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State Government

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Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Preserving New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation Primary

Posted by Joe under Elections , President , State Government 
The DNC is studying the changes to the Presidential nomination process with possible changes to the state primaries line-up, moving some states ahead of New Hampshire, the traditional first-in-the-nation. Being a New Hampshire native myself, I’ve always enjoyedand been proud of how seriousNH takes it’s politics. It’s hard to describe without actually beingthere. When election time comes around, NH isalive with debates, town meetings, living room meet-ups and street rallies. So this upcoming vote by a DemocraticNational Committee commission will be a pivotal decicion for NH.
New Hampshire Democrats launched a public campaign yesterday to preserve their first-in-the-nation presidential primary against intrusions from rival states and the work of a Democratic Party commission. Granite State partisans said the quadrennial presidential spotlight is as vital to the identity of their state as the Derby is to Kentucky and the Statute of Liberty is to New York.

 
 
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Thursday, August 11, 2005

PA Legislators Pass Secret 2am Salary Increase

Posted by Joe under State Government 

Via MSNBC.com.

Pennsylvania tax payers are fuming over a new pay raise that lawmakers voted in for themselves. The legislators increased their salaries ranging from 16 to 34 percent to at least $81,050, more then any state except California. They also found a loop-hole around a constitutional provision that barred them from collecting the salary increase during the current term.

Several lawmakers refused to accept the pay increase and more are jumping on the refusal-bandwagon as public pressure intensifies.

All the pressure is having some effect: As of Tuesday, nine lawmakers had declared changes of heart and said they wouldn’t accept the increase this term. But nearly 150 of the state’s 252 sitting lawmakers are sticking to their decision to immediately pocket the raise of at least $950 a month.

The law links the present and future salaries of top officials in state government to similar posts in the federal government. Legislators’ $81,050 base salary is 50 percent of a U.S. representative’s salary. State Supreme Court justices get the same $171,800 as a U.S. circuit judge.

The raises also mean fatter pensions for lawmakers — at least $10,000 more per year for those retiring in 2008 — on top of already generous benefits, including as much as $7,800 a year in vehicle expenses and more than $125 a day for lawmakers who live more than 50 miles from the capital.

Read the full article at MSNBC.com.

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