GOP questions Taylor’s use of implicated ‘Bonusgate’ staffers

In some of the first political fallout from the "Bonusgate" scandal, Republicans are calling on state Rep. Rick Taylor (D-Ambler) to disclose who all of his campaign workers were in 2006.

The request comes in the wake of numerous charges brought by state Attorney General Tom Corbett, in which legislative staffers of House Democrats are accused of doing political work on the taxpayers' dime.

Taylor is running against Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Todd Stephens in the 151st House District. As Republicans note, Taylor's 2006 campaign is mentioned in the charges, though the incumbent himself is not implicated in wrongdoing. One of the indicted House staffers, Rachel Manzo, is cited in the charges for doing work on Taylor's campaign in 2006, and another employee, Beth Marietta, testified that she worked on Taylor's campaign as was paid by the House, not by Taylor or the party chamber's Democratic Campaign Committee.

"Rick Taylor needs to account for Rachel Manzo and Beth Marietta's time," Montgomery County Republican Committee Chairman Robert Kerns said in a statement. "He also needs to account for any other taxpayer money spent on his campaign in 2006."

Kerns also called for Taylor to reimburse taxpayers $15,185 for a bonus given to Manzo.

Taylor campaign manager Danny Friedman told The Intelligencer that Taylor was outraged by the actions that led to Corbett's charges, but that there were no taxpayer employees on the campaign staff.

"If convicted, these rogue operatives should be punished to the fullest extent of the law, including full restitution by those convicted to the taxpayers of Pennsylvania," he said. "Unfortunately, the Republican attack machine is now on the move ... (Taylor) has made certain that there are no state employees on his campaign staff."

With numerous allegations like this one concerning Taylor buried throughout the massive ‘Bonusgate' indictments, Republicans are likely to find more ammunition against Democratic incumbents as time goes on.