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Pa. Legislature's highest paid staffer resigns

By Mario F. Cattabiani

Inquirer Staff Writer

HARRISBURG - Brett O. Feese, a former state lawmaker from the Williamsport area, retired this week as the top attorney for House Republicans - a post that made him Harrisburg's highest-paid legislative aide.

Feese gave up his $197,000-a-year job as general counsel to the House GOP caucus on Tuesday, several weeks after receiving a letter from state prosecutors inviting him to testify before a grand jury in the Bonusgate probe.

He was among as many as a dozen people with ties to House Republicans who received such letters, typically sent by prosecutors to people they expect to charge, but not always. Also receiving a letter was State Rep. John Perzel (R., Phila.).

Feese, 55, did not return calls placed to his home and cell phone yesterday.

His wife, Gwen, said "there's no story" behind her husband's decision to retire. "He's just moved on to a different phase of law, he's just in there working," she said.

Steve Miskin, a spokesman for House Republicans, confirmed yesterday that Feese retired on Tuesday, but he could not offer a reason why.

The statewide grand jury impaneled by Attorney General Tom Corbett has been investigating political corruption at the Capitol since early 2007.

Last year, a dozen people associated with the House Democratic caucus were charged with carrying out a scheme to pay several millions of dollars in government bonuses to legislative aides as rewards for working on political campaigns.

Corbett, a Republican gubernatorial candidate next year, promised that he would investigate both parties in both legislative chambers.

It is unclear what the grand jury's interest is in Feese.

Kevin Harley, a spokesman for the attorney general, declined to comment.

For years, Feese had served as a top official on the House Republican Campaign Committee - the political arm of the caucus, whose mission is to get GOP members elected to the lower chamber.

Feese served as district attorney of Lycoming County before winning a House seat in 1994. He represented the north-central Pennsylvania county for a dozen years - the last two as the powerful head of the Appropriations Committee - before deciding not to seek reelection in 2006.

Upon leaving office Dec. 1, 2006, he was immediately hired to serve as the chief legal counsel to House GOP members.

Miskin also confirmed yesterday that Al Bowman, a longtime GOP legislative aide in Harrisburg known for his tireless work on political campaigns, has resigned, effective in two weeks. In an e-mail, Bowman said he resigned "to pursue other endeavors" after putting in long hours for the last 15 years.

He said there was no connection to Corbett's investigation.

"I needed to spend more time with my family," Bowman said. "Nothing more."

Contact staff writer Mario F. Cattabiani at 717-787-5990 or mcattabiani@phillynews.com.

This article includes information from the Associated Press.

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Comments

Posted 06:03 AM, 11/06/2009

FJG JR

He did so to get his pension. If he is still employed, when he is indicted, the pension goes too. Now he can negotiate with it, after he admits guilt. They are all sweating now. The party is over up there, and a new guy is coming next year. Lot of job openings.

Posted 06:26 AM, 11/06/2009

riogrande1

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS THE PARTY OF EXCLUSION NOT THE PARTY OF INCLUSION....THE DEMOCRATS ARE JUST THE SAME..SAME DOG WITH A DIFERENT COLLAR! ALL CROOKS..WE THE TAX PAYERS ARE THE ONE TO BLAME FOR VOTING THE SAME PEOPLE IN!

Posted 07:51 AM, 11/06/2009

Mike S.

Two words people, "TERM LIMITS", it's time for a Constitutional Convention!!!

Posted 08:21 AM, 11/06/2009

L.A.Smith

Give up a job making $197,000 a year?!?!!,,in a recession!??!...you better go spend some time with your family....and a shrink!!!

Posted 11:23 AM, 11/06/2009

hiphophooray

Next stop: The pokey.

Posted 12:55 PM, 11/06/2009

louie45

bye bye perzel maybe u and preski can be roomies in the can

Posted 01:13 PM, 11/06/2009

bottomline

Politicians play - America pays. I don't know how some of you posters can defend these people - forget that party stuff - skunks or dead cats, who cares, they both stink.