I Guess State Lawmakers Haven't Learned Their Lesson

This is just ridiculous!!! It is time to start sending these guys a message since the pay raise backlash of 2005 wasn't enough. Here is a great editorial piece in today's Tribune-Review.

Think the recidivist pickpockets in Harrisburg learned their lesson with the pay-jacking of five years ago or the continuing investigation into allegations of legislative corruption?

Think again.

Two months before the state House Democratic Caucus enacted a salary freeze that supposedly began on Jan. 1, two staffers were given handsome raises.

Paul Parsells was given a raise of $18,642. He's the chief of staff to House Speaker Keith McCall, D-Carbon. That's a 14 percent increase, boosting his salary to $150,000.

And Reizdan Moore, the House parliamentarian, received a raise of $3,926. That boosted his salary to $158,470. Mr. Moore later played an integral role in denying The Patriot-News of Harrisburg, the newspaper that first reported the pay hikes, access to what clearly is public information.

Twelve other staffers received raises after the freeze was imposed. House Majority Leader Todd Eachus, D-Luzerne, calls the raises, each about 3 percent, an administrative error. Nonetheless, he says the raises will stand.

Of course. The buck always "stops" at the bottom of the taxpayers' pockets, eaten away by these rats on the banks of the Susquehanna.

Some things never seem to change in Harrisburg. But voters once again can challenge that reality — beginning in the primary election come May.

The point is nothing will change if we the people don't become active in our political process. It is time to vote out these career politicians and convict them on election day of violating the public trust.