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AP: House GOP subpoenaed in probe of legislative staff bonuses.

By MARK SCOLFORO
Associated Press Writer
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP, Oct. 23) - House Republicans received a subpoena for documents in the long
running investigation into bonuses for legislative employees, and a spokesman said Tuesday the caucus
is working to comply with it.
The documents are "protected information" related to personnel that could only be released pursuant to
a subpoena, said Steve Miskin, a spokesman for House Minority Leader Sam Smith, R-Jefferson.
"We were asked for the information before, but some of the information was not in our possession, and
the only way to obtain it was through a subpoena," he said.
Miskin said he did not know the precise nature of the records and would not be permitted to describe
them if he did. The information will be produced "as soon as we have it," he said.
"We are fully cooperating," he said. "Whatever we can provide, we are."
Attorney General Tom Corbett's office and a statewide investigative grand jury are looking into
whether any of the nearly $4 million in bonuses paid to workers in the four legislative caucuses during
2005-06 were illegal rewards for campaign work.
Investigators seized 20 boxes in a search of a House Democratic research office in August, and the
grand jury has subpoenaed more than a dozen employees of the House Democratic caucus.
The subpoenas issued Monday night are the first tangible evidence that the probe has extended to any
of the other three caucuses. The House Democrats gave out the most bonuses by far, followed by the
House Republicans, Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats.
Spokesmen for the Senate Democrats and Republicans said they were not aware of any subpoenas
being issued for their employees or records.
"I do expect that at some stage, there will be follow-up on the information that we provided them
earlier in the year," said Senate GOP general counsel Steve MacNett. "And frankly it seems to me that
this is just an indication that their investigation is moving forward on an organized and nonpartisan
basis."
House Democrats have complained that the focus in recent weeks has appeared to be on them. Corbett
is a Republican often mentioned as a possible 2010 gubernatorial candidate.
It is illegal for state workers to campaign while on the clock, or to use state government resources for
electioneering. No one has been charged in the investigation.
The grand jury operates under strict secrecy rules, and Corbett spokesman Kevin Harley declined
comment Tuesday.

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