The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania - Forum

Their salary increases every year--and they haven't had a pay raise since 1995????????


State senator pushes for $10,000 raise
Legislators would be paid $80,000
Thursday, June 30, 2005

By Tom Barnes, Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau



HARRISBURG -- Senate Democratic leader Robert Mellow isn't shy about pushing for a $10,000 raise for state legislators -- to take their pay up to $80,000 a year.

"A pay raise is warranted," he said yesterday. "People work very hard in this job. I work a full day Saturdays and a half day many Sundays. It's a seven-day-a-week job at this point. And we haven't had an actual pay raise since 1995."

Legislators currently earn $69,700 a year, up from $66,000 last year. They got a two-year cost of living adjustment in December, based on the rate of inflation in Philadelphia.

State House leaders released a schedule yesterday listing the number of session days for the rest of the year -- 28 days from September through December. That's after legislators recess for the summer, which is expected to happen by Sunday.

Mellow, of Scranton, said legislators have much business away from Harrisburg, with many meetings with taxpayers and groups in their local districts and much work on constituents' needs and concerns.

Mellow said a $10,000 raise in one fell swoop might seem like a lot, but he doesn't see it that way because 10 years have passed since the last actual raise was approved.

Mellow represents the 20 Democratic senators in the 50-member Senate, and admitted that not all of his members support a pay raise.

He said the chances of a pay raise being voted on "are 50-50 at best" before the Legislature wraps up its 2005-06 budget work this weekend, probably Sunday.

The state's current 2004-05 fiscal year ends at midnight today, and, starting tomorrow, the state cannot legally spend any money until a new budget is adopted.

Drew Crompton, legal counsel to Senate President Pro Tem Robert Jubelirer, R-Altoona, admitted talk of a pay raise continues.

"I can't tell you it's not in play -- it is in play. The issue has been raised," Crompton said. Jubelirer's caucus includes the Senate's 30 Republicans.

Crompton said the figure of $80,000 being talked about "is in the ballpark." But he wouldn't assess the odds of a pay raise being voted on as part of the $24 billion state budget for 2005-06.

Mellow said that if a pay raise vote is taken, it "should not be under the cover of darkness," as many important votes have been in the past, done after midnight when most voters are asleep.

"Everyone should know what we are doing," he said.

Yes---and everyone should picket his office with a sign saying, "MELLOW OUT!"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------