Newspaper: DeWeese death watch is on

Somebody forgot to tell Pennsylvania House Democratic Majority Leader Bill DeWeese that his political career is over.

The Philadelphia Inquirer says DeWeese still doesn't "get it" that he is too tangled up in the Bonusgate scandal to make an effective leader.

The state's biggest newspaper is backing a call from Rep. Josh Shapiro (D-Montgomery) calling for DeWeese to step down as majority leader.

From the editorial:

The Democrats' operation from 2004 to 2006 took place on DeWeese's watch. His defense - wait for it - is that he was clueless. And for nearly a year, DeWeese has been trying to convince people that he's the best person to clean up the mess.

He's spent about $1.4 million in taxpayer dollars on consultants and lawyers largely in a campaign to save his political skin.

DeWeese doesn't get it. And because he doesn't get it, he's not likely to give up his post as majority leader.

That means it's up to legislators with a conscience, like Shapiro, to force DeWeese out. Democratic legislators should call this issue to a vote when they return to Harrisburg in September. Otherwise, the fall session is bound to be little more than a distracting DeWeese death watch.

Read the full editorial, "Bonus Scandal and DeWeese: Lead the way - out" at the newspaper's Web site.