(PA) Perzel vows to end talk of pay raises (for lawmakers of 16 to 34%)

Robbien

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Mon Jun-19-06 11:44 PM
Original message

(PA) Perzel vows to end talk of pay raises (for lawmakers of 16 to 34%)

HARRISBURG -- Every time House Speaker John Perzel tries to defend the Legislature's now-repealed pay raises, things seem to backfire. So from now on, he said yesterday, he's just going to keep his mouth shut. Pennsylvanians "have spoken the pay raise was wrong," he said. "It's been repealed in accordance with the wishes of the people. I have been defending something that the people of Pennsylvania have deemed as indefensible."

Soon after the 16 percent to 34 percent raises were secretly enacted July 7, the Philadelphia Republican flew off to China for several weeks, leaving GOP legislators to take the heat from an angry public.

When he got back to Harrisburg in September, he made the mistake of trying to justify the pay raises by claiming that Lancaster County cow milkers earn almost as much as a legislator's $71,000 salary. Dairy workers laughed and said no way, maybe they make $20,000 to $30,000, with overtime.

Then last week, Mr. Perzel raised more eyebrows when he told a TV interviewer that tattoo artists in Philadelphia make more than legislators. He also claimed there are "30-some legislators who can't apply for a credit card because their credit's so bad."

Those claims drew more skepticism, not to mention chuckles, aimed at both Mr. Perzel and the other 108 House Republicans.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06171/699636-85.stm

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Selatius

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Mon Jun-19-06 11:56 PM
Response to Original message

1. This is why I believe in the power of referendums and initiatives

If Congress did the same thing and people had the power of introducing referendums and initiatives, then the people could easily challenge Congress' action by introducing a referendum on the issue. If a set number of signatures can be garnered, then the issue is placed on the ballot, and if a majority votes to reverse what Congress did, then it shall be reversed.

If the people wanted to rig the laws so that every time Congress gives itself a pay raise of, say, 5%, then the people can go ahead and initiate an initiative to do so, and if the petition garners enough signatures, again, the issue is put on the ballot.

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dsc

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Tue Jun-20-06 07:23 AM
Response to Reply #1

3. I am not so enamoured with referenda and initiatives

since they are the vehicles by which my rights have been taken away in over a dozen states.

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Selatius

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Tue Jun-20-06 12:46 PM
Response to Reply #3

8. Those states probably weren't worth living in anyway

Edited on Tue Jun-20-06 12:46 PM by Selatius

As soon as I can become financially secure, I'm leaving Mississippi.

If I had any say in it, I'd break up the US into several smaller states and institute reforms in more progressive areas and let the reddest areas rot in their own pile.

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dsc

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Tue Jun-20-06 03:31 PM
Response to Reply #8

9. California and Maine are two of them

Michigan is another. It isn't only horrible red states doing this.

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Selatius

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Tue Jun-20-06 05:44 PM
Response to Reply #9

11. California banned gay marriage?

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dsc

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Tue Jun-20-06 07:25 PM
Response to Reply #11

12. yes by referenda in 1996

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enough already

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Tue Jun-20-06 07:29 AM
Response to Reply #1

4. The people of Pa dealt with this just fine at the ballot box

There is no need for referendums on this kind of thing.

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Vidar

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Tue Jun-20-06 08:18 AM
Response to Reply #1

6. Good idea.

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spag68

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Tue Jun-20-06 12:20 AM
Response to Original message

2. Finally something in my homestate to be proud of

besides the steelers.

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Number9Dream

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Tue Jun-20-06 07:59 AM
Response to Original message

5. Any Democrats running against Perzel??

I would think Perzel couldn't be more ripe for defeat in November. With this asshole handing ammo to any Dem who wants run against him, are any Dems going to take him on?

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bleedingheart

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Tue Jun-20-06 03:48 PM
Response to Reply #5

10. his two cronies got ousted in the GOP primary

but they got ousted by right wing nazi GOPers...probably worse than Perzel...

As for Perzel...he isn't up for reelection this year...

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RCinBrooklyn

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Tue Jun-20-06 08:27 AM
Response to Original message

7. I think public officials should be subject to execution in some cases.

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