DeWeese fires back: Shapiro scared of his own 'Bonusgate' involvement

House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese (D-Greene County) shot back at state Rep. Josh Shapiro (D-Montgomery County) hours after he called for DeWeese to step down, saying the Montgomery County lawmaker is simply scared about negative publicity after being mentioned in the "Bonusgate" presentment.

Shapiro is mentioned once in the 72-page presentment, on page seven. The attorney general alleges former DeWeese Chief of Staff Mike Manzo wrote an e-mail saying House Democratic Caucus staffer Melanie Brown "was out knocking on doors in Shapiro (with her kids!)," so she should receive a $1,000 bonus.

"On a personal note, I am saddened that Josh would take this public shot at me," DeWeese said in a statement. "I know he has been distraught since he was named in the Grand Jury's presentment in July, and I believe that his actions are motivated, at least in part, by undue concern about his own exposure."

Shapiro's statements only distract from the House's fall agenda, DeWeese said.

"The House Democrats have an aggressive legislative agenda for the fall that includes health care, further implementation of our energy agenda and our continued work on reform," he said. "Personal attacks of this nature do nothing to advance that agenda."

Apparently, the majority leader isn't going down without a fight.

Shapiro said earlier Monday that he told DeWeese he would publicly call for his resignation, but he would not characterize what DeWeese told him back.

"I have nothing against Bill DeWeese," Shapiro told reporters, "I like him as a human being. I'm not sure he considers me a friend anymore, but I think he's a good person."