Posted on 01/25/2010 6:55:34 AM PST by AtlasStalled
Twenty-three people in Luzerne County — including a school superintendent, three county judges, four courthouse officials, and five school board members — have been charged so far in a variety of unrelated schemes. In the most egregious abuse of the public's trust, two judges are charged with taking $2.8 million in kickbacks to place youth offenders in for-profit detention facilities — a scandal known as "kids for cash." * * * Few in the coal region are surprised. Machine-style politics has flourished here for decades; government jobs and other taxpayer-funded goodies are often doled out to the politically connected, not just in Luzerne County but throughout the area. Federal prosecutors, in fact, have set their sights on the courthouse in neighboring Lackawanna County, and indictments are widely expected. * * * The Mob, under the Bufalino crime family, once had a corruption foothold here.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
I did not become a Lackawanna County volunteer sheriffs deputy to make friends.
Let me guess the party.....
That’s made it eerie in Lackawanna ...............
ping
Oh, and what party was involved??? I didn’t see it the story??? Just an oversight, I’m sure.
>>. Machine-style politics has flourished here for decades; government jobs and other taxpayer-funded goodies are often doled out to the politically connected, not just in Luzerne County but throughout the area.
Exactly what Obama has in mind with the FedGov controlling major chunks of the auto industry and the financial industry. And they had their sights set on the energy industry, but hopefully Cap and Tax is dead with the election of Scott Brown.
Judge Mark Ciavarella Jr. (D)
Judge Michael Conahan (D)
"This is not just a failure caused by two or three corrupt judges. This is a whole collapse of government," said John Cleland, a state appeals judge who chairs a panel investigating the scandal. "It's a cultural phenomenon that's inexplicable."
I believe I have explained it.
This article appears in the LA Times?
Can’t seem to find mention of this in SW PA papers.
Small time politicians packing payrolls, manipulating the system, cutting deals, etc.?
Small potatoes compared to what goes on around here.
Probably not worth mentioning. /s
>a scandal known as “kids for cash.”
Um, isn’t that just human trafficking by any other name?
See there? Skrepenak played for MICHIGAN! Go BUCKS!
Judge Mark Ciavarella Jr. (D)
Judge Michael Conahan (D)
"This is not just a failure caused by two or three corrupt judges. This is a whole collapse of government," said John Cleland, a state appeals judge who chairs a panel investigating the scandal. "It's a cultural phenomenon that's inexplicable."
I believe I have explained it.
Martin, you must be a very good detective, else, how could you find out that all of those politicians were demonRATs when the LA Times couldn't.
Get a clue!
Northeastern, Pennsylvania. Wilkes-Barre is county seat of Luzerne county. Lackawanna county includes Scranton area.
I agree it’s maddening when the state or area are not mentioned.
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