{"id":442609,"date":"2010-03-18T10:22:05","date_gmt":"2010-03-18T14:22:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/papundits.wordpress.com\/?p=32748"},"modified":"2010-03-18T10:22:05","modified_gmt":"2010-03-18T14:22:05","slug":"pa-referendum-bonus-scandal-integrity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/442609","title":{"rendered":"PA Referendum, Bonus Scandal, Integrity"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tim Potts <\/strong>DR<\/a> News:<\/strong><\/p>\n

First Senator Signs the Petition
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sen. Jim Ferlo<\/strong>, D-Allegheny, is the first state senator to sign the petition for a Constitution convention referendum this fall. He joins seven members of the House who already have signed:
\nRep. Barbara McIlvaine-Smith<\/strong>, D-Chester
\nRep. Bryan Lentz<\/strong>, D-Delaware
\nRep. John Bear<\/strong>, R- Lancaster
\nRep. RoseMarie Swanger<\/strong>, R-Lebanon
\nRep. John Galloway<\/strong>, D- Bucks
\nRep. Scott Conklin<\/strong>, D-Centre
\nRep. Steve Santarsiero<\/strong>, D-Bucks<\/p>\n

We also can report two other candidates who have taken a stand on a convention. Susan Rzucidlo<\/strong> is a Democrat challenging incumbent Rep. Chris Ross<\/strong>, R-Chester.<\/p>\n

Finally, Russ Diamond<\/strong>, a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, is promoting his own version of a Constitution convention. Like Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jack Wagner<\/strong>, who also supports a convention, Diamond has not signed the petition.<\/p>\n

And here is more editorial support:
\n Both parties realize constitutional convention is necessary,<\/a> <\/span> Harrisburg Patriot-News<\/span>, March 14.<\/p>\n

Bonus Scandal Jury Still Thinking<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span>
\nIf Murphy’s Law still applies on the day after St. Patrick’s Day, no sooner than we dispatch this edition of DR News<\/span> will jurors announce the guilt or innocence of four defendants in the Bonus Scandal. After deliberating for two hours last Friday and three full days so far this week, the eight women and four men continue to work. Although they informed Judge Richard Lewis that they have reached one verdict, the judge ruled that no verdicts could be announced until the jury is ready to announce all four.<\/p>\n

Rather than wait any longer for the news, we’ll give you this much and promise a special edition when the jury has determined what happened.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, former House Democratic Leader Bill DeWeese<\/strong>, D-Greene, had been invited to testify in the ongoing trial. Instead, he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Click here<\/a> <\/span> for a column by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s<\/span> Brian O’Neill<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Campaigning on Integrity
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

One candidate for an open senate seat believes an integrity agenda will separate himself from the pack of three Democrats and one Republican seeking to replace Sen. Raphael Musto<\/strong>, who retires this year. Rep. John Yudichak<\/strong>, D-Luzerne, recently announced plans to introduce legislation that would<\/p>\n