Our legislators work hard, and though they don’t do anything useful, like getting some nuclear reactors built or oil wells drilled, or improving education with vouchers, they are good at worrying about things like puppy mills and, that horror of horrors, second hand smoke.
If free gas helps them, we should count it a privilege to provide it.

The lowest paid legislator earns $76k. They get a $600 monthly car reimbursement, and fuel is also paid. Now, I dont mind the fuel part but when the average person is earning $37k in the ‘Keystone’ state, these representatives are anything but representative. Think about the size of the PA government: if we cut their pay by $10k a year, and their car reimbursement in half, the state is saving over $6 million a year, not to mention pensions and various other benefits. It should be an honor to serve in government; not a luxury. Remember… we are talking about the same people that vote themselves pay raises and consistently approve cost of living adjustments. They do work hard, I agree. Then again… fire departments are closing; people are losing jobs; food costs are rising; inner city schools continue to not be properly funded; yet our reps dont have to adapt similiarly.

There is absolutely no reason the Philadelphia legislators need anything more than a pass on the public train that runs to Harrisburg everyday in order to get to their job. the perks that come with the job need to be eliminated that over the years are worth more than the salaries. In fact every legislator should get a pass for public transit to get to and from work and then the vast parking areas of Harrisburg would not be needed. If nothing else we know that the quality and quantity of public transit would improve fourfold in a very short time. Otherwise furnish the smallest hybrid cars to one and all in the color of purple so voters will know who is driving where and can wave.

There is absolutely no reason the Philadelphia legislators need anything more than a pass on the public train that runs to Harrisburg everyday in order to get to their job. the perks that come with the job need to be eliminated that over the years are worth more than the salaries. In fact every legislator should get a pass for public transit to get to and from work and then the vast parking areas of Harrisburg would not be needed. If nothing else we know that the quality and quantity of public transit would improve fourfold in a very short time. Otherwise furnish the smallest hybrid cars to one and all in the color of purple so voters will know who is driving where and can wave.

Most, if not all, of these elected officials do not typically face strong opposition during the general elections even after they voted themselves a 16% pay raise in July 2005. Voter reprisal, however, should not be the driving force but respect for the families they represent in Harrisburg. Ask your representative if he will chose solidarity over this entitlement. If he chooses the latter, ask yourself if this choice of entitlement, coupled with the pay raise, warrants our own response. Have these individuals lost touch with your family? Do they vote for pay increases and keep entitlements simply because they enjoy consistently weak opposition? Do they still deserve to be your voice in our state capital or is it time for a changing of the guard?