Boscola Wants to Reduce Size of State House and Senate

Pa. State Senator Lisa Boscola (D - Lehigh/Northampton) wants to trim the state house membership from 203 to 101, and the state senate from 50 to 38. Though no Bill has been formally submitted, she has circulated this memo to seek cosponsors:

Soon, I will be introducing legislation to reduce the size of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Under this proposal, the House of Representatives would decrease from 203 members to 101 members, and the Senate would decrease from 50 members to 38 members. 

Pennsylvania currently has the largest full-time state legislature in the nation. While the importance of strong constituent representation cannot be overstated, the size and cost of our legislature have become unsustainable and outdated for the needs of a modern and efficient government.

 This proposal is about responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Fewer legislators will reduce the overall cost of government by lowering expenses related to salaries, benefits, staffing, and daily operational costs. It will also allow us to modernize how we serve our constituents, taking full advantage of technological tools that make it easier than ever for elected officials to stay connected to the people they represent, even within larger districts.

Beyond the fiscal and procedural benefits, this reform is a direct response to what we continue to hear from voters across the Commonwealth. Pennsylvanians have repeatedly expressed their desire for a smaller, more efficient, and more accountable legislature. This legislation offers a real opportunity to deliver on that expectation.

I urge you to join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation.

She has also suggested that the state should go on a two-year budget cycle, which would certainly be helpful to county and other municipal governments. 

Unfortunatley, similar efforts in the past have failed. 

Local State Legislators Report $14,800 in Travel in Annual Ethics Form

Schlossberg putting in his face

A Pennsylvania legislator is paid $88,610 a year, and this is aside from the health benefits and per diems claimed for "expenses." But you know, it's really hard to get by on such a pittance. So many of our lawmakers have other sources of income. They also can accept gifts and trips, but those have to be reported in annual ethics forms. Last year, Pennsylvania's men and women in the land of midnight payraises report having received $83,000 in free trips. Guess what? Nearly $15k of that money was paid by third parties for our very own Lehigh Valley delegation.

You might think that State Senator Pat Browne or Lisa Boscola are the jet setters, but no. Neither accepted any gifts or trips. Browne did supplement his income through his CPA and law firm, and Boscola has some kind of investment portfolio. Both steered clear of firms willing to pay for travel.

The biggest recipient of paid trips was Ryan MacKenzie. By the way, in addition to his salary as a State Representative, he receives money from PNC Bank. He is also a trustee for with for-profit corporation F.A. Rohrbach, a concrete contractor.

He may be wary of Greeks bearing gifts, but accepted a $5,847.37 trip from the U.S.Japan Foundation and a $6,215 trip from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office.

I wonder when he found time for his two-week run for Congress.

Of course, there's always Mike "Darth Voter" Schlossberg.  He took $1,040 for transportation, lodging and hospitality from State Innovation Exchange (Six), a self-described progressive nonprofit that apparently offers training to state legislators on how to be a liberal.

Not to be outdone, Pete Schweyer reports a gift of $1,703 from Sleep Inn and Suites, which he states is the difference between the advertised rate and one he negotiated.

Zach Mako reports no gifts or trips, but had to amend his report because he forgot to report that he is paid as a State Representative. Not too bright, that one. 

Steve Samuelson is claiming no gifts or all-expense paid trips. What about those adult diapers, Steve? We all have the videos. 

Marcia Hahn took no gifts or trips, but she should contact her State Rep. She's paying outrageous interest on her Sam's credit card.

Joe Emrick reports no outside income or gifts, but claims to be a trustee with Cornerstone Counseling Ministries, which provides Christian counseling. Based on his ugly campaign against Amy Cozze, he should enroll as a client.

Gary Day reports no outside income or gifts. He's from Germansville, and they pay each other there with pigs and chickens.

In addition to her income as a State Rep., Jeanne McNeill rakes in a nice rental income from six different homes. She has a real estate empire. She is also collecting three pensions and still has time for Mary Kay sales. .

Bob Freeman is an Adjunct Professor at Lehigh, and also collects rent from a property he owns in
Easton.

Update 8:40 am: Jeanne McNeill tells me she has one summer home in Jersey.which was rented out six times last year.

Ruff Gets Rough Treatment From Mako Goons

Jason Ruff is running for State Representative against incumbent Zach Mako in the 183rd. Mako has to be one of the dumbest people I’ve ever seen. He’s an embarrassment to anyone who lives in Northampton. 

Mako was having a campaign event disguised as a Senior Expo, like all incumbents who seem to have these events at election time.

Ruff decided to go, and got roughed up. Here’s his account: 

MacKenzie: Hey, I just Got My Teeth Bleached

State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie is apparently the sole member of the Lehigh Valley delegation of State Representatives to attend this year's swanky Pennsylvania Society Gala at the Waldorf Astoria. Never mind that Pennsylvania has been able to adopt a budget for the past six months. Never mind the undemocratic message these aristocrats send by dining on oysters in Manhattan, away from the vulgari, instead of doing what they were elected to do.

Although the media has done a remarkably shitty job of taking attendance, I am informed by a state house insider that MacKenzie is the sole House Representative arrogant enough to attend this assemblage of our betters.

Democrats are having great fun with this. Governor Tom Wolf, the millionaire who tries to pretend he's an Everyman, was dishing out bowls of chili.

Locally, State Reps. Mike Schlossberg and Pete Schweyer seved up breakfast to the homeless at Zion's "Liberty Bell" UCC Church.

But last year, Schlossberg thought nothing of spending $1,182 in campaign funds to rent a room at the Waldorf for the Pa Society, along with $250 to rent a tux and $400 for their dinner.

"Bottoms Up" Beer Glass Bill Inches Forward in Gridlocked State House

As the state budget impasse draws closer to a new record, our Lehigh Valley state legislators are hard at work. Mike Schlossberg is doing what he can to trumpet his social media business. Gary Day is drumming up support for an official "Bottoms Up!" beer glass.

At a time when school districts and nonprofit human service agencies are running out of money, he's honed in like a laser beam on the Samuel Adams Boston Lager Pint Glass. Last time i checked, Sam and Boston were both in Massachusetts.

Here's his memo to other state reps about this important piece of legislative drivel.

Samuel Adams is a large craft brewer in Pennsylvania. Despite it's name, two-thirds of their products are produced in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania, which is located in my district. While I am not seeking to name them as the official beer of Pennsylvania, I am seeking that a specifically constructed beer glass be named as the official beer drinking glass of the Commonwealth.

The Samuel Adams Boston Lager Pint Glass is the first glass specifically designed to showcase Samuel Adams Boston Lager as the brewers intended. It has been demonstrated in research that the right glassware can optimize the consumer's drinking experience.

While many Pennsylvanian's may argue over the best beer in PA, I believe it is safe to say that most brewers will not go to the length of designing and producing a specifically patented vessel for beer serving and consumption.

Don't get me wring. I'm all for it, so long as Samuel Jackass Badass Ale is recognized as the official beer of Gary Day.

Will Redisticting Give LV New State House Member?

It's gerrymander time, baby.

For Congressional redistricting, the dirty deed will be done by the state statute, with the blessing of the Guv. But for state house and senate seats, a five member redistricting commission, led by former Superior Court President Judge Stephen McEwen, will redraw legislative district boundaries for the next 10 years.

According to the Pa. Constitution, state legislative seats “shall be composed of compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in population as practicable.” Moreover,“ unless absolutely necessary no county, city, incorporated town, borough, township or ward shall be divided in forming either a senatorial or representative district.”

Of course, the danger is that the real work of this commission is incumbent protection. But in an effort to be more transparent, commission members are thinking about holding hearings throughout the state. That pleases the Pocono Record. Its subscription area includes Monroe County, which is divided among five state senators.

Interestingly, the census data reveal that population has declined in western Pennsylvania. You can see it by legislative district in the spreadsheet below. While population has dipped in the West, it has skyrocketed here in the east. So if redistricting is done in a way that insures "one man, one vote," it's likely that western Pa. will lose several legislative seats.

Three of the five redistricting commission members are from Western Pa., so this is by no means a sure thing. But the new census data reveals that here in the Lehigh Valley, we might gain an additional member of the state house. Every district has experienced an increase in population. Reichley's district is up over 25%.

No wonder he wants to be a judge.

Here's the breakdown.

131: Simmons, Justin J. (R)- up 9.57%
132: Mann, Jennifer L. (D) - up 13.78%
133: Brennan, Joseph F. (D) - up 0.70%
134: Reichley, Douglas G. (R)- up 25.85%
135: Samuelson, Steve (D)- up 4.50%
136: Freeman, Robert (D) - up 6.93%
137: Emrick, Joe (R) - up 23.14%
138: Hahn, Marcia M. (R) - up 6.93%
183: Harhart, Julie (R) - up 8.44%
187: Day, Gary (R) - up 11.63%

The 24th legislative district, represented by Joe Preston and located in Allegheny County, lost the most people. It dropped a whopping 17.42% over the last ten years.

People must really hate that drink tax.

Pennsylvania Legislative Districts - Population Change

Simmons & Orloski: Carpe Per Diems?

It's $163. It's called per diem, the amount of money a state legislator can get every day whenever the House or Senate is in session, even weekends. It's $1,100 per week on top of a $78,314.66 annual salary. In June, a statewide investigating Grand Jury recommended that the practice be eliminated, or at a minimum, reduced to actual expenses incurred.

Republican House candidate Justin Simmons and Democrat Senate candidate Rock Orloski are on the same page here. On his campaign web page, Simmons has vowed to refuse any per diem money. Orloski has made the same pledge. Here's how Orloski explains it.

"Senator Pat Browne has a secret piggy ban funded by the taxpayers: per diems. A per diem is nothing more than a back-door pay raise which State Senators can collect, upon request. A State Senator does not automatically get a per diem. The Senator must ask for it. State Senators are not a shy bunch. Between December 2007 and October 2009, State Senators made 5,560 requests for per diems, costing taxpayers $774,700.00. Senator Browne made 155 request for per diems in 2008-2009, putting $17,300.00 in his pocket on top of his salary.

"Senator Andy Dinniman (Demo - 19th district) and Senator Richard Alloway (Rep - 33rd district) have tried to end the practice. So far, their bipartisan effort has failed. Senator Browne will not support them.

"I have repeatedly asked Senator Browne to release his 2010 per diems. On February 1, 2010, the Senator's wife, Heather Browne, became a registered lobbyist with Pugliese Associates, a rich and powerful Harrisburg lobbying form with strong connections with Republican legislators, particularly former Speaker of the House John Perzel. It is no secret that registered lobbyist with Pugliese are provided expense accounts for wining and dining legislators. There are even unconfirmed reports that Pugliese provides apartments for their out-of-town lobbyists, for use while they are in Harrisburg.

"If there was ever a State Senator who did not need per diems for coming to work in Harrisburg, it is a State Senator who is married to a lobbyist with an expense account and a free apartment. Hence, it occurred to me that it was within the realm of possibility that Senator Browne ceased requesting per diems after his wife joined Pugliese Associates. I asked him anyway, half expecting the answer to be NONE. Senator Browne ignored the question. I went to the Clerk of the Senate. He gave me the answer.

"So far, in calendar year 2010, Senator Browne made 50 separate per diem requests for a total of $6,361.00 with the first "processed date" occurring eight days after Heather Browne became a registered lobbyist. January, 2010 processed requests are not included.

"Incomplete records for 2008 thru October, 2010 show that Senator Browne has received at least $23,661.00 in per diems during that period of time. (November and December 2009 and January 2010 per diems were not available).

"I am reminded by a famous observation by Gilbert Keith Chesterton about similar public officials: 'The horrible thing about all legal officials, even the best, about all judges, magistrates, barristers, detectives and policeman, is not that they are wicked (some of them are good), not that they are stupid (some of them are quite intelligent), it is simply that they have got used to it.'

"Pat Browne has been a State Legislator a long time ... really, too long. The salary. The per diems. The lobbyist salary for the wife. The business expense account for the wife. Pat Browne simply got used to it."