Cheer

A cheer to state Sen. Randy Vulakovich who, along with Sen. Pat Stefano are reintroducing legislation requiring elected officials in Pennsylvania to submit receipts in order to receive reimbursement.

It’s been a long held tradition in Harrisburg for House and Senate members to submit for an “unvouchered per diem,” meaning legislators can claim up to $159 daily for performing legislative duties outside of their legislative districts and while in Harrisburg, without submitting receipts.

Vulakovich, R-Allegheny, whose district includes part of Butler County, says the legislation would simply require legislators to submit receipts to obtain reimbursement.

“There have been too many media reports questioning the integrity of the state’s unvouchered per diem system of reimbursement and thereby questioning the integrity of the user of the system,” he said. “It’s time we end this practice and make the system more accountable.”

Senate Bill 335 has been referred to the Senate State Government Committee. It should become law.

Jeer

It seemed unbelievable from the start.

The deal was for defendant Roger L. Young to take a polygraph test with the results to determine if the case against him should proceed or be dropped.

Young, 65, of Oakland Township, is accused of child molestation at the day care center that his wife operates. State police accuse Young of inappropriately touching two girls, ages 3 and 4, at the Patti Cake Child Care Center in 2010. He is charged with two felony counts of corruption of minors and two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault.

Russ Karl, the county assistant district attorney who proposed the deal to Young’s attorney, Michael Zunder, at a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, explained it simply: “If he passes the polygraph, the charges will be withdrawn. If he fails, he waives the charges to court.”

District Attorney Richard Goldinger had the presence of mind to reject the offer, and for good reason.

“The agreement is not appropriate and doesn’t achieve justice for the victims in the alleged crime,” Goldinger said.

There’s the added hitch that polygraph results cannot be used as evidence in court. A savvy defense lawyer might seek dismissal on the grounds that the lie detector test tainted his client’s right to a fair trial.

It also might be interpreted as the act of a prosecutor with a weak case. Goldinger says the case is solid — he’s proceeding to trial with the evidence at hand.

But assistant prosecutors need to be more careful with every case, he said, adding, “My name is attached to it.”

Cheer

The Bible says God loves a cheerful giver. He must really love the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, whose congregations across five counties have pledged $230 million to the diocese’s two-year campaign

Bishop David A. Zubik announced the results of the “Our Campaign for The Church Alive!” fundraising effort a week ago at St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh.

“When I was installed as bishop of Pittsburgh on Sept. 28, 2007, I asked one question of everyone starting with myself: ‘How excited are we about our faith?’” said Zubik. “I have been heartened by what I have seen and heard. Our people are excited and have demonstrated that with their sacrifices.”

In Cranberry Township, St. Killian Parish raised $22.3 million, It will keep 100 percent of the money exceeding its target of $1.9 million. The $20.4 million it keeps will be used to construct a new church building and to pay construction costs of the St. Killian parish school.

At the opposite end of Butler County, Catholics in St. Peter Parish in Slippery Rock doubled their target goal of $415,000 by raising nearly $830,000 from its 700 families.

The Rev. Kevin Poecking credited the people of the congregation he pastors.

“There’s a lot of excitement about what the Catholic Church is doing, from Pope Francis to Bishop Zubik. They want to be part of that,” Poecking said.

The results speak well for the health — and faith — of the diocese.