READING (TNS) — The surging inflation that has run rampant across the nation hasn’t been bad for everyone.
Pennsylvania state legislators saw a $5,000 boost in their salaries through automatic pay raises that are based on inflation.
{p class=”krtText”}The cost of living increases are based on the yearly percent change in the Consumer Price Index, as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This year that figure rose by 5.6%.
The annual increase doesn’t just apply to members of the General Assembly. Other public officials — like judges throughout the commonwealth, the governor, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the treasurer, the auditor general and agency heads of the executive branch — will also see a 5.6% hike to their salaries.
The salary of rank-and-file state lawmakers rose to $95,432 as of Dec. 1, up from the $90,335 that it has been for this year and last.
The annual cost-of-living adjustments have long been a topic of discussion around Harrisburg, with critics claiming they are unfair. That’s particularly the case when compared to the state’s stagnant minimum wage.
This year, with many Pennsylvanians still struggling financially as a result of the ongoing COVID pandemic, the automatic raises are receiving an extra bit of scrutiny. And bills have been introduced in both the state House and Senate to eliminate them once and for all.
”Pennsylvania’s minimum wage has not increased since 2007 and wages have remained stagnant, yet our elected officials receive these annual raises automatically,” said state Rep. Gerald Mullery in a statement introducing the House bill. “It is an insult to the thousands of hardworking Pennsylvanians who are not afforded this same entitlement.”
Mullery, a Luzerne County Democrat, is one of two prime sponsors of the bill that has been referred to the House State Government Committee. His fellow Luzerne County Democratic colleague Rep. Mike Carroll is the main supporter of the legislation.
Rep. Mark Gillen, a Robeson Township Republican, has signed on as a cosponsor of the bill. He noted that since his first day in office he has chosen not to take the perks that come with being a member of the General Assembly.
”In these challenging and changing economic times public officials must lead by example and act in the best interest of the taxpayer by repealing the current pay raise law which predates my coming to the Legislature,” he said.
Gillen said that since he took office in 2011 he has typically written a check in the amount of the cost-of-living increase to return to the state Treasury. He has also elected to donate that check to local nonprofit organizations on other occasions.
Rep. Mark Rozzi said he has done that as well during his eight years in office.
The Muhlenberg Township Democrat said he would support the bill to eliminate the cost-of-living adjustments if it makes its way to the House floor for a vote.
”I think we should make it a little tougher on ourselves by making us put up a vote on it if we want a pay raise,” he said. “If we say we’re fiscally responsible then we should walk the walk.”
But, he added, the chances of the bill coming up for a vote are slim.
”I don’t think it will ever make it out of committee,” he said. “I’ve never heard a peep from the Republican side that they would want to move this bill whatsoever. And, since the Republicans are in control of the committee and what bills we vote on, I think they have no interest in calling this bill up.”
When asked why he believes there is little appetite to move the bill, Rozzi said most legislators shy away from voting on legislation that would impact their wallets or the pocketbooks of other elected officials.
”At the end of the day, let’s face it, legislators, especially the ones that I call politicians, are pretty gutless in wanting to move certain bills that affect them personally,” he said. “Most legislators don’t want to talk about taking money out of their pockets. And I understand some of them because we are constantly going and there is never a day that we’re off.
”But, at the same time, we are a full-time Legislature and are some of the highest paid legislators in the country. And, quite honestly, for the amount of pay that we get I feel like we don’t get enough accomplished for the residents of our state. We need to be held responsible for that.”
