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Legislatures Being Jerks
The Pennsylvania General Assembly passed pay increases for state lawmakers, judges, and top executive-branch officials. -
Provisions
The pay raise included a provision allowing legislators to take their raises immediately in the form of "unvouchered expenses." -
Reaction
Outrage over the pay raise was picked up by several influential state blogs like Grassrootspa and PennPatriot Blog. Advocacy groups spawned several grass-roots movements, some geared toward voting out incumbents and some seeking support for a Constitutional Convention or a reduction in the size of the legislature. -
Reaction
The legislature repealed the pay raise after four months by a 50-0 vote in the senate a 197-1 vote in the house. -
Reaction
Advocacy groups spawned several grass-roots movements, some geared toward voting out incumbents and some seeking support for a Constitutional Convention or a reduction in the size of the legislature. -
Political Aftermath
On November 16, 2005, Governor Rendell signed a repeal of the pay raise after a near unanimous vote for repeal -
Gene Stilt Lawsuit
Gene Stilt began a lawsuit against the Midnight Pay Raise. -
Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court of PA rules that the judges can keep the controversial pay raise. -
Checks and Balances
Metcalfe announced a package of "checks and balances" bills to terminate the judicial pay raise. -
Legacy
In November 2009, Barbara McIlvaine Smith announced that she would not run for re-election in 2010, saying that she was frustrated with the progress of the post-pay raise reform movement.
