Bonus ban legislation creates disagreement
By Jessica VanderKolk, jvanderkolk@altoonamirror.comState lawmakers will race against the clock this fall to pass legislation prohibiting bonus payments to government employees.
Sen. John H. Eichelberger Jr., R-Blair, insists that adding an amendment to his legislation, introduced last spring, would contain the all-inclusive language needed to ban the practice of giving bonuses in all branches of state government.
Two House members - State Government Committee Chairwoman Babette Josephs, D-Philadelphia, and Rick Taylor, R-Montgomery - announced earlier this month that they will introduce their own bills to ban the practice, causing disagreement between the two and Eichelberger.
Attorney General Tom Corbett announced July 10 charges against 12 suspects in the first round of a legislative bonus investigation, centered around the uncovering of bonuses paid to state employees and state resources used for political campaigns.
The three lawmakers then released a series of press releases regarding bonus ban legislation to address the problem.
In February, after the first legislative bonus information, Eichelberger introduced his bill, which the Senate unanimously passed in October.
The day after Corbett's announcement, Eichelberger said he could not understand why the bill had not moved through the House, starting with Josephs' committee, where it now sits.
Shortly after Eichelberger began writing the bill, Auditor General Jack Wagner's office released information on millions of dollars in bonuses given to leaders at the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.
Eichelberger worked with Wagner's office and House members to amend his bill to include PHEAA in the bonus ban, while protecting the State Employees Retirement System and Public School Employees Retirement System.
Eichelberger said the amendment never was added to his bill.
Josephs acknowledged meeting with Eichelberger in a July 11 press release, saying she is ''committed to reforming the system.''
''It's incredible the senator would criticize me when we have engaged in a cooperative process with him,'' she said.
On July 15, Eichelberger addressed a letter to House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, asking for help passing his bill. Three days later, Josephs sought co-sponsors for her own bonus ban legislation.
''Our goal is to develop a comprehensive reform package that includes the ideals or concepts of the senator's bonus bill,'' said Rodney Oliver, executive director of Josephs' committee. He offered no other specifics, saying the proposal still was in development.
Eichelberger acknowledged any bill fully addressing the issue would be welcome.
''We need to have this addressed, so the most important thing is that we have it addressed,'' he said. ''There's no question people want this to be passed.''
Taylor's bill addresses a ban only for legislators, and he aims to fast-track it through the legislative process and later focus on banning bonuses elsewhere in state government.
''Let's take away these tools used as political levers,'' he said. ''I think it's easier to get this part done, and we can spend time looking at the other areas that have these problems, too, if there are other areas where it could happen.''
Eichelberger said that's not good enough, and lawmakers also would have to fast-track legislation from Josephs to approve a ban before the Senate ends session for the year in early October.
''That bill would have to be fast-tracked almost immediately,'' he said. ''My bill has already been through the Senate. It's much easier to get my bill done this fall. It just is not smart to start the process over with a new bill at this very late date.''
Wagner has said bonuses should not exist in government.
''There is no line item in any budget that I have ever seen that says 'bonuses,''' he told the Mirror. ''Because they're not transparent, because the public is not aware of them, because it seems when bonuses are handed out nobody knows about it until it happens, we think that state government should cease on giving state bonuses.''
Wagner said he encouraged Eichelberger to ''be as restrictive as possible on the whole issue of bonuses'' and, in concept, would support ''any and all bills'' doing so.
''It should be across the board,'' he said. ''It should not just cover agencies in state government, but agencies receiving state dollars, such as PHEAA.''
Corbett's office continues the legislative ''bonusgate'' investigation and has not taken a position on prohibitive legislation.
''We typically don't weigh in on legislation unless asked,'' spokesman Kevin Harley said. ''And our ongoing criminal investigation may prevent us from weighing in.''
Mirror Staff Writer Jessica VanderKolk is at 946-7465.
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Chuxspringer
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07-27-08 10:08 PM
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When the h e l l did public paid employees start getting bonuses anyway. I never saw any state troopers get any bonus for taking 65-100 drunks off the roadway in one year. BUT help your boss get reelected and cash in??? Go get em EICH.
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jimdandy
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07-27-08 7:22 PM
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Way to go Eich! That's why I voted for you . Keep up the good moral work in Harrisburg. We need more people like you in government. Don't give up, even if it seems you're 1 against everybody. Slowly, other legislators will see you're right, and join you in the fight against corrupt government! (Let's Hope)! One again Good Luck and don't give up the fight!
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CharlieVarrick
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07-27-08 12:56 PM
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It's nice to see Blair County wised up getting rid of Jubelirer and electing this Eichelberger fellow. Nice to see some intelligence in your area once again.
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