The State Has Spent More Than $800 Million of Taxpayers' Money on A
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A WATCHDOG PUBLICATION OF LNP MEDIA GROUP, INC. | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2017 | $4.25 A STORY IN 2 PARTS » PA R T 1 : The state has spent more than $800 million of taxpayers’ money on a communications system for police that still doesn’t work. Who’s to blame? DigiCode Data File Created on 12-6-16 at 15:04:23 by NOTICE: ACCOUNT : 8275701 LANCASTER NEWSPAPERS, INC. SYMBOLOGY, INC. This DigiCode file is considered original artwork. ORDERED BY : RORY MACKISON Maple Grove, Minnesota, 55369 It must be inspected and approved by the purchaser. REPORT BY BRAD BUMSTED + PAULA KNUDSEN » COVER STORY, PA G E 6 P.O. NUMBER : LNP160931 763-315-8080 Use of this file confirms acceptance. INVOICE NO. : 1540728 0% 5% 25% 50% 75% 95% 100% See the back of the Symbology invoice for Limitation of Warranty OVERHEARD ON 3RD PERSONNEL (PCTHE EPS INTERVIEW via EMAIL) LANCASTER NEWSPAPERS, 1540728/1-217-1 Encode: 677490101007 PU 12/6/2016 3:04:23 PM MAG 140 NBAR .0182 BWA -0.0025 “Mild-mannered” U.S. Sen. Bob Casey The incoming chairman of Pennsyl- Attorney General Josh Shapiro talks is riled and has been tweeting at Pres- vania’s Republican party has brought about his mission of being ‘the peo- ident Donald Trump nonstop. What’s several new staffers along with him. ple’s attorney general’ and restoring gotten into him? PAGE 4 Find out who. PAGE 5 integrity to the office. PAGE 10 GROUP INC GROUP LNP MEDIA MEDIA LNP PAID US POSTAGE US PRSRT STD PRSRT COURTESY COPIES OF THE CAUCUS ARE SENT WEEKLY TO STATE LEGISLATORS FEBRUARY 21, 2017 21, FEBRUARY deliver Please Postmaster: SUBSCRIBE AT CAUCUSPA.COM 6 77490 10100 7 “The problem with quotes on the internet is that it is hard to verify their authenticity.” –Abraham Lincoln Consider the Source All news is not created equal. So much of the information we get today comes from anonymous authors without sources, research or references. Misinformation from unreliable sources is more than annoying. It’s dangerous to you, your work, your family and your way of life. That’s why Pennsylvania’s newspapers work to ensure that their sources are credible, reliable and factual. With more family-owned newspapers than any other state in the country, Pennsylvania’s publishers and journalists are business leaders and members of their communities. Their names are on their products, and they stand behind their content. Pennsylvania Newspapers: Your Source for What’s (really) Happening in the World Around You. PPENNSYLVANIAENNSYLVANI A ASSOCIATION ImageImage courtesy couresy ofof MetrMetroo CrCreativeativee GraphicsGraphics TThishis ad wwasas paid fforor by the PPennsylvaniaennsylvania NeNewsMediawsMedia AssociationAssociation CONTENTS FEB. 21, 2017 4 U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, known for his mild-mannered nature, unleashed a tweet- storm on President Trump. INSIDE THIS ISSUE EVENTS + FUNDRAISERS THE CAPITOL ‘IT IS A 10 A.M., FEB. 22 9 A.M., FEB. 28 5:30 P.M., FEB. 21 4 BEAT 10 NEW DAY’ SAVE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT RARE DISEASE DAY RECEPTION FOR Casey tweets at Trump, Josh Shapiro sets a course of SEN. BOB MENSCH Gergely going to court, being “the people’s attorney CAPITOL ROTUNDA CAPITOL ROTUNDA Bricco Saccone launching Senate general” Insurance Commissioner Teresa D. Miller The National Organization for 31 S. 3rd St., Harrisburg campaign and more and representatives from the depart- Rare Disorders holds a news CAPITOL ment, consumer groups and citizens conference to raise awareness $500 a person WHO’S 12 DISPATCHES hold a news conference to talk about the among legislators, legisla- 5 NEWS These House and Senate commit- benefits of the Patient Protection and tive staff, the public and the Appointments, nominations tees are scheduled to meet in the Affordable Care Act, which is the target media. The group says one in 5:30 P.M., FEB. 23 and staff announcements week ahead of repeal efforts by President Donald 10 Pennsylvanians live with a Trump and the Republican-led Congress. rare disease. COCKTAIL OUR OWN THIS WEEK IN RECEPTION FOR BIG DIG? PA HISTORY REP. JIM ROEBUCK 6 14 Warmdaddy’s How the development of a Excerpts of noteworthy, news- 11 A.M., FEB. 27 3:15 P.M., FEB. 28 statewide police radio net- worthy and just plain odd politi- 1400 S. Columbus Blvd., work spiraled out of control cal news SACCONE FOR U.S. SENATE HOUSING Philadelphia CAPITOL ROTUNDA AWARENESS DAY $150 a person Republican state Rep. Rick Saccone, CAPITOL ROTUNDA who told The Caucus earlier this News conference to raise SEND US A NEWS TIP year he was preparing to run for U.S. awareness of the need for 5 P.M., FEB. 27 If you know of a good story or want to share information, Senate, holds a rally to launch his safe, secure, accessible and RECEPTION FOR please send an email to [email protected] or mail to campaign against Democratic U.S. affordable housing and to REP. MIKE O’BRIEN PO Box 1328, Lancaster, PA 17608-1328 Sen. Bob Casey in 2018. Saccone, call for an end to homeless- 59, is in his fourth term representing ness among veterans and McGrath’s Pub COVER PHOTO: State police confer in northeast Pennslvania during 202 Locust St., Harrisburg a manhunt in September 2014 for accused cop killer Eric Frein. suburban Pittsburgh’s 39th education for children living Photo courtesy of Michael J. Mullen/Scranton Times-Tribune. 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Brad Bumsted HARRISBURG BUREAU CHIEF [email protected] The Caucus (USPS #024-886) is published weekly. 52 week home or office delivery price: $229, with additional Paula Knudsen INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER or call 717-291-8604 $199 for shipping and handling outside 17120 zip code when delivered by USPS. Periodicals Postage Paid at Mike Wereschagin INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER SUBSCRIPTIONS visit caucuspa.com Lancaster PA and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to LNP MEDIA GROUP INC, PO Box 1328, Lancaster PA 17608-1328. Patrick Kirchner ART DIRECTION + DESIGN or call 717-291-8888 Tuesday, February 21, 2017 T H E C A U C U S 3 OVERHEARD ON 3RD The typically soft-spoken U.S. Sen. Bob Casey is taking Trump on via Twitter. BILL BURKE | PAGE ONE THE CAPITOL BEAT Casey tweets at Trump, Gergely going to court, Saccone launching Senate campaign with prayer A WAR OF TWEETS bars, restaurants and other businesses is also president of the Pennsylvania in the McKeesport area, according to the Pastors Network. .s. Sen. Bob Casey has started tweeting at Trump attorney general. Saccone will be introduced by David around the clock. Authorities seized more than 330 Barton, founder and president of the video gambling machines and found national pro-family organization Wall- Casey has been described as “soft-spoken,” “re- evidence of illegal lotteries and sports builders. served” and “mild-mannered” over the years. “It takes betting, the office said. The U.S. Senate seat is held by Ua lot to rile Bob Casey,” the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Tracie Mau- A statewide grand jury recommend- Pennsylvania’s senior senator, Robert P. riello wrote in January. ed charges against Gergely. Casey, a Democrat and son of a former “This is an unfortunate case in which governor by the same name. Consider Casey officially riled. Korean missiles — the players traded political capital and He’s certainly found his outside — Feb. 15 at 4:28 p.m.: “I am at a loss favors to advance their own agendas and SABATO’S CRYSTAL BALL HAS voice, at least, since Donald Trump as to how to categorize what is happen- illicit business,” Kane said in 2016. “The GOOD NEWS FOR CASEY became president, and it’s been on ing over there.” evidence clearly shows that Mr. Meloc- Trump’s turf — Twitter. The Democratic — Feb. 15 at 4:31 p.m.: .@realDon- chi relied heavily on his relationships — The University of Virginia’s Larry senator is challenging Trump directly aldTrump keeps rebutting each action including with Mr. Gergely — to conduct Sabato says Casey is a “clear favorite” and on an almost hourly basis on social he takes with saying he’s keeping Ameri- his illegal business.” for re-election to U.S. Senate in 2018. media. cans safer but this behavior is just plain Gergely has been in office since 2003. “Trump won Michigan and Pennsyl- Consider this mini-tweetstorm from dangerous. The case is being prosecuted by a senior vania last year and came close in Min- Casey last week, following the resigna- deputy attorney general in the office’s nesota, but the Senate incumbents in tion of national security adviser Michael DAY IN COURT Organized Crime Section, according to a all three states each have won multiple T.