PACleanSweep: Repeal Not
Enough "Pay it back. Every red cent."
ANNVILLE, PA - With Pennsylvania's General Assembly and Governor Ed Rendell officially repealing the unconstitutional July 7 pay raise, PACleanSweep called on lawmakers to repay all unvouchered expenses. "Repealing the pay raise is only the beginning,"
said PACleanSweep Chair Russ Diamond. "Although lawmakers and the Governor
believe this issue is now behind them, there is much to be done yet. The
158 people who've accepted the money will still be in violation of the
Constitution and their oath of office. They need to pay it back. Every red
cent."
Article II Section 8 of the PA Constitution states
that "no member of either House shall during the term for which he may
have been elected, receive any increase of salary, or mileage, under any
law passed during such term."
Since the July 7 pay raise, lawmakers have
collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in unvouchered expenses.
PACleanSweep insists those funds be repaid in full and urges the
legislature to adopt reforms to prevent further stealth
legislation.
"Although the repeal is now law, there is nothing
to prevent a repeat performance of the shenanigans of July 7. They did it
once, they'll do it again. Next time, it might not be a pay raise, but it
could be something with an even bigger negative impact on taxpayers,"
added Diamond.
"Their apologies ring hollow as long as the
process remains in place allowing them to act in an unconstitutional
manner. They didn't repeal the raise because it was the right thing to do,
they did it out of fear for their political lives. They can't be
trusted."
PACleanSweep will continue to use the "Remember
the Pay Raise" slogan to remind citizens of the still-festering wound that
exists in Pennsylvania government and will continue to serve the public by
focusing a spotlight on the inconsistencies and institutional flaws in
Harrisburg. PACleanSweep is a non-partisan effort
dedicated to defeating incumbent elected officials in Pennsylvania and
replacing them with true public servants. For more information, please
visit www.PACleanSweep.com. |
