Judge tosses lawsuit over Pa. lawmaker pay

[Judi Lynn]

Judge tosses lawsuit over Pa. lawmaker pay
By MARK SCOLFORO, Associated Press Writer
16 minutes ago

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A federal judge threw out a lawsuit Thursday that sought to ban the tactics the Legislature used to give itself a pay raise in the middle of the night last summer.

The lawsuit alleged that legislators violated the Constitution last year when they passed a bill in the early morning hours, just before recessing for the summer. They voted to raise lawmakers' salaries along with the pay of judges, the governor and some other executive-branch officials.

The pay raise was repealed in November, shortly after voters rejected a sitting Supreme Court justice for the first time in state history.

Common Cause, the League of Woman Voters, state Rep. Greg Vitali and four others sued legislative leaders, Gov. Ed Rendell and Chief Justice Ralph J. Cappy in an attack on the way many controversial bills are handled by the General Assembly.
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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060612/ap_on_re_us/lawmaker_pay_lawsuit

[Orrex]

1. As a Pennsylvania resident, I found the pay-raise disgusting

But it didn't strike me as an actual violation of the rules, even if it was arrogant, self-serving, and short-sighted.

Besides which, the state legislature was only following the shining example of the federal GOP in its early morning, at-the-buzzer legislative tactics, so who can fault them? :sarcasm:

[Sadie5]

2. Don't turn your back on them

They voted themselves health care for life in Indiana. There was much public outcry. In the end, as it got closer to primaries, they decided to drop lifetime health care for themselves. Seeing as though half the state was uninsured and jobless. Believe me, they were not thinking of those who were uninsured when they decided to drop it, it was an attempt to win over the public and get the votes. Too bad that they didn't win many hearts and minds with their greed and deceit.

[zbdent]

3. While they were the minority (Fed level), Repukes were all over

congressional pay raises . . . they were against them . . . of course, once they got the power, they said "Whoops, it's constitutional . . ."

[Divernan]

4. Rep. Vitali is totally ethical & honest - 1 of the handful in Harrisburg

I worked with him for 10 years, and found him to be the most honest man in the Capitol. He actually reads every piece of legislation in toto before he votes on it - instead of taking the lobbyists' word for it as to what it will do. He does not accept the $100+ per diem, but instead turns in his actual receipts, which are far lower. Most of the other legislators respect his intelligence, but loathe his honesty. They ridicule him for not taking payoff "donations" from the special interest groups and say of him, "He doesn't know how to play the game!" His constituents have the good sense to keep re-electing him. Unfortunately I can't see him ever attaining higher office, because he is just too honest.