Aug 25, 2008 By Amy Revak 3 min read

Since Jan. 1, 2006, House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese has helped finance the campaigns of 13 Democratic candidates running for public office throughout the state. Additionally, the longtime lawmaker has given nearly $1 million to the House Democratic Campaign Committee in the past 21/2 years.

While the individual recipients of DeWeese’s contributions have included a couple of local lawmakers, the majority of those who received donations are not from southwestern Pennsylvania.

According to campaign finance report records from the Department of State from Jan. 1, 2006, through Aug. 20, DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, contributed $34,700 to the various individual campaigns.

During that same time frame, DeWeese contributed nearly $1 million to the House Democratic Campaign Committee to use for statewide Democratic elections, spending about $910,902 with contributions ranging from a low amount of $750 on Nov. 28, 2006, to a high amount of $109,000 on Oct. 24, 2007.

The contributions to individual candidates range from a low amount of $100 to York County Rep. Eugene DePasquale of the 95th District on Oct. 5, 2006, to $10,000 to Rep. Dwight Evans of Philadelphia on Feb. 2, 2007, who was seeking to become mayor of Philadelphia.

DeWeese also contributed $8,000 to the campaign of state Rep. Timothy Mahoney, D-South Union Township, in the form of three $1,000 donations on April 23, 2007, April 11, 2008, and April 22, 2008, and a $5,000 contribution on Aug. 6, 2007.

State Sen. J. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville, received $4,000 from DeWeese, including $2,000 on Sept. 13, 2006, and $2,000 on Sept. 11, 2007.

Among the other recipients of DeWeese’s contributions were Rep. Rick Taylor of Montgomery County, who received $3,000 on Oct. 31, 2006; $1,000 on April 1, 2008, that went to John Dougherty on South Philadelphia who is running for state Senate; $250 on Nov. 27, 2007, to Ryan Douglass of Allegheny County, who is running for state representative and $2,500 to state Rep. Bill Keller of Philadelphia County on April 28, 2008.

DeWeese also contributed $100 on March 2, 2007, to the state Rep. Thomas Petrone Committee of Allegheny County; $1,000 to former state Rep. Ken Ruffing on Feb. 8, 2006; $500 on Feb. 18, 2006 to state Rep. John Sabatina Jr. of Philadelphia County; $4,250 on April 11, 2006, to state Rep. Dante Santoni Jr. of Berks County and $300 on May 7, 2008, toward the campaign of state Rep. W. Curtis Thomas of Philadelphia County.

In a previous press release discussing his contributions, DeWeese said the 30-day post primary campaign finance report reflects his determination to grow the majority for Democrats in the state House.

“In the past 30 days, I contributed $200,000 to the House Democratic Campaign Committee to ensure Democrats grow the one-seat majority in the November elections,” DeWeese said in late May. “This is a watershed year. The list of pressing issues is endless, including affordable health care, renewable energy and property taxes. My caucus will help Pennsylvanians navigate these and other difficult issues, which is why it is more important than ever for our caucus to gain a four- or a six-seat majority.”

DeWeese first took office in 1976 and is currently seeking re-election. He will face opposition on the Nov. 4 election from Republican Greg Hopkins.

Campaign finance reports can be viewed online at http://web.dos.state.pa.us/cgi-bin/CampaignFinance/cf_data_srch.cgi