Letter to the Editor, as it appeared in the Delaware County Times
September 6, 2007
Letter to the Editor:
I urge Representative Bill Adolph as chairman of the board of PHEAA to join with the Governor and two Republican State Senators to call for a hearing on the conduct of PHEAA. The awarding of bonuses to top executives at PHEAA totaling $578,000 for 5 executives comes in the wake of the 2 year battle to get PHEAA to release records showing $860,000 was spent over 5 years on retreats for PHEAA board members including spa treatments and fine cigars. PHEAA spent $400,000 in legal fees trying to prevent information about the retreats from going public. Is this how we want a state subsidized agency to behave?
I have no doubt that Mr. Adolph will do the right thing. There is a pattern. In 2005 Mr. Adolph voted against the pay raise for State legislators after he voted for it. Mr. Adolph voted for the pay raise, and then sent a letter to constituents justifying that vote, before reading the political reaction and doing the right thing by repealing the pay increase. Earlier this year when PHEAA was finally forced by the courts to release their records about the expenses on the board retreats Mr. Adolph said they would "tighten their belts" eliminated the retreats. It appears that "belt tightening" did not include the policy of awarding bonuses to executives. One such bonus was larger than what the Governor makes in a year and much more than what the average resident of the 165th makes. Mr. Adolph, though not chairman, was a member of the board during the time in question regarding the board retreats, but again when light was shone on the agency he responded to the political pressure and PHEAA changed policy. So, if Mr. Adolph is true to pattern, even though he has justified this latest episode regarding the bonuses, he will cooperate with a hearing and perhaps even eliminate the bonuses. But the question remains: why does Mr. Adolph only respond when the public learns about the abuses within the agency?
My hope is that a full and public hearing on PHEAA will lead to real reform and solutions that will benefit students. As I said back in March I do not believe Mr. Adolph is the individual to see to it that our students get the most out of what the state can do.
For this issue and the basic desire to see the 165th Legislative District in PA receive a more vigorous and active representative committed to working for the issues that matter the most to Delaware County families such as education, healthcare, the environment and jobs; I intend to make myself a candidate for State Representative in the 165th in 2008. More information about me and my campaign can be found at www.tomquinnforstaterep.com.
As a father of two young children and a teacher I believe that we can do better in Harrisburg. It is not about the bonuses or the retreats to nice resorts. It needs to be about creating a government that serves the greatest number of people and does the greatest good. We can have that. We deserve that. After 20 years in the 165th it is time for a change.
Tom Quinn
Springfield, PA