Lawmakers live large at taxpayers’ expense
Just two days in Harrisburg, listening to the political elite of Pennsylvania discuss malpractice insurance, property tax reform and budget deficits, makes one thing clear. Everything is larger there. Not necessarily better. Just larger.
We were there for the annual Pennsylvania Newspaper Association’s Legislative Affairs Conference. Gov. Ed Rendell made a luncheon appearance, and leaders from both the House and Senate outlined their views on a rather lengthy list of hot topics.
The new governor said he believes the state faces a significant budget deficit for the current year. The estimates range from $600 million upward. Republican House Majority Leader Rep. John Perzel views the deficit issue as far from being the potential money crisis described by Democrats.
All of the political leaders casually tossed around million dollar figures, even billion dollar amounts, as though the discussions were more about how they should split the tab for lunch.
This atmosphere of high finance, powerful political leaders, and billion dollar budgets leaves you with the feeling that the common folk of our area could never understand such complex issues.
The elitist attitude among some of our legislators is reflected not so much in what they say. It’s more evident in what they do. And how they do it.
A prime example of the disconnect between the political leaders and the taxpayers occurred a few weeks ago.
What would you do if your legislator wrote you out a check for $65,000? That’s for one year of your time. And, if that’s not enough, how about $25,000 a year for two years for one of your friends?
As far fetched as this might seem, this is exactly what the House Democrats have done. After a Democrat legislator lost his House seat last November, the Democrats decided to give him a one-year contract, worth $65,000, courtesy of the taxpayers.
Another Democrat, who decided to retire from the House last year, was signed up for a two-year deal worth $25,000 a year. When asked what exactly they will be doing for the taxpayers of the commonwealth, a spokesman said their legislative expertise is needed to assist the legislature.
What garbage. There’s absolutely no way to justify such deals as these, particularly when the state faces a budget deficit, and there’s even talk among the politicians of a possible tax increase for the next budget year.
Now, the legislative elite will tell you that $115,000 from the $12 million House Democrat Caucus fund, and a multi-billion dollar state budget, is pocket change.
Of course, they miss the point. They are so far removed from the lifestyle of the average working family that they are the ones who fail to comprehend the issue. One-hundred-fifteen-thousand dollars is a lot of money.
If the legislators want to pass out money, give the $115,000 to people who actually need it. Or, those who have done something to earn it. Give it to the volunteer firefighters. Give it to anyone except ex-Democrat legislators.
Is there no shame left in Harrisburg? Isn’t anyone there embarrassed by such blatant political cronyism?
Do they think the citizens who paid their taxes didn’t have to work for every nickel of that $115,000?
This is not free money to be plucked from a tree. People are working every day, fighting to pay their bills, struggling to pay their property taxes. And some state legislators are casually reaching into the back pockets of these working families to write checks to their ex-legislative cohorts to the tune of $115,000.
The issue is not about a billion-dollar budget. It is about how our legislators choose to spend $100,000. Contrary to some in Harrisburg who believe we don’t understand the complex issues they face, it is they who fail to grasp the plight, the struggle to survive, faced by the average working family, trying to keep food on the table.
Some respect for you, the taxpayer, is long overdue.
Mike Ellis is the editor of the Herald-Standard. E-mail address is: mellis@heraldstandard.com.