PA - GOV: Rendell (D) makes a bad move - PART II
By Adam C2 Posted in 2006 — Comments (14) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
In today's Political Diary at OpinionJournal (Subscription Only - $), John Fund reports:
Legislators Have a Friend in Pennsylvania - Themselves
When Keystone legislators voted to raise their pay for the fourth time in 22 years last month, they did it the old-fashioned way -- late at night, with no advance warning, on the last day before they adjourned. But unlike previous years, the pay increases they granted themselves (up to 34% for committee leaders), judges and all statewide elected officials became more than a one-day outrage. The new media technology of the Internet and talk radio has kept voter anger stoked. This week, Democratic Governor Ed Rendell admitted that boos that greeted him when he spoke at the annual Reading Fair were from people upset that he had signed the pay-raise bill passed by the Republican legislature.
(emphasis mine)
New media bringing down a Democratic Governor. Sounds good to me. Let's keep up the heat on GOV Rendell so that Mr Swann can sweep in and save the day next Fall. Between the Lt. Gov's politicizing a soldier's funeral to Rendell signing this bill into law and Dem legislative leaders stripping committee leadership posts from those who protest, the PA Dems are looking a citizen revolt in the face. Keep track of the brouhaha at Grassroots PA.
"The political blogs have had a field day with this story, and they have been picked up by talk radio in a big way," says political activist Linda Morrison. "So the story is getting bigger, and not going away."
The facts are, indeed, ugly. The pay raise far exceeded the automatic 3% increase legislators were due and boosted their pay to a minimum of $81,000 a year -- second highest in the nation after California (whose legislators, unlike Pennsylvania's, serve full time). In addition, many solons are taking the higher pay immediately as an "unvouchered expense" allowing them to avoid a prohibition on accepting a pay hike in the same legislative term in which they voted to raise their pay.
Many of the legislators who voted against the pay raise are being punished by their party leaders, further fueling voter anger. Last month, Democratic Minority Leader Bill DeWeese took the unusual step of removing 15 of his caucus members from their committee and subcommittee jobs in the middle of the summer. All had voted against the pay raise.
All of this has prompted Russ Diamond, a Lebanon County businessman, to start a campaign (www.pacleansweep.com) to oust every sincle incumbent legislator from office next year (motto: "Because Taxpayers Are Not Sheep"). As appealing as that notion may be, it runs straight into political reality. Pennsylvania legislators over the years have so artfully redrawn their districts as to make themselves all but invulnerable to challenge. That may explain why they increasingly act as if they serve in a House of Lords with life tenure.
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PA - GOV: Rendell (D) makes a bad move - PART II 14 Comments (0 topical, 14 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
The whole concept of Republicans benefitting from anger at the act of a Republican legislature is mind-boggling. Vote anger might get these legislators out of Congress, but I doubt it'll remove Rendell.
Of course, if Swann draws the Steelers vote, he could get significant help from otherwise democratic Pittsburgh, which will cause Rendell to lose. However, a lot of people may be wary of voting a hall of fame receiver into the governer's seat, considering how poorly a non-politician celebrity like Ahrnold is doing.
Personally, I wish the republicans would bring back Schweiker (or whatever his name was)
I love the concept of www.pacleansweep.com
Though not for DeLuca, who voted against
Are the dozen or so who voted against the pay raise (which wasn't mandatory) and then went "hey since it passed, why not?" and took it.
First, it benefits outsiders over insiders. So Swann gets a bump vs. Rendell because he is an outsider.
Second, Republicans are the ones fighting to at least force legislators to not accept the raises until after an election as the law requires.
I think Rs can get traction out of this in the GOV race. It may hurt them in lower races if the pacleansweep.com guys have any success, but this does reflect poorly on Rendell right now.
WASHINGTON, June 28 (AP) - The House agreed Tuesday that members of Congress should earn $3,100 more next year, bringing their salaries to $165,200.
Oh, and the head of the executive branch, let's blame him for the legistaive actions and get rid of him too.
Be careful where you go with this stuff ;)
This stuff is unreal. The accounts the day after in most of the papers said lawmakers were cheering and shaking each other's hands when they voted on the thing.
Rendell must be crazy if he thinks he can spin his way out of this.
Also, from the Harrisburg Patriot-News:
Bill McIntyre did not expect many replies when he e-mailed a tongue-in-cheek greeting to members of the state General Assembly on the one-month anniversary of the vote to give themselves a raise.
"I thought they would just ignore it," McIntyre said.
About a half-dozen replied.
One suggested he walk a mile in their shoes and run for office. Another asked if McIntyre had ever supported a legislative pay raise. Still another sent a two-page letter explaining why he voted for the raise.
Then there was the reply from Democratic Senate leader Robert J. Mellow, D-Lackawanna: "Why don't you get a life? Please do not mail my office another e-mail."
The Patriot-News examined the e-mails on McIntyre's computer. While there was no way to verify the author of the messages, the "from" line in the messages read "Senator Robert Mellow" and carried his e-mail address.
Till you actually read about it. The incremental pay raises that are customary are one thing, upping your own wage 15-40% on top of that are another. More importantly, many of the legislators are skirting the law in giving themselves the raise immediately instead of following the next election. And Rendell could have vetoed it and won lots of praise. He didn't.
Time for a grassroots throw 'em out movement. Time for Rendell to go. Time for Swann to come.
plays an active role in the budget making process in Harrisburg. I can't back it up, but I seem to remember the pay raise being the brainchild of a member of the Governor's staff. Don't quote me on that - and disprove me if you can help me find a link.
While I like to see that the efforts of blogs can have a real impact on politics, I'm confused as to the issue here.
Why is Rendell responsible for the legislators voting themselves a raise? Is it just because he didn't veto it? Shouldn't people be more upset with the legislators who voted in the raise to begin with?
If they had voted him a raise I can see the outrage.
(Other commentors, above, have asked a similar question...I just haven't seen a good answer yet.)
Here is a bit more background. The Dems came down hard on those who voted against the pay raise (stripping them from leadership). The GOV was involved in forming the bill and signed it.
Here are some more quotes from Dems on the Bill:
Rendell - "This is good legislation..."
"House Democratic Leader H. William DeWeese of Waynesburg, who'll be jumping to $134,771, said legislators deserve the hefty raises"
And while we're at it, a couple more articles about Rendell's support: here | here
It seems he didn't realize it was going to piss off voters. I just don't understand politicians sometimes.
I am from PA.
I campaigned for my GOP state rep when he was about to loose his seat (Delco. Dems aren't pushovers), I walked streets with him, wrote letters for him. And he turned out to be a self serving son of a ***!
I will be voting for Big Bird in both the primary and the election. I can't respect myself voting for him.
also...it's going to take a lot more to bring down Rendell than a nutty Lt Gov and a payraise that was supported by Republicans.
First, Rendell is polling under 50% in matchups agains Swann (and other candidates). They have a ways to go on the name recognition/seriousness factors, but it isn't impossible.
Second, have you thought of running for state rep. This is a perfect issue for a "young conservative" to launch a race on.
I had thought of running actually. Since the district is gerrymandered to his favor, my potential capaign may be doomed from day one but at least I would have my voice heard on this greedy pay raise.
A 22 year old college student can't do much, but I can do something.
When I told the idea to others, they told me that challenging a Harrisburg GOP veteran state rep, will be my one way ticket out of the Republican party, etc, doomed political future, etc.
He's somewhat accurate, because the Delco, PA GOP is so tight on part discipline and voting for "endorsed candidates."
So I'm not too sure what I will be doing soon.
PA House members who voted against the budget (an increase) but in favor of the pay raise the most entertaining. How do they spin that particular vote?