Bob Mellow

Robert J. Mellow is an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 22nd District from 1971 to 2010. He also served as the Minority Floor Leader from 1994 to 2010 and President pro tempore from 1992 to 1994.[1]

Bob Mellow
President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate
In office November 18, 1992 – March 15, 1994
Preceded by	Robert Jubelirer
Succeeded by	Robert Jubelirer
Democratic Leader of the Pennsylvania Senate
In office March 15, 1994 – November 30, 2010
Preceded by	William Lincoln
Succeeded by	Jay Costa
In office January 3, 1989 – November 18, 1992
Preceded by	Edward Zemprelli
Succeeded by	William Lincoln
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 22nd district
In office January 5, 1971 – November 30, 2010
Preceded by	Arthur Piasecki
Succeeded by	John Blake
Personal details
Born	(1943-12-10) December 10, 1943 Scranton, Pennsylvania
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Blakely, Pennsylvania
Alma mater	Lackawanna College Bethel College

In 2012, he plead guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and filing a false tax return and was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison.

Early life and education

Mellow was born on December 10, 1943 in Peckville, Pennsylvania to James and Alice Mellow.[2] Mellow served in the National Guard from 1962 to 1968 and, afterwards, attended Lackawanna Junior College and University of Scranton. He earned his BS in accounting from Bethel College.[2]

Career

He was elected to the State Senate in 1970, defeating Republican incumbent Arthur Piasecki, and was the Democratic caucus leader 1989 through 2010. Mellow represented the 22nd district, which included all of Lackawanna County and neighboring portions of Monroe County and Luzerne County. When the Democrats held the majority in the Senate from 1992 to 1994, Mellow served as the President Pro Tempore.

Mellow is a supporter of efforts to establish a medical school in Scranton. He successfully appropriated $35 million of the estimated $100 million cost in the state capital budget.[3]

In the 1980s, Mellow was under investigation by the FBI for allegedly taking kickback from Mount Airy Lodge, however charges were never filed. He was also known to be good friends with the former owner of Mount Airy Lodge, Louis DeNaples, who had suspected ties to the Bufalino crime family.[4]

As president pro tempore, Mellow was the first lawmaker to authorize the use of television cameras on the state Senate floor to broadcast live Senate sessions.[5]

Mellow indicated interest in running for the Governor's office in 2010.[6] However, he ultimately did not run for Governor, and announced his intention not to seek re-election to the Senate in 2010.[7] He was succeeded as the Democratic floor leader by Jay Costa.[8]

2005 Pay Raise

Main article: 2005 Pennsylvania General Assembly pay raise controversy

Mellow was one of the leaders of the ill-fated legislative pay raise in 2005.[9] He told constituent Bill McIntyre to "Get a life" in an email exchange about the pay raise bill.[10] This phrase became a rallying cry for reformers that year.[11]

Federal investigation

In March 2012, Mellow agreed to plead guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and filing a false income tax return.[12] Mellow formally pleaded guilty on May 9, 2012 to a conspiracy charge related to using Senate staff members to do political work and filing a false tax return.[13]

During the proceedings, U.S. District Judge Joel H. Slomsky thoroughly laid out the charges and the plea agreement for the former senator, making sure Mellow understood the plea agreement and the consequences of it. Asked if he understood that he could receive a maximum prison sentence of five years, Mellow replied "I do". He gave the same answer when asked if he understood he was pleading guilty to a felony and that it would affect his ability to vote and hold a political office. He was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison on November 30, 2012. Mellow's state funded pension was $138,958 free of state and local income taxation. He forfeited his pension when he was sent to federal prison after his political corruption and tax evasion convictions. However, his pension was later restored in 2017, in a narrow 6-5 decision. [14][15]

After serving his sentence, in 2014 all other charges were dismissed.[16][17]

In 2016, Mellow released a book titled "Used, Abused & Forgotten - Bob Mellow: A Targeted Senator" which chronicled his life in politics and his time in federal prison.[18]

Notes and references

1. "Senate Floor Leaders since 1950". The Pennsylvania Manual. 118. Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Department of General Services. 2007. pp. 3–265. Archived from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved 2011-12-09.
2. "Pennsylvania State Senate - Robert J Mellow Biography". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
3. Josh Brogadir, $35 Million Grant for Scranton Medical School, WNEP News, 10/30/07
4. Birkbeck, Matt (2013). The Quiet Don. New York: The Berkley Publishing Group. pp. 29–36. ISBN 978-0-425-26685-4. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
5. Micaehl Race, Senate Dem leader: Open records law overhaul needed", The Daily and Sunday Review, Towanda, Pennsylvania, 1/25/07
6. Thomas Fitzgerald, Lawmaker considering a run for governor, Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/7/07
7. http://www.senator-mellow.com/2010Releases/February9-2010.htm%5B%5D
8. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
9. "House Bill No. 151 Session of 2005". Pennsylvania General Assembly Committee of Conference.
10. The Times-Tribune - Politicians peek from bunker, see unemployment line Archived November 11, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
11. www.PACleanSweep.com Archived January 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
12. Former Pa. state senator to plead guilty in corruption case
13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2012-05-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
14. Robert Swift (July 19, 2012). "Former State Sen Robert Mellow Appeals Pension loss decision". The Times Tribune.
15. Navratil, Liz. "Pa. officials restore six-figure pension for former senator convicted of corruption". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
16. | Final charge dropped against former Pa. senator in pay-to-play turnpike scandal By The Associated Press | October 16, 2014 at 5:34 PM, updated October 16, 2014 at 5:38 PM |
18. Lynott, Jerry. "Former PA senator Bob Mellow writes book about life as lawmaker and behind bars". www.timesleader.com. Retrieved 19 April 2020.

External links

• Profile at Vote Smart
• Follow the Money - Robert J. Mellow
  • 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998 campaign contributions

Political offices
Preceded by Robert Jubelirer	President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate 1992–1994	Succeeded by Robert Jubelirer
Party political offices
Preceded by Edward Zemprelli	Democratic Leader of the Pennsylvania Senate 1989–1992	Succeeded by William Lincoln
Preceded by William Lincoln	Democratic Leader of the Pennsylvania Senate 1994–2010	Succeeded by Jay Costa
Pennsylvania State Senate
Preceded by Arthur Piasecki	Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 22nd District 1971–2010	Succeeded by John Blake