DeWeese chases reform train

HARRISBURG -- House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese is vowing to champion government reform by forsaking catered dinners and chauffeured rides to the Capitol, and promising to end stealth legislation like the 2005 middle-of-the-night legislative pay raise that he helped engineer.

The Greene County Democrat, with a reputation as a perk abuser, is pledging to back a reform commission's recommendations, which are expected to emerge today in final form and face a House vote on Monday.

At a commission meeting last week, DeWeese told lawmakers he "was not on the engine of the (reform) train, but I did grab a hold of the caboose."

With DeWeese still facing a potential scandal as the state Attorney General's Office investigates the $3.6 million in bonuses that leaders of both political parties paid to staffers during the 2005-06 session, his critics are skeptical, at best.

"I don't buy Bill DeWeese as a reformer," said Russ Diamond, who helped lead a citizen revolt against the 2005 pay raise, which eventually was repealed with DeWeese's support. "A leopard doesn't change its spots so suddenly."

Diamond called DeWeese an abuser of perks "to the nth degree." Although there have been some improvements -- for example, DeWeese has scrapped the credit card he used for leadership accounts -- "only time will tell" whether his conversion is genuine, Diamond said.

DeWeese previously used WAMs -- "walking around money" to fund pet projects for lawmakers' districts -- as a "cudgel" on rank-and-file members. He amassed hefty dinner bills at pricey Capitol restaurants, spent thousands of dollars on catered meals -- even though lawmakers get $148 in daily lodging and food money -- flew regularly on state aircraft, and charged taxpayers for a chauffeur.

Angered by the pay raise, voters ousted many incumbents, including some top legislative leaders. DeWeese barely survived -- winning his election by 1,000 votes out of 20,000 cast, even though he lost in his home county.

The pay raise debacle helped shape DeWeese's conversion to government reformer, said Mike Manzo, his chief of staff.

It crystallized during his door-to-door campaign and after meeting with 28 freshmen House Democrats, many of whom ran on reform platforms.

"It became clear to Bill that the vast majority of his caucus" wants reform, Manzo said.

Eric Epstein, founder of reform group Rock The Capitol, said DeWeese shouldn't be able to get off the hook easily.

"This is not a morality car wash where you eliminate self-indulgent perks and declare yourself cleansed of past sins," Epstein said.

DeWeese has gotten rid of his driver, but hasn't pledged to end his use of the state plane. He has "seriously curtailed" his use of the aircraft but "hasn't totally ruled out using it when absolutely necessary," said Tom Andrews, his press secretary.

Epstein was not impressed, saying DeWeese should "reimburse taxpayers" for the cost of using a driver.

Manzo acknowledges there always will be those who doubt DeWeese's commitment to reform.

"I know to some people it will never be enough," he said.

DeWeese was unavailable for an interview because he was "taking a few days of personal time," Andrews said.