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Thursday, December 02, 2010

State Rep. Justin Simmons Says No to COLA. Root Beer?

Newly elected State Rep. Justin Simmons has announced he intends to return his cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, this year. Here's his statement:

"State law requires state officials receive an automatic cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, in the amount of 1.67 percent this year. I, for one, will not be keeping this COLA. Instead, I will return it to the state treasury.

"Our Commonwealth will likely face a multi-billion dollar deficit in the upcoming fiscal year. State officials should not be receiving a COLA. We must also look for ways to eliminate wasteful spending. We have asked our citizens and small businesses to do more with less during this current economic crisis. I feel state officials must lead by example and do the same. Not accepting this COLA is the right thing to do.

"In addition, I feel we need legislation that would freeze COLAs for state officials until our Commonwealth experiences a financial surplus. According to Auditor General Jack Wagner, rescinding the COLA for state officials would save hard-working Pennsylvania taxpayers $2.7 million this year alone. I plan to fight hard to make this legislation a reality."

Good for Justin. He will be pleased to know that the entire LV delegation to the state house and senate voluntarily skipped their COLAs in 2009 and 2010. State Rep. Rich Grucela and Bob Freeman donated their increases to Nothampton County's Human Services.
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6 comments:

  1. KDecember 2, 2010 at 7:09 AM

    Giving it back is the correct thing to do. When you "donate" the raise, it still effects the budget, plus those donations can be used as a tax write-off, effecting the budget even more.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 2, 2010 at 9:09 AM

    why would he need it..he still lives at home with mommy and daddy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousDecember 2, 2010 at 10:14 AM

    Karen - you REALLY need to get over your loss already. It's getting to the point that maybe you should go see a doctor (you probably already do).

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousDecember 2, 2010 at 8:55 PM

    Bernie....What is the rest of our distinguished LV delegation doing this year about the COLA?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bernie O'HareDecember 2, 2010 at 9:50 PM

    I believe every one of them is returning it but need to report back on that.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousDecember 3, 2010 at 2:35 AM

    I agree. Karen next time around don't pin your hopes on people like DiAmore, Schlossberg and other young Dem's.

    As a Republican State Representative maybe you should have not been in the pocket of sleazy Allentown pol's.

    Now all you can do is make fun of Justin Simmons. What's that, Oh Yeah, he won you lost. Get a grip girl.

    ReplyDelete

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