Since when is it "OK" that one puts the party and their wallets before the Country, State, City and Town? What has become of our elected officials? Are they all T.O. wannabes? Are they that smug and feeling so invincible that they think they can get away with these things? Democrat, Republican, it makes NO difference. BOTH parties have some members that are corrupt, mismanaged, and constantly jockeying for political leverage, while patting themselves on the back for a "Job well done". Today I read Rep. Nick Micozzie quoted in a letter to the Times saying this:
"Forget about guys like us, I got scars going all the way back to 1979. It's the family, the kids. The Micozzie name is well known in the area and you make us look like a bunch of crooks," Well Nick, a raise of eleven grand minimum while the "minimum" wage in PA hasn't been addressed in years dosen't sit well with a lot of people. This is not to say that Nick Micozzie and others haven't done a good job for their constituants mind you, I like Nick and vote for him everytime. It's just the way they now are whining about this issue that finally made me post this blog.
I can't vote myself a raise witout losing clients.This also makes A lot of people "voters mind you," angry. It's getting to be like that movie "Network", when William Holden screams out the window, "I'm mad as hell, and I ain't going to take it anymore!". The multitude of bullshit that is going on here in Delco and across the nation today is unbelievable. Just read the Haverford Blog sometime, and see what Haverford people think.
Iraq? Yes! Stay the course, as long as it isn't my kid over there! Price of gas? "It's because of supply and demand I hear on FAWX NEWS. Locally and across Pennsylvania I see all the back tracking because of the media fallout over this vote. My opinion? Secretly, your all banking on the hope that the "sheeple" won't remember this vote. Too late! Come 2006 things WILL change in Delco the way they should have 70 years ago. No more "War Board" or cronyism. Either both parties shape up or ship out. Put your constituents first! How they voted HERE.
P.S. Happy Birthday Pete, you old fart..
Micozzie Speaks Out -
ReplyDeleteLocal Voices: Pa. legislators get unfair rap on pay-raise flap
08/20/2005
By NICHOLAS A. MICOZZIE Times Guest Columnist
It is my opinion that the Daily Times has slanted the reporting of the recent vote on a salary increase for state legislators, Gov. Rendell, the lieutenant governor and the governor’s cabinet members and judges.
Most articles regarding the salary increase begin by reporting that the salary increase vote was taken at 2 a.m. behind closed doors so that the media and the public would be uninformed. While the vote was taken at 2 a.m., it occurred in open session of the Legislature and was recorded by television video on the House floor. During this same time period, we also enacted approximately 17 other very important legislative measures which needed to be addressed before the adjournment of the spring session.
The majority of the state budgets I have voted on during the many years as a state representative have been worked on throughout many late nights and well into the early morning hours with very few exceptions. The voluminous provisions of the budget document require the input and support of both legislative chambers and the governor. Because the final details of the budget take the most time to agree upon, it is very common for the final vote to be delayed into the overnight hours, which in turn delays votes to be taken during that period, including the salary increase.
Moreover, of all the state budgets I have voted on, I recall only two that dealt with salary increases. Again, it is very uncommon for the Legislature to increase its salary. In fact, as you have reported in previous articles, the current increase had been discussed over a two-year period and was supposed to have been voted on prior to the conclusion of the last two-year legislative session in November of 2004. That vote was postponed as a result of disagreements on several different issues between Gov. Rendell and the two legislative chambers.
It is frustrating to me that the Daily Times continues to paint the office of a state representative as a part-time position. Your paper would have the readers believe that once we leave the Capitol building for the summer, members of the Legislature go on a two-month vacation. I can assure you that scenario is completely false. While the state Legislature may not be in voting session every week, the great majority of legislators are at work every day during non-session time assisting their constituents. In my district offices, I spend many hours on a daily basis meeting with residents, local elected officials, business leaders, responding to my constituents, etc.
During these non-session weeks, I travel to Harrisburg to fulfill duties as the majority chairman of the Insurance Committee of the House of Representatives. In that role, I conduct public hearings on complex insurance issues and attend professional licensing committee meetings. I also meet in Harrisburg with industry stakeholders and insurance committee members to determine what changes, if any, need to be made to our insurance laws. As a full-time legislator, I am extremely committed to the welfare of the residents of the 163rd Legislative District, to my role as the majority chairman of the House Insurance Committee and to continue to be an effective member of the House of Representatives. I have no other job and my wife June and I have no other outside business interest; that includes no direct or indirect interest in Micozzie Real Estate located in Aldan.
As mandated by the Pennsylvania Constitution, it is the sole responsibility of the members of the state Legislature to draft and vote on legislation regarding a salary increase not only for the members of the Legislature, but for the judiciary and executive branches as well.
Because of the sensitivity and controversy surrounding this type of vote, it is only considered once a decade. This new legislation removes the control of future raises from the members of the state Legislature and instead bases future salary increases of the members of the state Legislature, the judiciary and the executive branches on the salary fluctuations of our federal counterparts or an annual cost-of-living adjustment.
It is also important to note that, despite his statements, Gov. Rendell was well aware that the unvouchered expense provision was included in the legislation and he knowingly signed it into law.
The new salary for the rank and file members of the state Legislature will receive an increase as reported in the Daily Times.
The increase was calculated so that it stayed well within the boundaries of salaries paid for similar responsibilities within private industry, but at the same time, to provide compensation that was consistent with the work and time necessary for members to properly carry out the duties of representing their constituents, oversee the operation of the commonwealth, craft and intelligently vote on a $35 billion budget, and identify and vote on the hundreds of new laws enacted each year.
As you know, the unvouchered expense provision within the new salary law has created much controversy. Even so, this is certainly not a new mechanism within the Legislature and has in fact been used in the past to provide members of the state Legislature a salary increase during the session the increase was voted.
After the last two salary increases in 1986 and 1995 respectively, both the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the use of "unvouchered expenses" by the Legislature was a fair and legal process. Therefore, my vote on the legislation’s unvouchered provision was based solely on the courts’ past rulings.
Nonetheless, be informed that despite the courts’ definitive rulings on this issue, and because of the Daily Times’ negative reporting, it has taken its toll on my dedicated office staff, my wife, my family members and the concerns of my loyal supporters, last week I decided to return the July unvouchered expense check. In addition, I will reject the remaining 17 unvouchered expense salary payouts.
One other issue I would like to address that is the demotion of some of my Democratic legislative friends and colleagues by the House of Representative’s Democratic Caucus leadership from committee posts because they opposed the legislation providing for the pay increase. I do not agree with such a procedure and hope that the reprisal can be reversed.
NICHOLAS A. MICOZZIE is a Republican and the Pennsylvania State Representative for the 163rd Legislative District, in Delaware County.
©The Daily Times 2005
I think that Mr. Micozzie has raised a few valid points in the above letter to the Daily Times.
They are all corrupt and should be voted out in 2006. Every one of them who voted for the pay increase!
ReplyDeleteI think that is taking it it a bit too far. They are not all corrupt, in fact, probably just a few of them in the whole state.
ReplyDeleteWhat they did as a whole was wrong and sneaky. Now most of them are backtracking their positions.
Nick, Nick, Nick.... Stop crying the Blue.... Use some of that $$money$$ to dry your eyes...
ReplyDeleteBeing a Rep. has mad your family $$RICH$$.How much more $$money$$ do you get for the committees you, Tom, your daughter the judge...??
So go tell it to someone who cares.. Not the minimum wage earner in the 163rd...
and Micozzie Real estate was built on your name.. $$$ Bishop ave $$$$