Angela Bertugli still working for state

Miss Rain Day, Angela Bertugli, remains on the House D payroll for the same reason she got the initial internship and the subsequent full-time job in the first place. She never was put on payroll because of her relationship with Manzo. Bertugli is the niece of Greene County Commissioner Pam Snyder and DeWeese was playing the patronage game. In fact, a patronage deal that was tied up in no small way with Sen. Vince Fumo.

DeWeese hates the Comcast lobbyist Wodjak because DeWeese's ex-wife, Holly Kinzer, was hired at Wodjak's firm. That influenced DeWeese's opinion of and support for the KOZ Comcast was seeking for their new headquarters building in Philly. DeWeese and Fumo came nearly to blows several times over the KOZ in 2005.

With the payraise hanging over the state legislators in 2006, during the lead-up to the filing deadline Commissioner Snyder smelled blood in the water and was making serious noise about running against DeWeese in the primary. Fumo bankrolled a poll for her because he was so angry with DeWeese.

DeWeese did lots of things to make sure he was re-elected in 2005 and 2006, and then again for 2007 and 2008. One of them was to keep Snyder off the primary ballot in 2006 and again this year, part of that effort was to keep Bertugli employed.

I don't know if Manzo had a relationship with that woman and don't care. But Bertugli was working and is continuing to work for the House Democratic caucus because she is Snyder's niece.

Don't take my word for it. Check out this info from media reports:

Friday, December 3, 2004
Report says legislative session was more ringside than courtly
Philadelphia Business Journal
Things just weren't pretty in Harrisburg when the General Assembly was hammering away last week before the legislative session was over. One published account offers a peak into how tense things got when it came to the controversy of designating a development site at 17th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard a tax-free opportunity zone for a new headquarters for Comcast Corp.
"At one point in the final hours of the legislative session, Sen. Vincent J. Fumo allegedly threatened bodily harm to the top House Democrat leader H. William DeWeese, for failing to line up behind a last-minute Rendell demand for a massive tax windfall for Comcast in Philadelphia. DeWeese's reply: Sit down old man," according to an account published in the Nov. 28 Morning Call.
Needless to say, the General Assembly didn't act on the request for the opportunity zone.
Gary Tuma, Fumo's spokesman, as well as Fumo, a Democrat representing Philadelphia, weren't available to comment on whether they agreed with the published version of that incident.

12/1/05
Will it be Snyder vs. DeWeese for House seat?
Article Text:
By Cara Host, Staff writer
chost@observer-reporter.com
WAYNESBURG - H. William DeWeese may see a challenge for his state House seat next year in a first-term Greene County commissioner.
Speculation is rampant that Pam Snyder has her eye on the Waynesburg Democrat's job, and the Jefferson woman is saying nothing to dissuade those rumors. The possibility warranted a mention on the political Web site, politicspa.com this week. Snyder is quoted on the Web site that she hasn't ruled anything out.
"I don't think any politician ever rules out anything in this business," Snyder said when reached by phone Wednesday. "I am not a candidate at this time."
DeWeese issued a statement in response to media requests for comment: "I'm concentrating on representing the 50th Legislative District and see no reason to speculate on potential opponents."
Snyder has been serving as chairman of the Greene County commissioners for about two years, but that job is not her first foray into politics. She worked eight years as a deputy district director for former U.S. Rep. Frank R. Mascara until the Charleroi Democrat was defeated in 2002 by U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown. Snyder also has been vice-chairman of the county's Democratic Party for more than three years.
DeWeese has been Greene County's representative in the state House since 1976 and currently serves as minority leader, the highest ranking Democrat. He has faced various challengers in his long career, but has defeated them rather easily.
However, DeWeese has caught significant criticism recently with the legislative pay raise controversy.
State lawmakers gave themselves 16 to 34 percent raises last summer but after an angry backlash from voters, the legislature repealed the pay increase in November. DeWeese was a fervent defender of the pay raise and cast one of only two votes against the repeal when legislation was first introduced. However, he voted for the repeal when the House and Senate reached a compromise bill.
Copyright, 2005, Observer Publishing Company of Washington, Pa.

Exerpt from Pittsburgh Tribune Review Whispers column from 1/22/06:
BAD TIMING. Some Greene Country residents were perturbed last weekend when they received calls from a pollster presumably working on behalf of county Commissioner Pam Snyder.
The calls were made during the Steelers' thrilling victory over the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL divisional playoffs.
The pollsters apparently were trying to gauge Snyder's name recognition in anticipation of her primary challenge to Democrat state Rep. Bill DeWeese, the House minority leader.
DeWeese is considered potentially vulnerable for his role in last year's aborted Legislative pay raises. Lawmakers approved salary increases of up to 54 percent for themselves in July, then rescinded the raises in November after public outcry.
Hint to those mysterious pollsters: If you have any calls to make today, please make them before today's 3 p.m. AFC championship kickoff between the Steelers and the Denver Broncos.

2/8/06
Snyder will not challenge state Rep. DeWeese
Article Text:
By Cara Host, Staff writer
chost@observer-reporter.com
WAYNESBURG - Greene County Commissioner Pam Snyder will not try to unseat State Rep. H. William DeWeese, D-Waynesburg, this year.
The first-term county commissioner flirted with the idea of running against DeWeese, who has been Greene County's representative in the state House for 30 years. However, Snyder made the decision Tuesday not to run.
"I thought about this a lot. It was a very tough decision, but I committed to the people of Greene County that I would serve a four-year term as commissioner, and I just can't step away from this job right now," Snyder said. "We have a lot of things started, and I don't want to leave at this point."
No one has officially announced intentions to challenge DeWeese. Candidates can begin circulating nominating petitions Feb. 14 and have until March 7 to file them.
Snyder and fellow Democratic Commissioner Dave Coder stepped down from their positions on the county election board, and both cited possible conflicts of interest as reasons for their resignations.
In an order issued Monday, Greene County Judge H. Terry Grimes appointed fellow Judge William R. Nalitz and Arleigh Boord of Carmichaels as their replacements.
Those who are candidates in the election cannot serve on the election board. Coder and Snyder resigned from the election board two years ago, when both ran as delegates for the Democratic Party.
This election year, Snyder said she is considering a bid for re-election to her post as vice-chairman of the county's Democratic Party. Coder is chairman of the Democratic Party.
"I haven't decided if I want to run for that position or not, but I thought it would be best to avoid a possible conflict," Snyder said.
Snyder has been serving as chairman of Greene County commissioners since taking office in 2004. Before that, she worked eight years as a deputy district director for former U.S. Rep. Frank R. Mascara.
DeWeese, who has been in the state House since 1976, serves as minority leader, the highest ranking Democrat.
Copyright, 2006, Observer Publishing Company of Washington, Pa.

Provide jobs that that are so good that people are more afraid to lose the job than to go to jail or be humiliated and you get the obvious result ... people violate the law and personal ethical boundaries to get and keep these jobs.

We need a part time, citizen run legislature.

This whore had to hustle her way into politics, and she STILL couldn't do any better than the Burger King University of law schools? Widener, you fools....