Posted on Fri, May. 06, 2005
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State politicians disclose income, gifts

MARK SCOLFORO

Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. - State legislative leaders supplemented their salaries last year with thousands of dollars in travel, free golf outings and a lavish $55,000 reception at a New York hotel to honor Pennsylvania's House speaker.

Details about the income and gifts received by lawmakers, the governor and other state officials in 2004 were disclosed this week in statements of financial interest filed with the State Ethics Commission.

Gov. Ed Rendell's income included a pension as Philadelphia's former district attorney and mayor, adjunct professor's pay from teaching part time at the University of Pennsylvania, salary for co-hosting a Philadelphia Eagles TV show and proceeds from stocks and mutual funds.

The highest-ranking state senator, Republican President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer, accepted a total of $9,100 in travel last year. The Pennsylvania Bar Association paid his way to attend its midyear meeting at The Breakers resort in Palm Beach, Fla.; the Jewish Coalition of Pennsylvania underwrote his trip to Israel; and the New Jersey-based Senate Presidents' Forum picked up the cost of two meetings.

Jubelirer also maintains a stake of less than 25 percent in an Altoona law firm and a related real-estate company.

Senate Majority Leader David J. Brightbill, R-Lebanon, earned money from a self-storage business he owns in Lebanon. He also got a free trip to the Palm Beach meeting, courtesy of the bar association, valued at $2,500.

The Democratic leader in the Senate, Robert J. Mellow of Lackawanna County, is a partner in two accounting firms - James J. Mellow & Co., and Mellow and Merkel. He also is a shareholder in real-estate and insurance concern Giordano Associates Inc. and in Old Forge Bank.

House Speaker John M. Perzel, R-Philadelphia, was the beneficiary of a Pennsylvania Society reception in his honor at New York's luxury Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. His report identified 10 groups or individuals that paid $5,000 each and two that contributed $2,500 each to sponsor the December event.

Perzel accepted a $500 ticket to an unidentified sporting event from a Pittsburgh law firm. The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau paid the $4,020 cost for him to attend a tourism and trade event in Germany.

House Majority Leader Sam Smith, R-Jefferson, collected income from rental properties in Punxsutawney and sold stock in NAC Carbon Products Inc., a manufacturing company last year. He accepted a free invitation to hockey great Mario Lemieux's benefit golf tournament and brought home a $1,000 golf bag.

The Harrisburg lobbying firm Greenlee Partners picked up $1,200 in airfare for Smith, whose spokesman said Thursday he could not immediately provide details about that trip.

House Minority Leader H. William DeWeese's free travel and accommodations were $3,600 to attend the bar association meeting in Palm Beach and $10,500 for events of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation in Michigan, Virginia, Florida and Kiev, Ukraine.

The Greene County Democrat also reported 84 Lumber Co. chief executive Joseph A. Hardy III gave him a $640 gift bag from a PGA Tour event that 84 Lumber sponsored and the $2,200 cost of a two-day reception in June.

Public officials, public employees, candidates and nominees for most public positions must file a statement of financial interests. Failure to file can result in a year in jail and $1,000 fine.

ON THE NET

Filings: http://www.ethicsrulings.state.pa.us