Turnpike Commission Reform Ignored Under Prior Leadership

Over the last few years, we have consistently heard of the scathing rumors and innuendos regarding the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission and its publicly reported criminal investigation.

In 2009, I introduced a bill to eliminate the turnpike commission based on what I was told by current and former employees of the turnpike. At the time, the leadership of the turnpike appeared to have little interest in even saying the word “reform,” let alone enacting any reforms. My former legislation, House Bill 2134, would have shifted the turnpike management to a deputy secretary of Toll Administration under the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). At that time, there was an equal lack of interest to run my bill in the Democrat-controlled House, similar to the lack of interest by the turnpike to talk reform.

When I realized that my legislation was a bit hard to swallow for those controlling the House, as well as former Gov. Ed Rendell, I met with Turnpike Commissioner Pat Deon and spoke over the phone with Chairman Bill Lieberman regarding what they, as individual commissioners, planned on doing moving forward with the commission.

During that time, there were no internal investigations going on with any substance because there needed to be an inspector general at the turnpike who would look at all levels of the system. They both assured me this would happen.

And in fact, it did.

Deon and Lieberman helped to enact these reforms in mid-2011 long before any findings or arrests related to the grand jury report were announced.

In 2010, I met with the new inspector general regarding his scope, abilities and the freedom he was given by the commission to investigate wrongdoings at all levels of the turnpike. What we knew, based on public reports at that time, is that at least a state grand jury – under then-Attorney General Tom Corbett – was investigating the turnpike commission.

The building had been raided, computer data seized and several people had been called in for questioning related to the alleged scheme. This corruption was unfolding on the heels of the public becoming more irate by the day at the turnpike for its toll increases and mismanagement of roads.

That brings us to 2013.

44-month statewide grand jury investigation, which was unveiled on March 13 by Attorney General Kathleen Kane and State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan, uncovered extensive evidence that proved the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission was allegedly corrupted by improper political influence from its own officials and the individuals who do business with the turnpike.

Charges were filed against former state Sen. Robert Mellow (D-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Monroe); former turnpike Commissioner Mitchell Rubin; former turnpike Chief Executive Officer Joseph Brimmeier; former turnpike Chief Operating Officer George Hatalowich; former turnpike employees Melvin Shelton and Raymond Zajicek, and turnpike vendors Dennis Miller and Jeffrey Suzenski. 

They are charged with a variety of offenses, including conspiracy, commercial bribery, bid-rigging, theft, conflict of interest and corrupt organization violations.

In the last two years, Gov. Tom Corbett has pushed the management of the turnpike commission to rid its organization of the bad apples, which it did prior to the announcement of the grand jury report. This state-run organization has an inspector general with a credible background and is now run by new senior management.

I pose these questions, “What happens when these folks retire?” and “What happens when there are new commissioners under new administrations?”

The changes that have been made were done in-house under Deon and Lieberman’s watch, and could be undone overnight by new leadership down the line.

I am pleased that state Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong) has recently introduced legislation very similar to my legislation from 2009. I, along with several other state lawmakers, recently stood with her in support the bill at press conference at the Capitol. I faced an uphill battle in the General Assembly when I introduced my legislation more than three years ago, and this grand jury report is a new tank of fuel in our reform effort. These individuals, if convicted, are an embarrassment to the Commonwealth and all for which it stands.

I support House Bill 1197 because I cannot be sure that down the line, a new turnpike commission will not go back to the same nonsense as usual. My decision bares no reflection on the current turnpike commissioners and its management employees; and it’s well understood that the recent grand jury’s results are from years ago before any reform measures were implemented.

However, here is the ultimate question: “Is reform under the current structure a long-term solution, and will the toll and taxpayers’ dollars be protected down the road?”

Because that answer is not certain in my mind, I look at Oberlander’s bill as a ray of hope for administrations down the road.