Pennsylvanians rage about lawmakers' secretive pay raises

[jayfish]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2005/08/11/pennsylvanians_rage_about_lawmakers_secretive_pay_raises/

<SNIP>
''I've never seen this kind of anger," said Senator Patricia Vance, a Republican who received critical e-mails even though she voted against the bill and declined to collect her raise. ''I've a lot of names."

Newspapers across Pennsylvania continue to publish angry editorials and letters from readers. A radio talk-show host is circulating a petition calling for the repeal of the raises, which also apply to judges and certain top executive-branch officials, and is organizing a protest for when lawmakers reconvene in late September.
</SNIP>

<SNIP>
The pressure is having some effect: As of Tuesday, nine lawmakers had declared changes of heart and said they would not accept the increase this term. But nearly 150 of the 252 sitting lawmakers are sticking to their decision to immediately take the raise of at least $950 a month.

Governor Ed Rendell, a Democrat who signed the bill into law, said he has received nearly 1,000 letters, e-mails, and phone calls criticizing the decision. After having previously said only that the special payments were legal, he said Tuesday that legislators who turned them down ''did the right thing."
</SNIP>

To be honest I could really care less about legislators voting themselves a pay raise in Pennsylvania. They voted Rethug, they get Rethug. What gets me about this is the writing of the story itself. The Pennsylvania legislature is overwhelmingly controlled by Rethugs. Yet there is no mention of that. To make matter worse they quote a Rethug who was against it and a Dem (Rendell) who by signing the law could be said to be for it. A cursory glance at the numbers leads me to believe that about all the Thugs (sans one) and about 10-12 Dems voted for this thing. Yet, they make it look as if it's the Democrats who pushed this through. This article is one of the most blatant attempts at misinformation and obfuscation I have ever seen. Oh that liberal media. :eyes:

Jay

[jn2375]

1. Hey I live in PA and was asked to sign the petition against

the raise. Believe me people here are Furious!!!!!!!!The Dems better get out ahead of this right now ALL lawmakers are being blamed. I talk hear VOTE THEM All OUT.

I can't overstate this enough. people here are FURIOUS!

[jayfish]

2. I Loved Rendells Tepid Response.

That surely isn't getting out in front of it IMO.

Jay

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

3. Really? I'm in PA too and people are more POed about the war + gas $

Personally, I could care less about their pay raise. It was a bipartisan vote and not the first time lawmakers, either PA or in DC, have voted themselves big fat raises.

I do see people getting more angry about the war and the skyrocketing gas prices, though.

[jayfish]

5. The POS Story Really Doesn't Give The Final,...

vote count. But if you look at this,

"But nearly 150 of the 252 sitting lawmakers are sticking to their decision to immediately take the raise of at least $950 a month."

then look at the number of Republicans that make up the House and Senate (around 140), it doesn't seem like too much of a bi-partisan vote to me. Of-course I could be incorrect because the article is that bad.

Jay

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

6. I know my Repub. reps voted against....but, guess what...

I'm still planning to vote against them because there are so many more important issues where they have marched lock-step with the neocon, theocratic agenda.

So, my point is, even if a Democrat voted for a pay raise, if they actually represent their constituents on the broader agenda, it's no reason to vote them out. IMHO.

[roguevalley]

4. They did that up here. And our governator, Frank Murkowski,

said he wanted a jet. HUGE, AMAZING HOWLS OF HATRED OVER THAT one and he did it anyway. He has a jet now. Fucker.

[Divernan]

7. Believe me, the judges and BOTH parties wanted this

I worked with/for these clowns for ten years - the legislators always include generous raises for the judiciary, so that court challenges will be unsuccessful. (Pennsylvania is not among the 24 states where voters can put a referendum question on the ballot. )The raises are always voted in during the first quarter of the House two-year terms, or on the last day of session (after the elections), usually around 4 am. Experience has been that as much as the voters scream at the time, by the next election, the voters have forgotten it.

Another strategy is to determine precisely how many votes are needed, and how many each party will provide. Legislators who are in safe districts (big majority for one party or the other) are forced by their party leadership - either Perzel(R) or DeWeese(D) to vote for the raises. Legislators who are seen as vulnerable to a cross-party challenge at the next election are allowed to vote against the raises. There have been screaming and swearing matches in party caucuses, where individual legislators who are afraid the vote will cost them the next election - are singled out and berated in front of all of their colleagues. One lovely exchange I heard: Party leader : but I got your brother a job on the Turnpike! Legislator/Committee Chairman, as he stormed out of the room - FU, get my brother to vote with you.

Basically though, although some are afraid the vote will cost them the next election, about 95% of them are still greedy for that raise. The attitude of leadership of both parties is, "If we can get by with it, why not take it?" These reps do not work hard enough to get the $$$ they are paid. Few of them could make as much in private life, and many of them view the legislature as a stepping stone to a lucrative lobbyist position.