Remember the ‘mendacious knave’?
This much is inarguably true: state Rep. Bill DeWeese is a skilled politician. I’m sure that you’ll agree after reading his commentary at the bottom of this page, which says a lot without really saying anything. That’s a DeWeese trademark. Throw out bits and pieces that make it seem like you’re taking a stand, when in fact you’re just deflecting and spinning, ignoring the real issues and blaming someone else. He’s among the best at doing it. Of course, he’s had 30 years of practice. In the aftermath of last year’s pay raise, citizens across Pennsylvania are hot for reform in Harrisburg. The list of things that need to be done is long. Yet nowhere in DeWeese’s commentary does he mention what, if any, reforms he will support. Instead, he tries to tantalize us with the big “What if?” concerning his possible elevation to House Speaker, should he win re-election Nov. 7 and the Democrats pick up the eight seats needed to regain control.
But what good is having a homegrown House Speaker if his spots don’t change from those he’s shown as House Minority Leader? (Or from a prior, short-lived term as speaker?) The Legislature remains exempt from the state’s Open Records Law, a true affront to every citizen in Pennsylvania, and the truth is that the eloquent DeWeese, who has no problem mustering up flowery prose on any other topic, isn’t moving his lips much on changing that onerous status quo.
As of Wednesday, 121 incumbent legislators and challengers, including DeWeese’s opponent Greg Hopkins, have signed on for “Brighter Pennsylvania,” an effort by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association to provide better access to government records and meetings. Howard William DeWeese is not on that list. It’s my prerogative – and it’s most certainly not “yellow journalism” as portrayed by DeWeese – to ask, “Why not?”
In his time, DeWeese has gotten a lot of ink from this newspaper for the positive things that he’s done, most notably for bringing two state prisons to his district. I personally have quoted him in many stories, including some where he’s strongly lambasted other politicians. He’s never had a problem with me until lately, and he now accuses us of “pounding away” at him, instead of only hitting him “once or twice.”
Guess what? The “pounding away” is well deserved and there’s nothing that’s been printed about DeWeese that hasn’t been verified by the facts. To wit: He’s been the most frequent flier on a state airplane over the past few years (although he’s greatly scaled back that practice and no doubt would prefer we focus on his newfound travel habits.) He’s the guy who in 2002 sent a letter to a lobbyist who had the audacity to hire DeWeese’s ex-wife, calling the man a “mendacious knave” for reportedly breaking their handshake deal to blackball her.
For those of us with longer memories, DeWeese ascended to the speaker’s post in 1993-94 by essentially mounting a coup against fellow Democrat Robert O’Donnell. DeWeese lost that lofty position in 1994 when state Rep. Tom Stish switched his allegiance from Democrat to Republican, fleeing DeWeese’s camp and giving the GOP a 102-101 edge that they have yet to relinquish. And DeWeese thinks that by not supporting him we’re going to be the reason Republican John Perzel retains the speaker’s post?
DeWeese says that he “couldn’t change the (open records) law from a minority position even if I wanted to.” Funny, but he has taken lots of credit for muscling through an increase in the minimum wage, which was accomplished from his minority position. The key question is, has he even tried on open records?
When we criticize DeWeese, it’s because we don’t think he’s being a good public servant. And we don’t think it’s enough for him to simply say he brings back “literally millions of dollars in state grants,” because they all say that. Find me a legislator who doesn’t, and I’ll put a DeWeese bumper sticker on my car.
We’re being exceedingly honest about DeWeese. He just doesn’t like our views.
Paul Sunyak is editorial page editor of the Herald-Standard. He can be reached at 724-439-7577 or psunyak@heraldstandared.com.