(First of a series)

The state’s major print media may keep their collective heads in the sand, but the Jerry Sandusky scandal will be Pennsylvania’s most shocking story this year and probably next.

Sandusky, a former Penn State assistant football coach, once a possible successor to the late Joe Paterno, has been charged by a state grand jury in Harrisburg on 40 counts of serial sexual abuse of minors.  Allegedly the young boys were associated with a non-profit help organization known as the Second Mile, founded by Sandusky in 1977 and also based in State College.

Some claim several high-powered people conspired to cover-up the crimes or – at the least – delay or spin public notice of the events.  These players hope that Sandusky and two other minor players will strike plea bargains, eliminating trials and a chance for any more details to be spilled.  A new Federal grand jury probe could scuttle those outcomes.

Major newspapers at both ends of PA are finding other news to cover.  Pittsburgh and Philadelphia publications have had little to report on the unfolding news.  Last week’s the US Attorney for Central PA served a subpoena on Cynthia Baldwin for certain PSU records and computer paraphernalia and her appearance before a Federal grand jury in Harrisburg.

This means the Obama Justice Department has opened its own Federal investigation which could prove more difficult for these high-powered people to smother.  Some hope the Feds are looking at information that Sandusky crossed state lines and used phones and the internet to facilitate these sessions with young boys.

However, among other requests, the Feds want Ms. Baldwin to show up with records of transfers of monies involving PSU trustees.  PSU made the subpoena public.

Ms. Baldwin was an Allegheny County judge who was appointed and became the first female Afro-American on the PA State Supreme Court.  She did not run for a full term and upon leaving the bench became PSU’s first in-house legal counsel after a term as a trustee.  Despite Ms. Baldwin being a Pittsburgh media figure, the Post-Gazette used a story by a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter about the Federal subpoena.  The entire P-G staff was likely busy with other more important news.

The only newspaper to treat this ongoing story as a major news event is the Harrisburg Patriot-News.  Lead journalist is Sara Ganim, 24, Florida native and PSU grad, who is listed as a “crime reporter” on the Patriot-News staff.

She broke the story of the state grand jury investigation March 31, 2011.  On November 7, 2011 her story of interviews with two mothers of alleged victims appeared just two days after Sandusky was arrested.

Here is another indication of print media in the state out to lunch.

Google “Sandusky Grand Jury Report,” a 23-page at times sordid document released by PA Attorney General Linda Kelly the day before Sandusky was arrested.

First on the source list is NBC News, then Detroit Free Press, then CBS Chicago, then Washington Post, then WGAL-TV Harrisburg, then Deadspin.com in New York, then ESPN, then Fox, then Wikipedia, then NPR.  You get the drift.

Although Cynthia Baldwin has resigned her position at PSU, she remains involved in this story up to her fluttering eyelashes.  In addition to Sandusky, two other PSU officials have been indicted for failing to report these crimes and perjury (because they claim they did report them?).

Both were subpoenaed to appear before the state grand jury on the same day.  Neither retained counsel and former Justice Baldwin drove them from State College to Harrisburg to testify before the grand jury, according to an account by Sara Ganim.

The two men were not allowed in the grand jury room when each other testified.  Both indicated they were represented by Baldwin who was permitted to be in the grand jury room when each testified.  She denied representing either and claimed, instead, to be representing PSU.

Legal observers are puzzled.  Whatever her purpose, Ms. Baldwin had no business in the grand jury room unless she herself was under oath testifying.  Any other purpose is against grand jury rules.  At best, the witnesses would have been permitted to leave the jury room and consult with their legal representative prior to answering a question.  Since they believed Ms. Baldwin was their counsel, these men had no one to consult.

Sadly, no account exists of when the two PSU administrators realized they were “thrown under the bus.”  Nor is there a record of what had to have been “chilly” conversation among Baldwin and the two as she chauffeured them back to State College.

Have to wait for the movie.

For at least a year, I have been predicting that PA Sen. Bob Casey will be President Obama’s choice for Vice President in this year’s re-election.

This choice only works if Obama remains a strong favorite by the time of the Democrat National Convention.  If his election to a second term is in doubt, look for the V-P nominee to be Hillary Clinton.

This forecast is logical and – if I still have any readers willing to read further – I can explain.

Few Democrats think Joe Biden doesn’t deserve a second term, too, but he turns 70 this year and would be a long shot in 2016.  Don’t get me wrong.  Both V-P Biden and his wife Jill are well-liked.  With the exception of some minor gaffes and Republicans who hate all Democrats, the long-time Delaware Senator has few enemies.

Unlike Sarah Palin, Biden did fit a purpose four years ago.  Obama had as much experience in foreign relations as I have running the 100-yard dash.   Biden happened to be the Democrats’ “go-to” guy on foreign policy, a perfect match for the top of the ticket.  Sen. John McCain spent too much of the Republican campaign answering the question “Why her?” while Obama was able to be Obama.

During the debates Biden could pronounce “Asif Ali Zardari,” ex-President of Pakistan, while Palin said she could see Russia from her front porch.

However, I do not see much material circulating that promotes the “Obama-Biden” team.  Eight years ago, as I recall, the Bush-Cheney flags were already flying in the front yards of all rednecks.

Casey, however, is a different horse.  Young, beautiful family, scandal-free, articulate and as much “Pro Life” as can be tolerated in a Democrat seeking a national office.  This balances with Obama’s emphasis on women’s choice, although, admittedly, the same could be said of his matchup with Biden on the ticket.

Obama has taken major hits for some of his legacy projects.  This is all wasted if he does not help engineer a continuation of the regime in 2016.

I have never understood the logic, if any, that is applied in the selection of a vice-presidential candidate.  The most frequently used word is “balance.”  However, logic is paper thin in the choices of Bush I and II, Clinton, Gore and, of course, McCain.  These anointments were more like picking Bridge partners.

More balance was applied in Obama’s choice of Biden and it would hold truer with the selection of either Casey or Hillary.

Reading the Republicans this year is more difficult after McCain’s selection in 2008.  McCain’s approval of Palin removed all chances of the Arizona Senator occupying the White House?  Why remains speculation.

Gov. Romney should still get his Party’s nomination, but will shed blood.  He will need a “balance” candidate.  His choice, however, will spend most of his(her) time keeping a large segment of the Republican Party in the fold.

President Obama had some problems holding in Democrats who did not like a Black at the top of the ticket.  Mormon Romney will have more difficulties with Republicans shocked he is not a Christian.

Under full disclosure, I have an abysmal track record in picking V-P candidates.  Take four years ago.

McCain was to announce his choice at the Dayton Airport on a Friday morning.  The Democrat convention had just ended the night before and he wanted to blunt the normal surge a party always gets coming out of that event.

Certain that McCain would anoint former PA Governor Tom Ridge, the night before I told wife Diana, we might support a Republican for President in 2008.   Ridge didn’t know me personally, but, through my labor ties, I had excellent relations with his office when he was Congressman and Governor.  In addition, I admired his moderate stances in a Party that was rushing pell-mell to the right.

Friday morning, newscasters were reporting a private aircraft flying from Alaska into Dayton.  In two quick phone calls, I learned Ridge was in a DC suburb getting a haircut.

Did I mention that Sen. Casey shoots a good game of hoops with President Obama?

Rick Santorum’s recent success in GOP presidential primaries has refueled the debate about handouts of public funds known as “earmarks.”

Greenville Borough, a 6,000 population town in northwestern Mercer County, PA latched on to federal funds through Santorum’s largesse in 2006 when he was running an unsuccessful re-election bid to the US Senate.

I had just been elected Mayor of this distressed community and got a telephone call from the late Peter Vessella, a close friend and longtime Democrat chairman of nearby Lawrence County.  Santorum was in the early stage of a campaign against young Bob Casey, state auditor-general and son and namesake of a very popular governor.

Mr. Vessella served two years at Allenwood Federal Penitentiary convicted of corruption with coal contracts at Penn Power Co.  Mr. Vessella carried on a vicious feud with the Casey family because the elder Casey provided evidence crucial to his conviction.  Mr. Vessella believed this evidence had been fabricated, in part to protect higher ups at the utility.

Knowing bitter feelings would prohibit Vessella from supporting fellow Democrat Casey in the 2006 Senate race, I was not surprised he called.  I had spoken to Vessella about Greenville’s financial woes but did not make the connection when he asked me to attend a private meeting with Santorum at a motel in West Middlesex.

Until the meeting, I intended to vigorously support Casey for the Senate seat.  In 2002 I had broken a long time alliance with the Casey family dating back to 1966.   I supported Ed Rendell for Governor over the son in a bitter Democrat primary.  Nevertheless Vessella was a close friend and perhaps the best street pol that I ever knew.

Vessella greeted me at the door.  Also in attendance were two Santorum aides and longtime Republican state committee member from Lawrence County, Atty. Richard E. Flannery.  Mr. Flannery was known as Santorum’s gatekeeper in West Central and Northwest PA.

Santorum and I began with typical chit-chat of two obvious political junkies.  I mentioned he was handing out some large grants across the state.  He replied “I am writing checks and President Bush is cashing them.  The White House is doing all they can to help my re-election.”

At that point I saw hope for Greenville.

Misappropriated funds by a borough manager under the noses of a sleeping council had created a number of problems for Greenville, pushing the town to the brink of bankruptcy.  Main Street’s renaissance was only half done and a modern “Streetscape” design over the entire thoroughfare was unlikely.

The piecemeal approach could take two decades.  More storefronts were vacant than occupied, particularly in the unfinished part.  Shortly after my election in November of 2005, Gov. Rendell placed a congratulatory call and said I “had one or two bites at the apple coming.”

I made conclusions:

1. Rendell could not be relied on.
2. Casey would be an easy winner.
3. There would be no second opportunity for Greenville.
4. Casey would understand putting community before politics.
5. The Democrat Party would not give a hoot what I did.

We had a grant application for $175,000 in front of the feds, but that was only ten percent of what we needed to complete Streetscape, I told Santorum.  He offered to help and the next part of the meeting is less clear in my mind.

Santorum at least implied that he expected my help in his campaign and I did nothing to lead him to believe otherwise.  I even posed for an endorsement type picture with Santorum.   The photo was sent around the Internet, I am told.  Reportedly, Rendell saw it and declared “Miller had turned Republican.”  I spent the last three years “persona non grata” at the Governor’s office.

Later, people involved in our grant application were called by Washington and told to reapply, moving the decimal point one slot to the right.  Shortly after, Greenville was awarded $1,750,000 and we completed our Streetscape.

Eight days before the November, 2006 election, Borough officials (mostly Democrat and at the request of the Mayor) participated in a media check presentation with Santorum.  The Mayor was out of town on business.

We might modestly improve the housing market – at least in college towns – but our higher education mills would have to take a step back.

Frazzled parents fail to keep their kids focused on education, but public schools don’t deliver anyway.  College administrators believe students learn better when they stay on campus, so more dorms are built.  Abandoned homes, some within eyesight of campuses, remain empty rather than filled with student roomers.

According to the Associated Press, two colleges in northwestern Pennsylvania now require more students to live on campus.  They claim this is necessary to improve student performance.

Last year Allegheny College, in Meadville, opened new apartments on its private campus to house 340 additional students.  Edinboro University, owned by PA taxpayers, is building a dorm complex to house more than 1,600 freshmen and sophomore students.  Taxpayers will front a $115 million cost until enough students pay room charges to retire the debt, or at a minimum, guarantee a bond issue in case of a default.

In the meantime, the real estate market in the Borough of Edinboro and the City of Meadville is not much better than anywhere else in the region.  The excuse that dorm debt is self-liquidating ignores the opportunity to help soften a local housing collapse.

About five years ago the then-president of Thiel College in Greenville asked the then-mayor of that Mercer County borough why the “town-gown” relationship was not as good as it could be.  The Mayor replied that in the 1960s and early 70s, every spare room or empty second or third floors in Greenville homes were rented to Thiel students.  (In addition, students were a source of business to downtown Greenville merchants now rendered extinct by Wal-Mart in Hempfield Township.)

The Thiel President said the best way to control drugs and alcohol was to keep all but legitimate commuters on campus.  The Mayor responded the college was in the pockets of borough taxpayers, but the opposite was not true.  He noted that total assessment of land and buildings in Greenville was $55 million and Thiel owned twenty percent of this, paying zero real estate taxes.  Also, the College made no in lieu of tax payments to the Borough which Allegheny does to Meadville.

Too many college and university administrators and trustees obviously could give a hoot about the housing crisis.  Their goal is to fill every classroom seat with paying youngsters who may or may not find a job after graduation.  Higher education in America is an industry having difficulty controlling costs.

Tax supported colleges are taking big haircuts as more and more state governments fall into Republican hands.  President Obama promised in his recent “State of the Union” address that he would give more Federal aid to colleges that show they can reduce costs.  As often the case, this showed that neither side has a clue.

Don’t expect our government leaders to implement a solution that enjoins two separate and distinct segments of our society, even though one would spend less money and market value would improve for the second.  Lobbyists would not write campaign checks for that feat.

Do expect no change or relief in PA.  Gov. Corbett and lawmakers cut appropriations to state higher education.  These were promptly passed on to students in the form of higher tuition and increases in room, board and a host of other fees.  How else can Penn State and Pitt remain highest in tuition costs among state supported schools across the nation?