State officials getting 3% raise
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HARRISBURG -- State lawmakers may still have a lengthy to-do list for December, but the annual cost-of-living pay increase will begin boosting their paychecks next week.
That 3 percent adjustment, based on the rate of inflation, will hike their salaries by several thousand dollars in most cases, pushing their pay over the $80,000 threshold for the first time.
Automatic raises also go into effect for top executive branch and judicial positions on Jan. 1.
While that 1995 law has been a source of outrage by government-watchdog groups and others in past years -- creating pressure for legislators to return the increase to the state treasury or donate it to charitable groups -- there's so far been little backlash this year.
Asked about the annual increase, Gov. Tom Corbett said he again will donate the additional dollars in his paycheck to charity.
"I have not taken the raise, will not take the raise," Mr. Corbett said earlier this week, adding that he believes approving the automatic increase back in the mid-1990s "was a mistake then, [and] I think it's a mistake now."
His press office did not return a call Wednesday seeking information about which charities he plans to support with those dollars.
The governor's statutory salary is set to rise to about $183,250 with the cost-of-living adjustment. That's up from the current $177,888 and the 2010 rate of $174,914 that Mr. Corbett has decided to retain.
Paychecks for rank-and-file lawmakers will now total $82,026, an increase from the current $79,623. For the four caucus leaders, salaries will be $118,845, up from the current $115,364. Their salaries rank second nationally among all state legislative bodies, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Those who reject the pay increase will still see it in their paychecks, which also will boost their eventual pension amounts. They must either write a check to state government or donate it.
That's led to proposals each year to eliminate the automatic hike, and instead require lawmakers to vote on any new increases.
Crawford County Republican Brad Roae introduced a measure in early November that would reverse that rule only for the state House of Representatives.
"We had a tough state budget last year and this year's is looking difficult again," Mr. Roae said in a statement. "It would be extremely arrogant for state representatives to accept a pay increase at a time like this."
But Franklin & Marshall College pollster G. Terry Madonna said there's little call-to-action among most voters.
"Most people are not even aware of the [cost-of-living adjustment]," Mr. Madonna said. "There's no pressure on them."
Calls to a handful of Western Pennsylvania legislators showed a mixture of sentiments regarding the yearly pay hike.
Rep. Matt Smith, D-Mt. Lebanon, said he has returned his increase during some of the recent recession years, but has not yet decided whether to accept next month's adjustment.
Across the aisle, freshman Rep. Rick Saccone, R-Elizabeth, who does not participate in the state pension program, said he'll be donating the increase.
"If I give it back to the treasury, they'll just spend it," Mr. Saccone said.
First Published November 24, 2011 12:00 am
