Background

 

RockTheCapital.org is a nonpartisan, voter education organization and a Political Action Committee. RTC was formed in August, 2005 after the Pennsylvania legislative, judicial and executive branches conspired to enact a compensation package in violation of a state constitutional provision which bans seated lawmakers from granting themselves a pay raise. RockTheCapital.org is registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State, and is located 4100 Hillsdale Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112.

 

Board members:

• Pat Carroll, President
• Vera Stuchinski, Treasurer
• Eric Epstein, Secretary

Staff:

• Eric Epstein, Coordinator
• Tom Owad, Webmaster
• Pat Carroll, Contributor
• William McIntyre, Contributor
• Andrew Stein, Contributor
• Bullshagit, Cartoonist

 

 

Chronology

 

The Pennsylvania House and Senate passed Act 44 at 2 a.m., July 7, 2005
increasing the salaries of officials in all three branches of government without public hearings, public debate or public knowledge.

Governor Edward G. Rendell signed the bill that evening, and told the media the following day, “It's legal [‘unvouchered expenses’] and that's all I'm
going to say about it.”

Base Salaries in July, 2005 for the rank and file excluding, per diems, perks, PSAs, pensions and paid health insurance; prior to the pay raise, was $69,648 for rank and file.

The pay raise “...increased legislators' base pay to $81,050 - more than any other state except California - and most lawmakers received more money because of expanded stipends in the bill for leadership or committee posts. Individual members saw raises ranging from 16 to 54 percent.” (The Associated Press, Peter Jackson, How Pa. legislators' pay raise was born and how it died, September 14, 2006.)

As a result of public pressure, the General Assembly passed and Gov. Ed Rendell signed Act 72 of 2005 repealing the raise on November 16, 2005. Act 72 did not require those who had received increased salaries to return the funds.

In total, 158 lawmakers accepted the raise. Numerous legislators have opted not to repay the “unvouchered expenses” or donated the money to charity. These amounts can be applied toward pension calculations and verified through the State Employees Retirement System.

On September 14, 2006, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that “unvouchered-expenses” violated the state constitution, but did not order recipients to pay the money back. The Court also reinstated the pay raises for themselves and approximately 1,200 judges.

 

 

Update

July 7, 2009

60 Current and Former Legislators
Still Refuse to Pay the Money Back

 

(Harrisburg, Pa) - RockTheCapital.org released a review of current and former state legislators who accepted an increase in their pay through “unvouchered expenses,” refused to pay the money back, and retired or were defeated in 2006 and 2008.

Eric Epstein, Coordinator of RockTheCapital.org, stated: “Fifty three former and current House members and seven Senators have refused to return ‘unvouchered expenses’ or donated the unconstitutional income to charities. In either instance, the lawmakers have benefitted through increased wages, ‘pension bounces’, or job promotions.”

The numbers have been adjusted since April 2008, but the final analysis indicates that 53 our of 131 House members kept the loot, and eight out of 27 senators profited from the late night caper.

Initially, 131 House members and 27 Senators signed up for “unvouchered expenses.” Payments were received between July 7 and November 16, 2005, ranging from $1,288 to $14,553.32 (before taxes). The repealed pay raises would have boosted lawmakers’ salaries from 16 to 54 percent, depending on seniority, rank, title, and “leadership.”

According to the Majority Leader, Todd Eachus, "The pay-raise thing, I think, is finally behind us. I think we're on to other issues now." (Patriot News, February 17, 2008)