FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 16, 2014
CONTACT: GENE STILP
717-829-5600
genestilp@comcast.net
STILP ASKS TREASURY SECRETARY MCCORD TO STOP FUNDING LEGISALTIVE POLITICAL EFFORTS BY HOUSE AND SENATE INCUMBENTS
ASKS TREASURY SECRET TO INVESTIGATE HOW MUCH TAXPAYER MONEY THE LEGISLATIVE INCUMBENTS HAVE SPENT ON VOTER OUTREACH INTO NEW AREAS OF FUTURE DISTRICTS
In a letter today, good government activist Gene Stilp, asked Pennsylvania Treasury Secretary Rob McCord to begin an investigation of the amount of Pennsylvania taxpayer funds that have been utilized by House and Senate legislative incumbents to campaign in new areas of the redrawn districts that do not become viable until December of 2014. (letter is attached)
Stilp has filed two Commonwealth Court lawsuits in order to stop the illegal practice and the suits ask the return of the taxpayer funds that have already been spent. The suits are 202 MD 2014 and 210 MD 2014.
In the letter Stilp wrote the Treasurer, “I ask that you begin an investigation to ascertain the amount of Pennsylvania taxpayer funds that have been utilized in the practice of conducting incumbent campaigns in the new areas of future legislative districts that are already being served by a current legislator.”
Stilp continued, “Second, I ask that the funding of these illegal incumbent campaigns outlays be stopped immediately by the action of the Treasury Secretary in cutting off the legislative funding that goes to these campaigns and that no checks be signed and delivered to vendors contracted for such services or any internal House or Senate funding attached to such activities.”
Lastly, Stilp asked McCord, “… I ask that you join on the suit to stop these practices that have been ongoing.”
Stilp noted that the Ethics Commission has violated ethical and constitution standards in the recent past as was proved in the recent past in federal court. See Stilp v. Contino and Corbett, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, No. 09-3016, Opinion, 7-22-10.
APRIL 16, 2014
TO:
ROB MCCORD
PENNSYLVANIA STATE TREASURER
ROOM 129
FINANCE BUILDING
COMMONWEALTH AVENUE
HARRISBURG, PA 17120
FR:
GENE STILP
1550 FISHING CREEK VALLEY ROAD
HARRISBURG, PA 17112
717-829-5600
genestilp@comcast.net
RE: INVESTIGATION OF CURRENT ILLEGAL LEGISLATIVE USE OF PENNSYLVANIA TAXPAYER FUNDS FOR ELECTION PURPOSES
Attached please find two Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court suits that fully document the illegal framework that is being utilized by Pennsylvania legislators to use Pennsylvania taxpayer funds for campaign purposes. The suits are 202 MD 2014 and 210 MD 2014.
After your review, I ask that you begin an investigation to ascertain the amount of Pennsylvania taxpayer funds that have been utilized in the practice of conducting incumbent campaigns in the new areas of future legislative districts that are already being served by a current legislator.
Second, I ask that the funding of these illegal incumbent campaigns outlays be stopped immediately by the action of the Treasury Secretary in cutting off the legislative funding that goes to these campaigns and that no checks be signed and delivered to vendors contracted for such services or any internal House or Senate funding attached to such activities. This will require legal action for audits of internal legislative accounts because the legislature will not submit this information willingly.
Third, I ask that you join on the suit to stop these practices that have been ongoing. A thorough review of the faulty Ethics Commission Opinions issued on these topics are attached at the end of each specific suit as is the Senate Memo that has allowed the practice to occur.
I stand ready to answer all your questions in this matter and must draw your attention to the cover press sheets that have been left attached to the front of each document. These press sheets point out the parallels to the Bonusgate use of taxpayer funds for campaigning and the Pay Raise Scandal where legislators were receiving unvouchered taxpayer funds for their use. The current use of taxpayer funds is a combination of both.
During the historic Pay Raise case I brought in 2005, a former Pennsylvania treasurer had to be brought into that case as a defendant and that treasurer only came over to the Pennsylvania taxpayers side during the final brief to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
Lastly, do not be fooled by PA State Ethics Commission opinions. Just because the Ethics Commission sits two floors above you in the Finance Building doesn’t mean anything. The Ethics Commission is no sacred institution as was proved in the recent past in federal court wins against the Ethics Commission. See Stilp v. Contino and Corbett, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, No. 09-3016, Opinion, 7-22-10.
The PA State Ethics Commission is capable of acting unethically and unconstitutionally as was proved in that federal case.
Thank you for your swift action on this matter as unknown amounts of taxpayer funding have already been diverted for campaign use through legalized institutional corruption enabled by the PA State Ethics Commission and a mere financial clerk appointee in the Senate.
Your oath of office as the Pennsylvania State Treasurer demands that your oversee correct and legal dispersement of the Pennsylvania taxpayer funds. This situation demands your undivided scrutiny immediately.
Respectfully,
Gene Stilp