HARRISBURG -- The state Senate today unanimously voted to repeal a controversial pay raise it gave itself and other state officials in a late-night vote in the summer. A few hours after the 50-0 vote, Gov. Ed Rendell signed the repeal bill.

The Senate vote followed a similar vote in the House on Monday..

The hike, which ranged from 16 to 34 percent, provoked a barrage of criticism, not only for its size but for the way it was passed -- without public hearings, without debate and in the middle of the night.

Lawmakers have also been ripped for arranging to take the raises now through "unvouchered expenses," allowing them to circumvent rules that normally prevent them from receiving raises in the same term the raises were approved.

A voter backlash against the hikes is credited with last week's rejection of state Supreme Court Justice Russell Nigro's bid for retention.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.