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The growing number of sexual assault Thomas Gross and municipal police In honor of Tax Day, The Caucus team
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Tom Gross, Executive Director of
Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Associa-
tion, speaks during an interview at The
Caucus office in Harrisburg.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
4 PARADE OF MISCREANTS
Given the numerous allegations of
sexual assault and misconduct here,
has Pennsylvania become the epi-
center of the #MeToo movement?
6 WHERE THEY DIFFER
5 major issues on which there are
clear, if subtle, distinctions between
the Republican gubernatorial
hopefuls
8 THE WEEK AHEAD
Events around the Capitol this
week
9 CAPITOL DISPATCHES
Re-election campaign benefit re-
ceptions and committees roundup
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CONTENTS A P R I L 1 7, 2 0 1 8
BLAINE T. SHAHAN FOR THE CAUCUS
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 OVERHEARD ON 3RD

PIXEIHOUSE, VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Protestors gather before an appearance by comedian Bill Cosby, who is accused of sexual assault and rape, in this 2015 photo.

PARADE OF MISCREANTS
Given the numerous allegations of sexual assault and misconduct here, has
Pennsylvania become the epicenter of the #MeToo movement?

T
» » PAULA KNUDSEN + BRAD BUMSTED + SAM JANESCH

he #MeToo movement was still months away from ex-
ploding into national prominence when the sexual-as-
sault case against actor and comedian Bill Cosby ended
in a mistrial in June.
Movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, tele-
vision anchor Matt Lauer and U.S. Rep.
Patrick Meehan, R-Delaware County,
had not yet become watercooler fod-
der, along with countless other men and
women caught up in a movement bring-
ing down prominent men in politics,
media and beyond with allegations of
sexual misconduct and harassment.
Cosby’s return to Montgomery
County for a retrial last week coincided
with the return of state Rep. Nick Mic-
carelli, R-Delaware County, to the state
Capitol. While Miccarelli has not been
charged with any crimes, he is subject to
a three-year restraining order filed by a
female lawmaker and he is under inves-
tigation by the Dauphin County District
Attorney’s office.
Republican House leaders have
called on him to resign after a House
report found credible two women who
claimed the lawmaker sexually or physi-
cally assaulted them — allegations he
vigorously denies.
Just before the second Cosby trial
opened, Bedford County District Attor-
ney Bill Higgins was charged by the state
Attorney General’s Office for various
crimes, including trading sexual favors
with women defendants. He resigned
from office.
Over the last decade, Pennsylva-
nians have watched in various stages of
horror as Jerry Sandusky, a legendary
Penn State assistant football coach, was
convicted of raping children; a por-
nography scandal forced the departure
of two Supreme Court Justices and a
cabinet member and implicated several
top state prosecutors; and grand jury
reports from Philadelphia to Altoona al-
leged widespread sexual misconduct by
priests. An investigation by the Attorney
General’s office is pending on dioceses in
other cities, including Allentown, Har-
risburg and Pittsburgh.
The confluence of these events
prompted one female lobbyist to wonder
if Pennsylvania is the epicenter of sex-
ual assault and misconduct. The cases
typically involve people in positions of
power allegedly abusing their authority.
Is Pennsylvania worse than other
states?
It isn’t clear.
Priest abuse, for instance, is not
unique to Pennsylvania. Scandals have
rocked cities from Phoenix to Boston.
But the Sandusky case, highlighted again
recently in the much-hyped HBO movie
“Paterno,” appeared to be one of a kind.
The “Porngate” email scandal involv-
ing computers used in the Attorney
General’s Office coupled with the inter-
national media focus on the Cosby case
clearly puts Pennsylvania in the running
for states with the largest number of
high-profile sex scandals.
There are “wide disparities in report-
ing and disclosure” among states, said
Steve Turner, a retired state government
lawyer who worked for the Pennsylvania
Commission on Crime and Delinquency
and served as special federal prosecutor.
He now works as a consultant in human
trafficking.
“There are sexual-assault fault lines
running throughout this nation,” said
Turner. “Earthquakes are not uniform.
Nor are they predictable. Fault lines are
deep, often hidden and destructive to
victims.”
“The volcanic dome of suppressed,
systemic victimization is finally erupt-
ing and coming to the surface,” Turner
said.
The volume of complaints made
public in any given state depends on a
wide range of factors, including how
states define and handle sexual harass-
ment and assault; their open-records
laws; and the political culture and media
coverage, he said.
“It’s not apples to apples,” said
Turner.
There’s no question the #MeToo
movement, which surfaced in October,
has helped to bring forward fresh allega-
tions of what, in some cases, are years-
old violations.
A 50-state survey by The Associ-
ated Press released last week on sexual
harassment and misdeeds by state law-
makers over the past decade included
details about alleged forced kisses,
sexual assaults, lewd behavior, frequent
embraces and inappropriate texts.
Almost all of those accused were
men, but two female lawmakers were
also on the list. Those who were alleged-
ly harassed or subjected to misbehavior
included legislative staffers, lobbyists,
female legislators and interns.
The data analysis by AP found a
majority of legislative chambers have
no publicly available records of formal
harassment or misconduct complaints.
Some states said no tally was kept or
that records were exempt from disclo-
sure.
The analysis found 70 formal com-
plaints across about two dozen states.
California, for instance, comprises
one-fifth of the 70 complaints but that
doesn’t mean that state has a larger
problem than other states. California
provided documents that some other
states did not. There were three Penn-
sylvania lawmakers named in the AP
analysis but at least two former lawmak-
ers have been publicized in state news
accounts.
The Keystone State’s list of sex-
related scandals over the past decade
touched all three branches of govern-
ment.
For instance:
— Since 2001 the Pennsylvania State
Police paid almost $8 million to settle
sexual harassment, misconduct and
discrimination cases to women, from in-
side the agency to civilians, The Caucus
reported in December.
— A sexual harassment complaint
against Rep. Tom Caltagirone by a legis-
lative aide in 2015 resulted in a $248,000
secret state payment, The Philadelphia
Inquirer reported. Caltagirone has de-
nied the allegations.
— In January, it was revealed that
U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan authorized a
secret settlement with taxpayers’ money
to a former young female employee who
had filed a sexual harassment complaint
against him. Meehan later referred to

4 T H E C A U C U S Tuesday, April 17, 2018


the woman as his “soul mate.”
— Former State Fire Commissioner
Tim Solobay slapped a female staffer on
the rear while serving in the Senate in
2011, his former aide Rachel Moore told
Pennlive in January. Solobay denied it
but subsequently resigned.
— Two county sheriffs, In Lancaster
and Philadelphia, faced sexual harass-
ment allegations by employees. Jewell
Williams, a former House member from
Philadelphia, remains in office. He’s
denied the allegations of advances and
lewd comments to employees; a lawsuit
by one female employee is pending in
federal court. The House Democratic
Caucus previously paid $30,000 to settle
a 2011 complaint a female employee
had filed against Williams for harass-
ment, The Philadelphia Inquirer also
reported. And Lancaster County Sheriff
Mark Reese resigned after LNP, the daily
newspaper, reported he made sexual
overtures via email to a female deputy,
which became increasingly graphic and
harassing in nature. As legislative ef-
forts were underway to oust him, Reese
resigned.
— Then there are the allegations of
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OVERHEARD ON 3RD
Women in House Republican
Caucus call for action against
culture of sexual harassment
» » SAM JANESCH
A TRIO OF HOUSE REPUBLICAN
women are taking the lead on
their chamber’s approach to ad-
dressing sexual harassment in the
Capitol — and across the state —
for the first time since the allega-
tions against Rep. Nick Miccarelli
were made public.
They’re stressing the need
for a long-term, comprehensive
solution. “Workplace harassment
and misconduct are wrong and
must be stopped because no one
should ever be uncomfortable
going to work,” said Rep. Marcy
Toepel, R-Montgomery County.
Roughly 50 Republicans last
week stood behind her and Reps.
Donna Oberlander, R-Clarion, and
Sheryl Delozier, R-Cumberland
County, as they announced their
push for a task force to investigate
laws and procedures surrounding
harassment and sexual miscon-
duct in the workplace.
Another review, conducted
by the Joint State Government
Commission, would investigate the
number and types of complaints
within state government agencies
and how they were handled.
“We are emphasizing that
anyone facing harassment and
or misconduct must have simple
outlets for them to be heard and
for timely action to be taken. We
don’t want unintended conse-
quences to arise from hastily pass-
ing proposals,” said Oberlander,
who did not explicitly address the
bills that Democrats proposed last
month.
“We do not want to put on a
Band-Aid that may only work for a
handful of cases,” she said.
Rep. Rob Kauffman announced
the Labor & Industry Commit-
tee he chairs would hold a public
hearing on the topic April 24.
“There has been a lot of discus-
sion on, ‘Why aren’t you doing
something? Let’s just do some-
thing,’” Kauffman said. “Well, we
are trying to be very deliberative
in this process. … We wanted to
be very deliberative. Not have a
knee-jerk reaction when things
come out.”
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
harassment against Sen. Daylin Leach,
D-Montgomery County. The Demo-
cratic lawmaker came under scrutiny in
December when The Philadelphia In-
quirer published allegations that Leach
engaged in questionable behavior with
young women staffers, including highly
sexualized jokes or touching, which the
women considered improper.
Leach acknowledged he was “some-
times impulsive and thoughtless.” In an
op-ed, Leach said he was “truly sorry for
ever saying or doing anything that has
made anyone uneasy…”
Unlike the Cosby case, Leach said,
there was no due process for him as
there were no criminal charges, civil
lawsuits or any other complaints lodged
against him. A Senate staffer had taken a
verbal complaint to Senate officials, The
Inquirer reported. Leach has refused
calls from Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat,
to resign. But he abandoned his congres-
sional campaign following The Inquir-
er’s report.
When a Caucus reporter visited his
district office, Leach said due process “is
the thing that separates us from dicta-
torships and authoritarian regimes.”
T
THE CAUCUS 5
 COVER STORY

WHERE THESE

THREE DIFFER

5 major issues on which there are clear, if subtle,

distinctions between the Republican
gubernatorial hopefuls

6 T H E C A U C U S Tuesday, April 17, 2018


S
» » MIKE WERESCHAGIN + SAM JANESCH
ince President Donald Trump turned Pennsylvania red
for the first time in a generation, the question of where the
party’s true base — or, if you’re feeling dramatic, soul —
resides has roiled national politics.
The president’s embrace of Roy
Moore, an ultraconservative former
judge and accused sexual predator, cost
the party a Senate seat in the Republi-
can bulwark of Alabama. House Speaker
Paul Ryan’s victory in securing a tax cut
long sought by the party’s establishment
wasn’t enough to keep him in Congress.
Policy fights between the largely
transactional, unpredictable president
and the old conservative bloc are caus-
ing headaches for candidates up and
down the ballot.
The next major skirmish is a little
less than a month away, when GOP vot-
ers in one of the country’s largest swing
states will choose their nominee for gov-
ernor of Pennsylvania. State Sen. Scott
Wagner of York and Pittsburgh busi-
nessman Paul Mango have been slugging
it out over who can best man the party’s
right flank, while Laura Ellsworth, a
Pittsburgh attorney, is banking on vot-
ers’ desire for a civil brand of pragmatic
conservatism.
Their differences aren’t mere mat-
ters of style.
They’ll meet April 25 in a debate
sponsored by The Caucus and LNP,
both publications of Lancaster-based
LNP Media Group, and ABC 27, 20 days
before the May 15 primary.
In previous rounds, the candidates
showcased substantive policy differenc-
es unusual for an intraparty squabble
in an age marked by hardened partisan-
ship.
Here’s a look at five major issues on
which there are clear — if not subtle in
some cases — distinctions between the
three Republicans.
1.
PROPERTY TAXES
& EDUCATION FUNDING
They part ways, for instance, on how
best to fund the state’s public school sys-
tem. In the 2015-16 school year, school
districts, charter schools and career
technology centers spent $30.6 billion
dollars, most of which came from local
taxes.
The state Supreme Court in Sep-
tember reinstated a lawsuit brought
by struggling school districts. They say
the current funding setup violates the
state constitution’s guarantees of equal
protection and a “thorough and efficient
system” of education.
Reforming that funding system
— particularly its reliance on local
property taxes — has for years been an
elusive goal for lawmakers.
Mango and Wagner say they’ll elimi-
nate school property taxes altogether.
“Our revenue base for property taxes is
changing dramatically. The three fastest-
growing real-estate investors in Pennsyl-
vania are not-for-profit health systems,
not-for-profit universities, and not-for-
profit governments, OK? So what you have
is more and more of the tax burden from
school property taxes being put on fewer
and fewer residents. Some businesses as
well, but mainly residents. We have not
adapted to that change,” Mango told The
Caucus in January.
COVER STORY
Rather than raising state taxes,
Mango wants local governments to be
able to raise other taxes to make up the
multibillion-dollar shortfall that would
occur.
“We need to keep as much local con-
trol as possible without evicting 10,000
people a year from their homes because
they can’t afford property taxes,” Mango
said. “That’s the needle we’re trying to
thread.”
How best to thread that needle ought
to be left to local governments — and
they ought to be able to use property
taxes to do it, Ellsworth said at a debate
at Carnegie Mellon University in March.
“I do not support views that would
remove property taxes completely,” Ells-
worth said. “I think there’s an important
aspect of property tax that helps build
neighborhoods and build good school
districts.”
“I do believe that we should expand
the use of tax credits — EITC [Educa-
tional Improvement Tax Credit], OSTC
[Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit]
— we should expand those so we drive
more dollars into education,” Ellsworth
said.
“We use the knowledge and experi-
ence of the actual people of Pennsylva-
nia to know what schools educate their
children best in their communities,”
Ellsworth said. “Expanding those pro-
grams will put that power in the hands
of Pennsylvanians, not in the hands of
people in Harrisburg.”
Wagner, the Republicans’ endorsed
candidate whose populist leanings echo
Trump’s, has said several times that
popular will on this issue is a mandate
for politicians.
“The mission is, people want their
property taxes eliminated,” Wagner told
The Caucus recently, adding that it’s
“one of my top three goals.”
“So I have to go back and I have to
figure out how to do that, and we have to
run the numbers on potentially zero-
based budgeting,” which requires orga-
nizations to justify each program every
time a budget is set, Wagner said.
2.
TAXING & SPENDING
Zero-based budgeting, Wagner said,
would restore the spending discipline
Harrisburg lacks.
“Pennsylvania is like a patient in the
operating room, on the table, bleeding to
death. OK? I mean the blood is just drip-
ping off the gurney and it’s all over the
floor. The current thinking is, ‘We need
more blood for the patient. We just need
to keep extracting blood out of the tax-
payers and we just need to pump more
blood into the patient,’ ” Wagner said.
“Nobody wants to fix the patient.
You’ve got to put a couple of tourniquets
on. We have to let the patient heal. That
can be achieved through zero-based
budgeting. Eighty percent of Americans
and 80 percent of Pennsylvanians do
zero-based budgeting in their homes at
their kitchen table,” Wagner told The
Caucus. “… I don’t do a budget like Har-
risburg does it in my businesses. I mean,
we look at what we spend. We look at
revenue coming in, and we manage ac-
cordingly. I believe if we did zero-based
budgeting in Harrisburg that we will
find between $1.5 and $4 billion dollars
just the first year.”
During the January debate at Carn-
egie Mellon, Wagner and Mango took
the moderator’s pledge not to raise taxes
during their prospective administra-
tions, with Mango going a step further.
“I’m not going to hold the line on
taxes. My pledge to you is to ensure that
we give you tax rebates,” Mango said.
“We’re the most overtaxed state in the
country.”
The Tax Foundation, a nonprofit
tax policy research and advocacy group
in Washington, D.C., was a bit kinder,
ranking Pennsylvania’s overall tax
burden 15th in the country in a report
it released in late March. It ranked the
state’s overall business tax climate 26th,
almost exactly the middle of the pack.
Mango said the tax question is only
part of the equation.
“No one else is talking about growth,”
he has said. “I’ve been involved with
multinational companies for 30 years.
They could never save their way to pros-
perity. We need to bring our jobs and
our children back home, and that’s the
way to ensure that we don’t have to raise
anyone’s taxes.”
No-tax pledges were once a staple of
Republican politics. During the 2012 Re-
publican presidential primary, all eight
candidates onstage at a Fox News debate
said they’d walk away from a deal that
offered $10 in spending cuts for every $1
in tax increases.
That ignores the reality of governing,
Ellsworth said.
“I think tax pledges are political
gimmicks that aren’t worth the paper
they’re printed on,” Ellsworth said at the
Carnegie Mellon debate. “And I think
anyone who takes them is not being re-
sponsible to the citizens. What I will say
is this: I will do everything in my power
to bring efficiencies to government, just
as I’ve brought them to the businesses
that I’ve run and the civic projects that
I’ve run — and believe me, there are a lot
of efficiencies that can be brought.”
Revenue, too, she said. Part of what’s
driving tax increases is a pension liabil-
ity that’s eating up an ever larger portion
of state and local budgets, which local
and school district leaders cover by hik-
ing property taxes.
“I will sell the state stores and pay
down the pension and reduce your prop-
erty taxes,” Ellsworth said.
3.
THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC
The opioid epidemic has dominated
Gov. Tom Wolf’s entire first term. The
number of deaths have increased dra-
matically, here and across the country,
every year.
More than 4,600 Pennsylvanians
died from drug overdoses in 2016, a 37
percent increase from the year before.
The death toll is expected to keep grow-
ing.
A new report from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention found
two-thirds of all overdose deaths nation-
wide in 2016 were the result of prescrip-
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
tion or illicit opioids.
Wolf has responded, in part,
by launching a prescription-drug
monitoring program and funding
45 “centers of excellence” that treat
substance abuse. In January, he declared
the issue a public health emergency to
increase the public response in force.
Wagner, for one, said that declara-
tion was “long overdue leadership.” But
in the same breath he was critical of the
declaration because, he said, it would
limit the public from carrying firearms
in public.
Thus, Wagner said, it was “the wrong
approach.”
On the issue itself, Wagner, Mango
and Ellsworth have spoken with a
similar urgency, but slight differences in
their approach to the crisis.
Ellsworth has said the first thing she
would do is talk to families, encouraging
parents with active children not to take
opioids for routine sports injuries.
She’s also advocating for something
of a two-strikes-and-you’re-out ap-
proach to naloxone. If a person is re-
vived using naloxone for a second time,
they must be committed to inpatient
treatment, she said.
“While one near-death experience
might cause a user to turn away from
opiates on a voluntary basis, two near-
death experiences is enough to know
that they need inpatient treatment to
tackle their addiction,” she states on her
campaign website. “Currently, too many
communities have an endless cycle
of overdose and revival, overdose and
revival, with no way to get the patient or
the first responders or the community
off the cycle. We need to break that cycle
and get the user into treatment.”
Wagner focuses on education in
schools.
“We’re going to have to go deep into
our schools and we’re going to have to
educate,” Wagner said at the Carnegie
Mellon debate. “If a child’s a toddler and
they go into a public setting, a daycare
facility, they need to hear that drugs are
bad, needles are bad, drug dealers are
bad. You know for 20 years, the theme
has just been ‘Just say no.’ That’s not
working.”
He and Ellsworth have also said 30-
day rehab programs are far from enough
time.
Mango, in the Carnegie Mellon
debate, said the opioid crisis is “funda-
mentally a social issue.” He tied it to the
economy, saying it was connected to the
slow economic growth of the state and
jobs, and said communities are in a bet-
ter position to solve this problem than
the state.
“The folks out there are suffering
from diseases of despair. Our jobs and
our children have left Pennsylvania.
They feel isolated and this guy is presid-
ing over a no-growth economy,” he said.
“Furthermore this problem cannot be
solved from Harrisburg with mandates.
You know who can solve this problem?
Local communities can.”
4.
ENERGY
On Wolf’s signature, unrealized
policy issue — instituting a severance
tax for natural gas — his Republican
Cont., page 8
THE CAUCUS 7
 COVER STORY + EVENTS

Continued from page 7
challengers are unwavering.
All three side with their conservative
colleagues, arguing that such a tax would
hurt Pennsylvania’s competitiveness in
attracting gas drillers.
And though they all emphatically
support constructing pipelines as quick-
ly as possible, Wagner and Ellsworth
often speak more about the national
and international implications of those
pipelines while Mango focuses on jobs
at home.
“We came in this country, in the
Northeast, within 24 hours of a com-
plete rolling blackout because we didn’t
have enough electricity in 2014,” Ells-
worth said in a WHYY debate. “This is
not a situation where energy is a luxury.
It is also a geopolitical asset. We are
fighting Russia.”
Pennsylvania should be courting
gas companies, giving them tax benefits
through the Keystone Opportunity
Zones and making sure they invest here,
Ellsworth said.
Wagner, in the same debate, spoke
harshly of the U.S. importing Russian-
produced liquid natural gas when Penn-
sylvania could very well produce it.
“The best and greatest opportunity
with the port of Philadelphia not far
by would be to have an LNG plant and
be able to ship gas to other parts of the
world.
Mango agreed exporting natural gas
is important, but the priority should be
on the “downstream industries” that
result from natural gas production. He
his 2016 run, especially during stops in
Pennsylvania.
The president vowed to revive the in-
dustry and put coal miners back to work
after decades of job losses.
Trump’s work to roll back some
regulations has indeed led to an uptick
in coal jobs, if only slightly. Total coal
mining jobs increased by 771 to 54,819 in
2017, according to Reuters. There were
96 new coal jobs in Pennsylvania.
During the Republican debate at
Carnegie Mellon, Mango said he spent
some time down in a coal mine during
his campaign and praised Trump for
reducing Obama-era environmental
regulations affecting the industry.
“We will roll back regulations and we
will have a vibrant coal industry again in
Pennsylvania,” Mango said.
Wagner, when asked the same ques-
tion about what to do about unemployed
former coal workers, said he supports
the coal industry but angled his answer
toward retraining workers for other
jobs.
“There are 200,000 skilled-labor
positions open in Pennsylvania. You
could take coal miners that work on
equipment. There are mechanics, there
are maintenance people. They could be
retrained to go into other industries,” he
said.
Ellsworth hails the regulation roll-
backs and said she believes coal “again
can be a significant driver of jobs and
economic development here in Pennsyl-
vania.”
carelli dropped his bid for re-election
after two women accused him of sexual
assault and harassment.
House Republican leaders said Mic-
carelli should resign after the allegations
were published by The Caucus and The
Philadelphia Inquirer. Ellsworth has
declined to go that far.
“I’m a due-process person,” said
Ellsworth. “I’m a woman. I want to be
listened to. I am also the mother of a THE CAUCUS, LANCASTER FARMING
son, so I want men to be listened to.” and LNP + LancasterOnline, publica-
Mango said there should be tions of LNP Media Group in Lan-
“absolutely zero tolerance” and no caster, are partnering with ABC 27 to
“taxpayer-funded settlements for sexual host a forum with all three Repub-
harassment,” which have sunk several lican gubernatorial hopefuls — Sen.
congressional careers — including Pat Scott Wagner, Paul Mango and Laura
Meehan, another Delaware County Ellsworth — next week.
Republican — during the past year. The forum is being held on
Without delving into specifics, Man- Wednesday, April 25, at Willow Val-
go said the four tasks for elected leaders ley Communities Cultural Center in
were to be “role models,” create “a risk- Lancaster County. The event begins
free environment” in which victims feel at 7 p.m. The facility is located at 900
safe coming forward, investigate com- Willow Valley Lakes Drive, Willow
plaints “aggressively and swiftly,” and, if Street.
someone’s guilty, “punish immediately. The event is free and open to the
Wagner noted his business has had public, but registration is required.
a sexual harassment policy for “over 25 To sign up, please go to this web-
years.” site: bit.ly/gopgovdebate
“We need professional people that The primary is May 15.
respect each other, but we need a zero-
tolerance policy in Harrisburg and
throughout Pennsylvania,” Wagner said.
“It’s a problem in Harrisburg, and it’s
been here for a long, long time.”
The allegations that have roiled the
capitol in recent months are “the tip of
the iceberg,” Ellsworth said.
“What we need is top-down change.

mentioned fertilizers and chemicals,
plastics and textiles.
Up to 150,000 manufacturing jobs
could be at the other end, according to
his analysis.
The candidates also show hints of
separation on coal. Trump made the
issue a primary talking point during
5.
SEXUAL VIOLENCE &
CAPITOL CULTURE
When the next gubernatorial term
begins, it’ll be with a new representative
from the Delaware County seat occupied
by Republican Nick Miccarelli. Mic-
We need a change of tone. When I start-
ed practicing law 25 years ago, when I
walked into the courtroom, everybody
thought I was the secretary,” Ellsworth
said. “Every woman who is a profes-
sional woman has walked that walk. We
understand what that is. Put a woman in
the (governor’s) chair, case closed.”

THE WEEK AHEAD

Events around the Capitol this week
10:30 A.M., APRIL 17 1 : 3 0 P. M . , A P R I L 1 8 10 A.M., APRIL 21
MUSLIM CAPITOL DAY YOUTHBUILD LEADERSHIP DAY MARCH FOR OUR LIVES
Capitol Rotunda Capitol Rotunda
The third annual event brings more than 100 Muslim Front Capitol Steps
YouthBuild students from across the state share their
community leaders and their Jewish and Christian support- A continuing demonstration of support for the March for
ers to Harrisburg to meet with their elected representatives experiences with representatives and hold a rally.
our Lives and #neveragain movements.
and hold a news conference.
3 P. M . , A P R I L 1 8
9 A.M., APRIL 18 11 A.M., APRIL 23
COMMON CONSERVATION AGENDA
RED CROSS CELEBRATION BEYOND THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC
Capitol Rotunda
Capitol Rotunda
More than 20 environmental organizations present the Capitol Rotunda
A news conference to to hail the work of the Red Cross.
first Common Conservation Agenda for Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Harm Reduction Coalition advocates
10:30 A.M., APRIL 18 for legislation that improves the lives of individuals and
MAKE PA GREAT AGAIN 10 A.M., APRIL 20 communities impacted by the drug crisis.
Capitol Rotunda
NATIONAL SCHOOL WALKOUT
Republican gubernatorial hopeful Paul Mango speaks at
a patriotic event featuring the Carson Long Military Acad- Front Capitol Steps
1 : 3 0 P. M . , A P R I L 2 3
emy choral group and color guard. A rally in protest of gun violence.
2018 LEAD RALLY

1 2 : 3 0 P. M . , A P R I L 1 8
‘CLEAN AIR FORCE’
Capitol Rotunda
Mothers and children from across Pennsylvania advo-
cate for protection from methane air pollution caused by
the oil and gas industries.
1 P. M . , A P R I L 2 0
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT RALLY
Capitol Rotunda
Students, teachers and community members rally to
bring attention to current events.
Capitol Rotunda
The National Association of Social Workers Pennsylva-
nia Chapter and students promote advocacy among the
social work community during it annual Legislative Educa-
tion and Advocacy Day.

8 T H E C A U C U S Tuesday, April 17, 2018

 CAPITOL DISPATCHES

HEARINGS FUNDRAISERS
A look at the schedule of A roundup of receptions and other events to
upcoming committee hearings benefit re-election campaigns
9 A.M., APRIL 17 9 A.M., APRIL 18 8 A.M., APRIL 17 8 A.M., APRIL 18 8 A.M., APRIL 30
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE RECEPTION FOR SENATE RECEPTION FOR RECEPTION FOR
Room 140, Main Capitol Room 205, Ryan Office Building DEMOCRATIC CAMPAIGN TOM QUIGLEY REP. FRANK RYAN
Public hearing on gun laws and Public hearing on gun laws and COMMITTEE Harrisburg Hilton House Republican Campaign
violence. violence. Harrisburg Hilton Committee Building
Harrisburg
Harrisburg Harrisburg
$300
9:30 A.M., APRIL 17 9 A.M., APRIL 18 $500 to $5,000 $250
HOUSE FINANCE COMMITTEE HOUSE PROFESSIONAL 8 A.M., APRIL 18
Room 205, Ryan Office Building LICENSURE COMMITTEE 8 A.M., APRIL 17
RECEPTION FOR 11:30 A.M., APRIL 30
Voting meeting on H.B. 415 from Room B31, Main Capitol RECEPTION FOR
SEN. SCOTT HUTCHINSON LUNCHEON FOR
Rep. Thomas P. Murt, which would Public hearing on H.B. 789 from REP. DONNA BULLOCK
REP. DONNA OBERLANDER
amend the Tax Reform Code to add Rep. Jim Christiana, which would Little Amps Coffeehouse Harrisburg Hilton
Harrisburg House Republican Campaign
and define “child with a disability” codify the Department of Health Harrisburg
$250 to $1,000 Committee Building
and eliminate the inheritance tax regulation requiring physician $500
Harrisburg
that is applied when assets are supervision of the administration of
8 A.M., APRIL 17 $400 to $1,000
transferred from a deceased parent anesthesia into statute. 5 : 3 0 P. M . , A P R I L 1 8
RECEPTION FOR
to a disabled child; and H.B. 2040 RECEPTION FOR
REP. SID MICHAELS KAVULICH 11:30 A.M., APRIL 30
from Rep. Tim Hennessey, which 9:30 A.M., APRIL 18 PAUL MANGO FOR GOVERNOR
Old Town Deli LUNCHEON FOR
would authorize school districts to HOUSE AGING & OLDER ADULT The Country Club
Harrisburg REP. TARAH TOOHIL
allow senior citizens to volunteer SERVICES COMMITTEE of Harrisburg
$350 to $500 McGrath’s Pub
and in return receive a partial credit Room G50, Irvis Office Building Harrisburg Harrisburg
against their school property taxes. Budget overview for aging-related 8 A.M., APRIL 17 N/A $300 to $500
services and support. RECEPTION FOR
10 A.M., APRIL 17 REP. WARREN KAMPF 5 : 3 0 P. M . , A P R I L 1 8 8 A . M . , M AY 1
SENATE LABOR & INDUSTRY 10 A.M., APRIL 18 Harrisburg Hilton RECEPTION FOR RECEPTION FOR
COMMITTEE HOUSE HUMAN SERVICES Harrisburg
Hearing Room 1, North Office REP. KERRY BENNINGHOFF REP. BILL KORTZ
COMMITTEE $350 to $1,000
Building Rubicon Pennsylvania AFL-CIO
Room 60, East Wing
Public hearing to discuss S.B. Voting meeting on H.B. 1535 Harrisburg Harrisburg
11:30 A.M., APRIL 17
479 from Sen. Andrew E. Dinniman, from Rep. Judy Ward dealing with LUNCHEON FOR $1,000 to $5,000 $250 to $2,000
the Pennsylvania Family and Medi- intellectual disability and autism rate SEN. LISA BAKER
cal Leave Act, which would provide transparency; H.B. 2069 from Reps. Rubicon 5 : 3 0 P. M . , A P R I L 1 9 8 A . M . , M AY 1
up to six weeks of protected, un- Dan L. Miller and Thomas P. Murt, Harrisburg RECEPTION FOR RECEPTION FOR
paid leave to an employee to care which would codify an expiring grant $500 REP. JOHN TAYLOR REP. JOE EMRICK
for a sibling, grandparent or grand- program that provides a lifeline for House of the Colonial Dames McGrath’s Pub
child with a serious health condi- many deaf and blind Pennsylvanians; 5 : 3 0 P. M . , A P R I L 1 7 Harrisburg
Philadelphia
tion if such sibling, grandparent or H.B. 2126 from Rep. Jason Ortitay, RECEPTION FOR
$250 to $10,000 $300 to $500
grandchild has no living spouse, which would impose fines of $1,000 SEN. GENE YAW
child over 17 years of age or par- to $5,000 on professionals who fail Level 2
8 A.M., APRIL 24 7 : 3 0 A . M . , M AY 2
ent under 65 years of age. The six to abide by the provisions set forth Harrisburg
RECEPTION FOR RECEPTION FOR
weeks of unpaid leave would be in in the Allowing Minors to Consent to $500
SEN. JOHN YUDICHAK REP. R. LEE JAMES
contrast to the 12 weeks provided Medical Care Act (Act 147 of 2004);
under the federal law. Harrisburg Hilton House Republican Campaign
and H.R. 760 from Rep. Angel Cruz, 5 : 3 0 P. M . , A P R I L 1 7
Committee Building
which would recognize the impor- RECEPTION FOR Harrisburg
REP. ROSITA YOUNGBLOOD Harrisburg
10 A.M., APRIL 17 tance of ensuring equal access to $500 to $1,000
McGrath’s Pub $400
HOUSE CHILDREN & YOUTH technology and information for indi-
COMMITTEE viduals with cognitive disabilities. Harrisburg 8 A.M., APRIL 24
Room 60, East Wing $500 to $2,500 8 A . M . , M AY 2
RECEPTION FOR
Voting meeting on H.B. 2213 10 A.M., APRIL 19 RECEPTION FOR
SEN. ANTHONY WILLIAMS
from Rep. Dan Moul, which would INDEPENDENT REGULATORY 7:30 A.M., APRIL 18 REP. SHERLY DELOZIER
Harrisburg Hilton
allow parents who adopt a child or REVIEW COMMISSION RECEPTION FOR The Locust Court Building
REP. BECKY CORBIN Harrisburg
children to appeal to the Penn- 333 Market St., Harrisburg Harrisburg
sylvania Department of Human Stock’s on Second $500 to $2,500
Meeting to consider Regulations $300 to $500
Services the amount of an adoption No. 3148 relating to the State Board Harrisburg
subsidy provided by local authori- $300 to $500 8 A.M., APRIL 25
of Physical Therapy and post-Act 8 A . M . , M AY 2
ties. 38 revisions; and No. 3138 related RECEPTION FOR BREAKFAST FOR
7:30 A.M., APRIL 18 SEN. DAN LAUGHLIN
to the Environmental Quality Board REP. KEITH GREINER
RECEPTION FOR Harrisburg Hilton
8:45 A.M., APRIL 18 and handling and use of explosives. Stock’s on 2nd
REP. BUD COOK
LOCAL GOVERNMENT Harrisburg Harrisburg
House Republican Campaign
COMMISSION 11 A.M., APRIL 19 $500 to $1,000 $250 to $500
Committee Building
Room 14, East Wing SENATE DEMOCRATIC POLICY Harrisburg
Monthly business meeting. COMMITTEE 6 P. M . , A P R I L 2 5
$250 8 A . M . , M AY 2
Penn State Worthington Scran- RECEPTION FOR BREAKFAST FOR
9 A.M., APRIL 18 ton Campus, Dunmore 8 A.M., APRIL 18 REP. ERIC ROE REP. ZACH MAKO
HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE Public hearing on student and RECEPTION FOR Galer Estate Vineyard & Old Town Deli
Harrisburg University, Harrisburg workforce issues. REP. DARYL METCALFE Winery Harrisburg
Public hearing on S.B. 234 from Cafe Fresco Kennett Square $250 to $500
Sens. John P. Blake and Guy Re- 10 A.M., APRIL 20 Harrisburg $85 to $140
schenthaler, the Property Assessed HOUSE JUDICIARY AND $300 to $1,000
Clean Energy Program, which TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEES 5 : 3 0 P. M . , M AY 3
would establish a financing mecha- 7 P. M . , A P R I L 2 8 RECEPTION FOR
Philadelphia City Hall 8 A.M., APRIL 18
nism to enable low-cost, long-term Philadelphia BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR REP. DAVE HICKERNELL
RECEPTION FOR
funding for energy efficiency, re- Joint public hearing to evaluate REP. TEDD NESBIT U.S. REP. DWIGHT EVANS Winters Heritage House
newable energy, and water conser- the effects of driving-under-the- Carley’s Hilton Hotel City Avenue Museum
vation upgrades to commercial or influence and drugged-driving laws Harrisburg Philadelphia Elizabethtown
industrial properties. and programs. $300 to $600 $250 to $2,500 $500 to $2,000

Tuesday, April 17, 2018 THE CAUCUS 9

 THE INTERVIEW

Thomas Gross, executive

director of the Pennsylvania
Chiefs of Police Association,
discusses legislation and
goals during an interview
with The Caucus..

BLAINE T. SHAHAN FOR THE CAUCUS

RADAR LOVE
Thomas Gross and municipal police chiefs across Pennsylvania want the same
tech state cops use to crack down on speeders. What’s the big deal?

T
» » BRAD BUMSTED

homas Gross is the executive director of the Harrisburg- parades and First Night York — I really police departments in Pennsylvania.
had a full range of experience.
based Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. Gross, THE CAUCUS: What does the associa-
66, has been policing since his days as a part-time secu- THE CAUCUS: What was your next law tion provide for its members?
rity officer at Penn State’s University Park campus enforcement post? GROSS: We are a membership service.
GROSS: I actually went to York Town- We provide education and training to
during periods of unrest in 1970 and for 22 years. I lived there the whole 22 ship. They had their own police depart- our members. One of the two biggest
1971. His first full-time position was as a years. My daughters went to York High. ment. I went there in 1996, and then in programs we provide is the Law En-
police officer in Wildwood, New Jersey, And then I became chief; actually, I was 2000 the York Township and Windsor forcement Accreditation Program for
which hired officers in the summertime. the acting chief. I was never officially the Township departments merged into the the state. We also oversee the online
His first murder arrest stemmed from chief. But I was acting chief before I left, York Area Regional Police Department. training resources, and both of those are
his time in the resort town. twice. through grants. We provide legislative
THE CAUCUS: When did you join the input to represent our members. We’re
THE CAUCUS: What kind of a murder THE CAUCUS: Working 22 years in the Chief of Police Association? not really a lobbying organization, but
case was it? city, what was it like overall? GROSS: I started here in February 2016, we do track bills; part of our mission is
GROSS: A guy who was the leader with GROSS: It was like most third-class so about three months after I retired. we consider ourselves to be a voice for
the Warlock Motorcycle Gang was cities. It was busy. Certain types of law enforcement in Pennsylvania.
murdered by his girlfriend, who was a violent crimes were a lot more preva- THE CAUCUS: You can’t retire can
stripper. I just happened to be the lucky lent in the ’70s and ’80s, so we saw a lot you? THE CAUCUS: Did you have to register
guy to get there first, I guess. more burglaries and robberies. Really GROSS: No, no. anyway as lobbyist?
the murder rate was pretty high then. GROSS: No, we are not registered as
THE CAUCUS: Was she convicted? I went through the crack phase. Of THE CAUCUS: How many police de- lobbyists. We do advocate somewhat,
GROSS: Got convicted, yeah. There was course heroin was even a problem early partments across the state belong to the but I would say that we see our role
a mistrial once and then I went back in the 70s, and there was still some Chief of Police Association? more as educating as to what the leads
once again for the second trial and she residual racial tension; it certainly GROSS: We don’t count it as depart- are in law enforcement and what ob-
was convicted. never went away, but it certainly died ments. We have about 1,000 members stacles might be from a law enforcement
down. … But overall I felt I had experi- that are chiefs, command staff and so point of view to legislation and what we
THE CAUCUS: Where did you go from ence where I just about got exposed to forth. If I had to put a number on it, see is good public safety policy.
Wildwood? everything you can do in law enforce- I would say about 600 or 700 police
GROSS: From there I went to York. I ment. From serious crime, to working departments are represented. It’s not THE CAUCUS: What are the priorities
was hired by York in 1973. I started as a with the community, to working with all police departments. There are about of law-enforcement right now that need
patrolman. I lived in the city. I was there special events for a while and planning 1,100 in Pennsylvania. There are a lot of to be met in the Legislature?

10 T H E C A U C U S Tuesday, April 17, 2018


GROSS: While it seems like a small
item, the one that we have continuously
provided input on is radar use for law
enforcement. It has been well over 50
years since the state police were per-
mitted to use radar, and the local police
were not. You probably saw that there
have been hearings again. We publish
a quarterly magazine, and I will look at
issues from the late ’60s and early ’70s
and it will say our top priorities are use
of radar. It is something that we do ad-
vocate for and we do feel is good public
policy. We think that highway deaths are
higher in Pennsylvania than most other
states. Speed-related deaths are higher
than most other states. I think we are in
the top three or four in a couple of those
categories and we are really, as far as we
know, pretty certain that this is the only
state that doesn’t allow local police to
use radar. It has worked out pretty well
in those other states.
THE CAUCUS: Is it the only state?
GROSS: Yes, we have done some re-
search on that and we are pretty sure
that Pennsylvania is the only state that
doesn’t allow some form of radar use for
local police.
THE CAUCUS: What do you believe the
political resistance to that is?
GROSS: The original resistance that
you would hear, and you still hear from
legislators, is that it would be used to
generate local revenue.
THE CAUCUS: Well it would, wouldn’t
it?
GROSS: It would generate local reve-
nues. But the amount of traffic citations
that would have to be written would
have to be astronomical. It just doesn’t
seem feasible that you could provide
money that would exceed the amount
that you spend on traffic enforcement.
Police officers may, depending on the
size of the department, make $40 or $50
an hour. So you have to consider that
cost. You have to consider the cost of
police officers going to court if there are
court challenges. The other thing that
the Legislature has done — some of the
proposed bills, or all of the proposed
bills — is put a cap on the amount of rev-
enue that could be attributable to speed
enforcement to prevent a municipality
or a borough from actually generating
an increase in their revenues. Depend-
ing on the size of the borough, they
would have to issue thousands of speed-
ing tickets to really generate something
that exceeds what they currently get.
THE CAUCUS: What are the chances of
the legislation getting through?
GROSS: The House Transportation
Committee chairman seems very at-
tentive and very interested in trying
to move something forward. I think
the other old argument was that local
police weren’t as qualified as state
police. In the 1960s, I believe it was,
the state police met a certain level of
training and requirements and so forth
and municipal police were not required
to be certified in any way. There was
no minimal training requirement for
municipal police. But we are looking at
2018, and municipal police are required
to meet virtually a six-month initial
training requirement, and an annual
retraining requirement. They have to
be certified by the state training com-
mission, so the level of professionalism
is indistinguishable in the area of traffic
enforcement.
THE INTERVIEW
THE CAUCUS: Does the association
have any other priorities?
GROSS: We have had input on some
gun legislation. We normally hear from
legislators. There is a series of bills that
just passed the Senate regarding domes-
tic violence, and we were supportive
of those bills and we are supportive of
those passing, especially removal of
firearms in protective orders. We believe
that is something that would increase
people’s safety.
THE CAUCUS: The legislation that
would require turning guns over to law
enforcement, not to a third party?
GROSS: Right, and it allows law en-
forcement, and I think sheriffs, and I
think it still allows an attorney to take
the firearms. I’m not sure how many
attorneys would want to do that, but …
those bills we support. We sat down at a
table with a couple of the senators. I re-
member Senators Killion and Vulakov-
ich, Senator Bartolotta. There are bills
on sheriffs’ powers that we have dis-
cussed, constable powers. We are often
asked for input on those and whether
they should be extended. Also pension
reform for police officers. We have had
input on that. The issue of fees for state
police coverage. We have put a lot of
input and that is a pretty important item
for our members.
THE CAUCUS: That hasn’t been
around as long as the radar, but it has
been around since Tom Ridge was gov-
ernor, at least.
GROSS: Absolutely. And it is another
difficult issue for the Legislature be-
cause, depending on who you listen to,
there are millions of dollars coming out
of the transportation fund that really
weren’t supposed to be for state police
service. And there are a lot of munici-
palities that are large enough, in a lot
of people’s opinion, to have their own
police department but get what they
consider to be free service from the state
police.
THE CAUCUS: Could you talk a little
bit about sheriff powers? What is the
issue there?
GROSS: The association has expressed
on several occasions the desire to have
deputy sheriffs have their authority ex-
tended to full-arrest powers and inves-
tigative powers. Right now they pretty
much serve papers and provide security
and transport prisoners. But they have
a desire, if they would see a crime, to
initiate an investigation or complete an
arrest, and there’s actually some oppo-
sition to that from some associations,
including the chiefs association and,
I think, the district attorneys, county
commissioners, troopers. On that, our
position is we would want to see the
same training requirements and certifi-
cation requirements for sheriffs.
THE CAUCUS: The one major distinc-
tion there is that sheriffs are elected, so
they are political to the extent that they
are elected officials.
GROSS: We would want to see all of
the sheriffs meet the same entry-level
training requirements and annual re-
certification requirements. Our entry-
level requirements include a polygraph,
psychological exam, background inves-
tigation. I’m not sure that, for instance,
sheriffs are required to take a psycho-
logical exam. I don’t know, but we would
want to see all of those requirements
made.
THE CAUCUS: How is the sheriff’s in-
teraction with the community different
than perhaps an elected official?
GROSS: The sheriffs interact a lot with
the community when they are serving
warrants. They get involved in serving
a lot of protection-from-abuse orders.
They are traveling to and from different
parts of the county where they might see
a crime or observe even a traffic viola-
tion, but again, it is not their primary
duty. I have seen some proposals that
would compromise and say that they
would have arrest authority and investi-
gative authority, say, on the courthouse
property or the properties that are
directly under their service.
THE CAUCUS: That seems to make
sense as opposed to a wide range of
power, if you’re going to do it.
GROSS: We have had a lot of discus-
sion on that. Another bill we have been
“
involved in some discussion on is a bill
that passed the House that prohibited
release of officers’ names in the use of
FILE PHOTO
force. Representative Martina White
in Philadelphia sponsored that bill. I
think it is in the Senate right now and
that bill has had a lot of discussion in
the last two sessions. It has some op-
We think that position because of the desire to have
transparency and have officers’ names
highway deaths released immediately when there
is use of deadly force. Of course the
are higher in police, especially the Fraternal Order
of Police, are very supportive of not
Pennsylvania than releasing the names, pending investi-
gation or arrest.
most other states. THE CAUCUS: It seems like that is an
Speed-related issue that has changed or sort of evolved
over the years.
GROSS: Yes, if a police officer in your
deaths are higher county or in Philadelphia uses deadly
force, you can probably find out on Face-
than most other book or Twitter more quickly than from
an official release of the officer’s name.
states. I think we
THE CAUCUS: So does that argue
are in the top three for more transparency in terms of the
release of the name, or not?
or four in a couple GROSS: I know that in Philadelphia the
administration, Commissioner Ramsey,
of those categories favored releasing the names as quickly
as possible. They have had incidents in
and we are really, Philadelphia where officers engaged in
force and have had demonstrators come
as far as we know, to their personal residence and dem-
onstrate. There is some concern there
pretty certain that with that. Most of the time the names
are not released immediately and a lot of
this is the only times there is an investigation to justify
the shooting. Of course, if there is an
state that doesn’t investigation that is going to result in
any kind of charges, it certainly will be
allow local police public record.
THE CAUCUS: To play devil’s advocate,
to use radar. It has if I go out and I’m involved in a shooting
and I shoot someone, my name is going
worked out pretty to be released.
GROSS: Well, not necessarily. If there
well in those other was a shooting and, say, maybe a fam-
ily member or neighbor or somebody
states. is a suspect but has not been criminally
THOMAS GROSS, charged, it is not normal that their name
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PENN- would be released either. Sometimes
SYLVANIA CHIEFS OF POLICE there might be a person’s name released
ASSOCIATION as a subject of the investigation or a
target of the investigation.
THE CAUCUS: Right, in an ongoing
homicide investigation.
GROSS: Right, but usually there is not
a public announcement of the suspect
until there is at least that first criminal
charge.
Tuesday, April 17, 2018 T H E C A U C U S 11

THE COMING
BLUE WAVE
Democrats could flip at least six congressional districts
this fall. Should Republicans heed advice to ‘get off
the beach’ or fight back?
I
f you like white-knuckle, top-of-the-tick-
et, competitive elections, Pennsylvania is
your kind of state.
For decades Pennsylvania has been a bat-
tleground in presidential
contests. A large state with
a huge prize of winner-take-
all electoral votes, the state
in modern times has bal-
anced its party allegiances
between Republican and
Democratic parties. Since
1948, the GOP has won eight
of these contests; the Demo-
crats have won 10.
Gubernatorial elections
display the same competi-
tiveness. In fact, until the
last gubernatorial election
Republicans and Democrats
had regularly traded the
governor’s office every eight
years back to the ’50s.
However, this edge-of-
the-seat style of electoral
contest has not extended
to congressional elections.
Since the 1950s, Republi-
cans have dominated U.S.
Senate races in the state,
winning 19 of 24. While
U.S. House races have been
somewhat more com-
petitive, the GOP has also
overwhelmingly dominated
them since 2010.
But Republican domina-
tion in congressional races
may be about to change. In
fact, virtually every inde-
pendent national political
analyst believes Pennsylva-
nia to now be the epicenter
of political forces about
to unleash a blue wave of
Democratic victories across
the nation.
This belief in a political
tsunami is so widespread
that one respected Penn-
sylvania Republican in-
cumbent has been quoted
recommending members of
his party on Congress “get
off the beach.”
12 T H E C A U C U S Tuesday, April 17, 2018
COMMENTARY
» » G. TERRY MADONNA + MICHAEL L. YOUNG
PANIC MODE
Understanding why so
many believe so much hav-
oc is about to be let loose on
Republicans is important —
not because it is certain to
happen, but because it cap-
tures the political zeitgeist
sweeping the nation early
in a midterm election year.
First the obligatory
disclaimer: the party in
the White House (almost)
always loses congressional
seats in a midterm election
— 32 seats, on average, since
the Civil War.
But normal midterm
anxieties don’t explain
the pervasive angst plagu-
ing Republicans. Nor is it
inspiring that a record 58
Democrats have filed for the
May primaries.
Instead, two main factors
that were almost completely
unanticipated two months
ago have converged to put
the GOP into panic mode.
The first of these was the
imposition of a new con-
gressional map by the Penn-
sylvania Supreme Court.
The second was the shock-
ing victory by a Democrat
running in a special election
in deep-red western Penn-
sylvania.
Either of these events
would have unsettled
Republicans. They can lose
only 23 House seats and still
maintain control of Con-
gress.
Both factors combined
have left the GOP stunned.
LAMB SHOCK
The new Pennsylvania
congressional map estab-
lishes districts in which
Democrats may be able
to flip six or more seats
from Republican to Demo-
cratic in the next Congress.
Already five incumbent
Republicans are retiring
at the end of this session
while additional GOP held
seats are vulnerable in
central and western Penn-
sylvania.
But the new maps are
not the sole challenge for
beleaguered Republicans.
Democrat Conor Lamb’s
unexpected special-election
victory in western Pennsyl-
vania is equally ominous.
Republican strategists ex-
pected midterm challenges
from college-educated
voters in the Philadelphia
suburbs. But Lamb’s win
pointed to larger problems
with Trump’s heretofore
loyal base.
Lamb’s strategy to vic-
tory provides a model and
a path in deep-red Trump
districts where Democratic
candidates are already
adopting Lamb’s strategy.
Aggravating both the
new maps and the Lamb
shock are the polls showing
both the Republican Party
and the president losing
support among voters.
DRAG ON THE TICKET
The most recent Frank-
lin & Marshal College Poll’s
“generic ballot” findings
show 53 percent of Pennsyl-
vania voters who are “very
interested” in the election
plan to vote for a Demo-
crat while only 30 percent
of those “very interested”
in the election will vote
Republican — a yawning
gap of 23 points favoring
Democrats.
At the same time,
President Donald Trump’s
approval rating is only 30
percent, suggesting that he
may be dragging down the
ticket.
The new congressional
map, a troubled presidency,
the loss of safe seats and
hemorrhaging voter sup-
port: these all seem to be
creating the perfect storm
for a party that just 15
months ago seemed to have
a virtual monopoly on na-
tional power.
But will all or any of
these dire forebodings actu-
ally transpire? Some very
smart people think so.
Some think it could get
worse.
But we are still some
seven months from Election
Day — and that is an age in
modern politics.
Republicans clearly
recognize the challenge
confronting them while
Democrats have shown an
impressive gift for wrest-
ing defeat from the jaws of
victory.
Meanwhile, the GOP
has some big problems,
Democrats have some great
opportunities and we have
some great races to watch.
The 2018 midterms are
going through Pennsylva-
nia, and Keystone Staters
have a ringside seat.
G. Terry Madonna is a
professor of public affairs at
Franklin & Marshall Col-
lege in Lancaster. Michael L.
Young is a former professor
of politics and public affairs
at Penn State University and
managing partner of Michael
Young Strategic Research.
Madonna and Young encour-
age responses to the column
and can be reached, respec-
tively, at terry.madonna@
fandm.edu and drmikely-
oung@comcast.net.
THINKSTOCK | STOCKBYTE

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
1
Y E A R AG O
Wolf strips Stack
of security, staff
GOV. TOM WOLF, ACTING IN MID-APRIL 2017, STRIPPED HIS
embattled lieutenant governor of his state police security
team and drastically cut his mansion staff amid allegations
of verbal abuse. “I do not delight in this decision,” Wolf
wrote in a three-sentence letter to Lt. Gov. Mike Stack, “but I
believe it is a necessary step to protect Commonwealth em-
ployees.” The surprise move followed Stack’s unusual public
apology to his state police detail and other public employ-
ees for having “said things in anger or stress or frustration”
to them. Stack apologized during a news conference earlier
in the month after The Caucus reported that he was under
investigation by the Office of Inspector General for alleged
verbal abuse of his security detail and mansion employees.
In reply to Wolf’s letter, Stack released the following state-
ment: “I recognize, as does my wife, that certain behavior
while dealing with the staff of the lieutenant governor’s
residence and the Pennsylvania State Police executive detail
who protects us, is unacceptable and were symptoms of
a larger problem. Today, in meeting with Governor Wolf, I
apologized directly to him for any embarrassment this situ-
ation has caused, discussed with him some of the reasons
for what has occurred and reiterated our commitment to
addressing the causes forcefully and fully. For all of these
reasons, during today’s meeting, I concurred with the gover-
nor’s decision to remove the executive detail that protected
us and the remaining staff member at the residence.”
4
Y E A R S AG O
Amid budget woes,
GOP eyes gas drilling tax
MARC LEVY OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED IN
April 2014 that Republicans — yes, Republicans — in the
Capitol were warming up to the idea of imposing a new
tax on Pennsylvania’s booming natural gas industry as
the state faced another grim budget year. “There’s some
support for an extraction tax in some quarters,” Senate Ap-
propriations Committee Chairman Jake Corman, a Centre
County Republican, told Levy. “I don’t think it becomes a
real discussion until the budget numbers crystallize. But
if there’s a $500 million-plus hole to fill, I don’t know that
people are going to want to go into the budget and peel
away education spending. Then an extraction tax becomes
a more serious discussion than it has in the past.” Added
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Adolph, a
Delaware County Republican: “It’s something we definitely
have to consider.” The primary obstacle, though was Gov.
Tom Corbett, who was seeking re-election and had long
opposed another tax on the industry.
POLITICAL HISTORY
2
Y E A R S AG O
Ill cheer passage
of medical marijuana
GOV. TOM WOLF SIGNED A MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL
into law in April 2016 as hundreds of cheering families,
legislators and patients observed, “many hopeful at last
for relief from pain, seizures and other medical conditions,”
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Julia Terruso reported. Amanda
Delp, the mother of a 4-year-old with Dravet Syndrome, a
severe seizure disorder, drove to the ceremony from Ford
City, in Armstrong County. “It feels like a dream, it really
does,” she told The Inquirer. “If you would have asked
me four years ago if I would be advocating for medical
marijuana, I would have told you it’s just people wanting
to get high. It took my daughter for me to open my eyes
and realize it can save people.” The governor, speaking to
a large crowd in the Capitol Rotunda that Sunday after-
noon, thanked Delp and all the other parents who made
the trip. “When you have people who represent a cause as
eloquently and in as heartfelt a way as the advocates for
this have done, it shows we can get something done that
means something,” Wolf said. “We’re not responding to
a special interest here; we’re not responding to someone
who makes campaign contributions; we’re responding to
people who are telling us there is a real human need here
in Pennsylvania.”
5
Y E A R S AG O
State aims to stabilize
municipal pensions
A REPORT FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEE
Retirement Commission was getting attention in the spring
of 2013 after finding that the roughly 3,000 retirement plans
offered to retirees by municipalities and public authori-
ties across Pennsylvania were facing a combined unfunded
liability of $7 billion. statewide, 26 plans were deemed
severely distressed, with pension fund assets less than 50
percent of liabilities. Another 125 of the roughly 1,450 pen-
sion plans listed in the commission report were deemed
moderately distressed, with 50 to 70 percent of the assets
needed to pay accrued liabilities. Plans offered by cities and
larger boroughs make up the bulk of municipalities in dis-
tressed status. A big chunk of those pensions goes to cops
and firefighters, whose riskier jobs demand higher salaries
and shorter careers. Taxpayers are ultimately on the hook for
funding those gaps. In 2011, the state spent more than $200
million to help fund the system, while local governments
kicked in close to $1 billion. The problem was put on the
back burner at the time, though, as the debate was heating
up in the Legislature over state and teacher pension reform.
3
Y E A R S AG O
Allentown mayor
enters U.S. Senate race
ED PAWLOWSKI, THE DEMOCRATIC MAYOR OF ALLEN-
town, announced in April 2015 that he was running for U.S.
Senate, seeking to oust Republican Sen. Pat Toomey. He
said he was running on his record of steering Pennsylva-
nia’s third most-populous city since 2006. “I look forward
to listening to voters and sharing with them the story of
success we’ve had in Allentown in solving real problems
for real people,” Pawlowski said in a written statement.
“We didn’t wait on others to solve the problems for us. We
rolled up our sleeves and made things happen.” Pawlowski
suspended his campaign less than three months later, how-
ever, after FBI agents swept through Allentown’s City Hall
and questioned officials in connection with a grand jury
investigation. Pawlowski’s campaign consultant had shut-
tered his firm’s offices that same day. “We will re-evaluate
the race for United States Senate once we have a more
clear picture of any potential concerns with Allentown’s
government. Until then I will solely focus on doing my job
as mayor and will not entertain political campaign ques-
tions,” Pawlowski said. He was later charged and found
guilty in a federal pay-to-play case alleging he traded
contributions to his campaigns for favorable treatment that
helped donors get work from the city. He will be sentenced
in June.
6
Y E A R S AG O
Lawmakers pledge to
live on $5 of food a day
U.S. REP. BOB BRADY JOINED STATE LAWMAKERS AND
the mayor of Philadelphia in trying to eat with only $5 a
day as part of the “food stamp challenge” in protest of
Republican Gov. Tom Corbett’s asset test for recipients
of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
“Every day in Philadelphia, and in the state of Pennsylva-
nia, and around the country, people rely on food stamps
to make ends meet,” said Carey Morgan, executive direc-
tor of the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger.
The state in April 2012 was beginning a rolling review of
food stamp recipients. Families with $5,500 in assets — or
$9,000 for households with seniors or disabled individuals
— were to be disqualified from SNAP. Brady, D-Pa., whose
district in Philadelphia had one of the highest rates of
hunger in the nation, called the means tests “outrageous.”
“I would love to see how many of my fellow colleagues can
live on $35 a week. Let them try,” said Brady.
FROM LEFT Lt. Gov. Mike Stack, Gov. Tom Wolf, Al-
lentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, G. Graybill Diehm
and U.S. Rep. Bob Brady.
Tuesday, April 17, 2018 T H E C A U C U S 13
 THE MAP

WHERE THE WEALTH IS

T
ax Day is here, so The Caucus team went diving through Internal Revenue Service data on income-tax returns
from Pennsylvania for 2015, the most recent year available. The IRS does not make available details on individual
returns, but does provide aggregate information by ZIP code. Here’s a look at the wealthiest and poorest ZIP
codes in the state based on the 2015 tax year, according to the IRS.

W H E R E T H E W E A LT H I S | These 5 ZIP codes had the largest average adjusted gross incomes and average salaries in 2015.

15142
19085
19035
19041 19066

GLADWYNE, VILLANOVA, HAVERFORD, PRESTO, MERION STATION,

MONTGOMERY COUNTY DELAWARE COUNTY DELAWARE COUNTY ALLEGHENY COUNTY MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Average AGI: $957,162 Average AGI: $512,998 Average AGI: $384,755 Average AGI: $326,997 Average AGI: $282,696
Average Income: $389,054 Average Income: $337,968 Average Income: $257,813 Average Income: $148,304 Average Income: $200,880
Tax Returns Filed: 2,020 Tax Returns Filed: 2,820 Tax Returns Filed: 2,950 Tax Returns Filed: 1,110 Tax Returns Filed: 2,460

M E D I A N I N P A | Two ZIP codes were precisely in the middle of the wealthiest and poorest in 2015.

16611
18643

ALEXANDRIA, PITTSTON,
HUNTINGDON COUNTY LUZERNE COUNTY
Average AGI: $50,888 Average AGI: $50,854
Average Income: $42,981 Average Income: $44,501
Tax Returns Filed: 1,130 Tax Returns Filed: 6,260

W H E R E T H E W E A LT H I S N ’ T | These 5 ZIP codes had the smallest average adjusted gross incomes and average salaries in 2015.

15901
19133 16503

16501 16802

JOHNSTOWN, CITY OF CITY OF CITY OF UNIVERSITY PARK,

CAMBRIA COUNTY PHILADELPHIA ERIE ERIE CENTRE COUNTY
Average AGI: $23,646 Average AGI: $22,382 Average AGI: $21,512 Average AGI: $20,712 Average AGI: $19,873
Average Income: $21,547 Average Income: $21,970 Average Income: $20,038 Average Income: $15,897 Average Income: $18,518
Tax Returns Filed: 1,350 Tax Returns Filed: 8,270 Tax Returns Filed: 5,940 Tax Returns Filed: 410 Tax Returns Filed: 220

14 T H E C A U C U S Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Politics,
corrected.
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