PAY RAISE REPEAL: THE JOB IS NOT DONE!

ISN’T IT NICE THAT SO MANY OF OUR ESTEEMED POLITICIANS HAVE FOUND RELIGION AND ARE SO SORRY ABOUT THE PAY RAISE. SEE LIST OF QUOTE BELOW.

SO WHAT EXACTLY HAVE THE LAST FOUR MONTHS BEEN ABOUT? WHY DID THE LEGISLATORS WASTE SO MUCH OF OUR TIME AND ENERGY TO FORCE THEM TO GIVE BACK THE STOLEN LOOT?

AREN’T THERE MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES (PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM, JOBS FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE) THAT THEY COULD HAVE FOCUSED THEIR ATTENTION ON?

THIS EPISODE CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THAT NOTHING SHORT OF FUMIGATING THE STATE CAPITOL CAN RESTORE TRUST IN PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNMENT.

AT LEAST HALF THE HOUSE AND SENATE AND THE GOVERNOR MUST BE SWEPT OUT OF OFFICE IN 2006. THE JOB IS NOT DONE!

By The Associated Press

Quotes on the Senate's vote to approve a repeal of the July law raising salaries for more than 1,300 state officials, including lawmakers and judges:

"We are here to correct a mistake. As one of the people who exercised poor judgment, I would like to apologize." — the Senate's Republican leader, David J. Brightbill of Lebanon County, as he introduced the repeal legislation on the Senate floor.

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"You can't clean up a Category 5, manmade disaster overnight. It's going to take a long time and a lot of work. ... People have every right to expect us to do things right and to do the right thing." — Sen. Lisa M. Boscola, D-Northampton.

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"The pay raise violated the constitution at least five different ways and everybody knows it. It was a slap in the face of voters and taxpayers." — Timothy Potts, co-founder of Democracy Rising Pa., a watchdog group that was a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit challenging the July pay raise law.

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"Today's action will hopefully be the final chapter in this controversial and divisive pay raise issue. Citizens' voices were heard loud and clear throughout this commonwealth and the Legislature listened." — Sen. Richard Kasunic, D-Fayette

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"I'm glad it's over." — Sen. Joe Conti, R-Bucks.

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"Today, as I sign this repeal, I urge the Legislature to return to the people's business and hope that by signing this bill, we can channel the great interest and energy that was focused on this issue for the good of the citizens we serve." — Gov. Ed Rendell, in a statement announcing that he signed the bill into law.