Demoted PA Democrats Rejected Raise

Published: 7/28/05

 

HARRISBURG, PA - The state House minority leader's top adviser on Thursday denied allegations that his boss demoted 15 Democrats from their committee posts as punishment for voting against raising lawmakers' pay.

The bill increased legislators' base pay from $69,647 to $81,050 and gives an extra $4,050 to subcommittee chairs and committee vice chairs.

"We're not looking to punish anyone or single them out for retribution. We made that perfectly clear to everybody," said Michael Manzo, chief of staff to House Democratic Leader H. William DeWeese.

Manzo said leaders made the changes after determining that about a dozen of the Democrats who voted for the raises would receive only the base pay because they were not subcommittee chairmen or committee vice chairmen.

"It is unfair that those who put up that vote should be paid less than those who did not," Manzo said.

Among those demoted was Rep. Thomas F. Yewcic of Cambria County, who lost his post as chairman of the economic development subcommittee. A colleague who voted in favor of the raise, Rep. Jim Wansacz of Lackawanna County, was promoted to replace him.

"We were told before the pay-raise vote that if people voted against it, we would be removed. It was punishment," Yewcic said Thursday.

Gov. Ed Rendell said he intended to discuss the allegations with House Democratic leaders.

"If that is correct, I think it's entirely inappropriate," Rendell said. "People should be allowed to vote their conscience without any repercussions."

The demotions were reported Thursday by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Sorry PA, not picking on your state. This is an example, I happen to find. I have trouble believing any Politician, who spends more money getting elected to a term, than the position pays over, that period of time. Do you believe them, when they say that are not bought and paid for? The answer is oblivious. Party affiliation is not the concern.