Caltagirone: New Developments

New details are emerging both about Rep. Tom Caltagirone's deal with John Perzel and about other lawmakers deciding not to support their nominee for Speaker. 

Let's remember why this mess has happened:  both Parties put forth Leaders tainted by the corruption of the pay raise scandal and past abuses.  The Parties ignored the ringing and decisive message of the voters this year by ignoring calls for significant reforms.  We harshly criticized the nominations of these old pols for these slots on this basis and these others are also upset.

Choosing Perzel as a reformer over DeWeese though is crazy.  As Speaker for twelve years John Perzel was the problem.  If Tom Caltagirone thinks he's had an epiphany I suggest he read the many articles on this very blog about Perzel.  If Tom thinks Perzel is going to live up to his end of the deal he's a fool.   Perzel is no reformer and never will be, just like Caltagirone.  Look at the way Caltagirone runs the Berks County Democratic Committee and you'll see he's no reformer.

Meanwhile here's the deal Perzel and Caltagirone reportedly have made:  Committees will be divided between R's and D's, alternating the naming of Chairs.  Perzel remains Speaker though and completely controls what bills get to the floor for votes.  Both Appropriations and Judicial remain in GOP hands.  Perzel also agreed to adjourn daily by 10 pm unless otherwise voted upon.

DeWeese has already agreed to an 11 pm curfew but both are useless because they can undone by simple votes.  They are toothless.  Bi-partisan Chairs may be a good idea but real reform must come with serious lobbying and campaign finance reform.  Until Caltagirone agrees that no legislator can accept anything of value from a lobbyist and puts limits on campaign contributions, tightens reporting requirements, and adds serious consequences for failure to file full and accurate reports he's a pretender.

He contributed over $12,000 this year to a colleague's re-election effort and another $4,000 to the County Committee to use for other local campaigns.  Not everyone received a penny of that money.  Going through campaign finance reports since election day I saw some of it wasn't even reported.  The $12,500 to another candidate was bundled with other funds, given to the House Democratic Committee and then returned to the District campaign in in-kind contributions.   He funneled the money through the Committees so people wouldn't realize it actually came from him.  It wasn't very hard to follow the money trail but try doing so on a statewide basis, especially when some of it was spent for in-kind contributions that weren't reported.

Caltagirone is no reformer.  This is a naked power play against Bill DeWeese.  A real reformer would be proposing bills disallowing some of the very abuses he engages in.  A real reformer would outlaw all lobbying contributions and propose the public financing of all elections.

Meanwhile GrassrootsPA is reporting through CapitolWire that a number of other Representatives are also withholding their votes for Speaker.  These are both Dems and Repubs so the election Tuesday could be chaotic.  Joe Petrarca, Rosita Youngblood and Tom Tancretti, all Dems, are reportedly also withholding support for DeWeese.  Republicans not voting for Perzel include Rosemarie Swanger and Scott Perry.  Meanwhile Curt Schroder may also run for Speaker as a Republican.

Tuesday is bound to be a free for all, wide open battle for power regardless.  No one knows who will emerge and power plays are going on everywhere.

Update:  I have posted an analysis of Caltagirone's campaign finance reports at Berks Democrats.  Who he got his money from and who he gave it to.  His son John actually gave Bill DeWeese $250.

Update II:  VoicePA has an excellent analysis of Tom Caltagirone's alliance with Perzel on the Sovereign Bank legislation.

Comments

[Anonymous]

The kind of reform Mr Caltagirone seeks is reprisal reform. He wanted to eliminate the State Treasurers Office (Reading Eagle Editors Blog) after somone name John Caltagirone was fired from the office supposedly for not doing his job. Again the Corleone influence is in the things that T Caltagirone does!

[chris]

I'm very disappointed in this development. I would hope that Caltagirone is challenged in the primary next time around.

[John Morgan]

Of course John Caltagirone is Tom's son. Yes, that was an attempted payback. Note above where I discovered John gave Bill DeWeese $250 this year. He also gave $250 to Mike Veon. I'd love to be a fly on the wall when Tom learns that, especially knowing Tom Caltagirone's temper.

[Jim Salvas]

On Caltagirone's official House website he is listing himself as MAJORITY chair of the Judiciary Committee. Counting his chickens before hatching, no?

[John Morgan]

That's interesting Jim because he can't vote for Perzeland be the Majority Chair. Voting for Perzel puts Democrats in the Minority. To be the Majority Chair after voting for Perzel he'd have to be a Republican. Maybe my initial post on this over at www.BerksDemocrats.com was correct after all. I wondered if he was switching parties.

[Kirk]

Tom's action, if he follow through, will hurt the City of Reading and Berks County terribly. Everything he wants for the city will be blocked. Nobody trusts a turncoat. The GOP will say "thank you Tom (you idiot)" and meanwhile the city will suffer. Thanks Tom...you IDIOT!

[greendogdem]

Maybe someone desent will come out of this mess other than De wesse or Prezel

[real]

I am sure that the rumor of his son John give DeWesse 250 and Veon showes that his son can stand on his own two feet. I am also would like to see the proof of this!

I can say that Mr. Caltagirone is a leader and not a follower and I am glad, because he knows what he is doing be hind closed doors. Lets focous on the leaders in the house not just one of them. Why are the Democrats holding tax dollars hostage against their own party? What can Mr. Deweese say about this? Lets hit them all not just focous on just one. Expecially when we want change in harrisburg.

[real]

Caltagirone Letter To Democrats

Simmary of Caltagirone's letter to the Demoratic Caucus.
12/30/06

For more information, click here.

December 30, 2006

To the Members of the Democratic Caucus:

I am writing to inform you that, after extended and careful deliberation, I have determined that I cannot support Rep. William DeWeese for election as speaker of the House of Representatives.

I have served as a member of the House of Representatives for thirty years. During that time, I have been a steadfast member of the Democratic Caucus, supporting our positions and candidates. In the past legislative session, my campaign committee contributed $30,000 to the House Democratic Campaign Committee, and $23,500 to individual Democratic House candidates. I also helped raise additional thousands in support of our Democratic candidates. I have been a loyal Democrat since I entered politics, and will remain a member of the Democratic Party.

However, I have become increasingly distressed over the years with the manner in which our Democratic leaders have conducted the business of the Caucus. The leaders of our Caucus have shown little regard for many members of the Caucus, the constituents they represent, and the legislative initiatives we should be supporting. Instead, they have operated the Caucus as a personal fiefdom, promoting their own personal and political ambitions behind a wall of secrecy and petty personal vindictiveness.

As you are aware, at the request of Rep. DeWeese, I recently provided him with a list of reforms which, I believed, would enable our Caucus to embark on a new era of transparency and fairness. I had hoped that with the election of Rep. McCall and other new members to leadership positions in the Caucus, these proposed changes would be seriously considered, and adopted. Instead, all that I have received from Rep. DeWeese in response is his usual outpouring of obfuscation.

Unfortunately, I no longer have any confidence in his ability to lead the Democratic Caucus, and do not believe him and his associates to be capable of fulfilling the responsibilities necessary to lead the House of Representatives.

I am under no delusions as to the nature of partisan politics in the House of Representatives. However, Rep. Perzel has pledged to implement House rules which reflect the current split in the membership of the House, and to conduct the affairs of the House in an open, inclusive and fair manner. I have always found Rep. Perzel to be a man of his word, and serious about issues of public policy. I believe the people of Pennsylvania will be best served if he is elected as speaker on January 2, and he will have my support.

I look forward to working with each of you in the upcoming legislative session. I believe that all of us, Democrat and Republican, can work together for the people of Pennsylvania.

Sincerely,

THOMAS R. CALTAGIRONE

[John Morgan]

The proof is right on the PA Department of State website. You'll find a link in the sidebar. Go to the campaign finance section and do a simple search. It's all right there.