Newspaper: Greedy lawmakers should reject pay raise

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review could not resist commenting on the Dec. 1 cost-of-living increase for Pennsylvania elected and appointed officials at the very same time the state is drowning in red ink.

From the newspaper editorial:

You see, next year's state budget shortfall is expected to range from $1 billion to $2 billion. This, in a commonwealth that budgets $332 million on a Legislature whose rank-and-file members next year will pull down nearly $78,300.

Some lawmakers agree that this is the wrong time for a COLA. But they are reluctant to write checks to the state for the amount of their raises because of tax implications. Oh, the hardship!

If lawmakers are at all sincere in their concern for what's fair, they would cut out the COLAs permanently as their first order of business in the new year and submit all future raises for public approval

.Read the full editorial at the newspaper's Web site.