White calls on House majority leader DeWeese to resign leadership position

August 6, 2008 2 Comments

White calls on House majority leader to resign leadership position

HARRISBURG, Aug. 6 - State Rep. Jesse White, D-Washington/Allegheny/Beaver, issued the following statement calling for state Rep. Bill DeWeese to step down from his position as House Majority Leader in response to the ongoing Bonusgate scandal: In November 2006, the voters of the 46th Legislative District honored me with the substantial and serious task of representing their interests while changing the culture inside the state Capitol. As the end of my first term draws near, a conflict between those objectives has arisen. I was sent to Harrisburg to fix a broken property tax system, help provide health care for those who need it most and create sustainable jobs to keep young people in our region. Unfortunately, the ongoing investigation into illegal acts allegedly committed by some members and staffers of the House Democratic Caucus prior to my election has become a serious distraction that has severely limited our ability to act on these important issues. After reviewing the presentments set forth by the Attorney General, it has become clear to me that in order to honor the promise I made to my constituents to truly reform the culture of Harrisburg, a change in leadership is required. Therefore, I am respectfully urging Representative Bill DeWeese to immediately step aside as Majority Leader of the House Democratic Caucus. The legislative accomplishments and unabashed energy that Representative DeWeese has brought to Harrisburg for over three decades cannot be questioned, as well as his leadership in enacting important legislative reform laws that have changed how the House operates. However, I simply cannot reconcile the fact that although Bill DeWeese has not been charged with any crime and has fully cooperated with the Attorney General in the investigation, a systematic, inexcusable and indefensible violation of the public trust occurred on his watch. Leaders must be held accountable for the actions of those who serve under them. I was not a member of the legislature during the time these illegal acts allegedly took place; therefore, I have no factual basis to make a determination of the guilt or innocence of anyone involved. I sincerely hope that once the Attorney General has completed his investigation and all of the facts are revealed, most of those accused will be judged innocent. But with so much of our legislative agenda still before us, the people of Pennsylvania cannot wait for that day to arrive, and the Democratic Caucus can no longer remain functional under this cloud of uncertainty hovering over its current leader.

Rep. DeWeese has previously said he would step aside as Majority Leader if he ever became a distraction. Regrettably, that day has arrived, and it is time for him to honor his promise so we can move forward to do the peoples business. As a lifelong Democrat, it pains me to publicly question the leadership of my own party, but I feel as though failing to speak up under these extraordinary circumstances would be an unforgivable exercise in hypocrisy. Not only would I be breaking a solemn promise to the people I represent to bring about true change to the culture of Harrisburg, but I would also be ignoring what I know in my heart and mind to be the right thing to do.