An audit on the Pennsylvania DNC and the 2016 Philadelphia Convention showed the committee did not misuse funds from a $10 million state grant.
However, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale says the state needs to tighten up language in grant agreements to narrow what taxpayer funds can be used for.
He explained, “There was a short appendix at the end that in one sentence said ‘this is how we think you should spend tax payer money.’ We think that just from a policy standpoint with the state, That is the biggest thing that needs to change.”
The audit revealed that former Governor Ed Rendell approved the use of excess funds to pay staff members that also serve on the board without proper approval. He explained it would be up to the IRS to decide if there was any wrongdoing. DePasquale explained that the law stipulates that they are allowed to receive payments as employees but not as board members. Because they were both, DePasquale he will leave it up to the IRS to make their own determination.
DePasquale said, “Governor Rendell should have gone to the board and should have asked them to take a vote or at minimum consult with them on those payouts.”
A complete look at the audit can be found here.