2006 Golden Dot Award Winner for Best PAC or Nonpartisan Internet CampaignA non-partisan effort to reform state government in PennsylvaniaNamed Pennsylvania Destination of the Day on July 27, 2005
what they said...

Since Act 44 (the pay raise) was passed in the dead of night on July 7 2005, many incumbents have spoken out in response to the public uproar. For your pleasure, here are just a few of the more choice quotes from our Commonwealth's "leaders."

Senate Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer:
"I was compelled by the leadership position I hold."

Senate Majority Leader "Chip" Brightbill:
[his] "position of Majority Leader obliged me to support this."

PACleanSweep response: Obliged and compelled by whom, gentlemen? Real leaders are obliged and compelled only by principle and a need to honestly represent constituents.


Representative Mike Sturla:
"I'm not a constitutional expert."

PACleanSweep response: Ahem... it's the one thing you're sworn to uphold and defend.


Governor Ed Rendell:
"It's legal and that's all I'm saying about it."

Representative Tim Solobay:
"I will do what the law allows for."

PACleanSweep response: Yes, and conveniently, you guys make the laws.


Representative Stephen Barrar:
"The budget is the most complicated piece of legislation we pass every year, it's final passage takes many hours of negotiations to bring it to completion."

PACleanSweep response: But jacking your pay by 16-54% takes a mere 15 minutes with no time for public discussion.


Senator Bob Mellow:
[to citizen Bill McIntyre] "Get a life."

PACleanSweep response: We'll leave that one stand on its own.


Speaker of the House John Perzel:
[on the media coverage] "It's been a slow news month."

[later, on the pay raise] "It passed."

[same day, on a repeal effort] "That's the first I heard about it."

[still same day, on his most pressing issue] "People today are telling me they're worried about outsourcing jobs to China and India."

[later, at a GOP state committee function] Legislators are "volunteers."

[to a little girl who asked if he arrived at her school in a limo, which was parked outside] "I came in a car."

[to a reporter who ask why there was no debate or public input on the pay raise] (after a very pregnant pause) "Do you have any other questions?"

PACleanSweep response: Can you say "completely out of touch?"


House Minority Leader Bill DeWeese:
There was "ample opportunity" to speak out against the pay hike on the House floor for those "quote, unquote, fighting the good fight."

PACleanSweep response: Respecting taxpayers ISN'T the good fight?


Senator "Chip" Brightbill:
[his position] "compelled me to leave the private practice of law."

PACleanSweep response: Your private practice beckons. Resignation is acceptable.


Representative Sam Rohrer:
"I am not accepting the pay raise mid-term because I believe that would be unconstitutional. I can appreciate your desire to not support those legislators who do not follow the Constitution."

PACleanSweep response: Then you won't have a problem when we send you packing, since you voted 'yes' on Act 44, which contains unconstitutional elements.


Governor Ed Rendell:
"This legislature has been as productive as any legislature in the United States."

PACleanSweep response: If you're referring to the sheer volume of useless legislation they churn out, maybe.


Senator Robert Jubelirer:
"As a top leader in the Senate, it is difficult to vote no on a bill like that."

PACleanSweep response: Its the red button, Senator; right next to the green one and just as easy to jam a paper clip in.


Representative Paul Clymer:
"We had seen the possible fallout that was going to occur, and we said to ourselves, 'How would this impact us in the future when we ran for elections?' "

PACleanSweep response: Thanks for thinking of the taxpayers first.


Governor Ed Rendell:
"The unvouchered pay raise was not in the legislation."

PACleanSweep response: Um... hello?


Representative Stephen Barrar:
"I'm saddened by the way this issue has divided me and the other members of the House from the people we represent."

PACleanSweep response: It's been that way for years; Pennsylvanians are only just now waking up.


Representative Scott Boyd:
"Unvouchered expenses were an inappropriate way to go."

PACleanSweep response: Understatement of the year.


PA Supreme Court Chief Justice Ralph Cappy:
[on why judges need so much more money] "How would they send their kids to college?"

PACleanSweep response: The same way the rest of us do it - on a wing and a prayer.


Senator Noah Wenger:
"We haven't had a pay raise in 10 years."

PACleanSweep response: Umm... Can you say 'COLA', Senator?


Representative Steve Maitland:
"When we caucused on it, I knew it would pass. I also knew if it passed, I would take it. Therefore, in order not to look like a hypocrite, I voted yes."

PACleanSweep response: So if everyone else jumped off a bridge, so would you? Not to worry - we can think of many choice words, but 'hypocrite' doesn't have to be first.


Representative Angel Cruz:
[on the portion of the PA Constitution prohibiting taking pay raises in the same term they're approved] "I've never read it. I'd be lying to you if I said I'd read it"

[on PACleanSweep's subsequent call for his resignation] "Please. Give me a break. The only time that I won't be returning to the House is when I'm not reelected. And I do my job, so I'm going to be reelected."

[on why voters should re-elect him to a state, and not a Philadelphia city office] "I have two more terms to finish here before I can lock my pension in, and my medical coverage... it's silly for me to go backwards."

PACleanSweep response: Reading and understanding the Constitution IS your job. We repeat: resign immediately. Have you not even a shred of honor? You've written a brand new definition for the term "self-service."


Representative Merle Phillips:
"If I done wrong, so be it"

PACleanSweep response: And so it be.


Representative Sue Cornell:
[on the unconstitutionality of unvouchered expenses] "It would seem your comments were based on certain newspaper articles you read or comments you heard from talk show hosts."

PACleanSweep response: No, we read it in the Constitution. If you'd bother to blow the dust off your copy, you could read it, too.


Representative Craig Dally:
[on why he wants the first constitutional convention in 37 years] "Much has changed since 1968."

PACleanSweep response: Yes, like a habit of re-electing those who can't follow the Constitution we already have. What makes you think anyone will follow a new, "improved" version? Old habits die hard, but this habit will be kicked.


Senator Jay Costa:
"Tying salaries to comparable federal positions takes it out of the hands of legislators to deal with that, from this point forward."

PACleanSweep response: Except for the fact that the Constitution does not authorize legislators to delgate their duties, this might be a compelling argument.


Representative Paul Costa:
"We constantly hear it's difficult to get quality people to fill the positions when they can make more in the private sector."

PACleanSweep response: Apparently.


Senator Joe Conti:
"I didn’t think I needed a pay increase for what I was doing, but I would not be a leader if I did not vote for it and take it."

PACleanSweep response: We don't think your tactic worked. We're still waiting for you to be a REAL leader.


Representative Neal Goodman:
"None of us do it for the money, it's a privilege to serve... I'm not running for a pay check. I'm running to help change the area I live in and for the people I represent."

PACleanSweep response: So why the raise, Neal? Is that the kind of change you meant for the people you represent?


L. F., a Republican voter:
"I WAS A 1-2000 $ contributer to the GOP for past 20 years, get average 4 money requests a day, now returning and refering them to Pa. GOP who can take all the money the party needs directly from the state treas. Suggest all past contributers, both parties do the same. Money is all they understand."

PACleanSweep response: You're not alone, L. F., you're not alone.



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