Pay hike repeal measure threatened, supporters say
HARRISBURG – The lifespan of two bills to repeal all or part of the Legislative pay raise could be cut short now that they’ve been sent to a leadership-controlled committee for review, supporters fear. The repeal bills – which offer the best hope outside the courts for a retraction of the pay raise – were sent to the House Rules Committee Tuesday, which is chaired and staffed by the same party leadership who have remained resolute in backing the pay raise.
Supporters of the two repeal bills had hoped House Speaker John Perzel, R-Philadelphia, would send them to the House State Government Committee, where they claim the bills belong by topic and where they had a better chance of full consideration.
The State Government committee has several members supporting the repeal efforts and is chaired by Rep. Paul Clymer, R-Bucks, who has signed onto both repeal bills and is a prime sponsor of the bill retracting the provision allowing unvouchered expenses.
The other bill would negate the entire pay raise, including salary bumps for lawmakers, judges, cabinet secretaries, and others.
Clymer said he is disappointed that the two bills will not come under his watch, and is concerned they could be quashed by virtue of being assigned to Rules.
“If they would have been assigned to State Government Committee, I would have made a commitment to move them for a vote,” he said. “My personal feeling was to give members the opportunity to vote on these bills because I think the system of government here has been severely damaged.”
Still, there is another more difficult and not fool-proof option for sponsors to skirt leadership and get the bills onto the House floor. Sponsors could put together resolutions to pull them from committee, and then use a majority vote in the House to put them on the voting calendar for consideration.
“There’s ways of doing things. You try all your options,” said Rep. Thomas Creighton, R- Lancaster, the prime sponsor of the bill to repeal the entire pay raise. “It would have been a lot easier if it had gone to State Government.”
The Rules Committee is normally in charge of overseeing and recommending procedures of business for the House, whereas the State Government Committee handles a wide range of issues including the election code, constitutional changes, and open records law.
Perzel’s Spokeswoman Beth Williams said the repeal bills “will be treated like any other piece of legislation.” Perzel previously indicated the bills would each need 102 cosponsors, a majority of the House and enough for passage, to be seriously considered. Sponsors have been seeking to gain that number. As of Tuesday, the bill to repeal the entire pay raise had 50 cosponsors, and the repeal bill of the unvouchered expenses had 54, still far short of what’s needed.
“If support is there for the bill, it will be moved,” Williams said.
In Fayette County, Rep. James Shaner, D-Dunbar, signed onto the bill to repeal the entire pay raise. Rep. Jess Stairs, R-Acme, is cosponsoring both repeal bills.
Alison Hawkes can be reached at 717-705-6330 or ahawkes@calkins-media.com