Boscov's Chairman &
Officers Support Payjackers in Harrisburg PACleanSweep today revealed campaign finance
information showing that Boscov's Department Stores Chairman Albert Boscov
and other corporate officers have contributed either directly or
indirectly to the campaign war chests of incumbent lawmakers who approved
the July 7 pay raise. On Sunday, the non-partisan movement's Board of
Directors voted to endorse an immediate boycott of the
retailer.
The grassroots citizens' group issued a statewide
notice on September 12 warning of an impending boycott of those who
contribute to incumbents after September 19.
According to Department of State records freely
available to the general public, Boscov personally donated $2,500 to the
"Volunteers for Argall" committee on September 30. Republican lawmaker
David Argall represents the 124th district, which covers parts of both
Schuylkill and Berks Counties.
Argall voted himself a 34 percent pay raise on
July 7, voted for the 6.1 percent budget increase, took the
unconstitutional "unvouchered expense" payments and has stated he won't return the money. Argall also voted in
favor of the $1 billion tax hike in 2003 and serves as the Majority Whip,
the third highest-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives.
Argall was one of six lawmakers who signed off on bringing the pay raise out of conference committee for the July 7 vote, pressured other lawakers to go along with the plan - according to Rep. Tom Stevenson (R, Mt. Lebanon) - and was labeled an "enemy of the Commonwealth" by columnist Tony Phyrillas of the Pottstown Mercury on September 26, 2005. "Mr. Boscov has been hailed as a champion of Berks
County, but we question why he would aid the campaign of someone with a
track record of betraying taxpayers and Boscov's
customers," said PACleanSweep Chair Russ Diamond. "While Mr. Boscov is
free to contribute to any candidate he chooses, consumers are equally free
to express their displeasure by shopping elsewhere."
Albert Boscov, Boscov's President Edwin Lakin and
Senior VP Dean Scheaffer also contributed a combined $11,000 after
September 19 to PARPAC - the PA Retailers' Association Political Action
Committee - which in turn contributed to the campaign treasuries of Argall, Gibson
Armstrong, Lynn Herman, Vic Lescovitz, Harold James, Nicholas Micozzie,
Mike Sturla and Matthew Wright, who all voted for the pay
raise. PARPAC also gave $2,000 to the Senate Republican Campaign
Committee. 16 Republican Senators voted for the pay raise.
"In this, the holiday season, we urge Mr. Boscov
and his company's officers to request a refund of these contributions and
turn them over to some appropriate charities," added Diamond. "Until this
occurs, we ask shoppers to choose a different retailer for their holiday
needs.
"We're aware that Boscov's employs many
Pennsylvanians, some on a commissioned basis. We are sympathetic to their
position and have no argument with them. Therefore, we ask all Boscov's
employees and customers to contact Boscov's corporate headquarters at
610-779-2000 to lodge any displeasure over these contributions to
lawmakers who clearly do not have the best interests of the people at
heart and simply cannot be trusted to serve."
Boscov's Department Store, LLC, with 41 stores in
six states, has 35 locations in Pennsylvania and is headquartered in
Reading. Local contact information for individual Boscov's store locations
and contribution details from the Department of State are included in
PACleanSweep's report.
PACleanSweep is a non-partisan effort
dedicated to defeating incumbent elected officials in Pennsylvania and
replacing them with true public servants. For more information, please
visit www.PACleanSweep.com. |
