John Baer: Pa. pols lining up House leadership

LOOKS LIKE they're rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic today, by which I mean your lawmakers are picking leaders to steer your too-large, too-costly, under-investigation state House through its next round of scandals.

I don't see anyone likely to win who's likely to stir things up.

And this is the body of the infamous pay grab, the bonus disgrace, the ghost employees, the slush funds and the recent allegations of internal spying on itself.

Yet it seems to just plod along.

At 3 p.m., House Democrats meet behind closed doors to cast secret ballots for leadership posts for the next two-year session, starting in January.

A key question is whether 20-year leader Bill DeWeese retains a role - he's running for majority whip, the No. 3 spot in the Democratic-controlled House - after leading a caucus that's rope-tied to an ongoing corruption probe.

Last summer, state Attorney General Tom Corbett charged a dozen individuals with using government employees and millions of tax dollars for political campaigns and cash rewards for political work.

DeWeese wasn't charged, but it happened on his watch and the probe's not over. He's opposed for the whip post by Rep. Bill Keller of South Philly and a western Pennsylvania guy.

Keeping DeWeese in power and perks strikes me as not unlike allowing managers of General Motors to stay in place and get a bailout.

But, hey, it's only tax dollars.

Meanwhile, a DeWeese-backed rep, Todd Eachus, of Hazleton, is running for DeWeese's current slot as majority leader and is viewed as the inside favorite.

He just ran the House Democratic Campaign Committee, handing out (according Capitolwire.com) $429,000 to candidates and campaigns.

So it goes.

Longtime Philly Rep. Kathy Manderino also is a candidate for majority leader, a post her father, the late Rep. James Manderino, famously and expertly held in '70s and '80s.

"I want to be proud that I'm a member of the Democrat Caucus," Manderino tells me, "and proud that I serve in the Pennsylvania House, and I think having new blood in leadership is exactly what's needed to restore that pride."

It would help, no question.

Manderino was one of only a handful of Philly lawmakers who didn't keep the illicit '05 pay raise after its repeal. Also, among seekers of leadership jobs, she's the only person who least often votes with DeWeese, according to analysis by reform-advocacy group Democracy Rising PA.

So I figure she has no shot.

Maybe if she handed out lots of money.

If Eachus and DeWeese prevail, it would be in no small measure to Philly Rep. Dwight Evans, a DeWeese ally and head of the powerful Appropriations Committee, a post he's expected to keep.

With Gov. Ed's term running down, with Vince Fumo on trial and leaving the Senate, Evans is positioned to wield even more clout on monetary matters and, given his committee, stature and longevity, greatly influence the flow of legislation.

"Dwight's about the most powerful guy in the building," one Democratic lawmaker who's not an ally tells me.

Evans did not return my calls.

Carbon County's (up there in the Northeast) Rep. Keith McCall, a quietly respected quarter-century House member (he was elected in his early 20s after the death of his father, Rep. Thomas McCall), appears to be the Democrats' choice for speaker.

This means current Speaker and GOP Philly Rep. Denny O'Brien, a compromise pick last time to keep GOP Philly Rep. John Perzel from grabbing the gavel, won't be needed.

Democrats extended their House majority from one seat to five in this year's elections.

When I ask O'Brien if he expects to remain speaker, he says, "Honestly? No."

How about Deputy Speaker Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery County? You remember. Bright, young, eager reformer? Called for DeWeese to leave leadership last summer?

Not in the mix. And I doubt they'll be a deputy speaker come January.

Perzel?

Well, Republicans meet at noon today to pick their leaders.

Despite published reports that Perzel hired a political operative to get dirt on fellow Republicans (which he denies), including GOP Leader Sam Smith, and an Inky story that Perzel's under investigation as part of the House bonus scandal, there's talk he's challenging Smith for the top GOP spot.

Hard to imagine.

But then this is a body capable of anything - unless it's reforming campaign financing or its own finances, redistricting, term limits, cutting its size or calling a constitutional convention - including just pushing its furniture around. *

Send e-mail to baerj@phillynews.com.

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