Joe Sterns who worked as the press secretary for the Toomey for U.S. Senate Campaign sent me this article. I'm ready to vote most (if not all) of these folks out of office right now. Special election anyone????
By Brad Bumsted and Debra Erdley
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Top Pennsylvania lawmakers have a special account stuffed with $135 million only they can use -- and they're using it to pay themselves more money.While other needs went begging this summer during discussions on the $24 billion state budget, the little known account controlled solely by legislative leaders of the Republican and Democratic parties remained flush. It is being used to fund the back-door pay increase -- called "unvouchered expenses" -- accepted by more than half of the state's 253 lawmakers.
Other critics say the money could have helped cut taxes, repair crumbling roads and bridges, or fund struggling mass transit systems in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. It even could have provided a $10.97 tax refund to every man, woman and child in Pennsylvania.
Instead, more than half of legislators -- who quietly left the Capitol last month for a 2 1/2 month recess after awarding themselves a pay raise -- on Aug. 1 began collecting 16 to 34 percent more in their paychecks. Even if every legislator accepted the pay hike, it would cost the fund only $5 million a year. Lawmakers, who have averaged 77 session days a year for the past five years, won't return until Sept. 26.
Legislative leaders came up with the notion of dubbing the extra money "unvouchered expenses" to enable lawmakers to take the raise right now, rather than wait until they are re-elected. The state constitution prohibits lawmakers from raising their salaries during their term of office.
"We've got the single most-expensive legislature in America, and what has it given us? An increase in income tax, cuts in Medicaid, and gambling," said former Allegheny County Executive Jim Roddey, a Republican. "(The surplus) is just one more reason we need fundamental legislative reform."
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