Rock the Capital Milestones 2005-2025
PA Pay Raise Scandal
2005-2025
Rock the Capital helps bring to light the unlawful way PA legislators significantly increased their pay and pensions in secret at 2am. RTC was instrumental in 50 lawmakers being defeated or retiring that November. The repercussions have lasted decades.
PA Bonusgate Scandal
2007
The focus of the Bonusgate scandal was on the illegal use of public resources and legislative employees to do campaign work. Rock the Capital plays a part in exposing it.
PA Liquor Control Board Out of Control 2009-2011
Rock the Capital speaks out on the Liquor Control Board's lavish gift giving, failure to disclose gifts, vending machine alcohol, and getting mom drunk on Mother's Day...the LCB is out of control!
Rock Publishes "The Road Not Taken: Attempts to Ban Gifts" 2006-2014
Rock exposes how PA politicians across all three branches of government have routinely accepted expensive gifts, trips and perks from special interests despite repeated scandals and failed reform efforts spanning nearly a decade. While most states have strict gift limits or outright bans, PA remains one of only 13 states with no restrictions, allowing a culture of corruption to flourish unchecked from the Governor's mansion to the Supreme Court.
Rock the Capital Publishes Class of 2018: Pension Bandits 2018
Rock the Capital exposes retired PA legislators who exploited the state's pension and per diem systems to secure lucrative retirement benefits, often exceeding their original legislative salaries. Politicians from both parties manipulated the rules and used taxpayer funds to purchase second homes, and received "golden parachutes" despite some facing sexual abuse allegations. PA's entrenched political system continues to reward corrupt behavior while taxpayers foot the bill for excessive pensions, per diems, and other perks.
Rock the Capital Speaks out on Big Campaign Cash in Pennsylvania Politics
2023
Allegheny County Treasurer John Weinstein burned through $1.2 million in campaign cash over eight years despite running completely unopposed—splurging on fine dining, luxury club memberships, and car rentals that would make a Hollywood star blush. Rock the Capital calls out this "outrageous" spending spree, exposing how PA's toothless campaign finance laws let politicians live large on donor dimes.
Free Drinks in PA Casinos
2006
Reformers, including Clean Sweep, Democracy Rising, Rock the Capital, and the Pink Pig ask Ed Rendell to veto a measure permitting unlimited free drinks to be served at slot machine casinos.
PHEAA Outrage & Open Records Bill 2007-2011
Rock the Capital, good-government groups, and newspapers throughout Pennsylvania called on more accountability and an audit of the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance (PHEAA) program.
Rock the Capital Publishes "The Road Less Traveled" 2010
The PA Turnpike Commission is an inefficient, corrupt system that wastes taxpayer money on excessive staffing, lobbyists, and politically-connected hiring practices. Taxpayers are fed up with the pattern of broken promises, toll increases, questionable & expensive construction projects, and its lack of financial transparency.
Former PA Secretary of Education Ron Tomalis, a "Ghost Employee" 2014
After being hired as Governor Corbett's special adviser on education for $140,000, investigations reveal Tomalis did little actual work while manipulating state pension rules to increase his retirement benefits. A state audit concludes that Tomalis's actions could "easily" be considered "theft of public services," highlighting another example of PA's systemic abuse of taxpayer dollars.
Rock the Capital Files Open Records Suit on Legislative Audit Advisory Commission 2019
Rock the Capital filed a lawsuit in Commonwealth Court against the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission for violating the state’s open meetings law. The LAAC annually issues an audit on the legislative branch’s finances. In addition to fining the commission for violating the Sunshine Law and asking for the court to order the commission to hold a public comment period at its meetings, the suit asks the court to require the commission to advertise for bids for its auditing services.
Rock the Capital Provides Testimony to the Legislative Audit Advisory Commission 2024
Pennsylvania Republican leaders are finally calling for an independent audit of what one lawmaker admits is "a little excessive." Rock the Capital's bombshell testimony reveals how lawmakers have ignored auditor recommendations for over a decade, use sketchy cash-basis accounting that hides true balances. This explosive report exposes exactly why PA needs forensic audits of leadership slush funds and real transparency in how politicians spend your tax dollars.
Piccola Asked To Leave Boards 2006-2007
Rock the Capital sheds light on a potential conflict of interest with State Sen. Jeff Piccola serving on two insurance boards while voting on issues benefiting the companies. RTC requested that Mr. Piccola to leave the boards.
Call for PA Government Reform 2008
Rock the Capital and other reform groups urge Gov. Rendell to call a special session to act on "integrity issues," on a list of topics: campaign finance limits, and reducing the size of the legislature.
Rock the Capital Exposes a PA Supreme Court Chief 2013
Rock exposes PA Supreme Court Chief Justice Castille's pattern of accepting thousands of dollars in gifts, luxury travel, and perks from lawyers who appear before his court, while simultaneously making controversial rulings that benefited judges financially.
Calling on A.G. Shapiro to Investigate Parks Miller, Castor & Kane 2017
Calling on PA Attorney General Shapiro to Investigate Parks Miller, Castor & Kane 2017, Rock the Capital and Taxpayers & Rate Payers United submitted a letter to Attorney General Shapiro calling for an investigation of Stacy Parks Miller, her attorney and former Solicitor General Bruce Castor, and Kane, who resigned after being convicted of perjury and criminal conspiracy related to leaking grand jury documents.
Covid-19 Hits the U.S. and Rock the Capital is on the Forefront 2020-2022
Rock the Capital created a dedicated COVID-19 information hub to keep citizens informed about the pandemic's impact at national, state, and local levels. We provided regular updates on topics ranging from Pennsylvania's government responses and school closures to local municipal actions, while also offering resources to help residents access assistance and relief programs. Our efforts focused on maintaining government transparency and accountability during the pandemic while serving as an information clearinghouse for PA residents.
Rock Submits Series of RTK requests for Commonwealth Charter Academy
2024
PA's largest cyber charter school is desperately fighting in court to hide financial records after Rock the Capital's Right-to-Know requests threatens to expose how CCA burns through taxpayer millions on advertising and real estate. They have repeatedly appealed transparency orders and refused to reveal basic details about their spending spree. This explosive transparency battle could finally crack the charter school's financial black box and reveal why this publicly–funded empire provides no accountability for the mounting costs. Stay tuned…