Democrats outspend GOP on staff
HARRISBURG – House Democrats are spending $3.5 million more in annual payroll expenses for legislative staff than House Republicans, despite having nearly the same number of employees, according to figures released by GOP leadership. House Democratic employees are costing taxpayers $34.5 million a year for their 835 employees, with an average salary of $41,261.
House Republicans, on the other hand, are spending $30.9 million on payroll annually for their 839 employees, with an average salary of $36,912.
Steve Miskin, spokesman for House Republican Leader Sam Smith, said the payroll totals came from the recently released 2007 employee list.
He would not pass judgment on the salary differentials between the two party caucuses but wanted to “supply correct and honest information” in response to media questions about House payroll expenses.
Tom Andrews, spokesman to House Democratic Leader H. William DeWeese, would not comment Monday because he said he needed to do additional research on the matter.
Andrews had previously justified House Democrats giving the highest amounts in employee bonuses among the four party caucuses in the House and Senate by saying they have the lowest pay-scales.
Bonuses were given to reward staff for a job well done and to make up for employees capped at the top of their pay scales, Andrews said.
However, that assertion has not been independently verified because DeWeese has refused to release pay-scale information.
House Democrats handed out $1,854,505 in bonuses last year to employees, nearly seven times higher than House Republicans’ $269,661.
The difference was reversed in 2005, when House Republicans handed out $649,661 in employee bonuses, compared to House Democrats’ lesser $468,271. Miskin said between those two years House Republicans had adjusted pay scales to a higher level.
Reform activist Gene Stilp said getting to the bottom of the issue requires further information.
“You can only say with the information now available it appears Tom Andrews was not telling the truth about why the bonuses were handed out,” Stilp said. “He has to provide more information.”
Alison Hawkes can be reached at 717-705-6330 or ahawkes@calkins-media.com