HARRISBURG — House Democratic Leader Bill DeWeese said Monday he is seeking a 17th term and does not plan to step down from his majority leadership post amid a grand jury investigation into millions of dollars in bonuses given to legislative staffers.

DeWeese, D-Greene, said during a question-and-answer session at a Pennsylvania Press Club luncheon that he has not contemplated any circumstances under which he would relinquish his leadership title.

"We're working very aggressively on (cutting) property taxes, and health care reform, and a smoke-free Pennsylvania ... and I'm looking forward to the next question," said DeWeese, who was first elected to the Legislature in 1976.

Attorney General Tom Corbett is looking into whether nearly $4 million in bonuses paid by Democratic and Republican leaders over a two-year period were illegally tied to work performed on political campaigns; House Democrats gave out $1.9 million in 2006 alone.

In November, DeWeese pushed out seven top aides in the midst of the bonus investigation. He declined to discuss the investigation extensively Monday, saying only the House Democrats are cooperating.