We asked readers what they thought of the bonuses given to legislative aides and whether the amounts were excessive.

Read the Post-Gazette's coverage:
GOP halts bonus practice
State House bonuses stun Rendell

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Replies

To all of the residents of Pennsylvania, you MUST contact your legislatures -- NOW -- and let them know that you Do Not support the bonuses, proposed sales tax hike, the continue waste in state government.

Gov. Ed Rendall has increase your state wage tax and he now wants to increase your state sales tax. Don't be fooled when he talks about using the sales tax increase to reduce property tax.

For the majority of the taxpayers, that will not happen. Our state government must reduce cost.

The next time you look at your phone bill, heating bill, electric bill, cable bill, cell phone bill, and etc, notice that the state takes a percentage of your bill.

All it takes is for each and every resident to contact the legislatures and Gov. Rendall office ... one time ... and they will take notice. Let's pick a day in February, say February 14, that we all send a notice.

-- Roy Petrichevich, Bethel Park

Does anyone believe for a moment that Gov. Ed Rendell or the rest of the Pennsylvania Legislature actually have the people's best interests in mind?

Tell me again when people will start seeing "property tax relief" without having to pay through the nose for the increased sales tax and employment tax.

How much do you want to bet that the first item of interest to get funding will be shoring up the State Employees Pension Fund they so generously improved on several years ago.

I knew where everything was heading earlier this year when Mr. Peduto talked about finding stable and increased revenue streams for funding of the obnoxious contracts with the city firefighters, police, and other public employee unions that want more money for less work and efficiency.

The same theme is being repeated over and over from our politicians. I hope all Pennsylvania citizens enjoy being little fish in that "stream".

-- Robert Barclay, Grove City

While most people clammer about legislative staff bonuses, and at the same time Uncle Ed [Rendell] is looking to raise state sales tax, I say that there is plenty of room and opportunity to give people in government big bonuses.

Let's give a bonus to the guy that can figure out how to get a new hockey arena, keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh, and not have the taxpayers foot the bill. Let's give a bonus to the first person who can figure out that an efficient light rail system from New Kensington to the North Shore would be a lot less expensive than renovating Route 28, and could replace many Port Authority empty bus trips. Let's give a bonus to the person who can weigh the cost of job losses in Pennsylvania in the name of broken promises of property tax relief. Let's give a bonus to the guy who figures out that Pittsburgh is a city of bridges, and the last thing we now need is a tunnel under the Allegheny River.

If my neighbor buys a new car, can I expect the additional $250 on average that he will have to pay for the proposed one percent increase in state sales tax, to lower my property tax, or the property tax of someone in Philadelphia? If someone can figure out how it can lower my property tax, then I say give that guy a bonus.

Will the first person that obtains property tax relief please stand up and tell us why they voted for Gov. Rendell? Be persuasive and I'm sure Uncle Ed can find a bonus for you too.

-- Rick Eichenlaub, Springdale

No, it is not an internal problem! Anything concerning taxpayer money should be part of a public debate, The legislature is out of control and seems to think they can do whatever they want with OUR money! My god where does it end, They seem to think they can do whatever they want without answering to anyone and this has to STOP NOW. One way or the other, We should have listened to the people who wanted to vote them all out of office last election! Guess we will have to do it next time!

-- Terry A Bish

Typical Pennsylvania. Rendell was elected originally on his "property tax relief" promises, and now wants to tax something else to make up for it. You Democrats just keep putting them in office, when will you learn?

-- Steve Wagner, North Fayette

Another example of the arrogance of elected offficials. Why do they need so many staff members? Why do they get per diem and stell get free cafeteria services and then an expense account? Te legislature should be cut in haflf and the remainder should have their staffs cut in half. They should, like anyone else, explain all extra expenditures, not recieve a car but recieve mileage for the use of private vehicles. The governor should also cut half of his staff and be required to supply and expense account and the budget would be balanced without any more tax dollars from the working citizens.

-- Bill Thomas, Wexford

These bonuses come from leadership accounts. These same accounts reward legislatures who conform to the leaders' agenda by giving them walking around money (WAM) to take back to their district and present large cardboard checks. There must be less power in the leadership's hands and more with the rank and file membership, and therefore the citizens. Leadership positions should rotate within committees and not be solely based on seniority. Term limits should be imposed on all elected leadership positions.

There is currently a proposal in the state Senate for a more open and honest government including quick posting of Senate votes. The House should adopt this open format so their constituents can track their votes and compare them with the leadership. Walking around money should not be controlled by the leadership, rather given equally to all Legislative members for appropriate district needs.

The current method makes it difficult for those legislatures who oppose the leadership, but want to "deliver" for their districts. However, if the new representatives and those who claim to oppose leadership's status quo worked to make the above changes, they could make a difference. If they do not, these ethical issues will continue to impede the overall function of our state government.

-- Steve Karas, Forest Hills

It appears that it is business as usual in Harrisburg. Who can believe a governor would not know this, especially if he is a member of the same political party and as such is in the leadership of same.

-- Dale B. Larson, McMurray

This is just another way of or politicians sticking it to us .They do not care about reform, Bill DeWeese is not one bit worried about the people of Pennsylvania he is self serving.The new legislators will bend to the old guard and we will be in the same boat -- more perks more graft and what ever else they can steal. The whole legislative bodies -- both House and Senate -- think and believe they are the lords and the people of Pennsylvania are the serfs.

-- Frank Chiappetta, Elizabeth Township

This is just another case to think about downsizing government. Every time I email my legislator about this and asking them to pay something for health care like the rest of us I get no reply.

They also seem to shy away from the question of term limits. I find this a little funny.

-- Timothy P. Meyers, Valencia, Pa.

Those bonuses are out of line for government employees. It would be better to spend it on public transit, conservation activities, or something else that benefits all the people of Pennsylvania, not just a few favorite aides.

-- Marcie Hayhurst

• Bloated Legislature
  
• No move toward municipal consolidation
  
• Complete mismanagement of Port Authority
  
• Taxpayers paying for stadiums
  
• Illegal drugs sold on streets with impunity
  
• Legalized gambling
  
• Triple Tax Increases
  
• Sneaky politicians and pay raises and now Bonuses for doing their jobs?

M y family will be leaving as soon as I sell my properties. Happiness is seeing Pennsyltucky in my rearview mirror.

-- David Marks, Duquesne

And you wonder why people make a career in government. What a gig for these legislative mooks -- pull down a hefty salary plus a bonus fat enough to make most of us schlubs in the private sector cry on our W-2 statements. Nice work if you can get it.

The good news, I suppose, is that the light of disclosure has shone on another dark corner of that thieves' haven called Harrisburg.

Mr. DeWeese, be afraid. Be very afraid.

-- Dan Skantar, North Fayette

Regarding legislative bonuses, one has to wonder exactly how something like this is even possible. As a worker in the private sector, I am paid a salary, contribute to my health coverage, and in being salaried, am obligated to work until the 'job is done' with no luxury of overtime. When the company does well, we receive a bonus which is part of the profit margin of the company for the past fiscal year.

With the state, however, all funds are as a result of taxes, paid by the citizens of this state. As a state worker, either elected or appointed, you receive a salary for the work as it is prescribed by your job description. Government is not supposed to be a for profit generated "business" and therefore, I must question where bonuses come into play. If the citizens became irate over salary increases for elected officials, then why would these legislature think that it's ok to dispense the same to salaried and hourly employees. Are the Democrats going to whine that we did it because the Republicans would do it? Do they realize that they were elected to 'change' things and not give us more of the same?

Is it time already to vote out or impeach those we believed to be our saviors? I cannot fault the employee but the legislator should have known better. If I had $1.9 million dollars lying around, I am certain that I would have found a better use for it that would have helped a lot more people in a lot more communities.

-- Bob Poropatich, Pittsburgh

My comment is: The legislators and staff who have defended these bonuses repeatedly say that they were given for hard work and for those staff who work 60-70 hours a week at night and on weekends. What are they working on? The state legislature has accomplished so little over the last few years. If these hard working staffers are putting in these incredible hours, it can only be for the personal gain of house members like Mr. DeWeese and former member, Mr. Deon, in addition to the senate's biggest violaters, former Senators Jubelirer and Brightbill. Reform can't happen soon enough. I could go on but space doesn't allow.

-- Joseph Brett, Johnstown