Backing Away from the Trough

The State House and Senate Finally Realize Why They're Getting So Many Angry Phone Calls

OUR PORCINE FRIENDS IN THE Pennsylvania legislature yesterday came to a startling conclusions: Your best chance for a pay raise is to go your boss and explain why you deserve it. Having forgotten that rather obvious truism last summer, state senators and representatives were stunned when their bosses called them on the carpet and read them the riot act. Properly chastened, they voted last night to scrap the raise altogether.

Among those changing their mind was my very own state rep, Lawrence H. Curry, who in July had voted in favor of both the raise and the loophole that would allow officials to skirt the state constitution and accept the extra scratch early as so-called "unvouchered expenses." As Representative Curry was silent on the issue, I recently vowed to track him down and ask for an explanation. Other duties have kept me from following up, but I haven't forgotten about that vow. And while I appreciate Mr. Curry seeing the error of his ways, I'd still like to know (a) why he voted the way he did last summer and (b) what led him to change his mind. So once life gets back to normal, I'll be checking in with his office to see what I can find out.

Comments

[Jer]

How much do they make, and how much were they asking for?