Monday, October 10, 2005

RSC Members-- Petition Condemning State Legislature Pay Increase & Unvouchered Expenses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

10-09-2005

Contact: Jim Powers, Chairman, Butler County Republican Committee

724-898-3605

Republican State Committee Members To Receive Petition Condemning State Legislature Pay Increase And Unvouchered Expenses

On October 8th, 2005, Pennsylvania Republican State Committee members were mailed a petition seeking signatures to repeal the State Legislator’s Pay Raise and Unvouchered Expenses. The petition will be presented to the Pennsylvania Republican legislative leadership in November. A web page dedicated to this effort will track the responses.

“The Republican legislative leadership has ignored the earlier Republican State Committee resolution passed on September 10th, 2005,” said Jim Powers, Chairman of the Butler County Republican Committee.

This resolution expressed “concern” over the state legislature’s pay raise, the process in which it was passed, and asked legislative leaders to address these concerns.

“This stronger statement is desperately needed,” said Powers. “This petition calls upon the party leadership to do the right thing.”

The petition is as follows:

Whereas, the Pennsylvania Republican State Committee Statement of Principles clearly states: “Government must function with integrity, and must be accountable and responsive to the people that it represents.”

Whereas, Republicans believe in adherence to the Constitution, and in the separation of powers between the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of government.

Whereas, the members of the Pennsylvania State General Assembly have voted themselves a pay increase ranging from 16 to 54 percent.

Whereas, the Pennsylvania Constitution’s ban on pay increases applying to the current session was bypassed via “unvouchered expenses”, serving as income for legislative members.

Whereas, the legislative leaders of both parties, along with the involvement of members of the Executive Branch and members of the Judicial Branch in this pay raise effort, raised serious concerns regarding the checks and balances inherent in the Separation of Powers.

Whereas, the Republican State Committee submitted a resolution expressing concern over the pay raise and respectfully asked Republican leadership to take action to address those concerns. Republican leadership has ignored this request, placed further restrictions on this issue, and placed the Republican majority in the legislature at risk of further public outrage.

Be It Resolved, that we, the undersigned members of the Republican State Committee of Pennsylvania:

· Demand the immediate repeal of “Unvouchered Expenses” paid in the current 2005 – 2006 legislative Session. “Unvouchered Expenses” is income, and is a clear violation of the Pennsylvania Constitution, Article II, Section 8.

· Demand the repeal of the pay raise, as it is a reprehensible violation of the principles of our Party, and to the Separation of Powers. Integrity and accountability must be restored to the legislative process.

· Demand that Republican legislative leaders return to conservative principles, including reducing spending, the repeal of the Rendell double-digit personal tax increase, and adherence to the Pennsylvania Constitution.

Jim Powers – Chair, Butler County Christopher Perry – Chair, Westmoreland County Charles Konkus – Westmoreland County David Majernik – Vice-Chair, Allegheny County Lowman S. Henry – Dauphin County Michael Brown – Greene County Richard Yeager – Chair, Greene County

Source: http://www.politicspa.com/Press_Releases/101005parsc.htm

Vice Chairman of Voter Education

http://www.ycop.org

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/YCOP/

http://www.InformedPA.com

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