Newspaper calls for ouster of PA House Democratic leadership

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is calling for the ouster of the entire Democratic caucus leadership in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in the wake of the Bonusgate indictments.

That includes House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese, who presided over the House Democratic caucus while the scandal unfolded.

DeWeese was not indicted, but his former chief of staff, Michael Manzo, and No. 2 leader in the House, then-state Rep. Mike Veon, are facing criminal charges.

For DeWeese to claim no knowledge of the bonus payments strains credulity. For those old enough to remember, it sounds a lot like Richard Nixon's early denials that he knew nothing about Watergate.

From today's Post-Gazette editorial:

The Democrats' efforts to milk the system and divert public dollars for political or personal use was the height of arrogance. Now two grand juries say it's time to pay.

We don't know where these charges will ultimately lead and yesterday Mr. Corbett was clear that this is not the end. Next stop is finding out from the accused whether others were involved and whether other corruption was afoot. It can only get uglier.

The attorney general deserves credit for his steady, determined approach to the case. The Democratic House leadership, as we've said before, deserves a thorough housecleaning, regardless of the names on the indictments, from Bill DeWeese on down.

An internal matter? The public's business never is.

Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.