`sorry' Bank Robber Gets Nearly 7 Years

Anthony Kosloski 
Dec. 7, 1994 
Anthony W. Kosloski Of High Street, Ashley, Died Wednesday At His Daughter's 
Home In Wilkes-barre.

By LISA SCHEID; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Friday, December 09, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





HAZLETON -- The campaign expense report filed by state Rep. Tom Stish on
Thursday only added to the controversy surrounding his re-election campaign
and subsequent party switch. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 State Democratic leaders asked Stish to return $32,200 in contributions
after he switched to the Republican Party six days after being re-elected to
the state House of Representatives as a Democrat. Stish's move gave
Republicans control of the House for the first time in 12 years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But on Thursday, Stish reported receiving only $8,390 from Democratic
leaders. Stish reported receiving an in-kind contribution of $5,640 from the
state party and $1,500 cash from Democrats, including House Speaker H. William
DeWeese, D-Fayette, and state Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia. Between
January and November, Stish reported receiving $1,000 from DeWeese and $250
from Rep. Fred Belardi, D-Lackawanna. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Stish has refused to return any party contributions. He has previously said
he and his family have given money to Democrats during the years and have not
asked for it back. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Stish, who represents the 116th Legislative District, was not available for
comment Thursday. The district includes the city of Hazleton, the boroughs of
Conyngham, Freeland, Jeddo and West Hazleton and the townships of Butler,
Foster, Hazle and Sugarloaf. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 DeWeese said Stish is under-reporting Democratic contributions. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The most screaming manifestation of his treachery is that he called me
repeatedly for mailings -- $20,000 for at least four mailings. He begged for a
poll. We paid $5,000 for a poll," DeWeese said. "Stish made it known to
everyone in the leadership team that he was afraid he was going to lose. Stish
was the zenith of our attention." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 DeWeese could not offer proof of the expenditures on Thursday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Even if the Democrats did make the expenditures, it is not clear whether
Stish is required to report them. State law says if a committee makes
expenditures that could influence the election of a specific candidate it
could be considered a reportable in-kind contribution, according to Mary
Heinlen, supervisor of the state election bureau. If expenditures are made on
behalf of more than one candidate, however, they may not have to be reported
by candidates, she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 DeWeese said Thursday the chances of recovering Democratic contributions to
Stish's campaign are "infintesimally small," so Democratic leaders are
exploring the possibility of suing Stish for the money. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In any case, DeWeese vowed to make Stish's political life difficult next
year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If Stish believes that when he sashayed over the aisle that this
controversy would evaporate, he was wrong," DeWeese said. "We are going to
make every effort to pursue an honorable end to this sordid chapter. ... I
will be in his face every day." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 DeWeese still hopes that a state attorney general's office investigation
into Stish's election ethics will keep him from taking office. Stish's
Republican opponent in the November election, Susan Parrick, has asked the
attorney general's office to investigate whether Stish obtained information
about Parrick's student loan. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I would think a good many people would think he has not reached the
appropriate criterion for taking office," DeWeese said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Rep. Tom Stish &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Stish Report Fuels Dispute 
An Expense Report Filed By The New Republican 
Says He Received $8,390 In Campaign Donations From 
Democratic Leaders, Not $32,200 As They Contend

Stish Report Fuels Dispute An Expense Report Filed By The New Republican Says He Received $8,390 In Campaign Donations From Democratic Leaders, Not $32,200 As They Contend