Lancaster County legislator is 26th to give up early raise

Lancaster County legislator is 26th to give up early raise 9/21/2005, 3:05 p.m. ET The Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A state representative from Lancaster County has become the 26th legislator to give up the "unvouchered expenses" through which most lawmakers are collecting pay raises ranging from 16 to 54 percent in midterm — even though the state constitution bars the raises from taking effect until after they stand for re-election.

Rep. Roy E. Baldwin, a Republican, said he changed his mind — after accepting $1,900 worth of his raise in his August and September paychecks — in deference to the people who elected him. He said he will give the extra money he received to a still-to-be-selected charity.

"Since the pay raise vote, my offices have received 52 e-mails, 21 letters and 30 phone calls regarding the pay raise — some positive, but most were critical," he said Tuesday. "I am taking this action because of the feedback from my friends and constituents, especially one dear campaign worker who was hurt by my actions."

Twenty-five other legislators who initially accepted unvouchered expenses have previously changed their minds, joining a larger number who had rejected the payments all along. Still, a majority of the members of the General Assembly — 132 of the 252 sitting legislators — are continuing to collect midterm raises ranging from $950 to $3,112 per month in their paychecks.

The pay raise law, which also boosted salaries of judges, district attorneys and top executive-branch officials, was approved at 2 a.m. July 7, without any debate or public notice.

Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. © 2005 PennLive.com All Rights Reserved.

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