Drop the Money and Run

In an act of self-preservation, the Pennsylvania State Senate last night voted unanimously to repeal its latest pay package.

Earlier this year, in the dead of night and on the last day before its summer break, lawmakers had voted to give themselves an immediate pay raise. Problem was, the state constitution prohibits pay raises from taking effect until their next term begins. The Keystone legislators worked their way around this inconvenient provision by giving themselves permission to collect the extra money immediately as "reimbursement" for expenses, without having to file any expense vouchers. Some legislators were able to boost their salaries by as much as 54%.

The public freaked. Polls found that Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly opposed the stealth pay hike -- a majority of voters said they'd vote against legislators who took the money. Challengers were suddenly coming forward to take on previously secure incumbents, and activists were filing lawsuits in state and federal court. Protestors even erected a giant inflatable pig on the capital grounds. The revolt crossed party lines and would not go away.

Lawmakers decided to act. A few said they wouldn't accept the raise, and others who took reimbursements said they would stop. Finally, the state senate voted to repeal the pay hike, and then the house passed a different, conflicting version of the repeal after midnight. Then legislators all booked out of town for a two-week recess. Meanwhile, the original pay-hike law also raised the pay of judges, and the state constitution says judges can’t have their pay cut during their tenures. So some in the legislature are hoping that, even if they rescind the pay hikes, the judges will sue, and legislators will get to keep their money after all.

Governor Ed Rendell so far hasn't said if he'll sign any such bill, but he faces re-election next year.