genestilp

2005-09-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

Donate the Illegal Pay Raise to Red Cross

Below is part of the press release from yesterday.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 1, 2005

CONTACT: GENE STILP
717-443-6421

PLAINTIFF IN ILLEGAL PAY RAISE CASE CHALLENGES
135 LAWMAKERS TO GIVE ILLEGAL MID-TERM SALARY
RAISES TO RED CROSS FOR HURRICANE VICTIMS

The plaintiff in the illegal pay raise case, Gene Stilp, challenged the remaining 135 legislators who are taking the illegal mid-term raise to give the money to the American Red Cross for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"heir constituents have not been able to shame the last 135 legislators into renouncing the illegal mid-term salary in the form of illegal unvouchered expenses, so the least they can do is to donate their ill gotten gain to help the Red Cross,"said Gene Stilp.

"It is the Pennsylvania taxpayers’ money, but if they won' give it back, maybe we can shame them into doing a good act,"said Stilp. "t will be interesting to see what they are made of, especially the leadership in both parties."

2005-08-31T19:41:00.000-07:00

Plaintiff In Illegal Pay Raise Case Challanges Legislators To Give The Unvoucherd Salary To Red Cross For Hurricane Relief

There are still 133 legislators who are accepting the mid-term salaries in the form of unvouchered expenses. No matter how much their constituents shame them they still refuse to do the right thing.

Tomorrow I will put out a press release that challanges them to give those funds to the Red Cross for the hurricane victims.

Let's see what they say.

2005-08-30T20:28:00.000-07:00

Finally the Other Side Responds - They Want to Go Forward With the Illegal Pay Raise Case

You go to love the Associated Press. Who else would watch for obscure deadlines like the response deadline in the illegal pay raise case. Peter Jackson filed his article on the oppositions' response to the original complaint. Good job.

Obviouisly this is just a formality. The case will proceed and we will get into the thick of things on the illegal legislative pay raise . The prize for best fiction will be awarded to the other sides brief writer thus crushing the story about the young wizard guy whose name I cannot remember at this time of night.

Harry Potter, that's it. Their brief will be better fiction.

By the way this 16% to 34% myth has just been blown away by Peter Jackson. he figurs the Senate deputy whip position, newly created, will garner someone a 54% increase.

Not bad for a night's work. The @#$&$#@s

2005-08-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

Illegal Pay Raise and a Real Legislative Audit

Maybe one of the things that can come out of this illegal pay raise case is a real outside audit of the legislature.

We have all learned of the $135 million slush fund that has probabaly grown since that number was from a fake audit last year that just touched the surface.

The legislature will never let a real audit happen, oh let's say by the Pennsylvania Auditor General.

So we will never really know unless you demand it.

Keep raising questions about the $135+ million to your legislators and the press.

If you don't do it, it won't get done.

2005-08-27T11:53:00.001-07:00

College Students Will Add Impact To the Illegal Pay Raise Fight

A good many colleges start class this week and next. I am hoping that a good many students notice the illegal pay raise fight and start getting active.

If you are a student, spread the word. Go to google.news to review the past months news articles at "pennsylvania Pay raise."

We need the freshy spirit of college students to get involved. But why stop there. High school student may be just as effective.

Well, get to work. You're not going to learn much here.

2005-08-27T11:53:00.000-07:00

2005-08-25T20:40:00.000-07:00

Pay Raise Actions and Your Local District Attorney

Some folks have called and asked which were the sections of Title 18 that some distrcit attorneys were reviewing. My understanding was that it was part of Title 18, something like 4701. So here is 4701 et seq. below.

Title 18, Crimes and Offenses of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes.

Section 4701. Bribery in official and political matters, (a) Offenses defined.—A person is guilty of bribery, a felony of the third degree, if he offers, confers or agrees to confer upon another, or solicits, accepts or agrees to accept from another: (1) any pecuniary benefit as consideration for the decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant, party official or voter by the recipient; (2) any benefit as consideration for the decision, vote, recommendation, or other exercise of official discretion by the recipient in a judicial, administrative or legislative proceeding; or (3) and benefit for consideration for a violation of a known legal duty as a public servant or party official.

Title 18, Section 4702. Threats and other improper influence in official and political matters. (a) Offenses defined. – A person commits an offense if he: (1) threatens unlawful harm to any person with intent to influence his decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant, party official or voter; (2) threatens unlawful harm to any public servant to any public servant with intent to influence his decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding; or (3) threatens unlawful harm with intent to influence him to violate his known legal duty.

Title18, Section 4703. Retaliation for past official action. A person commits a misdemeanor of the second degree if he harms another by any unlawful act in retaliation for anything lawfully done by the latter in the capacity of public servant.

Have some fun. See if any of these sections fit in with demotions or promotions in light of the Pay Raise Act press reports. Or call your local prosecutor to see what they think.

2005-08-22T18:59:00.000-07:00

Pay Raise Proponents Can Learn From This Massive Civics Lesson

Go out anywhere in Pennsylvania and you can get an opinion on the pay raise. Just about everyone is aware of the controversy. I am headed to Philadelphia tomorrow and I am going to the Reading Market between meetings to conduct a randon survey of the views on the pay raise. OK. I'm going to the Reading Market to eat the great food. But I will do a survey there.

Have any of you conducted surveys in your community? Any results? Let me know, the questions you asked and the insights you received.

How do you say "No Pay Raise" in Spanish by the way?

2005-08-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

What Direction Will the Pay Raise Fight Take Next?

I sure do not know. Do you? I have said enough on these litte blogs the past forty days. Somebody else tell me what should be done next? I am all ears. Have a great weekend.

2005-08-18T18:16:00.000-07:00

178 Days Until You Can Pass Petitions For Your Legislative Office

The days will pass fast. Don't wait until the last minute to start thinking about running for office.

Begin to line up the folks it will take to get the three hundred signatures necessary for your petitions and the two hundred extra you should have for insurance.

Get on the web and begin to learn the fine points that you need to run for office.
If you find a good site, share it here.

In the meantime you can learn a lot by focusing on the elections this fall. Specifically, it is time to look at organizing a "NO" vote on the judicial retention of the two Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices that are up in just eleven weeks.

You have seventy one days. Get to it.

2005-08-17T21:34:00.000-07:00

Patriot News Urges Investigation of Chief Justice Ralph Cappy

I am deeply honored that the Patriot news has issued an editorial that urges the ethics investigation of the Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Ralph Cappy.

I do hope more newspapers follow suit.

In the meantime I have to find a place to host the complaint on the net. Any takers?

Sorry about missing and not putting up a blog yesterday. More soon.

2005-08-15T11:55:00.001-07:00

Judicial Board is Asked to Investigate Supreme Court Chief Justice Ralph Cappy

I am sorry that this is not a website but only a blog. Websites have information. Blog sites have commentary. The complaint to the Judicial Review Board will be posted soon.

It basicially states that Supreme Court Chief Justice Ralph Cappy violated Canons 1, 2 and 4 of the Code of Judicial Ethics.

So, I'm sorry I do not have more today. Today was spent filing the complaint and doing the follow up.

When the actual website goes up the court case and documents such as the Judicial Board complaint will be posted.

Thanks for your patience.

2005-08-15T11:55:00.000-07:00

2005-08-14T22:18:00.000-07:00

Chief Justice Cappy and the Pay Raise

It has been a week since the mainstream media has really said anything about Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ralph Cappy. Will he fade into the distance for his role in this illegal pay raise or will something fetch him out of the darkness from which he came a few weks ago?

Where will the sunshine come from to brighten up his day since no one is paying attention to him anymore?

Any ideas?

I know that folks are planning a great effort to get folks to vote "No" for retention of two Pennsylvanaia Supreme Court judges come November 8 this year.

You can be part of that effort by spreading the message.

But citizens still want to do something about Cappy now.

Stay tuned.

2005-08-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

Pay Raise Means Higher Legislative Pension Costs For You

Today's Lancaster Intelligencer Journal documents the impact the pay raise has on you in future budgets.

Reporter Charles Lardnerwrites a indepth look at the impact.

"It's estimated the controversial pay-raise legislation will add $16.5 million to the state budget every year, and the benefits increase could fatten that number even more.

But lawmakers who voted on the controversial bill in the early morning hours of July 7 never knew what the potential impact on the budget would be because they also voted to waive rules governing the consideration of bills.

Rules adopted by the Legislature at the beginning of each session require that every bill that will have a financial impact on the state budget include a "fiscal note" outlining its potential cost to taxpayers. The bill can't face a vote without it.

The rules also require that any proposed law that would add costs to the state's pension system be accompanied by an assessment showing what the potential impact, if any, would be on the pension system.

But the costs of H.B. 1521 weren't made available to lawmakers or the public because of the vote waiving these requirements."

Read the whole article and weep. What am I saying. Read it and get pure mad and demand that your local legislator introduce a bill to revoke, repeal, rescind the whole pay raise.

2005-08-12T19:57:00.000-07:00

Use news.google.com and seacrh for "Pennsylvania Pay Raise"

In case you are a newcomoer to the internet or the issue, it would be good for you to do your homework on the brief history of the pay raise. To read a lot of what has been written just go to news.google.com and search pennsylvania pay raise, or any similar phrase. There are a few articles. Or you can search for your legislators' names. I am sure that every legislator has had a least one article written about what he or she is doing abouthe raise.

Test is Monday. Of course it is multiple choice.

2005-08-11T20:02:00.000-07:00

Tribune Review Digs Up $135 Million in Legislative Slush Fund

Your money has been saved for years by the legislature in special accounts in case you ever need help. The Pittsburgh Tribune Review filed the story and will follow up with quite a few more.

What's that? It isn't for the taxpayer?

But didn't the money come from the taxpayers through the budget process?

So the legislature did not need the budgeted money and instead of returning it, kept it?

Now the legislature is saying that it needs more money for expenses although it didn't use the money given it in the past?

There is clarification needed here somewhere. Maybe it should be part of the pay raise case? Let's see where all that money came from and when and for what wasn't it spent and when wasn't it returned?

And where is your interest?

2005-08-10T20:21:00.000-07:00

Seven Pennsylvania Soldiers Killed In Iraq This Week

The legislators have totally forgot that the country is at war. Their junkets and pay grabs are an insult while we are at peace and exponentially so while the country is at war. That's all today.

2005-08-09T19:20:00.000-07:00

Confronting Your Local Politicians Is Working

As of today eight lawmakers, and I use that term loosely, have decided not to take the unvoucherd expenses/salary that they signed up for in late July.

You as a citizens have the power to make effective change. Most of the legislators that have changed cited the fact that they heard from their constitutents loudly and clearly.

So keep on going. Help folks you know in an adjoining district to work on their legislators.

Wait a minute. I just noticed that you still have to get both your home town legislators to get ride of the unvouchered expenses. That means your senator and representative.

Then you have to get them to revoke the entire pay raise bill.

2005-08-08T18:06:00.002-07:00

Encourage Local Supporters Not To Give Campaign Contibutions To Those Who Voted Yes

As far back as I can remember the one sure way to make a politician pay attention is to turn the discussion to campaign contributions.

Supporters who are upset with a legtislators pay raise vote should shut their check books. A pay raie vote means no campaign money. Period.

If you like your legislator do him or her a favor. No contributions until the pay raise is rescinded. You can correct his or her character flaw.

You got the power. Use it.

2005-08-08T18:06:00.001-07:00

2005-08-08T18:06:00.000-07:00

2005-08-07T22:42:00.000-07:00

The Governor Can Call A Special Session To Fix the Pay Raise Crisis

It is easy. Under Article IV, Section 12 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, Governor Rendell can call a "Special Session" of the General Assembly to fix the destruction that the three branches of government did through the pay raise bill.

Call it for Tuesday, September 6, and the legislature should only need a couple of days. We know how fast they can work when they want something. They should want to restore the Pennsylvania citizens' confidence in their government which the government destroyed.

It would take a two sentecne bill. "Act 44 of 2005 is hereby repealed. This act takes place immediately."

2005-08-06T19:12:00.000-07:00

Pay Raise Crisis Reflects Public's Lack of Confidence In The Legislature

The unvouchered expenses are not the real problem. The pay raise is not the chief problem either. They are the current tip of the iceberg that has surfaced.

The real problem is that all the branches of government in Pennsylvania have let the public down. The public has no confidence in government in general and the pay raise arrogance has finally gone to far.

The legislature is the main focus of the public's ire because they are the most visible part of this current insult to the citizens' sensibilities.

This time the public's anger is not going to subside and they are not going to wait until the next election to cast a symbolic vote. The public is actually organiziong to find a challanger in their respective parties to oppose the incumbent in the primary.

2005-08-05T18:57:00.001-07:00

Legislators Playing Pay Raise Hide and Seek

Lebanon Daily News publisher, David L. Smith writes a great editorial about the attempts to get a major player in the Senate to comment on his vote and acceptance of the illegal unvouchered expenses.

Mr. Smith points out what I have been saying about firends of a legislator confronting their friend about his or her actions. I called it an intervention in a previous entry akin to family members confronting a loved on heavy drinking or injurious behaviour.

In regard to Senator Brightbiil and representative Zug, Mr. Smith writes:

"I count Chip Brightbill and Pete Zug among my friends, and I certainly hope that doesn’t change. Friends, however, should be able to tell friends when they are wrong. Well guys, you’re wrong."

Please read Mr. Smith's great editorial and follow Mr. Smith's example with your own hometown senator and representative.

I just hope you have better luck finding them and getting a response.

(And tell them what you want. You want them to put in a bill to revoke the pay raise.)

2005-08-05T18:57:00.000-07:00

Legislators Playing Pay Raise Hide and Seek

Lebanon Daily News publisher, David L. Smith writes a great editorial about the attempts to get a major player in the Senate to comment on his vote and acceptance of the illegal unvouchered expenses.

Mr. Smith points out what I have been saying about firends of a legislator confronting their friend about his or her actions. I called it an intervebntion in a previous entry akin to family members confronting a loved on heavy drinking or injurious behaviour.

In regard to Senator Brightbiil and representative Zug, Mr. Smith writes:

"I count Chip Brightbill and Pete Zug among my friends, and I certainly hope that doesn’t change. Friends, however, should be able to tell friends when they are wrong. Well guys, you’re wrong."

2005-08-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

You Can Make A Difference in Your Local District

Word comes today that State Sen. Sean Logan, D-Monroeville, has changed his mind and won't take the unvoucherd expenses. He said he changed his mind because of calls from his constitutents. That's regular people. Regular people can make a difference.

You have the power to make a difference. Call you local senator and representative.

But don't be fooled. It isn't enough not to take the unvouchered expense, tell them you want a bill put in that repeals and rescinds the entire pay increase. That's right you can actually call these guys and girls and tell them that.

It only takes a local call. What are you afraid of. Get off your butt. Stop reading this drivel and make the call.

2005-08-03T13:44:00.001-07:00

Start Drafting the Bill To Rescind the Pay Raise

It only takes a few lines in a bill to rescind the pay increase and the unvouchered expenses. A few lines are all that is necessary to return the salary levels to what they were on July 6, 2005.

Then the difficult part will be to get a fifty percent plus one member of each legislative body to sign on.

The number in the House of Representatives is 102 and the number in the Senate is 26.
That is only 128 people. Already there are 93 representatives or senators that were scared enough by their constitutents to refuse the unvouchered expenses. I do not know how that number divides up between each body but the majority plus one in each legislative body is something to shoot for.

Who is going to be the courageous legislator in the House and another in the Senate who will go forward on this effort?

Know of any volunteers?

2005-08-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

2005-08-02T15:52:00.000-07:00

How To Intervene and Confront Legislators Who Backed the Pay Raise

Did you ever notice that it is always someone else's legislator that is wrong and not your own. You home town senator or representative probably spoke at your kid's graduation, got a PACE program application for an elderly relative and sent you a birthday message last birthday.

That's right, the guy who gave himself a huge pay raise and an unvouchered expense account is probably a longtime family friend.

So how do you put his friendship and his actions in Harrisburg in perspective?

The closest analogy I can think of is when a family member has a major problem and his friends and relatives have to do an intervention.

Everyone gathers and surprises the relative and confronts the poor person in a serious way and suggests that corrective action be taken.

Maybe the same thing should happen in the pay raise battle.

Gather some friends schedule an appointment on something and then confront your friend the legislator when you sit down with him.

As for corrective action? Tell him you want a bill introduced and passed to rescind the pay increase when he goes back to Harrisburg in September. Or tell him you at least want a bill top rescind the unvouchered expenses even if he is not taking them.

If worse comes to worse and he is acting like a drunken sailor on his new cash bonus and won't do anything for you in Harrisburg on the pay raise, tell him you want part of the unvouchered expenses money for your favorite charity.

2005-07-31T13:12:00.000-07:00

The Pay Raise Battle Is Alive and Well As August Begins

The belief among the members of legislature that the pay raise anger would disipate and go away is proving to be totlally false. If anything, the anti-pay raise anger continues to grow.

Every time a legislator attends a social event this summer, a constituent has asked him or her about the pay raise and told the legislator exactly what he or she thought about the pay increase.

So continue to confront your hometown electd representative over the pay raise. Keep it up until the raise is rescinded.

2005-07-30T20:24:00.000-07:00

Senators Who Voted Yes On Pay Raise That Run in 2006

We won't know until next week which senators are or are not taking the pay raise. We do know which senators voted "yes" on the pay raise. And we do know which senators are running in the 2006 primary.

The list of senators who voted "yes" on the pay raise and who are also running next year is as follows. Republicans: Brightbill, Conti, Corman, Erickson, Greenleaf, Jubelirer, Lemmond, Robbins, Tomlinson, Wenger. Democrats: Mellow, Musto, Stout, Anthony Williams.

There you have it. If you want to do something about senators who voted "yes" on the pay raise, you can begin to gather the signatures on Febrauary 14, 2006 to run against them. So get your organization together because it is hard to gather the necessary signatures in the middle of winter.

Good luck. Time moves fast.

2005-07-29T05:46:00.000-07:00

Pay Raise Vote Results in Legislative Castrations: Will They Fight Back?

The legislative pay raise story has a new twist every day. Now the retributions have begun. Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Amy Worden's article reports that 15 democratic membrs who voted against the pay raise have lost their subcommittee positions. The swift sword of the minority leader came down hard.

Now it will be interesting to see if they band together and stand up to the minority leader or if his will is iron? Don't expect much if any testicular regrowth.

The other question is: Even if they voted against the pay raise, how many were signing up for the unvoucherd expenses? It is easy to vote no and then take the goods either now through unvouchered expenses or when they use the other word on December 1, 2006, "pay raise." That's having your political cake and eating it too.

The governor weighed in and is asking that the order be countered according to a later article by Ms. Worden.

2005-07-28T06:15:00.000-07:00

New Legislative Bill Targets Unvouchered Expenses in Pay Raise

A little bit of sunshine has made its way under the overwhelming legislative darkness brought to us by the illegal pay raise.

A few legislators are introducing a bill to correct the unvouchered expense portion of the recent pay raise bill.

In today's Intelligencer Journal reporter Charles Lardner writes"

"A bill soon to be introduced in the state Legislature would prevent lawmakers from taking the generous pay raise they recently voted for, at least until they are re-elected.

Republican state Reps. Katie True and Dave Hickernell, who opposed the pay hike, already have signed on to the measure, which was authored by state Rep. William Gabig, a Cumberland County Republican."

This still does not deal with the overall problem of the pay raise but it is a step in the right direction.

It has absolutely no chance of being brought up by the House Republican leadership but it does provide cover for those who sign on. Introducing a bill is something but not enough to satisfy voters this time.

State Representative Dave Hinkernell who is signing onto the bill has brought up another interesting idea maybe by accident in his remarks. He said that he swore an oath to protect the Constitution. Maybe it is time to file an overall ethics complaint in the House and Senate for their actions in violation of the Constitution.
Get to it Dave.

2005-07-27T12:00:00.000-07:00

Impossible To Get Fair Hearing On the No Pay Raise Case In Pennsylvania

If anyone files a suit against the recent pay raise, they will have a tough time winning the case.

The case must be brought in Commonwealth Court becuase it is a question of the constitutionality of the pay raise law and that's where you have to bring this type of question. After a case is lost there you have a slim chance of the Supreme Court even hearing the case. And if they ever accepted the case everyone knows what the Supreme Court is thinking. Why? Just read what Supreme Court Chief Justice Ralph Cappy said. He is already deeply prejudiced.

The judges want the payraise and the legislators wanted to guarantee that if the legislators didn't get the raise neither would the judges. So they joined everything together. If one part of the law is eighty-sixed so goes the entire pay raise law.

Check out A.P. writer Mark Scolforo's article that lays out the whole scenario.

"The Legislature instead opted to make that law nonseverable, so any ruling to overturn it - even on the most narrow, technical grounds - will have the effect of canceling all of the pay increases. An appeals judge who votes to declare it unconstitutional will cut his or her own pay and the pay of every other state judge at the same time."

If the Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is already prejuidiced how can one find a court that would jeporadizeize its' judical record by a going against the pay raise and being overruled by the Supreme Court. Judges hate getting overruled.

When a case is filed don't hold your breathe for success. The real success is putting a full court press on the legislators themselves and finding people to run against then on the pay raise issue. The case will merely be a constant reminder of the illegal pay raise as folks demand that the pay raise bill be rescinded by an action of the whole legislature.

2005-07-26T07:16:00.000-07:00

In Search of the Pay Raise Memo

There is a rumor going around state government offices that seems to be true but hard evidence is needed to verify all rumors. The rumor is that there is a "memo" that says no state worker in that department should sign the "Rescind the Pay Raise Petition" being circulatd by WHP's radio host Bob Durgin .

If you have seen the memo or something similar, or if someone has ordered you not to sign the petition, let Mr. Durgin know.

Just because you work for the state doesn't mean you gave up your rights to speak up or sign a petition.

And if you haven't signed the petition yet, get on with it. It is one way to put pressure on the legislature to rescind the pay raise.

2005-07-25T08:32:00.000-07:00

Post Pay Raise Relief ForYour Legislator From Angry Constituents

What better way to follow up a huge pay raise then a state funded vacation for selected legislators, their families and selected staff. It is pretty hot in Pennsylvania and I’m not just talking about the weather.

Sounds ridiculous, eh?

But you are actually sending your selected senators and representatives, their families and selected staff somewhere cool near the sea with a little gambling and golf thrown in. Somewhere where there are no Pennsylvania voters to disturb them.

The Council of State Governments is throwing their annual party at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut.

Those two Rays of Pay Raise Sunshine, Senator Ray Musto and Representative Ray Bunt are leading the Pennsylvania delegation.

Hopefully the entertainment program will be enough for them and their families and staff.

And who pays? That's right, the same folks who are footing the pay raise? The cost? Who knows. Who exactly is going? Good luck in getting the list from the Chief Clerks Office at 7171-787-2372.

So enjoy your 95 degree temperatures tomorrow and rest assured that selected senators and representatives will be in the cool comfort of the Mohegan Sun unless they are playing golf with all the lobbyists.

And if they do not get enough rest there is always the National Conference of State Legislatures meeting in mid-August. Yes it will be cool. You are flying them to Seatlle, Washington. I bet you won't even get a post card.

2005-07-24T18:24:00.000-07:00

The Pennsylvania Constitution and the Pay Raise

Since it is Sunday, you probably are wondering what to do with your time. Why not get a bit more familiar with the Pennsylvania Constitution?

Don't let it scare you. The only Article you have to be really concerned with is Article II, The Legislature. And then the only part of Article II you have to read in reference to the legislative pay raise is Section 8: Compensation.

No I'm not goig to print it here. Click on the Constitution above and take a look around. You may learn something.

O.K. I'll put it here. You baby.

Compensation
Section 8.
The members of the General Assembly shall receive such salary and mileage for regular and special sessions as shall be fixed by law, and no other compensation whatever, whether for service upon committee or otherwise. No member of either House shall during the term for which he may have been elected, receive any increase of salary, or mileage, under any law passed during such term.

2005-07-23T02:10:00.001-07:00

Have You Actually Read the Pay Raise Bill?

In order to better understand what you are yelling about maybe you should actually read the pay raise bill.

Of course it is difficult to understand. It is 21 pages of technical language designed to make you watch one hand while your wallet left your pocket. Let see if you can find Waldo. Waldo being the "unvouchered expenses" section. Good luck.

I guess we should call this Pay Raise 101 and give you three credits toward your Degree in Citizenship.

Next you should take a quick look at the bill history.

This will not do you much good except to tell you that the pay raise bill became Act 44 when it was actually signed into law on July 7. And more importantly, that the process was contemplated since before the introduction of the May 3 shell bill that eventually became the vehicle for this conspiracy to defraud each and every Pennsylvanian.

There will be a test in a few days. Multiple choice of course.

2005-07-23T02:10:00.000-07:00

Have You Actually Read the Pay Raise Bill?

In order to better understand what you are yelling about maybe you should actually read the pay raise bill.

Of course it is difficult to understand. It is 21 pages of technical language designed to make you watch one hand while your wallet left your pocket. Let see if you can find Waldo. Waldo being the "unvouchered expenses" section. Good luck.

I guess we should call this Pay Raise 101 and give you three credits toward your Degree in Citizenship.

Next you should take a quick look at the bill history.

This will not do you much good except to tell you that the pay raise bill became Act 44 when it was actually signed on July 17. And more importantly, that the process was contemplated since before the introduction of the May 3 shell bill that eventually became the vehicle for this conspiracy to defraud each and every Pennsylvanian.

There will be a test in a few days. Multiple choice of course.

2005-07-22T06:59:00.000-07:00

Chief Justice Cappy Needs To Hire A PR Firm (At Your Expense of Course)

Every day the supreme architect of the pay raise digs himself a deeper hole.

It is interesting to read reporter Eric Heyl exchange with Supreme Court Chief Justice Ralph Cappy in today's Tribune-Review.

"I asked Cappy whether he understands the rancor being displayed over the raises by the average Pennsylvania worker, who last year made $38,532, according to the state Department of Labor & Industry.

"Are you arguing that raises should be tied to the average state income?" he said.

I admitted I felt that would be a much more equitable approach.

"How then do you attract, in the judiciary, the Legislature, the executive branch, people who want to be dedicated to public service and still want to put their kids through college?" Cappy said. "How could you do that when the average Pennsylvania citizen doesn't have your level of education or expertise?"

Just another insult to the average citizens of Pennsylvania. Mr. Heyl gives you a chance to talk directly to Judge Cappy. The kind reporter lists the judge's phone number: "412-565-2700." Thank you Mr. Heyl.

2005-07-22T06:10:00.000-07:00

Fundraiser Scheduled for Supreme Court Chief Justice Ralph Cappy

Supreme Court Judge Ralph Cappy's Salary is only going from $154,448 to $176,800.

This man is the leading intellect in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvnia. He is the "Man Behind the Curtain." He is the "Great and Powerful Oz." Who are we to question him?

So I must ask, is a $22,000 raise really enough? Judicial ethics prevent him from talking about his own plight. Here he is making us think he was worried about his friends in the legislature but now it is obvious. His recent statements are a deep call for help. So let's help.

But how? I started to think about this last night and this morning I decided to act.

Yes, Judge Ralph Cappy needs a fundraiser.

Let's have a fundraiser on Monday, September 26 at 7 p.m. at Scott's on Locust Street. All his friends in the legislature will be back after their three month vacation. Please bring your donations and any canned food you can spare. Beleieve me it is a good cause. Yes, you can bring some "cappy-cola." But don't let him hear you say that because he wants the raise and not just the average COLA.

If you can't wait you can send your donation today to the "Judge Cappy Relief Fund," 31st Floor, Oxford Center Building, Pittsburgh, Pa 15219. Send him some slices of "Cappy-cola" today.

2005-07-21T05:18:00.000-07:00

The 2006 Elections and Your Legislator's Pay Raise

You can get as angry as you want but if you want to change the way things are in Harrisburg you need hard facts and a plan.

If you want to change your representatives and senators in Harrisburg, a few key facts you will need can be found on the Commonwealth's 2006 election calander .

The most important date on the calander is not the primary election day, May 16. Nor is it the date of the General Election, November 7. The most important date is February 14 That is the first day to circulate and file nomination petitions.

The other days are meaningless unless the incumbent has opposition on the ballot.

The nomination petitions are usually available from the election bureau in early January.

So you only have a handful of months to get organized and figure out how you are going to put your pay raise concerns into the election.

Now you have hard facts. What is your plan?

2005-07-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

Pundits Betting Citizens Will Go Away On Pay Raise

Again, one of the main political observers in the state is betting against you.

Mario Cattabiani writing in a Philadelphia Inquirer article today quotes the most quoted man in Pennsylvania:

"G. Terry Madonna, a pollster and political science professor at Franklin and Marshall College said he, too, initially believed the anger would have subsided by now. But he's not convinced of its staying power.

The terms for all the 203 House members and half of the 50 senators are up next year, with the primary elections still 10 months away.

""This is one of those issues that emotionally rubs raw for several weeks, but it is hard to sustain any meaningful voter ire," said Madonna. "My hunch is that within 30 days, this will be part of the state's history.""

While he has had many great observations in the past this time he is dead wrong.

2005-07-20T05:18:00.000-07:00

Review of 1995 No Pay Raise Case in Commonwealth Court

In response to telephone calls I am posting the decision by Commonwealth Court in the 1995 pay raise case. It is in html.

There were a lost of various aspects of the decision and the filings, for example, the cost-of-living sections, the effect of the senatorial four year cycle on the legislation, and the unvoucherd expenses.

When the original case was filed the first motion in the case was to ask all the judges in Commonwealth Court to recuse themselves. That motion passed and the case was taken to federal court where it went nowhhere and we had to return to Commonwealth Court under the provisions whereby they would hear the case even though they benefited becuase we had no other forum to turn to.

When the new website, www.nopayraise.com, is up, in a few weeks, all the filings from 1995 will be available.

In the meantime remember that a legal challange is only one aspect to fighting the pay raise. The hard work is to organize in every county and legislative district in the Commonwealth to pass a "Rescind the Pay Raise Bill."

Get to work.

2005-07-19T06:50:00.000-07:00

Is It Time For A Citizens' Conference on the Pay Raise?

Issues PA has done a study of the Pennsylvania Legislature that ever citizen should review. They note that the 2005-2006 legislative budget is $462,000,000. Amazing. The pay raise seems small compared to the amount of money that the legislature uses to operate. Maybe fighting the pay raise should be the first step in a long process to cut a few hundred million from the legislative budget.

But lets get back to basics for now and that is fighting the pay raise.

Brad Bumstead in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review interviews a lot of the political pundits that seem to think that voter outrage will fade as time passes. Pundits are the guys who hang out at the political race track and handicap the odds of those incumbents on the track. They may have a point as Mr. Bumstead shows with 98% of the incumbents being reelected recently.

So a lot is stacked against average citizens in a pay raise roll back fight. The legislators just paid off the judges. The legislature has all the money. They have the organization; actually four organizations because each caucus will fight tooth and nail to keep the raise.

What do you have? Each other and no formal organization.

So may be the next step is a formal organization. Let's set a formal date in September for a Citizens Conference on the pay raise and to organize a formal group. Let's set it for Sunday, September 18 at the State Capitol Building at "High Noon."

It is up to you. What do you think?

2005-07-18T05:47:00.000-07:00

Legislative Pay Raise Opposition Continues To Grow

As more and more news stories list in detail the overall benefits that are included in the legislative pay raise more and more Pennsylvanians are getting angrier.

The most detailed article I have seen so far (and I apologize for not reading all of them yet) is the piece by Tom Barnes in yesterday's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Mr. Barnes lists just about everything that they get.

I am sure a lot of you who work for the House and Senate also see other benefits that they receive that aren’t visible to the rest of us, for example, the lobbyists' funded dinners, outings and recreation.

But who is counting. I am just glad that they are there working for their constituents "24/7." That's 24 hours a week, 7 months a year.

So if you are angry about the pay increase, do something. All I can tell you is that you have to organize people in your own districts to confront your home legislator. Don't be afraid of them. You are paying them. It's your money. And by the way, they are right around the corner somewhere because they sure aren't in Harrisburg. Session here doesn't start here again until the end of September. Go get 'em, voter!

2005-07-17T06:40:00.000-07:00

Even the "No" Votes Will Take the Pay Increase

Take the pay raise integrity test. Today we will start with the Pennsylvania Senate.

WGAL TV listed the Pennsylvania Senators' votes on the huge pay raise. Don't be fooled by the senators who voted "NO." Almost all still intend to take the pay raise.

If you don't believe me just ask them directly. Look up your senator and call him or her. Almost all who voted "NO" will take the unvouchered expenses which equal the future salary amounts.

There is no difference between a "YES" and "NO" vote.

It would be funny if it wasn't so pathetic.

2005-07-16T16:59:00.000-07:00

Christmas In July For Your Legislator

The Associated Press article in the Allentown Morning Call lists the early Christmas gifts that your legislators gave themselves.

It must be nice to have Christmas-in-July. 253 legislators' faces will light up when they open their pay checks on one of these bright July mornings.

How can you take such a gift away from all those happy faces? How can you explain that you do not want them to have this gift?

It will just break their hearts. And how do you take it away anyway?

It seems to be up to each and every Pennsylvania citizens who cares. What are you as an individual going to do?

Sure you can complain and waive the banner that says we will get you at election time. But be realistic, most incumbents will not have a challenger. Most are so well entrenched that they don't really care and know that the further they get from Christmas-in-July the more people will forget.

So the decision becomes, how are you going to organize in your district, how are you going to organize in relation to your specific legislator, in order to take back the Christmas-in-July gifts that were taken forcefully through legislation rather then being given in appreciation by a kind electorate?

Share you ideas with your fellow citizens by commenting below.

2005-07-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

Pay Raise Vote Methodology

The newspapers in the state are following up their original articles on the pay raise with articles on legislators or editorials against the pay raise in their respective areas. For example, the Patriot News in Harrisburg has a July 14th pay raise article that lists almost every legislators position in Central Pennsylvania. The Philadelphia Inquirer listed an editorial against the pay raise.

What amazes me is the methodology legislators used for the increase. Jan Murphy and Charles Thompson documented it in their Patriot News article .

"Personal opinions aside, the vote was well choreographed.

Each caucus agreed to supply yes votes from 50 percent of its members, plus one," said Sen. Vince Fumo, D-Philadelphia. "And we did and it was no big deal."

Caucus leaders and committee chairs, who are generally expected to cast tough votes for the team, supplied the base support. Then they picked among rank-and-file members to round out the needed votes.

Head-counters gave passes to first-term members and those in politically vulnerable seats."

The question you have to ask is: Which category does my legislator fit into? You got to be responsible for your own legislator. What action did your specific legislator take and is that individual legislator going to take any part in taking the raise? More later of course.

2005-07-15T05:09:00.000-07:00

Overturning the Pay Raise in Commonwealth Court

It will take a bit of time and a lot of elbow grease but citizens have to take this to Commonwealth Court. The Associated Press has done a good article on the pay raise cases of the past and what the key items are in any new case.

Associated Press' mark Scolforo writes:

"Some of the 79 state representatives who voted against the bill said they were not sure whether the "unvouchered expenses" were meant to pay legitimate overhead costs, and others believe it was simply a way to circumvent the Pennsylvania Constitution's legislative salary language."

Give it a read and also start to decide if you as a Pennsylvania citizen want to be a plaintiff in the case. The legal case website against the pay raise will be up and running soon. In the meantime ask your individual legislators if they are taking it or not. Pin their ears to the wall on this one. They are your employees and I bet you don't remember them asking you for a raise.

2005-07-14T07:31:00.000-07:00

Rolling Back the Legislative Pay Increase!

Good Morning Pennsylvanians!

This is the first posting on this site. Maybe it is appropriate that it is Bastille Day, July 14th.

This blog is dedicated to the overturning of the recent pay increases that the Pennsylvania Legislature awarded themselves and other Pennsylvania government officials. The increases range between 16% and 34%. Not bad for a nights work.

I am a blogger that writes in other areas and I have learned that a blog can be an effective tool for folks who are concerned about legislation behavior. A blog is a joining of journalism and blogging activism. So I like to think of it as jogging.

So take a jog. Make a comment. Share your knowledge of what you know about the pay increases. Share what you think about the increases. Start to question your senators and representatives about the increases. Use your cell phone cameras to post a picture of your legislator's reactions to your questions or your pictures of them in their taxpayer paid for SUVs or whatever. It is up to you. Share you obvious outrage with other citizens of Pennsylvania. Become an amateur journalist and new activist. Get involved for once. You will be surprised how much you can change things.

The pay increase legislation has not been posted on the Official Pennsylvania Legislative Website but the site goes down for maintenance today so maybe it will be added soon.

In the meantime. Here is the list of Pennsylvania Representatives and the Pennsylvania Senators. Unfortunately, the sites don't let you directly email them and the site is down for maintenance apparently. You have to call and get the email address. If you only write them a hand written letter it will take forever to respond and then you'll probably only get the official approved letter that is massed produced and approved by leadership. Demand a personal email response that details why the individual legislators specifically needed the unvouchered expenses and the pay increase. It will be interesting. Maybe you will be satisfied. (I doubt it) You be the judge. Afterall you are paying for it.