Never in the history of Pennsylvania politics has there been such an outcry from voters at election time, but in case you haven't noticed 2006 has been a very different kind of year and it's not over yet.
Angered by the arrogance and greed of the State Legislature, voters ousted the #1 & #2 Leaders of the Pennsylvania Senate, namely President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer and Majority Floor Leader David "Chip" Brightbill.
Let's keep the record clear, the issue of the Legislative pay raise has always been a sore topic among citizens and individuals who work in State Government, but after a week or two of grumbling and complaining, it usually went away, and folks went one to other issues. But this time it didn't go away, and our so-called Leaders have only themselves to blame for the firestorm that followed.
Whoever heard of passing a pay raise in the early hours of the morning, with NO public hearings or input, anyway? Regardless of the fact that it was late in the Legislative Session, this sort of thing simply should not happen! Add to that the arrogance of those Legislators who claimed the "unvouchered expenses," and you have the ground swell of anger and frustration that was visited upon incumbents during yesterday's primary election.
Let's make another point, those Legislators who paid back their "ill-gotten" money didn't do so out of some new found conscience, they paid the money back because they got caught, and the fact that they paid the money back did not absolve them from their original offense, and they paid the price for their arrogance and greed.
The message was loud and clear--"WE'RE MAD AS HELL, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANY MORE." So future Lawmakers, who may be thinking of voting yourself an outrageous payraise, sometime during your career in Harrisburg, TAKE HEED!!
Angered by the arrogance and greed of the State Legislature, voters ousted the #1 & #2 Leaders of the Pennsylvania Senate, namely President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer and Majority Floor Leader David "Chip" Brightbill.
Let's keep the record clear, the issue of the Legislative pay raise has always been a sore topic among citizens and individuals who work in State Government, but after a week or two of grumbling and complaining, it usually went away, and folks went one to other issues. But this time it didn't go away, and our so-called Leaders have only themselves to blame for the firestorm that followed.
Whoever heard of passing a pay raise in the early hours of the morning, with NO public hearings or input, anyway? Regardless of the fact that it was late in the Legislative Session, this sort of thing simply should not happen! Add to that the arrogance of those Legislators who claimed the "unvouchered expenses," and you have the ground swell of anger and frustration that was visited upon incumbents during yesterday's primary election.
Let's make another point, those Legislators who paid back their "ill-gotten" money didn't do so out of some new found conscience, they paid the money back because they got caught, and the fact that they paid the money back did not absolve them from their original offense, and they paid the price for their arrogance and greed.
The message was loud and clear--"WE'RE MAD AS HELL, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANY MORE." So future Lawmakers, who may be thinking of voting yourself an outrageous payraise, sometime during your career in Harrisburg, TAKE HEED!!
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