro said he lost sleep over the decision whether to weigh in on whether DeWeese should remain as leader. In the end, however, Shapiro said he chose to call for DeWeese's resignation because he was growing tired of constituents' asking when he was going to change how Harrisburg operated.

"We need leaders who are committed to transformational reform. We need a monumental shift, and we need it now," Shapiro said. "We can't do better, at least in our caucus, until we dedicate ourselves to a new direction."

Shapiro, who stressed that he was not angling for DeWeese's leadership post, said, "We need leaders who possess the public's trust - Bill DeWeese does not.

"Once the public trust is shattered, it can never be put back together."

Shapiro said DeWeese should step down for the good of the party in the November elections.

"Bill DeWeese's presence as the leader of our caucus - the face of our caucus - dramatically undermines that effort to expand our majority, and may even compromise it," he said.