20080717 Capitol Wire Keller Yudichak First House Ds to Call for DeWeese Ouster

8/3/2019 20080717 Capitol Wire Keller Yudichak First House Ds to Call for DeWeese Ouster

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Capitolwire: Keller, Yudichak first House Ds to call for DeWeeseouster, say it's inevitable.

Two Democratic House members made public on Wednesday the DeWeese resignation pleas

they and Rep. Dan Frankel gave at the House Democratic retreat on Jan. 9. On Wednesday,

Rep. Bill Keller, D-Philadelphia, said: 'I believe he [DeWeese] will either step down or we willhave to have a reorganization, and I believe that has to happen before the election, way before

the election.'

By Peter L. DeCourseyBureau ChiefCapitolwire

HARRISBURG (July 16) Reps. John Yudichak, D-Luzerne, and Bill Keller, D-Philadelphia,today became the first state House Democrats to publicly call for House Majority Leader BillDeWeese, D-Greene, to resign or be ousted as a caucus leader, during interviews with

Capitolwire.

Both said they and Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, first privately called for DeWeese to quit asleader, at a Jan. 9 House Democratic retreat, in front of their colleagues and leaders.

Keller said he confronted DeWeese and, Yudichak and other lawmakers confirmed, Keller said:Somethings wrong and you were Leader. I said people are being talked to now, our staffers youfired, they will become states witnesses and testify against you. I told DeWeese: 'Somewherealong the road, you will be charged with theft of services and you need to step down now, beforeyou bring all of us down with you.'

"He said no, no, no, he didnt do anything wrong and would not be charged.

After DeWeese told them during that retreat six months ago that the Bonusgate problem waspartisan and I did nothing wrong, Keller said, the three House Democrats waited for othersto step up.

Instead, Keller said: You could hear a pin drop.

But that was the day, several House Democratic lawmakers say, that DeWeese started telling hiscaucus members: In the words of our friend Mike Manzo, months after Manzo resigned andDeWeese fired others, when I become a distraction, I will step aside."

Frankel wrote in an e-mail: This is generally accurate. I do not like to discuss what is spokenabout in our caucus or in our retreat. I think members need to feel that in this informalenvironment opinions and ideas can be aired with some degree of confidence that theircomments are not made public.

That being said there is a great deal of concern expressed by members to me and others who arenot satisfied with the status quo. I certainly anticipate further discussion.
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DeWeeses office declined to reply directly, but he told the Associated Press Wednesday that heexpected to remain as Democratic leader.

The Associated Press quoted DeWeese as saying charges filed by Attorney General Tom Corbettand a grand jury "report vindicates me and I really believe that our leadership team for the last 17

months has handled this terrible crisis in the best way conceivable."

While Keller, Yudichak and Frankel say DeWeese convinced members that was true six monthsago, they believe their colleagues have run out of patience with DeWeese.

Especially after last weeks charges were filed. The Bonusgate presentment alleges HouseDemocrats paid taxpayer-financed bonuses to staffers for campaign work and used millions ofdollars of official work hours for campaigns.

Yudichak and Keller say now that former House Minority Whip Mike Veon, D-Beaver, has beencharged with counts of theft and conspiracy, along with Rep. Sean Ramaley, D-Beaver, and 10

top former or suspended House Democratic staffers, they have been proven right. Almost a yearafter Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham became the first prominent elected Democratto call for DeWeese to leave his leadership office, Yudichak and Keller joined him. They saytheir DeWeese ouster effort now has undeniable momentum.

Tom Andrews, DeWeese's spokesman, gave Capitolwire see below a list of 29 DeWeesesupporters, of whom only five responded on the record, and they did so with varying levels ofsupport for DeWeese.

Two of the 29 did respond with public, clear support for DeWeese.

Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Westmoreland, said DeWeese had been a major reformer the last 18months when I have been here, on my open records bill and on making everything more openand transparent and that is good. If he gets indicted, I would reconsider the leadershipquestion, but unless he is indicted, I have seen nothing [in the grand jury report] to change mymind.

Rep. Mike McGeehan, D-Philadelphia, one of the 29 House Democrats Andrews cited as asupporter, spoke to Capitolwire Wednesday morning before Keller and Yudichak made theirstatements, or Andrews listed him as a DeWeese supporter.

Asked if DeWeese should step down as caucus leader, McGeehan said: I am not going to

comment on that. I have my own race and this stuff is really not a factor in my race or in any ofthe elections in Philadelphia. I dont think theres a splatter effect on my race, but in otherdistricts? I dont know. Any story that gets this much negative coverage is going to have aneffect. A daily drumbeat of negative stories and editorials about our leaders and grand jurypresentments has to have a negative effect. How big? Well see.

For me, its wait and see. I dont have the long knives out for my leadership.


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Asked about the statements of Keller and Yudichak later in the day, after they were made,McGeehan said: This is not the time for a civil war among Democrats, in my view. With gasand milk at $4 a gallon, we should be attacking Republicans, so we can help working people bykeeping the majority and adding more House Democrats. They have a right to their opinions, butI think we should be criticizing Republicans, not Democrats.

But at least one meeting of 10 or more House Democrats is scheduled for later this week todiscuss DeWeese ouster strategies, Democrats reported. It is not clear, they said, if the caucuscan reorganize until they are back in session, and whether they can summon the House back intosession just to reorganize is being explored, sources close to House leaders said.

"DeWeese is going to go," said one of the organizers of that effort. "The question is thetechnicalities and when we can make it happen."

One veteran House Democrat, whom Andrews listed as a DeWeese supporter on his list of 29,refused to comment publicly. But on condition of anonymity, referring to DeWeese's promise to

resign, as Manzo did, "if I become a distraction," the source said: He is more than a distraction.He is killing us. Hes got to go.

Another House veteran who has worked with DeWeese on amicable but not close terms said: Ihate to say it, because our results are good in the House, legislatively, and he has done a lot ofreform, but he is way more than a distraction now, hes a disease and we may lose the majority ifhe goes. We will lose it if he stays.

Yudichak concedes he and Keller are viewed as long-time DeWeese critics, but noted thatFrankel was not, until this became a threat to the caucus and its public perception. Yudichak andKeller say now this is beyond caucus divisions and dissension.

Speaking of the Jan. 9 caucus, Keller said: I believed then and I believe now, for the good of thecaucus, Bill DeWeese has to step down from leadership. I didnt have the support then, but Ibelieve I have it now. I dont think Bill DeWeese can withstand the pressure for him to resignthat there is now in the caucus.

I believe every day theres less and less support for him to hold that title. Normal people wouldtake their medicine and understand it was him to do whats best for everybody, including him.

I dont know if Bill DeWeese is capable of that, but one way or another, I believe he will eitherstep down or we will have to have a reorganization, and I believe that has to happen before the

election, way before the election.

Yudichak echoed Keller, saying of DeWeese: If he does not do the right thing, and step aside,then we come back in the fall, there will be an effort to reorganize. Keller and Frankel and Imade our piece known several months ago. Now it is clear there is no other course than to callfor reorganization if he will not do the right thing."


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Asked why their Jan. 9 statements did not receive support from their colleagues sitting there,Yudichak said: I think Bill DeWeese and others, the DeWeese-Veon team, did a good job ofpersuading the younger members that this was not serious; DeWeese used the phrase that 'this isall in the rearview mirror.' Keller and I still talk about it, were amazed by the depth of denial inthat statement.

Yudichak also noted that he and Keller were known to be hostile to DeWeese, since we werenot part of the Veon-DeWeese fraternity.

Keller has been closely allied in the House with former state Rep. and current Philadelphia CityController Alan Butkovitz, DeWeeses ardent critic and foe who several times tried to unseatDeWeese and his team from House Democratic leadership.

But Keller said: This is not personal. It never was. I want the House Democratic Caucus to dothe kind of great work it can, for all the people, if DeWeese leaves."

Yudichak said that given the perception of himself and Keller, That is why Dan planted such animportant seed, since he is not usually a guy to go against the caucus like that. Dan made a bigimpression on people, because they knew he was only trying to help us keep the majority.

Andrews did not respond, instead writing in an e-mail: Try to get in touch with some of these Dmembers to ask about their support for DeWeese

E-mails were sent to the 29 House Democrats listed by Andrews and follow-up phone calls werethen placed to them, asking for comment.

The list of Democratic House members Andrews asked Capitolwire to call to hear about support

for DeWeese included: House Appropriations Committee Chairman Dwight Evans, Philadelphia;Reps. Bob Belfanti, Northumberland; Vince Biancucci, Beaver; Joe Brennan, Northumberland;James Casorio; Westmoreland; Scott Conklin, Centre; Larry Curry, Montgomery; Pete Daley,Washington; Florindo Fabrizio, Erie; John Galloway, Bucks; Neal Goodman, Schuylkill; PatrickHarkins, Erie; Babette Josephs, Philadelphia; Thaddeus Kirkland, Delaware; Deb Kula, Fayette;Tim Mahony, Fayette; Mike McGeehan, Philadelphia; John Myers, Philadelphia; Mike O'Brien,Philadelphia; Eddie Day Pashinski, Luzerne; Thomas Petrone, Allegheny; James Roebuck,Philadelphia; Christopher Sainato, Beaver; Dante Santoni, Berks; Frank Shimkus, Lackawanna;Ken Smith, Lackawanna; Tim Solobay, Washington; Ronald Waters, Philadelphia; and JakeWheatley, Allegheny.

In addition to McGeehan and Mahoney, Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, appearing at a pressconference where lawmakers called for a special legislative session on ethics, said: "We aregoing to see a real test of leadership this fall. When it comes to that, things will certainly shakeout after the election. But this fall will be a real test of leadership for the whole caucus. And thisshould not be about just one person ... whether it be the governor or Sam Smith or Bill DeWeeseor leadership. But there are 203 elected House members, there are 50 elected senators, and anelected governor. The responsibility's on all of us and not just one person."


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House State Government Committee Chairwoman Babette Josephs, D-Philadelphia, said ofYudichak, Keller and others who are privately calling for DeWeese to resign or be ousted: "Ithink they have a kind of different perspective than perhaps some of the other folks you talk to. Iam very encouraged by what the Democratic Caucus, along with the governor, has been doing interms of excellent public policy and serving the people of Pennsylvania."

When pressed on whether DeWeese would face a reorganization attempt this fall, if he didn'tresign, Josephs said: "I think that if we continue to deliver this agenda to the people, we willcontinue to do that when we come back in September. ...

"If we keep moving forward, that's what the Democratic Caucus is proud of, that's what thegovernor is proud of and, to me, that's what's important.

"I don't know the answer to whether this person or that person should be in office or resigning orin leadership, all I know is we have had a very successful two years and have had anextraordinary two years with two-thirds of government being controlled by Democrats."

When asked if she agreed with Keller's and Yudichak's assessment that DeWeese would face areorganization effort, Josephs said: "I don't know whether they're accurate or not because I'm notfeeling the same pressures as they are. What I'm feeling from people in my district is to keep onmoving on these issues that are so important to people," like health care.

"I don't do inside baseball stuff in politics."

When asked whether she continued to support DeWeese, Josephs said: "I'm in support of him aslong as he is addressing the needs of the people. And that's what I've seen in terms of ouragenda."

Rep. Tony Payton, D-Philadelphia, said: "I take this very seriously, because I take the integrityof government seriously, and I'll reserve judgment until I get a chance to take a look at it over thesummer and find out more information."

Biancucci, who did not return an earlier call from Capitolwire, before Andrews singled him outas among 29 DeWeese supporters in the 102-member caucus, was out for the day, a staffer saidwhen he was called again Wednesday afternoon. Aides to Kirkland and Goodman, also named assupporters, said the lawmakers were unavailable this week. A spokeswoman for Evans declinedcomment until she could confer with Evans about it.

None of the other DeWeese supporters named by Andrews returned calls and e-mails requestingcomment as of presstime.

JAN. 9, THE FIRST CALLS FOR RESIGNATIONS.

After the House Democratic retreat was held, DeWeese claimed total support from his caucusand most Democrats backed that idea, except for Frankel, who publicly said opinion widelydiverged. Moments after he personally called for DeWeese to resign, according to Keller,


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Yudichak and four other House members, Frankel then said he would not comment on what wassaid, or on reports that the Allegheny County House Democratic Caucus, which Frankel leads,was the center of the DeWeese must resign claque in the caucus.

Keller told the story from his perspective: At that retreat we had, I stood up and told him it was

time to resign. Then John Yudichak stood up and said the same thing, and Dan Frankel. Thatsthe three who stood up, told him to resign and tried to hammer it home. We were at that retreat,and the governor came in, we talked about issues, we had lunch, it got near the end of the day,and I thought this was going to get talked about, and it didnt happen.

So at the end of the day, the leaders were all sitting up there and I raised my hand.

"I said, Look, bill, I know people are going to say this is not the right time for this, and theythink I shouldnt be saying this, but you just went on a tour of editorial boards around the statesaying you had the full support of your caucus.

'And that isnt true. And we all know that isnt true. And since you apparently wont do theright thing for you and the caucus, I am asking you to resign, because it is in the best interest ofthe majority caucus, that can do some great things if you do. So I am asking you to step down.'

DeWeese, through Andrews, declined to respond.

Keller said: Bill [DeWeese] said: No, no, no, I didnt do anything wrong and I will not becharged and it wont be a problem for the caucus politically or in passing legislation. Iresponded: 'Somethings wrong and you were leader.' I said people are being talked to now, ourstaffers you fired, they will become states witnesses and testify against you. I told DeWeese:Somewhere along the road, you will be charged with theft of services and you need to step

down now, before you bring all of us down with you.

I said at a minimum, you can no longer go to editorial boards and claim the support of thewhole caucus, because that is not true. Then I said you should step down, and then afterYudichak and Frankel said the same thing, Yudichak more flowerly and legal, and Frankelconcentrated on how hard we worked and the impact this would have on keeping the majority, soBill should step down.

Then, no one else stood up. It was at the end of the day, but there was still a good portion of thecaucus there, and after the three of us spoke, you could hear a pin drop.

Yudichak confirmed Kellers account, as did four House Democrats who would discuss themeeting only on condition of anonymity.

Yudichak said: Yes, I remember it well, we had the retreat, the majority of members felt it wasa private retreat to discuss the bonus investigation, and it turned out not to be much more thanthe usual dog and pony show. So with a few minutes left at the end of the day, the leaders tookquestions. Rep. Keller was the first to stand up and lay out his argument. Both for Bill and I, the


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breaking point was their discomfort with DeWeeses style of leadership they felt hadculminated in Bonusgate.

What I witnessed from early on was that this culture in the House Democratic Caucus gave youa simple choice: be a part of Bill and Mikes fraternity or you are going to get punished. All the

power and decisions revolved around the lifestyles and needs of two men, Bill [DeWeese] andMike [Veon]. Guys were punished, Mayernik, Ralph Kaiser, Tom Tigue, through redistricting,being taken out of their seats for not being in the Bill and Mike fraternity.

I have no idea what Bill DeWeese knew or when he knew it, I hope that on a personal level hehas the ability to get beyond this. But in terms of running the government, he has to step down,he cannot keep using the caucus as his shield against this storm.

After Corbett filed charges, Yudichak said: The Democratic caucus has to move forward. Weshould not be tied up because someone refused to lead and now refuses to leave. There is no wayDeWeese could survive this as leader."

When Deweese did his editorial board tour, Yudichak said: He said at my paper, that he was'asleep at the switch.' If you publicly admit that, then you have no business being a leader at thestatehouse.

Andrews did not respond to either Keller or Yudichaks accounts of the retreat andconfrontation, more than three hours after Kellers account and comments were e-mailed to him.

Capitolwire Staff Reporter Christopher Lilienthal and Intern Kari L. Andren contributed to this

story.

Documents

20080717 Capitol Wire Keller Yudichak First House Ds to Call for DeWeese Ouster