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August 4, 2008

Eachus: Links to workers proper

Representative says he was unaware of alleged criminal activity when payments made.

By Steve Mocarsky smocarsky@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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Records show state Rep. Todd Eachus had several connections to state employees charged last month in the misappropriation of taxpayer funds, but Eachus maintains he was unaware of the alleged criminal activity when he interacted with the employees.

Eachus’ campaign committee contributed several thousand dollars to help elect two state representatives charged in the misappropriation scandal, records show. Eachus acknowledges one of the 12 employees charged was on his staff at the time.

Donations from Friends of Todd Eachus to the state House Democratic Campaign Committee increased from a few thousand dollars between 2000 and 2003 to nearly a quarter-million dollars between 2004 and 2008. As the chairman of the House Democratic Campaign Committee, Eachus appropriated thousands from the committee to pay the campaign debts of one of the charged representatives, arguing at the time that the representative had been “dedicated” and “meant a lot to” the committee.

During an interview on Friday, Eachus said he had been unaware of the representatives’ alleged criminal activity when he made the payments, but stopped short of regretting the decisions.

“If I knew back then the facts that are out today, I would have to seriously consider that distribution,” Eachus said. “I still make decisions the same way every day. The good thing about public service is it hasn’t changed me.”

Eachus, of Butler Township, is serving his sixth term in the 116th Legislative District and is in his second year as chairman of the House Majority Policy Committee.

A Times Leader review of campaign finance reports for Friends of Todd Eachus shows the committee made three donations totaling $9,200 in 2006 to the Committee to Elect Mike Veon.

Veon, the former House Minority Whip who hails from Beaver County, faces 59 counts of various types of charges that include theft, criminal conspiracy and conflict of interest for his alleged participation in the distribution of millions of dollars in illegal state-paid bonuses to legislative staffers for working on political campaigns.

Veon was voted out of office in 2006, but his campaign committee was still in debt. Records show two payments totaling $40,683 from the House Democratic Campaign Committee to Veon’s campaign committee in November and December 2007. Eachus acknowledged he individually authorized those allocations.

Eachus’ committee also donated $1,000 to Citizens for Sean Ramaley in April. Ramaley, a Democrat representing the 16th Legislative District in Beaver County, was charged with six counts of theft and conflict of interest, and is accused of taking a part-time, no-show job as a legislative aide in Veon’s office while running for the state House in 2004.

Eachus noted on Friday that Ramaley made “the right decision” to end his state Senate bid amid the accusations.

Eachus characterized his relationship with Veon and Ramaley as usual among colleagues. He called Veon a “friend” and hoped he “does well,” but said his close working relationship was the norm for House Democrats.

“There was no way of not working with Mike Veon … so I don’t consider my situation an anomaly,” he said.

State Attorney General Tom Corbett, whose office initiated two grand jury investigations, has said Veon and Michael Manzo – former chief of staff to House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese – initiated a secret bonus program run by members of the state House Democratic Caucus from 2004 through 2006.

The program involved keeping a list of legislative staffers’ involvement in election campaigns, and corresponding taxpayer-funded bonuses those staffers should receive. During the program’s three-year existence, more than $1.5 million in illegal bonuses were handed out to perhaps 500 caucus employees, Corbett has said.

Two grand juries recommended charges against 12 state employees for their alleged involvement, including Rachel Manzo who was hired as the executive director of Eachus’ policy committee in December 2006.

Manzo, who faces 12 counts on theft, conflict of interest and conspiracy charges, is married to Michael Manzo, who faces 47 counts on identical charges.

Eachus said he was “startled” to learn of Rachel Manzo’s alleged involvement because her work for the policy committee had been “exemplary.” Nevertheless, he said he suspended her without pay on the day the presentments were handed up.

“We will consider employment once the adjudication process has taken place,” Eachus said.

Corbett has said the investigation is continuing and more charges are expected to be filed.

Eachus said he is not aware of any investigation into his office, but he has retained counsel.

“I think the record will clearly show that I play by the rules. I’ve always done that. It’s part of who I am,” Eachus said. “And I think when this whole thing gets sorted out, there will be no impact to my public image.”

Eachus on Friday also took full responsibility for decisions made on recipients of donations from Friends of Todd Eachus as well as from the House Democratic Campaign Committee, saying he was “proud of it.”

As for the increase in Friends of Todd Eachus donations to the House Democratic Campaign Committee, Eachus said the growth of his own “political clout” during the past 12 years is directly related to the amount of giving he has been able to accomplish.

He said it’s necessary to donate to campaigns of people who will support his goals for his district and the state, such as job growth and health care access.

“In order to put forth these policies, political clout and the giving that you see are inextricably connected. And I’m going to do more of it,” Eachus said.

Eachus committee’s PAC contributions

The largest political contributions made by Friends of Todd Eachus between 2000 and 2008 include:

• The Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee – 32 donations totaling $244,120

• People for Petrilla – seven contributions totaling $19,650.

• Committee to Elect Mike Veon, Beaver Falls – three contributions totaling $9,200.

• Friends of Thomas W. Blackwell IV, Philadelphia – one contribution of $8,000.

• Mike Sturla for State Representative, Lancaster; Friends of Harold James, Philadelphia; and Friends of Richard Costello, Philadelphia; each received one contribution of $5,000.

• Friends of Frank Shimkus, Scranton; and Committee for James Casorio, Larimer; each received one contribution of $2,500.

Steve Mocarsky and Rory Sweeney, Times Leader staff writers, may be reached at 459-2005 and 970-7418, respectively.

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