News, Entertainment, Enlightenment
State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-12) took to the floor of the Pennsylvania House to defend himself against attacks made against his character to the ire of the real bullies and bigots of our society.
Standing up to the bullies and bigot is something all people who care about things like the truth and other people should do. Well done Rep. Metcalfe.
Watch Metcalfe defend himself here:
Members of the Pennsylvania House return to the Capitol, today, Sept. 23, for fall session, says State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129).
Several important issues will be on the agenda, including pro-jobs measures and pension reform. In addition, lawmakers will continue to work to identify funding for much-needed repairs to the state’s transportation infrastructure, while also working to ensure any plan does not substantially increase the burden for taxpayers.
Court Upholds Redistricting Plan — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of a plan to redraw the boundaries of state House and Senate districts following the 2010 census, reports State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)
10 Pennsylvania Legislators Reject Pensions — The difference between a leader and a tyrant is that a leader acts first expecting others to follow knowing full well that he will share in their sacrifice while a tyrant orders others to accept pain in order to keep himself in wealth and comfort.
Brad Bumsted, the Harrisburg reporter for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, informs us that there are 10 true leaders in the Republican contingent in the state Capitol, as that is the number who refusing their legislative pensions.
They are: Rep. Matt Gabler of Clearfield County, Rep. Tom Sankey of Clearfield County, Rep. Rick Saccone of Allegheny/Washington counties, Rep. Rosemarie Swanger of Lebanon County, Rep. John McGinnis of Altoona, Rep. Justin Simmons of Lehigh County, Chester County representatives Dan Truitt, Warren Kampf and John Lawrence, and Sen. Mike Folmer of Lebanon.
The average legislative pension is $31,314 with some reaching $120,000. The honest 10 are making a real sacrifice. They deserve your thanks and praise.
Hat tip Bob Guzzardi.
State Representative Jim Cox (R-129 has assigned to serve on four standing House committees during the 2013-14 legislative session — the Commerce, Professional Licensure, Game & Fisheries, and Labor & Industry committees.
“These committees play a significant role in reviewing legislation that greatly impacts our economy,” Cox said. “From determining company behaviors to deciding who is licensed to work in certain sectors and how employers and employees will get along, the legislation I will be reviewing will help chart our economic future. Each of these committees deals with a segment of our Commonwealth that greatly contributes to our economy. I’m excited about the important work ahead.”
The state House Commerce Committee vets legislation regulating the behavior of Pennsylvania companies.
The House Professional Licensure Committee reviews legislation that establishes rules governing the licenses required to engage in certain professions in the Commonwealth.
The House Game & Fisheries Committee deals with legislation that affects hunters, fishers and outdoor enthusiasts.
The House Labor & Industry Committee handles legislation dealing with employee-employer relations and the Commonwealth’s unemployment compensation system.
“While I am pleased to serve on these committees, they will not detract from my main focus, which is replacing school district property taxes,” Cox said. “I plan to reintroduce the Property Tax Independence Act and work with the grassroots taxpayer groups that are pushing for it to be enacted into law.”
Taxpayer activist Bob Guzzardi informs us that Mike Vereb, member of Republican State House leadership and the representative for the 150th District, has taken $16,500 since 2008 from PSEA-PACE, which is the public school teachers’ union.
Guzzardi notes that members of House Republican Leadership with exception of Sandra Major (R-111) caucus chairwoman have received substantial payments from PSEA-PACE. For more information visit https://www.campaignfinanceonline.state.pa.us/pages/CFReportSearch.aspx
And this is why commonsense educational and tax reform never seems to prevail in Pennsylvania.
Part-time Legislature For Pa — A push is being made to turn our legislature into a part-time one. This is a good idea.
State Rep. Mike Gerber, who served as the State House Democratic Campaign Committee chairman last cycle, announced Thursday that he is resigning his 148th District (Montgomery County) seat at the end of the term to become senior vice president of public affairs, strategy and product administration at Franklin Square Capital Partners.
Franklin Square, found in 2007, describes itself as enabling investors to tap into the same strategies employed successfully for years by large institutional investors — like pension funds, financial institutions, endowments and high net worth individuals
Just one more Democrat looking out for the little guy. You know, going to the link and looking at the photos of Franklin Square’s management team, well, one can’t say one sees a lot of “diversity” there.
Plan Protecting Career Pols Advances In Pa — The shrinking of the Pennsylvania legislature pushed by Gov. Tom Corbett now has the support of legislative Republican leaders.
Several bills are pending that would cut the size of the legislature now at 50 senators and 203 House members to 40 or 30 senators and to either 153, 151 or 120 House members.
The claim is that it will save money.
Of course, that larger constituencies insulate career politicians from angry voters is a simple, happy by-product.
House members now represent about 63,000 people apiece, while a senator represents about 254,000 people. During the outrage over the 2005 legislative pay hike, only two senators were voted from their seats in 2006 — and in primary elections where the constituency is halved — compared to 23 in the State House including five in the general election. The Republicans kept control of the Senate without a change to their eight-seat majority. The Democrats took eight seats in the House to take control of that body.
If the legislators were serious about saving tax money instead of protecting their jobs they would cut their $79, 623 (rank and file) salaries by a third; eliminate their pension and health plans, and, especially, kill the $163 per diem they give themselves.
But you don’t hear them saying that.
Pennsylvania has a larger than average state legislature. It also has a much higher-paid than average state legislature.
Larger than average representation is good. Larger than average in cost is bad.
Let’s keep the representation and cut the cost. Let’s be represented by fellow citizens and not by mandarins who think their jobs are an entitlement.
John Lawrence, the Tea Party Republican who beat incumbent Democrat Tim Houghton in November to represent the 13th District in the Pennsylvania House has declared that he will accept neither per diems nor pension.
“The citizens of Chester County are tired of rhetoric and are looking for action,” he said. “If we are truly going to reduce the financial burden on taxpayers and get a handle on excessive state spending, then it is incumbent upon me as a lawmaker to lead by example.”
Lawrence advocates replacing the current defined benefit plans for government workers with a defined contribution plan akin to the 401(k) of the private sector.
“Under the state pension system, if investment returns suddenly drop, as they have during the past few years, taxpayers are responsible for making up the difference. The citizens of Pennsylvania should not be forced to fund the pensions of state legislators especially while many individuals have seen their personal retirement savings lose value,” Lawrence said.
While the state’s pension policy is going to have a far greater impact on the lives of Pennsylvanians — the lame-duck bailout is estimated by Commonwealth Foundation to have a cost per household of $1,360 per year — the $163 per diem policy for state legislators is a far more glaring example is what is wrong with government in the state.
Don’t forget these guys are already getting a base pay of close to $80,000, a great health plan and, of course, a pension to die for.
Lawrence had earlier said he will not accept the cost of living increase .
Hat tip to Bob Guzzardi.
Rep. Lawrence is no relation to the proprietor of this site.