Pennsylvania wake-up

Voter revolt tells Republicans big spending is a big problem | Anthony Paul Mator

If Pennsylvania's primary election is an indicator, GOP leaders risk a nationwide revolt among their conservative base in November. Republican voters, spurred on by a bipartisan effort to topple the sitting legislature, ousted at least 11 state lawmakers, including the Senate President Pro Tempore, Robert Jubelirer, an eight-term Republican from Altoona with the longest record in state history in the leadership position. Voters also turned out Majority Leader David Brightbill.

Democrats did not remain unscathed: At least six Democrats lost seats, while 30 other lawmakers in the 253-member General Assembly avoided voter wrath by resigning in the fall and winter.

Voter frustration began to climax last year, when Republican-led legislators voted themselves a 16 percent to 54 percent pay hike without floor debate or public hearings and in circumvention of a state ban on midterm raises. The base legislative salary—already nearly double the average state salary—jumped from $69,647 to $81,050 annually, while most lawmakers in leadership positions received a 34 percent increase to $145,463. These numbers do not include the free health care, prescriptions, dental coverage, $10,000 no-receipt expense accounts, pension benefits, or the $128 they collect just for showing up for work.