Should We Cut The Size Of The Pa. Legislature?
It seems a crusade is trying to be started to cut the size of the Pennsylvania state legislature to make it more like California, a significantly larger state in terms of geography and population which has 120 legislators compared to Pennsylvania's 253 and which spends less on legislative salaries than Pa.
Of course, as poorly as Pennsylvania is run I'm not so sure we would want to trade places with the not-so-anymore Golden State.
And why would we want to give up representation? It sounds more like a ploy to increase the influence of city machines, such as that of Philadelphia, than to save money.
So why not a crusade to go the other direction -- increase the size of the legislature yet cut the salaries and benefits. For instance, New Hampshire, a significantly smaller state than Pa in terms of geography and population has 424 legislators but pays them just $200 for a two year term.
Of course, we don't have to go that far. We can keep the size of the legislature as is and simply cut salaries.
The base pay for legislators is about $78,000. This doesn't includes bennies, of course, and committee chairmen and party leaders and such get more.
So how about this: Change the pay scale to $1,000 per day for the month of February. There would be no benefits, of course, but $28,000 -- or $29,000 I don't oppose the extra grand for leap years -- is still pretty sweet, and ending bennies would have the educational effect of making our servants understand what we must go through when funding retirements and buying health insurance.
The would be no per diem to cover expense, but a hotel near the Capitol would be rented at taxpayer expense to provide free rooms -- two per room with the roommates being of opposing parties where possible. Breakfast and dinner buffets akin to those available to dormers at our state colleges would also be provided at taxpayer expense.
Missing votes will result in a loss of the day's pay.
If the legislative business should be required to go beyond February, our servants will still get the free room and board but the pay scale would drop to $50 per day.
An interesting experiment might be mandating the rooming at the hotel while encouraging the legislators to exercise their Second Amendment rights to personal protection.
Regardless, in no way do we want to be like California.
Of course, as poorly as Pennsylvania is run I'm not so sure we would want to trade places with the not-so-anymore Golden State.
And why would we want to give up representation? It sounds more like a ploy to increase the influence of city machines, such as that of Philadelphia, than to save money.
So why not a crusade to go the other direction -- increase the size of the legislature yet cut the salaries and benefits. For instance, New Hampshire, a significantly smaller state than Pa in terms of geography and population has 424 legislators but pays them just $200 for a two year term.
Of course, we don't have to go that far. We can keep the size of the legislature as is and simply cut salaries.
The base pay for legislators is about $78,000. This doesn't includes bennies, of course, and committee chairmen and party leaders and such get more.
So how about this: Change the pay scale to $1,000 per day for the month of February. There would be no benefits, of course, but $28,000 -- or $29,000 I don't oppose the extra grand for leap years -- is still pretty sweet, and ending bennies would have the educational effect of making our servants understand what we must go through when funding retirements and buying health insurance.
The would be no per diem to cover expense, but a hotel near the Capitol would be rented at taxpayer expense to provide free rooms -- two per room with the roommates being of opposing parties where possible. Breakfast and dinner buffets akin to those available to dormers at our state colleges would also be provided at taxpayer expense.
Missing votes will result in a loss of the day's pay.
If the legislative business should be required to go beyond February, our servants will still get the free room and board but the pay scale would drop to $50 per day.
An interesting experiment might be mandating the rooming at the hotel while encouraging the legislators to exercise their Second Amendment rights to personal protection.
Regardless, in no way do we want to be like California.
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2/23/2010 12:31 PM
BLOG.BILLLAWRENCEONLINE.COM wrote:
Pennsylvania state representatives who don't live within 50 miles of Harrisburg are eligible for a $163 per diem when in the state capital on legislative business. The money is supposed to be used for food and board -- $111 for housing and $52 for meals. It turns out some of members of our legislature are using it to solve the housing crisis.For instance Jim Wansacz (D-114), rather than stay at hotels, bought a three-story row home at 314 S. Second St. on Oct. 2, 2003, for $72,000, and is using the per diem to pay off his 30-year ... -
2/23/2010 12:35 PM
BLOG.BILLLAWRENCEONLINE.COM wrote:
Pennsylvania state representatives who don't live within 50 miles of Harrisburg are eligible for a $163 per diem when in the state capital on legislative business. The money is supposed to be used for food and board -- $111 for housing and $52 for meals. It turns out some of members of our legislature are using it to solve the housing crisis.For instance Jim Wansacz (D-114), rather than stay at hotels, bought a three-story row home at314 S. Second St. on Oct. 2, 2003, for $72,000, and is using the per diem to pay off his 30-year mortgage. Pretty ... -
6/9/2010 8:27 AM
BLOG.BILLLAWRENCEONLINE.COM wrote:
State Sen. Daylin Leach whose 17th District includes Haverford and Radnor appears to be just peachy with the practices that caused Bonusgate. In a column on his website Daylinsignts.com he takes issue with the report of the Grand Jury that investigated the crimes implying the Grand Jury could be just as easily called "The Doofus Patrol" and dismissing the anger expressed by those who after sitting through months of testimony indicted several lawmakers and staff members for taking taxpayer money to finance political campaigns. The indictments, btw, have already ... -
6/9/2010 8:36 AM
BLOG.BILLLAWRENCEONLINE.COM wrote:
State Sen. Daylin Leach whose 17th District includes Haverford and Radnor appears to be just peachy with the practices that caused Bonusgate. In a column on his website Daylinsignts.com he takes issue with the report of the Grand Jury that investigated the crimes implying the Grand Jury could be just as easily called "The Doofus Patrol" and dismissing the anger expressed by those who after sitting through months of testimony indicted several lawmakers and staff members for taking taxpayer money to finance political campaigns. The indictments, btw, have already ...
Bill Lawrence has my vote
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Some great ideas, Bill. No reason for us to lose representation, but no reason for us to pay through the nose for "public service" either.
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