State Legislator's COLA. Do they deserve one?

December 1, 2008 will provide a 2.8% salary increase for legislators, raising the rank and file pay to $78,315 with top leaders as high as $122,000. So far, state legislators have met in formal session in Harrisburg for about 10 days since July. The legislature will meet for one day in early January to be sworn in for the 2009-10 session, but won't be back until later in January. With the exception of Kevin Murphy defeating Frank Andrews Shimkus; Representatives Staback, Wansacz, and Smith have once again run unopposed for another term. With the new session beginning just less than two months away let us look at what they have (or haven't) done. After the infamous pay raise of 2005, Pennsylvania still has one the most expensive legislatures in the country, the second largest legislature/full-time legislative staff, and have taken several COLA's (cost of living adjustments). State lawmakers promised to reform and touted 2007 the "ye ar of reform". The fact of the matter is that 2007 ended without a single law being enacted to raise standards of public integrity. This years budget includes $750 million in WAM's (walking around money) to pass out for projects in their districts, up from $640 million last year. This violates the state Constitutions separation of powers by giving lawmakers a direct hand in spending money appropriated to executive agencies. Last year legislators slush fund increased from $215 million to $241 million. This money could fund the State Ethics Commission for 115 years. Media reported in 2006 that $6 million was paid by the House for "public service ads" for incumbent lawmakers and in 2007, Media reported four legislative caucuses spent $500,000 for partisan polling. This money is supposed to come from political party expenses not at the expense of the taxpayer. Pennsylvania is the only state where this occurs. In 2006, M edia reported, $50,000 in gifts to lawmakers. Public officials are allowed to accept "gifts" of $250 without ever having to report them.

In closing let's not forget about criminal charges brought against 12 lawmakers and their staff, a Pa. senator indicted on 139 counts of public corruption, and the state's attorney general working with a grand jury investigating $3.6 million in bonuses. There is more but space constraints will not allow me to express what they "have done". These "leaders" do not need a cost of living adjustments! What they need is concerned citizens to look at what they are (or aren't) doing for us. Citizens need to follow the next two years of these elected officials careers and look at what these public servants are (or aren't) doing.