Payjackers becoming a rare breed

The 2005 legislative payjacking appears to be the gift that keeps on giving.

Richard Fellinger reports that most of the Central Pennsylvania lawmakers who supported the 2005 pay raise will be gone after the 2008 election cycle.

With (state Sen. Terry) Punt's retirement, several central Pennsylvania counties will have no lawmakers who voted for the pay raise at the end of this year, Fellinger writes. Franklin, Adams, York and Lebanon counties will have none, according to Fellinger.

From Fellinger's article, here are some other payjackers who left or were asked to leave Harrisburg:

Senate Appropriations Chairman Gib Armstrong, R-Lancaster, who represents much of eastern York County and voted for the raise, announced last month that he will retire this year.

Those who lost their re-election bids after voting for the pay raise include Reps. Pat Fleagle, R-Waynesboro, and Stephen Maitland, R-Gettysburg. In Lebanon County, voters ousted Senate Majority Leader David Brightbill and Rep. Pete Zug.

Rep. Bruce Smith, R-Dillsburg, retired in 2006. Rep. Stephen Stetler, D-York, left office for a job as executive director of the Pennsylvania Economy League.

Lebanon County activist Russ Diamond, founder of the anti-incumbent movement PACleanSweep, said the retirements and election defeats are a good start for shaking up the Legislature, but more needs to be done.

Read the full story in the Chambersburg Public Opinion.