Gene Stilp

==Background==
* D, 55, Dauphin County, 717-443-6421, candidate for Lt. Gov in 2006 D primary and lost to Catherine Baker Knoll
==Links==
* http://www.genestilp.com
==Issues==
* None were on the site.
==Insights==
=== P-G Captial Notes about Gene Stilp: HE'S NOT SO FUNNY ANYMORE===
In the past, Gene Stilp has often been called a Harrisburg political gadfly, or maybe an activist. He wasn't always taken too seriously.
He's the one who coined the phrase that Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll is "only a cheese steak away" from becoming governor, a reference to Mr. Rendell's proclivity for eating a lot, and especially cholesterol-laden cheese steaks from his home city of Philadelphia. He also coined the phrase, "Don't let Ed eat the groundhog," a joking reference to the governor's Feb. 2 trips to see Punxsutawney Phil.
But in the past year Mr. Stilp has raised his game and few state legislators are laughing at him, or with him, anymore.
He's been one of the most outspoken critics of last summer's pay raise, now repealed. But he isn't stopping. He filed papers this week to run in the Democratic primary against incumbent Lt. Gov. Knoll. No one really expects him to win, but his candidacy isn't a joke.
And Mr. Stilp has filed numerous legal actions against state officials over the pay raise and other financial aspects of government, including the Legislature's infamous $135 million "slush fund."
It's a pile of your tax money that leaders of the four caucuses -- House and Senate, Democrat and Republican -- reserve for themselves to dole out to rank-and-file lawmakers who toe the line and vote the way the leaders want them to vote. Much of it goes to pay for "public service announcements" in each incumbent legislator's district, giving them free TV time to get their name and face before voters. The money also pays for mailings to voters.
Mr. Stilp is asking the court to let Auditor General Jack Wagner audit this stash of cash, instead of the current group, called the Legislative Accountability Committee. Mr. Stilp claims this group is under the thumb of leadership and doesn't do a thorough job.
Mr. Stilp said, in a news release, that it's time for "a real financial audit of the Legislature."
However, he hasn't had much success in convincing state courts -- whose raises depend on the Legislature -- to go along with his wishes.
==Links==
* VIPs
===Media ===
* P-G Captial Notes article about Gene Stilp in March, 2006 from the P-G.
Stilp