Pennsylvania’s lawmakers, judges and Governor are set to accept an automatic 2.8% pay raise even as the Governor warns of severe state budget cuts because of a $1-$2 billion shortfall and cautions that he doesn’t “want to hear any whining.”
The pay raise comes as the result of a 1995 law that mandates cost-of-living adjustments. Rank and file legislators base pay goes up to $78,315 (the fourth-highest in the nation), and the Governor’s pay is estimated to increase to $174,956.
Rendell has suspended executive branch pay raises in the past and may or may not do so this year, but the lawmakers’ attorneys say they “have no right to forgo the raise.” Darned convenient.
In the meantime, as the salaries for those who create fiscal problems go up, those who have to execute their doomed plans are being warned to expect deep cuts and those who have to pay for them are starting to be warmed up for a “broad-based tax increase.” Raising taxes in a recession. Where have I heard that before?
“We are going to do everything we can to get through this with as little harm as possible, but I also want to remind people that the cuts are coming, and I don’t want to hear any whining,” Rendell said.
[...]
Rendell added that he hoped to avoid imposing a “general, broad-based tax increase” to balance the budget either this year or in the 2009-10 fiscal year, but could make no guarantees.
Yeah, “Gosh, I hope I don’t have to impose a tax increase. Oops. I guess I did have to. Sorry. I had to.”
Like That? You'll Probably Like These.
- Fast Eddie Looking to Raise Gas Taxes
- Boscov’s Too Big To Fail?
- Partisan Posterboy Rendell Slams New Lt. Governor As ‘Partisan’
- If The Polls Aren’t Crap, Why Is Rendell Begging Obama Back To PA?
- Rendell: Obama Like Adlai Stevenson
No Responses to “2.8% Raise For PA Lawmakers As Rendell Warns Against ‘Whining’”
Comments posted are the opinions of the individual poster and do not reflect the views of Bucks Right. Comments are only moderated to prevent spam. No legitimate opinions are altered for content, although we reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason. VALID e-mail address required.
No feedback yet.