Fourth HIGHEST Paid LEGISLATURE (PA) CONSIDERING PAY INCREASE

From another source, Chris L, of YC of PA.

Imagine if your State Representative or State Senator walked into your house, opened up your strongbox, removed some money, and placed it directly into his own wallet. Well, disturbingly, state legislators are going to attempt to vote themselves a huge pay increase, which achieves the same effect. Unless you and other concerned taxpayers act now, this week state legislators will vote themselves a 20% pay increase that they don't need or deserve, especially when we're the ones paying for it. Consider the following:

State legislators are paid $66,203 -- each. A few big shots get more, with the House speaker and Senate president pro tem hauling home $103,347.

As reported by the Harrisburg Patriot-News, state legislators get an extra $126 per day stipend just to show up for work. We also give them a car and insurance -- up to $650 a month -- plus mileage. We pay for their health insurance and provide an annual cost-of-living increase, which there salary automatically goes up with inflation.

State lawmakers increased their pensions by 50 percent three years ago. They already make 51 percent more than the median household income in Pennsylvania. And unlike many state residents, pay nothing toward their health insurance.

If their salary is increased to $80,000 or more, Pennsylvanialawmakers would zoom up from having the fourth-highest legislative salaries to the No. 2 spot, behind California's $99,000, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Unlike members of Congress, state legislators are not forbidden from earning outside sources of income in addition to their legislative pay, and many do.

Pennsylvanians were just socked with a higher income tax rate, and we are paying increasingly higher property taxes--thanks to the very politicians who want to take still more of our money to line their own pockets. Working families cannot afford this outrage!

PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL THE FOLLOWING HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERS AND DEMAND THAT THERE BE NO PAY INCREASE.

EVERY PHONE CALL AND EMAIL TRANSMISSION IS VITAL.

Speaker of the House John Perzel
jperzel@pahousegop.com
(717) 787-2016

House Majority Whip Dave Argall
dargall@pahousegop.com
(717) 787-9024

House Appropriations Chairman Brett Feese
bfeese@pahousegop.com
(717) 787-5270

Rep. Sam Smith
ssmith@pahousegop.com
(717) 787-3845

Senator Robert Jubelirer
rjubelirer@pasen.gov
(717) 787-5490

Senator David Brightbill
dbrightbill@pasen.gov
(717) 787-5708

Senator Jeff Piccola
jpiccola@pasen.gov
(717) 787-6801

Allegheny County Libertarian Party Elects 2005 Board Officers

Press Release
Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh
www.lppgh.org

info@lppgh.org

412-553-6464

November 20, 2004

Pittsburgh, PA - The Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh (which serves Allegheny County) announced the results of its internal election for its 2005 Board of Directors. The 2005 board, a healthy mix of senior and newer members, will officially take office at the end of final 2004 regular meeting on December 15, 2004. The 2005 board member are:

* Timothy Crowley - Chair
* David Powell - Vice-Chair
* Henry Haller - Secretary
* Richard Loether - Treasurer
* Mark Rauterkus - Member at-large
* Thomas Gillooly - Member at-large
* Jerold Gloekler - Member at-large

Tim Crowley, Henry Haller and Rich Loether are the most senior board members. Each has served the Libertarian Party in various administrative and activist capacities for many years. Henry Haller was the 2002 Libertarian Party Lt. Governor candidate. Tim Crowley also serves as the Western Vice-Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania.

Dave Powell and Mark Rauterkus are the newest Libertarian Party members to serve on the board. As a 2004 at-large board member, Dave Powell played a key role in starting a Libertarian Club at the University of Pittsburgh. Mark Rauterkus is a welcome and recent convert from the Republican Party. Before his recent efforts to seek private solutions to closed Pittsburgh recreation facilities, Mark was a candidate for the 2001 Republican nomination for Mayor of Pittsburgh.

In 2005 the LPPGH board will focus efforts on increasing party membership, adding to Libertarian voter registrations, running candidates for local offices, assisting local university libertarian groups and general party building activities.

Libertarian Party of Pittsburgh
P.O. Box 71333
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-553-6464

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States, in Pennsylvania and Allegheny County. It runs more candidates than all other third parties combined.