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Critics have alleged that then-Attorney General Tom Corbett tried to have it both ways as he ran two statewide campaigns — a re-election bid for attorney general in 2008 and his campaign for governor — while prosecuting other elected officials for political activity on state time.[1] Some have said that Corbett has a double standard, engaging in the same activity of he was prosecuting. Two Bonusgate defendants filed a private criminal complaint against Corbett.[1] Corbetts' campaign spokesman said, "This is another attempt by two corrupt politicians to shift blame away from their own crimes."[1]
The House Democrats, House Republicans, Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans each have their own caucus, and the caucus hires all legislative staffers -- from party research specialists to the part-time secretary in a district office -- paid for by a lump sum of money given by the state to caucus leadership every year for the leaders then divide as they see fit.[2]
Bonuses to staffers were awarded by the four legislative caucuses in the Pennsylvania General Assembly with House Democrats handing out $2.3 million, House Republicans - $919,000, Senate Democrats - $41,000 and Senate Republicans $366,000. [3]
The investigation's early focus on the House Democratic caucus and Attorney General Corbett's 2010 gubernatorial aspirations have led to charges from that the investigation may be politically motivated.[4]
Democratic state representative Mark B. Cohen suggested an "apparent reluctance of Attorney General Tom Corbett to go after Republicans giving and getting bonuses after doing campaign work with the same zeal as Democrats..."[5]
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Pennsylvania on Sunshine Review
