The treasurer's admission: Resign Mr. Casey (Rick Santorum is smiling!)

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | 3-9-06 | Editorial

[smoothsailing]

The treasurer's admission: Resign, Mr. Casey

Thursday, March 9, 2006

Bobby Casey just cooked his own political goose.

The state treasurer and presumptive Democrat nominee for the U.S. Senate "broke ranks with the political establishment" (as The Associated Press tells it) and offered in a legal filing that the Pennsylvania Legislature violated the state Constitution with its summer 2005 pay-jacking.

The filing came in response to a lawsuit now before the state Supreme Court that challenges the pay raises, repealed last fall after a public outcry...Snip... Mr. Casey, a defendant in the lawsuit, denied that the filing was politically motivated. "When you're brought into a lawsuit, you've got to respond," he said.

But in the process, Casey is admitting that he aided and abetted the evisceration of the state charter. For, you see, Casey is the gent responsible for cutting the checks that rewarded legislators for their unconstitutional act. He could have refused to authorize payment but did not.

So, the commonwealth's highest-ranking fiscal officer, Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr., has admitted to participating in a scheme that even he considers to have been illegal, in clear violation of the Pennsylvania Constitution and his oath of office.

The only honorable thing to do is for Casey to resign and end his quest for higher office.

2004 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.

[Coop]

I'm certain Rick's going to cut into Casey's polling leads, whether or not this story has legs. What's interesting is that a great turnout for Diana Irey might propel Rick back into office. He has to know this. I expect we'll be seeing them together as the summer progresses. :-)

[smoothsailing]

You can take it to the bank, brother!

I'm off. Keep 'er going.